You are hereby authorized, instructed, and directed to subdue, seize, and take any armed French vessel or vessels sailing under authority or pretense of authority from the French Republic which shall be found within the jurisdictional limits of the United States or elsewhere on the high seas, and such captured vessel, with her apparel, guns, and appurtenances and the goods and effects which shall be found on board of the same, to bring within some port of the United States; and also retake any vessel, goods, and effects of the United States or persons resident therein which may have been captured by any French vessel, in order that proceedings may be had concerning such capture or recapture in due form of law and as to right shall appertain. By command of the President of the United States of America: BEN. STODDERT. [From C.F. Adams's Works of John Adams, Vol. IX, p. 160.] CIRCULAR TO THE COMMANDERS OF ARMED VESSELS IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES, GIVEN AT THE NAVY DEPARTMENT DECEMBER 29, 1798. SIR: It is the positive command of the President that on no pretense whatever you permit the public vessel of war under your command to be detained or searched nor any of the officers or men belonging to her to be taken from her by the ships or vessels of any foreign nation so long as you are in a capacity to repel such outrage on the honor of the American flag. If force should be exerted to compel your submission, you are to resist that force to the utmost of your power, and when overpowered by superior force you are to strike your flag and thus yield your vessel as well as your men, but never your men without your vessel. You will remember, however, that your demeanor be respectful and friendly to the vessels and people of all nations in amity with the United States, and that you avoid as carefully the commission of as the submission to insult or injury. I have the honor to be, etc., BEN STODDERT. [From Annals of Congress, Seventh Congress, second session, 747-748.] CIRCULAR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CAPTAINS AND COMMANDERS OF VESSELS IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES. NAVY DEPARTMENT, _March 12, 1799._ SIR: Herewith you will receive an act of Congress "further to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States and France and the dependencies thereof," the whole of which requires your attention; but it is the command of the President that you consider particularly the fifth section as part of your instructions and govern yourself accordingly.