The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 09
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 09
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
"And to the end that these orders may be better executed, all officers
and masters of privateers, which shall anchor in the harbors of this
State, shall be holden to give notice at the first place where they
shall come, of the cause of their arrival to the officers charged by
the State with the inspection of the entry of vessels, to present to
said officers their commissions, and especially to declare what prizes
they have made, on what nation they have made them, and in general in
what their cargoes consist. Moreover the said vessels of war or
privateers shall permit the said officers to put persons on board said
prizes to guard them, and prevent anything from being sold or
discharged contrary to the present decree, and in this manner they
shall put to sea with their prizes, and depart from the harbors of
this State.
"And to give more effect to our intentions, and the better to prevent
all difference on this subject, we advise by these presents all the
inhabitants of this State, and others who reside here, that they will
have to conform to their provisions, and will be careful of taking
upon themselves to purchase, accept, or take for their own account,
part or the whole of any prize brought into the harbors of this State
under any pretext whatever, and also of aiding or facilitating, with
their persons, vessels, or boats the sale, discharge, or removal of
said prizes; under penalty, not only that all the effects they shall
have acquired against the present decree, (without receiving any
compensation for what they have disbursed, or their arrears of wages,)
shall be seized by the College of Admiralty of the District, and
confiscated to the profit of whom it may concern; but also that the
party shall be condemned to the payment of one thousand florins, one
third of which shall be to the use of the State, one third to the
informer, whose name shall remain secret, and the remaining third for
the officer who shall have received the complaint.
"And in order that no person may pretend ignorance, we desire and
request the Lords the Committee of Roads and the Deputies of the
States of the respective Provinces immediately to announce, publish
and post up the present Placard wherever need shall be, and as it is
customary to practise. We enjoin moreover and command the Counsellors
of the Admiralty, the Advocate of the Treasury, the Admirals,
Vice-Admirals, Captains, Officers and Commandants, as also the
Commissaries, and Commissioners of Search in the harbors and other
places to execute and cause to be executed the present order; to
proceed and cause proceedings to be had against offenders, without any
connivance, favor, dissimulation or agreement; for we have thus judged
necessary for the service of the State.
"Done and concluded at the Assembly of their High Highnesses the
States-General at the Hague, the third of November, one thousand seven
hundred and fiftysix."
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