Report of Sec'y of War, Sec'y & Comptroller of the Treas[ury] on Claims of Seth Harding. Feb: 17^th 1800. [6 Cong: 1 Sess: Feb'y referred to m^r Langdon &c March done to be entered &c] The Secretary of War, and the Secretary and Comptroller of the Treasury, in pursuance of the Act, passed on the Seventh day of April, 1798, entitled "An Act for the relief of the Refugees from the British Provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia," respectfully submit to Congress the following Special Report, on the claim of Seth Harding. The following facts appears to be satisfactorily established:— 1^st That the claimant removed from Norwich in Connecticut, in the year 1771, to Liverpool in Nova Scotia; and carried with him personal property of the value of about Two thousand Dollars. 2^d That he was for several years a Member of the General Assembly, and in the year 1773, was appointed a Justice of the Peace, and one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for Queens County, in said Province:— That he lived in apparently easy and prosperous circumstances, on an Income which is declared by the Claimant to have amounted to about Five hundred Dollars per Annum. 3^rd That he privately retired from Nova Scotia in August, 1775, with an inconsiderable proportion of his property:— that the residue left behind was sold at Public Auction by the Commander of a British Sloop of War, as the property of an Enemy, and that no part thereof was afterwards recovered by the Claimant. 4^th That the intention of the Claimant, as declared at the time of his return to Connecticut, was to engage actively on the side of this Country, in the War which had then commenced with Great Britain. 5^th That the Claimant, during the late War, commanded the Brigantine Defence, equipt by the State of Connecticut, also the State-Ship Oliver Cromwell,— and was afterwards promoted to command the United States Frigate Confederacy;— that in new service he was distinguished as a brave, enterprizing and successful Commander, until the Year 1781, when the Confederacy was captured by a greatly superior force, and that the Court of Enquiry who investigated the causes of said capture, reported that the conduct of the Claimant had been proper and becoming his Station. 6^th That early in 1776, when he was Commander of the Brigantine Defence, the claimant captured three Vessels having on board a Regiment of Troops, five thousand Stands of Arms, besides Supplies of Ammunition, Tents and military Clothing, which, at that time, were of essential importance to the public defence.— That subsequently other valuable Prizes were made, and that during the War, about Eleven hundred Soldiers and Seamen were captured by Vessels commanded by the Claimant. 7^th That owing to the depreciation of the public currency, the Insolvency of Prize-Agents, and other Casualties, the Claimant has at no time derived the emoluments, which might have been reasonably expected as the result of his perseverance, bravery and good fortune as a Naval Commander. 8^th That the Claimant is now in a State of Poverty, unable from age to support himself by exertions of Industry; and that the representation made by himself is believed to be true, — namely, that he is indebted more than one thousand Dollars, chiefly in consequence of sickness in his family. Upon the facts before stated, and with reference to the scale of Compensation established by the Act of Congress above recited, we respectfully submit it as our opinion, that a Grant ought to be made in favour of Seth Harding, of Two thousand Acres of Land, to be located in such manner as Congress may be pleased to prescribe. All which is respectfully submitted by James McHenry Secy of War Ol. Wolcott Sec of the Treas[ury] [undecipherable signature] Comp[t] of the Treas[ury] Treasury Department February 13^th 1800