[W. R. Benjamin N.Y.C. Mar 7, 1941 315.] [l^re from the Sec at War, respecting the interposition necessary in cases of capture within the protection of the U.S. May 23^d 1793.] War Department 23 May 1793. Sir/ I am directed by the President of the United States to address you [undecipherable] on the following Subject. A case has lately occurred in this vicinity which regarded the interposition of the general Government; and as similar cases may arise in other places, it is necessary that some uniform, adequate and proper remedy should be provided and operate throughout the United States — The [undecipherable] of one of the powers engaged in the present war [against?] those 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 [undecipherable] for the captured Vessel to be released, which the Minister [undecipherable] here of the power whose Vessel committed the aggression, having [readily?] undertaken to have done — And as this remedy may not be adopted to every case, and especially to distant ones, some other is to be [undecipherable] of more universal application — As the capture of Vessels being generally the consequence of an attack in combat, and that by an armed and foreign force in its nature, if committed within our territory is a military aggression, and [undecipherable] to be repressed by the military force of the Nation — [undecipherable]