That having wrote your Excellency several Petitions in justification of my Conduct, during my last Cruise on Board of the Eclipse, which has made such a Noise in this Part of the World relative to my Crew having Plundered a certain Danish Vessel which has been transacted without my Knowledge, or consent, as appears by my Interogation as well as those of my People. I have thought fit by and with the Advice of some of the first Men in this place not to cease of Petitioning your Excellency, till I shall have some redress or at least an Answer as I am well assured that it lays in your Excellency’s Power to procure me my Enlargement. I presume the reason of your Excellency’s not having deign’d to answer my former Petitions has been on acct of your Excellency having as I am told been often deceiv’d by Englishmen’s imposing on your Excellency for Americans and consequently, my being thought by your Excellency to be one of the former. If so, I can prove by many Americans now resident in France, of my having been Born of a very reputable Family in Newlondon in America. I hope and beg most sincerely that this Petition may have the desired effect. Thus Prayeth Your Excellency’s Humble Petitioner and most Obedient Servant