rly condemned as prize.
The case is reported in Carthew, p. 474.]

THE _REVENGE_.

_144. Commission of Capt. Benjamin Norton as a Privateer. June 2,
1741._[1]

[Footnote 1: Massachusetts Historical Society, in a collection of
papers, to which several of the subsequent documents belong, presented
to the society by the late Professor Charles Eliot Norton,
great-grandson of Captain Benjamin Norton. This commission, or letter
of marque, may be compared with one of 1782 (New York, loyalist), in
Anthony Stokes, _View of the Constitution of the British Colonies_,
pp. 340-347, and with the Portuguese letter of marque in doc. no. 14.
This Benjamin Norton may have been a son of the one who figures in
doc. no. 118.]

Richard Ward Esq Governour and Commander in Chief in and over his
Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New
England.

To all Persons, to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.

Whereas his most Sacred Majesty George the Second by the Grace of God
of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith
etc., hath been pleased by his Declaration of the nineteenth Day of
October, in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred Thirty and
nine, for the Reasons therein contained, to declare War against Spain,
And has given Orders for the granting Commissions to any of his loving
Subjects, or others that shall be deemed fitly qualified in that
Behalf, for the apprehending, seizing and taking the Ships, Vessels
and Goods belonging to Spain, or the Vassals and Subjects of the King
of Spain, or others inhabiting within any of his Countries,
Territories, and Dominions, and such other Ships, Vessels and Goods,
as are or shall be liable to Confiscation Pursuant to the respective
Treaties between his Majesty and other Princes, States and Potentates,
and to bring the same to Judgment in the High Court of Admiralty in
England, or such other Court of Admiralty as shall be lawfully
authorized for Proceedings and Adjudication, and Condemnation to be
thereupon had according to the Course of Admiralty and Laws of
Nations,

And Whereas Benjamin Norton Mariner and John Freebody Merchant both of
Newport in the Colony aforesd. have equipped, furnished, and
victualled a Sloop called the _Revenge_ of the Burthen of about One
hundred and Fifteen Tons, whereof the said Benjamin Norton is
Commander who hath given Bond with sufficient Sureties,

Know Ye therefore That I do by these Prese