The three articles in this collection contain all known proceedings in cases tried by the Virginia Court of Vice-Admiralty, from its establishment until the collapse of the King's government put an end to the court. The articles also include references to other cases before the court, in 1698-1700, 1758, and 1770-1775, of which no records have come to light: it is probable that most of the court's papers were destroyed when the Capitol at Williamsburg burned in January 1747, or were scattered and lost about thirty years later during the American revolution. The articles presented here had no occasion to take into account whatever cases the Court of Vice-Admiralty had before it in 1701-1757 and 1759-1769; in consequence, they did not attempt to consider how many cases of those years may have left no official records.

Edited by George Reese.