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 if done to other vessels would be of a doubtful nature, as being applicable either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful, except those which shall have made prize of the subjects, people, or property of France coming with their prizes into 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 fitted for merchandise and war, whether with or without commissions, which are doubtful in their nature, as being applicable either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful, except those which shall be made prize, etc.

5.  Equipments of any of the vessels of France in the ports of the United States which are doubtful in their nature, 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 lawful.

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 stranded or wrecked, 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 infringed any of the foregoing rules, may lawfully engage or enlist their own subjects or citizens, not being inhabitants of the United States, except privateers of the powers at war with France and except those vessels which shall have made prize, etc.

The foregoing rules having been considered by us at several meetings and being now unanimously approved, they are submitted to the President of the United States.

  THOMAS JEFFERSON. 
  ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 
  HENRY KNOX. 
  EDMUND RANDOLPH.

RESTITUTION OF PRIZES

AUGUST 5, 1793.

That the minister of the French Republic be informed that the President considers the United States as bound, pursuant to positive assurances given in conformity to the laws of neutrality, to effectuate the restoration of or to make compensation for prizes which shall have been made of any of the parties at war with France subsequent to the 5th day of June last by privateers fitted out of their ports.

That it is consequently expected that he will cause restitution to be made of all prizes taken and brought into our ports subsequent to the above-mentioned day by such privateers, in defect of which the President considers it as incumbent upon the United States to indemnify the owners of those prizes, the indemnification to be reimbursed by the French nation.