War department January 12^th 1793. Sir, The President of the United States has directed me to acknowledge and reply to your letters of the 26 November and the 19. Ultimo From the circumstance of not having posession of the papers upon the subject, an error was committed in my letter dated at Germantown on the 12 of November last, in saying that prizes, taken after the fifth day of June by proscribed privateers and brought into our ports, were to be secured for the purpose of being restored to their former Owners The date which such prizes were to be restored is after the fifth^o day of August last. If the evidence in your posession establishes the fact that the money in posession of the Marshal of North Carolina belonged to the Spanish King, it is to be delivered to such Agents as his Catholic Majesty's Ministers shall have empowered to receive it, or to the Captain or Owners if they should make their appearance. An Agent however, it is understood, has been appointed for this purpose. The expences which have been or may be incurred in the prosecution of this business are to be defrayed by the general Government; upon accounts which shall be authenticated by your Excellency and transmitted to the Accountant of this Office under cover to me. The principle established by the President of the United States and contained in my letter of the 16 of August last prohibiting asylum to any armed vessels fitted originally in our ports as cruizers, is considered as of the highest importance to be adhered to, unless such vessels will divest themselves entirely of all warlike equipments I have the honor to be with great respect Your Excellency's obedient Servant H Knox Sec^y of War. [His Excellency The Governor of North Carolina]