To the Honourable George Ross Esqr Judge of the Court of Admiralty for the Port of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylva

The Bill of John Baldwin Esq Commander of the armed Schooner of War Called the Wasp in the Service of the United States of America fitted out for the Defence of American Liberty and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof which sd John Baldwin in this Behalf prosecuteth as well for himself his Officers Mariners and Seamen belonging to the sd Schooner as for the United States afsd in all humble Manner Sheweth

That the sd Schooner was equip'd victual'd fitted out and man'd at the Expence of the United States and the sd John Baldwin duly commissioned Authoriz'd and licens'd by the Delegates of the sd States in General Congress Assembled to Command the sd Schooner, and set her forth as a Vessel of War for the service afsd And the sd John Baldwin being so commissioned authorized and licenced he the sd John Baldwin with his Officers Mariners and Seamen belonging to the sd Schooner Sailing upon the high-Seas on board the sd Schooner between the twenty fourth Day of July last and the day of exhibiting this bill upon the sd High-Seas and within the Jurisdiction of this Court did discover pursue apprehend and as legal Prize and Booty of War take the Schooner or Vessel called the Success commanded by William Compton of the Burthen of Forty Tons or thereabouts with her Tackle Apparel Furniture and Cargo belonging to some Subject or Subjects of the King of Great Britain not residing within or being an Inhabitant or.Inhabitants of the Bermudas [New] Providence or Bahama Islands And the sd John Baldwin doth further charge that the sd Schooner her Tackle Apparel Furniture and Cargo at the time of the Capture afsd were in the Possession of the King of Great Britain or of some of his Subjects who are the open and avowed Enemies of these United States and who had before the Time of the Capture afsd taken and detained as Prize & Booty of War from the Inhabitants of these sd States the same Schooner with her sd Tackle apparel Furniture and Cargo for the Space of forty eight Hours and upwards before and till the sd Recapture thereof ² Wherefore the sd John Baldwin prays this honourable Court that the sd Schooner Success her Tackle apparel Furniture and Cargo may be condemned as lawful Prize for the Use of the sd Captors and others concerned therein According to the Resolves of the honourable the Continental Congress in such Case provided

1st Febry 1777