John Adams, President of the United States Instruction to the Commanders of armed Vessels belonging to the United States, given at Philadelphia the twenty eighth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight and in the twenty second Year of the Independence of the said State. Whereas it is declared by an Act of Congress passed the twenty eighth day of May 1798 that armed Vessels sailing under authority or pretence of authority from the Republic of France, have committed depredations on the commerce of the United States and have recently captured the vessels and property of Citizens thereof on and near the Coasts, in violation of the law of Nations and treaties between the United States and the French Nation, Therefore and in pursuance of the said Act you are instructed and directed to seize, take and bring into any port of the United States to be proceeded against according to the laws of Nations any armed vessel sailing under authority or pretence of authority from the Republic of France, which shall have committed, or which shall be found hovering on the Coast of the United States for the purpose of committing depredations on the vessels belonging to Citizens thereof; and also to retake any ship or Vessel of any Citizen or Citizens of the United States which may have been captured by any such armed Vessel- By Command James W. McHenry Secy. of War

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