SY ATE. (PAP ERAS 
_ able Knights, Citizens, and Burgeffes 
in Parliament affembled. 
The humble Petiticn of the Seamen and 
Mearines on board his Majefly’s Shifts, 
in behalf of them/clves, 
Humbly fheweth, 
ead your petitioners, relying 
on the candour and juftice of 
your Honourable Houfe, make 
bold to lay their grievances before 
you, hoping that, when you reflect 
on them, you will pleafe to give 
redrefs, as far as your wifdom {hill 
deem neceflary. 
“We beg leave to remind your 
auguit affembly, that the act of par- 
liament paffed in the reign of King 
Charles IJ. wherein the wages of 
all feamen ferving on board his 
Majefty’s fleet was fettled, paffed at 
atime when the necefiaries of life, 
and flops of every denomination, 
were at leaft thirty per cent. cheap- 
er than at the prefent time; which 
enabled feamen and marines to pro- 
vide better for their families than 
we can do now with one half ad- 
vance. 
We therefore requeft your ho- 
nourable houfe will be fo kind as to 
revife the act before mentioned, 
and maké fuch amendments therein 
_ as will enable your Petitioners, and 
their families to live in the fame 
comfortable manner as feamen and 
marines did at that time. 
Your Petitioners, with all humi- 
lity laid their grievances before the 
Honourable Earl Howe, and flat-. 
tered ourfelves with the hopes that 
his Lordfhip would have been an 
advocate for us, as we have been 
repeatedly under his command, and 
made the Britifh flag ride triumph- 
antly over that of our enemies. 
But, to our great furprife, we find 
’ 
239 
‘ourfelves unproteéted by him, who 
has feen fo many inftances of our 
intrepidity, in carrying the Britif, 
Flag into every part of the feas with 
victory and fuccefs. 
We profefs ourfelves as loyal to 
our Sovereign, and zealous in the 
defence of our country, as the army 
or militia can be, and efteem our- 
felves equally entitled to his Ma- 
jefty’s munificence; therefore with 
jealoufy we behold their pay aug- 
mented, and their out-penfions of 
Chelfea coliege increafed to thir- 
teen pounds per annum, while we 
remain neglected, and the out-pen- 
fioners of Greenwich have only fe- 
ven pounds per annum. 
Ve, your petitioners, therefore, 
humbly implore that you will take 
thefe matters into confideration, 
and, with your accuftomed goodneis: 
and liberality, comply with the 
prayer of this Petition—and your 
petitioners, as in duty bound, will 
ever pray, &c. 
We, the Delegates of the Fleet, 
hereunto fign our names for 
the fhips companies: 
Royal George—V. alentine Joyce, John 
Morris. 
Quten Charlotte — Patrick Glynn, 
John Udilefon. } 
Ryyal Savereizn—Jofeph Green, John 
, Richardfon. 
London—Alexander Harding, Wil- 
liam Ruly. 
Glory— Patrick Dugan, John Bethell.- 
Duke — Michael Adams, William 
Anderfon. 
MJars—Thomas Allen, James Blithe. 
Marlborough——John Vathia, Wilkiam: 
Senator. 
Ramilies—Charles 
Clear. 
Robufi—David Wiilfon, John Scri-. 
veneer. 
Berry,. George 
E Inpetueux—e 
