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Before John Stanley Eqr one of the Members of His Majesty's Council for the Island of St Christopher His Majesty's Solicitor General for his Leeward Charibbee Island in America and one of the Justices assigned to keep the Peace within the said Island of St Christopher.

Personally appeared James Fraser of the said Island of St Christopher, Gentleman, who being duly Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God; deposeth and Saith, that on, or about the 16th day of November now last past, he this Deponent, in Company with Captain John Dean and Captain John Spier (Masters of Vessels now lying at anchor in the Road of Basseterre in this Island) being on board a Sloop in the Road of St Eustatius, he this Deponent, upon Spying a Brigantine comeing round the Leeward part of the Said Island of St Eustatius, with a Pendant and Colours flying observed to his Said Companions, that there was a Man of War Tender coming round, upon the Said Captain Dean (to the best of this Deponents Recollection) replied O No by God it is an American Privateer, for "don't you See the Congress Colours with 13 Stripes in them" or expressed himself in words of that Substance and Effect, and this Deponent farther Saith that the said Brigantine Soon afterwards came to an anchor in the Road of St Eustatius on the Larboard Quarter of the Sloop, on hoard of which this Deponent and his said Companions then were and from whence the Deponent plainly discovered that She carried 14 carriage Guns or there abouts, and was afterwards informed, & believes that She was manned with 110 Men or there abouts, was called the Andrew Doria, & commanded by one Captain Robbinson [Isaiah Robinson], and this Deponent further Saith that upon the Said Brigantines coming to anchor, the Dutch Colours (which during the Time the Said Brigantine was working into the Road were flying in Fort Orange in the said Island were hawled down, and that as Soon as the Said Brigantine had brought too, & furled her Sails, She fired (to the best of this Deponent Recollection) Eleven Guns and this Deponent further Saith that after an Interval of upwards of a quarter of an hour as he and his said Companions were rowing on Shore he perceived the Dutch Colours in Fort Orange to be hoisting again, and when they were compleatly hoisted, nine great Guns were fired from the Said Fort, after which the Brigantine returned one Gun more. and the Deponent further Saith that upon his and his Companions getting on Shore and going immediately into a Tavern in the Said Island of St Eustatius, where there was a large mixed Company, he found People were discoursing there on the Ceremony of the Salute fired by the Said American Privateer, and of the return of it, by the Said Dutch Fort, and this Deponent further Saith that it was then and there publickly Said by Some of the Company present at the Said Tavern, that the Commandant of Fort Orange hesitated to return a Salute fired by a Vessel under the Congress Colours and that before he would return the Salute, he went to the Governor of the Said Island to have his Directions about it, and that it was by the Governor's order that the Said Salute was returned by the Said Dutch Fort.

Sworn before me this 16th day of Decr 1776.
(Sighn'd) John Stanley.

We the above mentioned John Dean & John Spier having heard the above Deposition read do Swear upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that the Contents there of are Substantially true.

(Sighn'd) John Dean John Spier.

Sworn before me this 16th day of Decr 1776.
(Sighn'd) John Stanley.