[ Autographs ] ENGLISH PRIVATEER SEIZES AN AMERICAN SHIP A fascinating archive of eight documents relating to the English seizure of the United State's vessel John Jay in 1793, as a consequence of the British conflict with France at that time. Includedis a four page legal statement detailing the American owner's version of the ship's seizure, which was apparently presented before a Britishcourt of law, and reads, in part: "...The Jay was boarded by a boat containing men wearing French dress & speaking French belonging to an armed brig wearing French national colors...a man speaking English... told Captain Drury that he was an English prisoner of the Brig...He represented the supposed French captain as a very formidable man ... Captain Drewry was told ... that as they found the cargo to be Britishproperty they meant to land his ship to Brest to be examined ... He...told them that his cargo was French property ...They obliged him, his passengers and all his crew except two men to go as prisoners on boardthe armed brig ...ordered the French colors to be struck ... the armedbrig ... was the Orastes of 18 guns, Lord Augustus Fitzroy Commander, belonging to his Britannic Majesty...his crew...have been compelled into the naval service of the said king, by being impressed & sent on board a Ship of War...". With the statement are four policies detailing the insurance coverage on the Jay and her cargo, a list of materials seized by the British, a copy of an affidavit by the captainand two crew members, and a period extract of the ruling of the British High Court of Admiralty made in 1794, stating that both the ship and its cargo were legitimately seized as a prize of War. An extremely interesting and complete grouping, all documents in very good to fine condition.