we shall then have taken, to be divided amongst the ship's company.

THIRDLY, We do also generally agree and oblige ourselves, that when any prize or prizes have been taken, to follow the express directions of the said. ..or his successors in boarding the said prize, and be under the command of any officer whom the said...shall appoint and be assisting him to carry the said prize to whatever port or ports such prize or prizes shall be assigned by the said...

do hereby severally agree and covenant in that case to be true and faithful in discharge of our duty and trust, and will not in any shape embezzle, defraud or plunder anything on board such prize or prizes, and in case any or either of us shall be found guilty of any breach contrary to the true meaning of this agreement, we, and such of us being guilty thereof, do hereby severally submit and agree to allow so much of all and every one our shares, and part of our shares of and in said. prize or prizes then or thence after to be taken, and of all our respective wages that then shall be due and coming to us in respect of our services, as shall make good such plunder or embezzlement we shall have been guilty of.

FOURTHLY, And it is also further agreed to be the true intent and meaning of all parties hereto, that the officer or officers of any of the ship's company sent on board any prize, shall have as good a share and interest of any prize that shall be thereafter taken during his or their absence, as if he or they had been on board the said vessel at the time of taking thereof, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided always, and it is hereby agreed to be the meaning of the said last mentioned clause, that if the said officer or officers, and such of the said ship's company to whom the conduct and management of any prize has been entrusted do not (first having accepted the commands of the said commanders concerning the said prize under his or their custody) immediately repair to the respective port or harbour where the ............... his successors in command shall order, or do not proceed with the said prize or prizes to the respective port or ports to be assigned by the said....for the time being, that then and in failure of any or either of the agreements

aforesaid contained on our parts, we and each and every one of us so offending, do hereby severally submit and agree to be cashiered not only for our several and respective interests and shares of, and in the captures or prize-money, but totally to be excluded and divested from the payment of any wages then due to us, for and in respect of our several services on board the said ship.. ........and the interest and shares of such

delinquents that otherwise would have accrued to us.

FIFTHLY, And the said...for and in behalf of himself and the Thirteen United Colonies of North America, doth hereby covenant and agree to, and with the said officers, seamen and marines, whose name or marks are hereto set and subscribed, to pay them in consideration of such services, so much money per month as in a Schedule hereunder mentioned, set opposite to the names or marks of each respective officer, seaman or landsman; and likewise to advance to each and every of them one month's pay at entrance (due security for the same being first given ;) the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge.

SIXTHLY, And as an encouragement to exert the valour of the seamen and marines in defending the said ship and in subduing and distressing the said enemy, the said.

for and on behalf of the said Thirteen United Colonies of North America, doth further covenant, promise and agree to, and with all and every the officers, seamen, and marines, parties hereto, that in case any prize or prizes shall be taken by the said ship during the intended cruize, that the same shall be proceeded against, and distributed according to the resolutions of Congress.

SEVENTHLY, And it is by these presents mutually agreed and covenanted to, by and between the said.. ...and every the officers, seamen and marines parties hereto, that in case the Commander for the time being lose a limb in an engagement, or be otherwise disabled, so as to be rendered incapable afterwards of getting a livelihood to subsist upon, he shall receive out of the net profits of such prize or prizes, or prize goods, if so much arise, before dividend or distribution be declared, the sum of Four Hundred Dollars; or if he lose his life, his widow or children (if any), shall receive the said Bounty of Four Hundred Dollars, together with all prize

money to him belonging at the time of his decease. And if the Captain of the Marines, or any other commission or warrant officer lose a limb, or be otherwise disabled, so as to be rendered incapable afterwards of getting a subsistence, he or they so disabled shall receive a bounty of Three Hundred Dollars, if so much arise from the net profits as aforesaid; and in case of death, the widow or children (if any) is, and shall be entitled to the same together with their share of prize-money due at the time of their decease. And if an inferior officer, seaman or marine lose a limb, or be otherwise disabled so as to be rendered incapable afterwards of getting a subsistence, he or they shall receive a bounty of Two Hundred Dollars, to be deducted as aforesaid, and in case of death, his widow or children (if any) is, are, and shall be intitled to the same, together with his share of prize-money due at the time of his decease.

He who first discovers a ship or vessel which shall afterwards become a prize shall be intitled to a double share of such prize.

THERE shall be ten shares of every prize, which shall be taken and condemned, set apart to be given to such inferior officers, seamen & marines, as shall be adjudged best to deserve them by the superior officers, who shall be appointed to make such determination.

He who shall first board a ship or other vessel making resistance, which shall become a prize, shall be entitled to a triple share.

PROVIDED always, and it is hereby declared to be the true interest and meaning of the parties to the aforementioned articles and orders, that any of the officers, seamen and marines shall be liable to be removed by the Congress or Committee of the Congress, during the recess thereof, or by the Commander in chief of the American fleet for the time being, from the aforesaid vessel or any other armed vessel in the service of the Thirteen United Colonies, anything contained in the foregoing orders and articles notwithstanding.

THE Committee, to whom it was referred to consider how the shares of prizes allotted to the captors ought to be divided between the officers and men, brought in their report, which being taken into consideration, was agreed to as follows:

RESOLVED, That the Commander in chief have one twentieth part of the said allotted prize-money taken by any ship

or ships, armed vessel or vessels under his orders and command. THAT the Captain of any single ship or armed vessel have two twentieth parts for his share; but if more ships or armed vessels be in company when a prize is taken then the two twentieth parts to be divided amongst all the said captains.

THAT the Lieutenants of the marines, Surgeons, Chaplains, Pursers, Boatswains, Gunners, Carpenters, the Masters Mates, and the Secretary of the fleet share together and have two twentieth parts, and one half of a twentieth part divided among them equally of all prizes taken when they are in company.

THAT the following petty warrants, and petty officers (viz. allowing for each ship six Midshipmen; for each brig four Midshipmen; for each sloop two Midshipmen, one Captain's Clerk, one Surgeon's Mate, one Steward, one Sailmaker, one Cooper, one Armourer, two Boatswain's Mates, one cook, one coxswain, two Serjeants of Marines for each ship and one Serjeant for each brig or sloop) have three twentieth parts divided among them equally; and when a prize is taken by any ship or vessel, on board of which the Commander in chief is, or in company, then the Commander in chief's cook or coxswain to be added to this allotment, and have their shares with those last mentioned.

THAT the remaining eight twentieth parts, and one half of a twentieth part, be divided among the rest of the Ship or Ship's companies as it may happen, share and share alike.

THAT no officer or man have any share, but such as are actually on board their several vessels at the time any prize or prizes are taken, excepting such as may have been ordered on board any other prizes before taken, or sent away by his or their commanding officers.

INSTRUCTIONS to the Commanders of Private Ships or vessels of war, which shall have commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, authorizing them to make captures of British vessels and cargoes.

1. You may by force of arms attack, subdue, and take all ships and other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great Britain on the high seas, or between high water and