Permit me to Lay before you the Inclosed by which you’ll see the Most Unjust Proceedings of the Court of Admiralty of Nantes The Whole of this Proceeding was Caried on when Mr. Williams and me was Absent from Nantes In Course had no Oppertunity of defending Ourselves, Besides I can make it Appear the Man deserted from My Ship—It is Strange that the judge of the Admiralty should call him a Lieutanent, when a Second made is Only Consider’d as a Good Seaman in Our Country—It is not Proper at this time to Aledge what I have against the Fellow, But sir if you Can get this Mater to Condend us I Can be Heard by the Laws of my Country You Will Greatly Add to the Favors already Confer’d on Sir Your Most Obliged and Very Humble servant

The Petition of Archibald Carrol Humbly sheweth—

That your Petitioner Commands a Ship Caled the Marianne Own’d on a former Voyage by Wm: Williams Esqr. of Nantes, at Present by Wm. Alexander Esqr. & Co. of Richmond in Virginia.

That your Petitioner Arived with that Ship at Nantes in Octbr. 1783. From Baltimore in Maryland Laden with Tobacco at which time he had on board a troublesome, Lategeous, Drunken Man In the Capacity of a Second Mate whom for being Incapable of the Post he agreed to undertake and Continualy Drunk on the Passage Obliged me to Suspend him and Give the Charge of the Watch to the Boatswain, Your Petitioner being Sick of a fever at That time.

That Shortley After the Arival of the Ship at Nantes the Above Mentioned Second Mate named Theobald Burk Absented Himself from the Ship and Comenced a Law Suit Against me, and the Ships sailing Again for America Put it Out of my Power to defend My self And of Course A Judgment was Given Against me for about 2400 Livers Intierly Contrary to Agreement.

That Your Petitioner being Ready to sail on his Return from this Place The Court of Admiralty has Seized his ship for the Above Sum.

That your Petitioner not having in his Power to pay that sum in this Countrey and that the Owners of his Ship May not be Injurd by their Ship being Sold &ca. Most Humbley Implores your Known Goodness to take Such Steps as you shall Seem Meet to Cause the Ship to be Liberated on your Petitioner Giving Security to Answer The Above Suit in His Own Countray And your Petitioner Shall Ever Pray