I the within named Clark Gayton do certify and return that the within named Nathan Bull was before the obtaining and issuing the within Writ taken by one of his Majesty's Ships of War under my Command as he the said Nathan Bull was comeing out of the Port of Cape Nicolas Mole in the Island of Hispaniola in a Sloop or Vessell belonging to the Colony of Rhode Island in North America of which Sloop or Vessell he was Master and which said Na than Bull had in the said Port of Cape Nicolas Mole discharged a Cargo which he had laden at Rhode Island aforesaid and cleared out for Jamaica and was then on his return in the said Sloop or Vessell with a Cargo of Sugar and Molasses to and for the said Colony of Rhode Island and that I have taken and detained the said Nathan Bull by Vertue and in pursuance of his Majesty's late Proclamation dated the Twenty third Day of August last past and his Majesty's orders and Instructions Signified to me by the Commisioners for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain &c. and by their Secretary acting under their Authority and this is the Cause of the Caption and Detention of the said Na than Bull whose Body at the Day and place in the within Writ mentioned I have ready as by the within Writ I am required ー
Filed the 19th January 1776.