To the Worshipful Robert Bayard
Esquire Judge of the Court of
Vice Admiralty for the Province
of New York

Charles Phipps Esquire late Captain and Commander of his Majestys Ship of War the Perseus who as well for himself and Andrew Snape Hamond Esquire Captain and Commander of his Majestys Ship of War the Roebuck as the other Officers and Crews of the said Ships of War and all others interested therein in this behalf prosecutes come here into this Court of Vice Admiralty this Twentyninth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and Seventy seven and as well for himself and the said Andrew Snape Hamond as the said other Officers and Crews of his Majestys said Ships of "War and all others interested therein as aforesaid gives the Court here to understand and be informed That on or about the Sixth Day of April now last past on the High Seas near Cape Henlopen in the County of Sussex one of the three lower Counties on Delaware hereinafter mentioned and within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, they the said Charles Phipps and Andrew Snape Hamond with his Majestys said Ships then under their respective Commands did pursuant to the Statute in such Case lately made and provided seize and take a certain armed Sloop or Vessel called the Sachem of about Seventy Tons Burthen² mounting Ten Carriage Guns besides divers Swivels and otherwise fitted out in a warlike Manner to cruize against and to seize and take the Vessels and Effects of his Majestys liege Subjects and then under the Command of one [James] Robinson together with all her Apparel and Furniture and hath brought the same into this Port of New York in order to have the same legally adjudged: For that the said Vessel and the Apparel and Furniture thereof and also every Thing else on Board the same Vessel seized and taken as aforesaid at the Time of the said Capture and Seizure belonged to some Person or Persons Inhabitants of the Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusets Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, the three lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia or some or one of the said Colonies Whereby and by Force of the Statute in such Case lately made and provided the said Sloop or Vessel with all her Apparel and Furniture is become forfeited to his Majesty as if the same were the Vessel and Effects of open Enemies, And by Reason of the Premises and by Virtue of the said Statute in such Case lately made and provided the sole Interest and Property of and in the said Sloop or Vessel with her Apparel and Furniture and every Thing else on Board the said Vessel liable to Forfeiture as aforesaid (the same being first adjudged lawful Prize pursuant to the Statute aforesaid) is granted to and vested in his Majestys Flag Officers commanding in his Fleet in North America, the said Charles Phipps who for and in Behalf as aforesaid prosecutes for the same and in the said Andrew Snape Hamond and the other Commissioned Officers of his Majestys said Ships of War and the Seamen Marines and Soldierson Board the same to be divided among them in such Proportions and after such Manner as his Majesty hath been pleased to direct by his Royal Proclamation in Pursuance of the said Statute in such Case lately made and provided, Wherefore the said Charles Phipps and in Behalf as aforesaid humbly prays that by the Decree and Sentence of this Honorable Court the said Sloop the Sachem her Apparel and Furniture and every Thing else on Board the same liable to Forfeiture may be adjudged and condemned as lawful Prize pursuant to the said Statute in such Case lately made and provided to be divided as aforesaid among the Captors and all others lawfully interested therein by Reason of the Premises/³

(Exd)