O Say Can You See

In the Tryal of this Cause the Council for the petitioner offered in Evidence the declarations of a Certain Mrs Smith to prove the petitioners were descended from a free White Woman, and the Council for the defendant offered to impeach the credibility of said Mrs Smith, by declarations proving [strikethrough] a Witness to proveto the Jury that the said Mrs Smith was a woman who by General Reputation of the Neighbourhood Aforesaid and kept company with Negroes. To which evidence the court were of opinion was improper to go to Jury the council for the Petitioner objected as being improper to go to the Jury and the court was being of opinion that the same was improper, and refused to allow the same to be offered to the Jury to which opinion of the Court the Council for the defendant prayd leave to Axcept except and that they would sign & seal this his bill of exception according to the statute which is done accordingly

Samuel Chase (seal)
Jeremiah Townley Chase (seal)