By this Public Instrument of Protest be it made known and Manifest unto All who shall See these presents or hear the same read that on the Twenty Seventh day of May in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred & Seventy Six Before Me James Humphreys Esquire Notary & Tabellion public of the province of Pennsylvania by lawful Authority duly Admitted and Sworn dwelling in the City of Philadelphia in the said province And One of His Majestys Justices of the peace for the City & County of Philadelphia personally Appeared Richard James Master of the Snow Champion now in this port of Philadelphia and being Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God did Depose and say in manner following that is to say

That on the Twenty first day of May Instant, he Sailed in and with the said Snow, then having a Cargoe of Flour & Barr Iron on board, the Flour on Account of the province of Massachusetts Bay and the Iron on Account of Jonathan Glover from this Port of Philadelphia Bound to the first port in New-England he Could get into with Safety, and proceeded down the River delaware as low as Bombay Hook, where he Joined the Fleet then Outward bound Under Convoy of the Continental Brigantine of War Lexington John Barry Commander, the Ship Reprizal Lambert Weeks [Wickes] Commander and Armed Sloop; under whose Convoy he was to proceed out of the Capes of delaware, And there Came to an Anchor and lay One Tide, and on the Twenty third day of May They Sailed from Bombay hook and proceeded down Delaware bay Near as low as the Brandywine, And there Came to anchor that same Evening; That about Midnight a Boat from One of the said Armed Vessells Came along side the said Snow and informed this Appearer that Two English Men of War were then lying in the Road and 'twas Captain Barry's Orders, that All Vessells which drew too much water to go into Morris's River, should proceed up the River delaware as soon as possible, that this Appearer Acquainted the said Captain Barry, who was then lying near to the said Snow, that he was to go out thro' the Cape May Channell and was to Sail under his, the said Barry's Convoy, That Barry Replyed Unless the said Snow Could go into Morris's River it was his Order She should immediately proceed up the River Delaware. Upon which this Appearer was under the Necessity of immediately Weighing the said Snow's Anchor, She drawing too much Water to go into Morris's River, and Proceeding with her up the River delaware, and he Accordingly Came up the said River as high as Chester and there Came to anchor with the said Snow Yesterday, and from thence Came up in his boat to this port of Philadelphia, where he Arrived this Evening Wherefore he the said Master Richard James hath Protested and by these presents doth for himself his Owners Freightors, Merchants, Mariners and All Others Interested in the said Snow or her Cargoe, Solemnly Protest against All Losses damages, Costs, Charges, breaches of Bills of Lading, Contracts, Covenants and Agreements whatsoever Sustained and to be Sustained by reason of the Said Snow's being obliged to Return back and Proceed up the River delaware as aforesaid, and against All Incidents and Consequents thereof. And persisting in the said Protest he the said Master hath set his hand hereunto dated the day & Year first within Written  Thus done and Protested at Philadelphia aforesaid in the presence of James Humphreys Junr & Richard Baker