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A tribunal which constituted the main portion of the Federal judiciary before 1789. General Washington made the first suggestion of a Federal prize court, to hear appeals from State courts in cases of capture of prizes. From 1776 to 1780 Congress heard appeals by means of committees. The complications arising out of the case of the sloop "Active," which embroiled the Federal Government with Pennsylvania and showed the weakness of the former, led to the establishment of a permanent Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture, in 1780. The court held sittings from that time to 1787, and consisted of three judges. The court and the committees which preceded it took cognizance of 118 cases. It was a precursor of the U. S. Supreme Court.