Nova Scotia Court of Vice Admiralty		Cause John Collins Esqr Commanding his Majestys Ship of War the Nautilus ー VS ー The Sloop John, William Chace master ー Court Opened by Makeing Proclamation as usual. Proclamation made for all Claimers Decree Pronounced as follows
Monday 13 May [1776]

In the Name of God Amen  We Richard Bulkeley Esqr Judge & Commissary of his Majestys Court of Vice Admiralty for the Province of Nova Scotia & the maritime parts thereof ー Haveing maturely considered the Allegations against a certain Sloop called the John her Cargo seiz'd & taken by John Collins Esqr. Commander of his Majestys Sloop of War the Nautilus set forth to this Court in a Libel prefer'd to us by William Nesbitt Esqr his Majestys Advocate General in the said Court, as well on the Part and behalf of his Majesty, as for and on the behalf of the said John Collins who therein alledg'd that one William Chace Master of the said Sloop in open defiance of the Act of Parliament made in the 16th year of his Present Majestys Reign was found on a Trading Voyage with the Colonies now in Rebellion and was endeavouring to enter into some Port of the said Colonies laden'd with Bread and Flour² and the Allegations having been fully Proved by Evidence sworn and examined before the Register by our Special Order and all Persons claiming Property in the said Sloop and Cargo having been by due Process notified to appear and assert their Claims to the same but no Person appearing so to do, We Do Pronounce this our sentence & Decree thereon as follows  We do adjudge and decree the said Sloop John, together with her Boats, Tackle and furniture as also her Cargo on Board to be lawfull Prize to the Captors thereof and we do Condemn the same as such Accordingly and do Order the same to be deliver'd to the Agent or Agents for the said John Collins his Officers & Crew to be divided in such Proportions and after such manner as his Majesty hath or shall think fit to Order and direct by his Royal Proclamation or Proclamations Issued or hereafter to be issued for that purpose.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the said Court this Thirteenth day of May Anno Domini 1776 & in the sixteenth year of his Majestys reign ー