Whereas Colonel Richard Somers, by his Petition hath set forth, That he the said Richard Somers, with a Detachment of the Militia of this State, was stationed at Great-Egg-Harbour as a Guard to the Sea-Coast, and to protect the Inhabitants thereof against the Depredations of the Enemy; and that during his Continuance in that Station, he, with the said Detachment, and sundry others of the Inhabitants, did man and arm certain Boats, and therewith took a certain Brigantine or Vessel called the Defiance, supposed to belong to the King of GreatBritain, or some of the Subjects of the said King; and that as a Court cannot conveniently be held at this Time wherein to proceed against the said Vessel and her Cargo, no Trial or Condemnation thereof can be speedily had, by Reason whereof the same are suffering, and likely to be greatly wasted;

Sect. 1. Be it therefore Enacted by the Council and General Assembly of this State, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful for the Marshal of the Court of Admiralty to take into his Care and Custody the said Vessel and Cargo, and, after giving due and publick Notice of the Time and Place of Sale, to sell and dispose of the same to the best Advantage, and to collect and receive the Monies thence arising, in the same Manner that he might or could do if the said Vessel and Cargo had been legally condemned in the said Court, and a Sale had been awarded by the Judge thereof.

2. And it is further Enacted, That the said Monies arising from the Sale of the said Vessel and Cargo shall be liable to the like Decree, Distribution and Order of the Court of Admiralty, when the same shall be fully established, as if the Sale hereby ordered and directly had not been made.

Passed at Haddonfield, February 28, 1777.