The Petition of the Subscribers Officers of Merchants Ships belonging to the Port of Philadelphia, Respectfully Sheweth,—

That in consequence of the present Embargo Laws, the situation of your Petitioners is grevious and afflicting—That they have been engaged in the Mercantile service since their Infancy, with few exceptions, and accustomed, only, to conduct ships or Vessels across the Ocean—

That from the operation of the present restrictive Laws they find themselves cut off from their usual employment and of course the means of subsistance are gone.—

Your Petitioners are well acquainted with the duties of conducting ships from Port to Port well versed in Naval Tacticks but unable to handle the Harrow or the Plough

Your Petitioners have for a long time borne with patience the privations incident to those restrictive Laws, without murmur or complaint, but when imperious necessity compels them to disclose the cause of their grievances they humbly suppose they have a right so to do in a decent and respectful manner. Your Petitioners therefore pray that your Excelency will take their case into consideration and adopt such measures as will relieve the wants of your Petitioners, or if there are vacancies in the Navy to give your Petitioners, or some of them, an opportunity of serving therein as they think themselves capable of performing services of that nature.—They, however, submit their whole case to your consideration hoping your Excellency will adopt such measures as wisdom and Justice may point out, And as in duty bound will pray, &c.