[S. of W. at last &. d.p. 5. 793 aug 5. 1[undecipherable] h [undecipherable] him &c] X X X War department August 5. 1793. Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter dated at Fredericksburg the 30^th ultimo, and to enclose you a copy thereof agreeably to your request. The rules which you request? — will be transmitted in a post or two, In the mean time it may be sufficient to observe that the original arming and equipping a vessel, belonging to any of the belligerent powers for war in our ports is deemed unlawful, and therefore to be prohibited. It is conceived the mere purchasing of the implements or munitions of war and shipping them as a part of a cargo is admissible — But the constructing a vessel for war by making port holes and mounting of cannon, is considered as inadmissible — I have the honor to be with great respect Sir Your Excellency's obedient humble servant [signature] [His Excellency Governor Henry Lee]