The following is an authentic copy of the several papers which passed on this very extraordinary occasion.
To the Right Honourable and the Honourable Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled.
The humble Petition of the Seamen and Marines on board his Majesty’s Fleet, on behalf of themselves;
Humbly sheweth,
That your petitioners, relying on the candour and justice of your honourable house, make bold to lay their grievances before you, hoping, that when you reflect on them, you will please to give redress, as far as your wisdom shall deem necessary.
We beg leave to remind your august assembly, that the act of parliament passed in the reign of King Charles the second, wherein the wages of all seamen serving on board his Majesty’s fleet was settled, passed at a time when the necessaries of life, and slops of every denomination, were at least 30 per cent, cheaper than at the present time, which enabled seamen and marines to provide better for their families than we can now do with one half advance.
We therefore request your honourable house will be so kind as to revise the act before mentioned, and make such amends therein as will enable your petitioners and their families to live in the same comfortable manner as seamen and marines did at that time.
Your petitioners with all humility laid their grievances before the Hon. Earl Howe, and flattered ourselves with the hopes that his lordship would have been an advocate for us, as we have been repeatedly under his command, and made the British flag ride triumphantly over that of our enemies; but, to our great surprize, we find ourselves unprotected by him, who has seen so many instances of our intrepidity in carrying the British flag into every part of the seas with victory and success.
We profess ourselves as loyal to our Sovereign, and zealous in the defence of our country, as the army or militia can be; and esteem ourselves equally entitled to his Majesty’s munificence; therefore with jealousy we behold their pay augmented, and the out-pensions of Chelsea College increased to thirteen pounds per annum, while we remain neglected, and the out-pensioners of Greenwich have only seven pounds per annum.
We, your petitioners, therefore humbly implore that you will take these matters into consideration; and with your accustomed goodness and liberality, comply with the prayer of this petition; and your petititioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
We, the Delegates of the Fleet, hereunto sign our names for the ships’ companies, &c.
Copy of the Petition to the Admiralty.
To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
