O Say Can You See

Know all men by these presents that we James Rhodes, Joseph S. Clarke and Richard G. Briscoe of Washington County in the District of Columbia are held and firmly bound unto Moses Bell in the full and just sum of five Hundred dollars current money of the United States, to be paid to the said Moses Bell his certain attorney, executors administrators or assigns, to which payment well and truly to be made and done, we bind ourselves and each of us, our and each of our heirs executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated this 1st day of December 1842.

Whereas application is about to be made to prosecute and sue forth a writ of error to reverse the judgment of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia sitting for the County of Washington in a suit pending in the said Court, between Moses Bell plaintiff and James Rhodes, defendant, wherein Judgment was rendered against the said James Rhodes.

Now the Condition of the above obligation is such, that if the said James Rhodes shall prosecute his writ with effect, and answer all Damages and Costs, if he fails to make his plea good, then the above obligation to be null and void otherwise to be and remain in full force & virtue.

Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of James I Clarke[?]

Jas Rhodes (seal)
Joseph S Clarke (seal)
Richd G. Briscoe (seal)

Decr. 13. 1842 - approved
R. B. Taney