On the seventh day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy seven personally came and appeared before me James Clegg Notary public dwelling at Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and also a Master Extraordinary of the high Court of Chancery John Wardley late Master of the Ship Grace belonging to Messieurs Brown Jones and Royds of Liverpool Merchants being a person well known and worthy of good Credit and being Sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God to speak the Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth doth depose and say That on the fourth day of April he as Master of the Ship Grace laden with Sugar and other Goods left the Island of Jamaica under Convoy of his Majesty Ship Maidstone commanded by Captain Allan Gardner and Continued with the Convoy from that time until Saturday morning the twelfth of the said Month of April this Deponent losing the Convoy between Friday the Eleventh and Saturday the twelfth of April last Saith that he Continued his Course for the port of Liverpool until Monday the twenty third day of June last when between eight and nine o'Clock in the Morning of that day This Deponents Vessell the Grace being then South West and by West about nine or Ten leagues distant from Holyhead on the Coast of Wales and about twelve hours sail from the port of Liverpool This Deponent was attacked by three armed Vessells the one a Ship of Eighteen Guns with eight Cohorns in her Tops and Swivels on her Quarters and forecastle called the Reprisal commanded by Lambert Wickes, another of the said Vessells was a Brigantine called the Lexington commanded by Henry Johnson carrying Sixteen Carriage Guns, and the other a Sloop called the Dolphin commanded by ———— Nicholson carrying Ten Carriage Guns Saith that upon falling in with these Vessells the Ship Reprisal fired a Shot and ordered this Deponent to hawl down his Colours and back his Main Top sail And upon this Deponents inquiring the Cause of such orders the Reprisals boat was immediately manned and came on board this Deponents Vessell when the second Lieutenant one Brooks told this Deponent that this Deponents Ship was a prize to the Reprisaland the other Vessells which were fitted out and Sailed under Commissions from the American Congress Saith that from the first of their Appearance the Reprisal wore an English Sea Pendant which continued Flying during the time this Deponent was on board her and no other Colours whatsoever Saith that this Deponent was on board the Reprisal and between her and his own Vessell for near twelve Hours during which time Lambert Wickes who appeared as Commodore declared to this Deponent that they came out from Nantz and that they intended to go back again to Nantz to which place they intended to carry all their prizes Saith that the Crew of the Reprisal appeared to be composed partly of Irishmen partly of Scotchmen and about one third part Frenchmen But that the Captain and Officers from their appearance and Language seemed to be Subjects to Great Britain Saith that the Reprisal and her Consorts having made prizes of thirteen other Vessells (as this Deponent best Remembers) four or five of which they Sunk put this Deponent and the Masters of twelve of the said Vessells and part of the Crews on board one of their Prizes with orders to proceed directly to Whitehaven without touching at any other port And this Deponent saith that h with the other Masters and part of the Crews left the Reprisal and her Consorts and prizes off Tuskar about nine o'Clock in the Evening of the same twenty third day of June last and proceeded immediately for Whitehaven where they arrived on Thursday the Twenty Sixth day of June last Saith that during the time he was on board the Reprisal he heard the said ———— Nicholson declare that If the wind had Sprung up he intended to have gone into the Bay at Dublin and to have Cut the Yacht out from thence —

James Clegg Not: Pub. Liverpool and also a
Master Extraordinary of the High Court of Chancery
[Endorsed] In Sir Wm Meridiths 8 July 1777 copy sent to Ld Stormont in No 46 [18 July 1777]