To the Gentlemen that constitute
the Church Missionary Committee
The humble Petition of 
John Cowell, (formerly Rope- 
maker now working as) Labourer
in H. M. Dock Yard at Chatham
Showeth,
	That your Petitioner having served his Apprenticeship to a Ropemaker of the first respectability at North Shields, and worked as a journeyman seven years in H.M. Yard at Chatham, from which place he can obtain testimonials of ability, as to his perfect knowledge of Rope making and Twine spinning, and of his good conduct, begs to present himself as a Candidate to join the Mission now about to proceed to New Zealand. Your petitioner’s object is only to obtain a bare subsistence for himself, Wife, and one Child— to use his weak efforts in assisting to promote the objects of the Mission, and to perform the pleasing task of instructing the unenlightened, having been in the habit (for years) of teaching the lower orders of Society. Your petitioner begs to add that he will feel happy in making him [f] self useful in any Employment which he may be called upon to perform.
And as in duty bound will ever pray
John Cowell
Brompton
Feby 1819.