To the honourable Benjamin Nicholson Esquire Judge of the Court of Admiralty erected by the honourable Convention of Maryland to take Cognizance of hear, try and determine the Propriety of Captures of vessels and other Property brought into the said State of Maryland pursuant to the Resolves of the honourable Continental Congress & the Law of Nations.—

The Bill of Complaint of John Ryan, Commander of the Ship called Mary & Elizabeth, who as well for himself as the Seamen & all others belonging to or concerned in the said Ship on this Behalf prosecuting sheweth that he the said John Ryan did on the first Day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight in then the Jurisdiction of this Court discover on the high Seas and as lawful Prize take the Sloop Little John commanded by William Lawence about thirty Tons Burthen together with her Tackle, Apparel Furniture
and Cargo. And the said John Ryan doth further show that the said vessel called Little John, her Tackle, Apparel, Furniture & Cargo did at the Time of the Capture aforesaid belong to a Subject or Subjects of the King of Great Britain not residing within Bermuda, Providence or the Bahama Islands or any of them And the said John Ryan doth further show that the said Vessel being then and there employed in conveying Provisions & other Necessities to the British Army & Navy then within Some one of the united States of America was on the said first Day of January in the year aforesaid within the Jurisdiction of this Court discovered on the high Seas and as lawful Prize taken together with her Tackle, Apparel, Furniture and Cargo Therefore the said John Ryan prays this honourable Court that the said Vessel with her Tackle, apparel, Furniture & Cargo may be adjudged and condemned as forfeited to the use of the Captors thereof and all others concerned in the said vessel according to the Resolutions of the honourable Continental Congress in that Behalf made & provided & the Law of Nations.—¹