War Department August 7. 1793 — Sir, Applications having been made by the Governors of several of the States for some specific Orders to direct their conduct in pursuance of my letter of the 26 May last, the President of the United States has upon mature consideration thought proper to adopt the following regulations for the preservation of our neutrality as deductions from the general laws of Nations — to wit — 1. The original arming and equipping of vessels in the ports of the United States by any of the belligerent parties for military service, offensive or defensive, is deemed unlawful. 2. Equipments of Merchant vessels by either of the belligerent parties in the ports of the United States purely for the accommodation of them as such is lawful. 3. Equipments in the Ports of the United States of vessels of War in the immediate service of the Government of any of the belligerent parties which of these vessels would be of a doubtful nature, as being applicable either to commerce — — are deemed lawful, except those which have no tendency of the subjects & property of France coming with their prizes unto the ports of the United States pursuant to the seventeenth article of our treaty of amity and commerce with France. 4. Equipments in the ports of the United States by any of the parties at War with France, of vessels fit for merchandise and War, whether with or without Commission, some which are doubtful in their nature as being applicable either to commerce or War are deemed lawful, except those which shall have made prize &c. 5 Equipments ap- ments of any of the subjects of France on board of the United States which are taken their natures as being applicable to commerce or War are deemed lawful — 6. Equipments of every kind in the ports of the United States, of privateers of the powers at War with France are deemed unlawful. 7. Equipments of vessels in the ports of the United States which are of a nature solely adapted to War are deemed unlawful, except those mentioned or noticed as mentioned in the eighteenth article of our Treaty with France, the sixteenth of our Treaty with the United Netherlands, the ninth of our Treaty with Prussia, and except those mentioned in the nineteenth article of our Treaty with France, the seventeenth of our Treaty with the United Netherlands, the eighteenth of our Treaty with Prussia. 8. Vessels of either of the parties not armed or armed previous to their coming into the ports of the United States which shall not have in furgenancy any of the foregoing, is may lawfully engage or enlist therein their own subjects or Citizens not being the subjects of the United States except the subjects of the powers of Spain with France cent those of which shall have made prize &c. The President has instructed me to request that your Excellency in your capacity as Commander in Chief of your Militia would in the earliest stage possible, suppress all practices throughout the State of Georgia which shall be a violation of these regulations, or the neutrality of the United States so essential to the happiness of our Country — I have the honor to be with great respect Your Excellency's obedient Servant [signature] Sec^y of War His Excellency The Governor of Georgia