Germantown November 12. 1793— In carrying [on] between [wars?] of the European powers [having] [joined?] the [expence?] of a [public?] or our [coast?], it has become more [special?] that some certain distance from our shores should be permanently fixed as the limits of the protection of the United States The President of the United States in determining what the distance should be has been guided more by the principles of moderation and a hope that it — — may be settled by negotiation with the different powers who may be concerned in the question, than by the opinions of any jurists who are for a greater distance, which however do not appear to have had such influence as to force any general [idea?] [standing?] among the European powers The President therefore has conceived it best as shall concern the Executive [known?] to take the distance of a Sea League as 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 claimed on their own coasts can admit of no reasonable opposition on their part. He has therefore [decided?] to request that you [designate?] as the confines a margin of one Sea League being a very small fraction less than three and one half Statute or American Miles [measured?] on that outline which all hostilities are [interdicted?]. The terms and [usage?] being [established?] and of course by the laws of nations and as [presented?] by the laws of most of the States within the [territory?] of the United States and [entitle?] the same protection from hostilities. As the Question whether the [undecipherable] has been made within these limits is a question of fact to be decided by [whom?] so ever it becomes [undecipherable] [AX804]