[Delaware. Letter from the Sec'y of War — announcing the Distance provisionally fixed as the Limits of the protection of the U. States. November 12. 1793.] Germantown November 12^th 1793 Sir The Existing war between some of the European powers having occasioned the Capture of Vessels on our Sea Coast, it has become plain that some certain distance from our shores should be provisionally fixed as the Limits of the protection of the United States. The President of the United States in determining what this distance should be, has been guided more by the principles of moderation and a hope that — it — may here after be extended by negotiations with the different powers who may be concerned in the question, than by the opinions of some Jurists who are for a greater distance, which however do not appear to have had such influence as to fix any general Standard among the European powers. The President therefore has conceived it best as far as shall concern the Executive power to take the distance of a Sea league, for the limits of the protection of the United States. This distance being settled by treaty between some of the belligerent powers, and as little as any of them claim on their own coasts, can admit of no reasonable opposition on their parts. He has therefore directed me to request that your Excellency will consider a margin of one Sea League being a very small fraction less than three and an half Statute or American miles, on our Coast, as that within which all hostilities are interdicted. The rivers and Bays, as being land locked, are of course by the Laws of nations, and it is presumed by the laws of most of the States, within the body of the United States, and under the same protection from hostilities. As the question whether the Capture has been made within these limits is a question of fact, to be decided by witnesses, it becomes necessary to take measures for the examination of these Matters, as in the different States where the Capture may happen, and the Laws of the Union having as yet made no provision for this purpose, the President confides that this duty ought for the present to be performed by the attorneys of the respective districts. In case therefore that your Excellency should take possession of any vessel upon an allegation of her having been captured within our limits, you will have the goodness to cause the attorney of the United States within your State to be notified thereof, in order that he may take the proper Steps for the Examination of the necessary Witnesses upon the affair. The President of the United States has further instructed me to inform your Excellency, that if any Privateers, which have been illegally fitted in any of our ports, should by any circumstances be constrained to come into any of the ports of the State of Delaware, that they may be permitted to make no repairs whatever, but on the Condition of their divesting themselves of all Warlike equipments. In such a case, that they be permitted to make any repairs belonging Solely to a commercial Vessel. 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 the State of Delaware