4

in making the valuation the
opinions and statements of
the captains and officers of
the captured vessels had necessarily
to a great extent to
be relied upon - and it was
to their interest, as representing
the owners, to have the loss appear
as great as possible;
and secondly, the board of
officers, being entitled to a
share of the value of the capture
for prize - money, more
thus likewise interested in
having to estimate high.

These valuations, contained
in this log, as regard as the
best evidence, in the nature
of the case, of which your
claims, in their further prosecution
against the U.S.
Government, are susceptible