ces, to all to whom these
presents shall come, Greeting. Be it known, that having been advised
that some vessels of war or foreign privateers, abusing the liberty
that was granted them of resorting to and anchoring in our harbors, in
case of want or accident, and of bringing with them the vessels or
effects taken by them from their enemies, have undertaken to sell or
dispose of their said prizes, which is directly against our intention,
and may give rise to a misunderstanding between us and our neighbors,
which we desire to prevent as much as is in our power, by all possible
means, having considered what may best conduce to this end, we have
thought good to declare, ordain and resolve as follows.

"Hereafter all vessels of war and foreign privateers, whatever they
may be, which shall enter into the roadsteads, rivers and waters, of
this State, shall hoist on their arrival the flag of the nation to
which they belong, and not advance further into said rivers and
waters, than to secure themselves from tempests and other perils,
without permission of the College of Admiralty, in the district in
which they may be. They shall abstain from every act which may offend
or aggrieve any one, whether stranger or subject of the State, but
conduct on the contrary, in said waters in a manner not to harm or
give cause of complaint to any one, under penalty not only of not
receiving any assistance, but also of being expelled by force. In case
that any vessel of war or privateer having letters of reprisal refuse
to hoist on arrival its flag, or may be in the said waters and rivers
without permission of the College of Admiralty in the district where
they are, the crew will be regarded and treated as pirates. All
officers of vessels of war or foreign privateers, which shall enter
into the mouths of rivers of this State with their vessels and prizes,
or with their prizes only, shall be bound to abstain from announcing
or publishing in any manner said prizes, from discharging them in
whole or in part, from selling or disposing of them; but they shall
keep or retain them entire, and put to sea with them, returning in the
same state as when they arrived; under pain of being deprived of said
prizes, which shall be seized by the officers of this State and kept
by the College of Admiralty of the district, till the counsellors of
said College, having taken cognizance of the fact, shall judge proper
to dispose of them agreeably to the exigency of th