Now I have all the images. Let me transcribe the primary document (pages 1–3, marked "Duplicate"), using the other copies (pages 5–6 and 7–9) to resolve difficult passages. [Duplicate] War Department. 25. May 1793. Sir, I am directed by the President of the United States to address your Excellency on the following subject. A case has lately occurred in this vicinity which required the interposition of the general Government; and as similar cases may arise in other places, it is necessary that some uniform, adequate and prompt remedy should be provided and operate throughout the United States. An armed Vessel from one of the Powers engaged in the present war captured a Ship of another, lying in the Bay of Delaware and consequently under the protection of the United States. Both duty and honor required that the Government should cause the captured Vessel to be restored, which the Minister residing here of the power whose Vessel committed the aggression, has very readily undertaken to have done. But as this remedy may not be adequate to every age and especially to distant times, some other is to be resorted to of more universal application — The capture of Vessels being generally the commencement of an attack or combat, and that by an armed and foreign force is in its nature, if committed within our territory, a military aggression and to be repressed by the military power of the Nation — the punishing power of the Union is its Militia and this is [undecipherable] where at hand to meet every violation of the national protection — Your Excellency therefore as the head of the Militia of the State of New Hampshire — the President of the United States confides the charge of interposing in all cases of hostility committed between the belligerent parties within the protection of your State; desiring that you would be pleased with the aid of your Militia, to detain the parties aggressing, until you could communicate the case to the President, with the evidences in writing which may establish the facts, for his ultimate decision thereon — This you may be assured of receiving with all the dispatch [undecipherable] circumstances may admit — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I have the honor to be With great respect Your Excellency's Most Obed^t Humb^le Servant — Knox July 5^th [undecipherable] His Excellency the Governor of the State of New Hampshire [Printed XCVII. p. 664—]