To the honble the Council & Hon'ble House of Representatives for the State of the Massachusetts Bay
The Subscribers of Newburyport Merchants humbly beg leave to represent to your Honours, that a Ship owned by them, called the Montgomery, commanded by Joseph Rowe, had, before the present Embargo took place, sailed from hence bound to Bourdeaux in France, with part of her Loading (of which two Casks of Furs were shiped by the honble Board of War upon the Acct of this State) & with all her Provisions in, but was to call into Sheepscut at the Eastward, there to compleat her Loading with Spars & other Lumber. That their Design in this Voyage (in which they export only the Produce of this Country) is to bring in a Load of Salt, which the Country appears to be very destitute of, also some Cannon, for a Twenty Gun Ship they are now engaged in the building of, & other warlike Stores if to be got, & their Cargo on board will procure them, & if warlike Stores are not to be procured, they have ordered coarse Linnens & Woollens -Now, the present being judged by far the best Season to supply the Country from abroad, with the many Articles it stands in need of, & as your Petitioners have with much Trouble, & at extraordinary Expence provided a Master & Crew to sail their said Ship, & they have already proceeded part of the Way upon their Voyage, Upon your honours' Consideration of these Premises & the foregoing, they flatter themselves that you will grant Permission, And they humbly beg of your Honours to grant them a Permit (& duplicates of the same, to send by Land & Water) for their said Ship Montgomery, Joseph Rowe Master to depart for France from Sheepscut or any port in the Eastern part of this State where said Ship may be, after having loaded or compleated her Loading with Masts Spars & other Lumber the present Embargo notwithstanding, & your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray
Newburyport
13th Decr 1776
[Endorsed] In the House of Represents. Decem 25. 1776
Read and Committed to the Comtee on Similar petitions
Sent up for Concurrence
Saml Freeman Speakr PT
In Council Dec 25. 1776 Read & Concurrd and the same Comittee are joined on the Part of the Board John Avery Dep Sey
Decr 30. 1776 The Comtee of Both houses on the foregoing petition Beg leave to Report as their opinion That the prayer thereof be so far granted that the Ship mentioned in said Petn be permitted to Sail on her intended voyage provided she Carry none of the articles Enumerated in a resolve of the General Court passed the 10th Instant Prohibiting the same & Return Ladend with Cargo as mentioned in the petition. Jabez Fisher pr Order
In Council Decr 31 1776 Read & Accepted
Sent down for Concurrence John Avery Dpy Scy
Consented to — In the house of Represents Janury 1, 1777
Read and Consented Sam Freeman Speakr PT
