O Say Can You See

The [strikethrough] petitions of Mariah White respectfully and humbly sets forth to your honors that she is a woman of colour and entitled to her freedom and is now held in a state of slavery by one Joseph M White contrary to law and your petitioners just rights.

Your petitioner therefore prays your honors to grant her such relief as she may be lawfully entitled to and such process of your honorable court against the said Joseph M White as in usual in such cases to compel the attendance of the said Joseph M White in your honorable court to answer this petition and to enter the usual security and recognisance. Not to remove your petitioner beyond the jurisdiction of your honorable court and as is duty bound she will ever pray &c

Robert Beale for Petitioner