Fourth.  The master or pilot and one or more of the principal persons of the company of every armed French vessel captured as aforesaid are to be sent as soon after the capture as may be to the judge or judges of the proper court in the United States to be examined upon oath touching the interest or property of the captured vessel and her lading, and at the same time are to be delivered to the judge or judges all passes, charter parties, bills of lading, invoices, letters, and other documents and writings found on board; the said papers to be proved by the affidavit of the commander of the capturing vessel or some other person present at the capture, to be produced as they were received, without fraud, addition, subduction, or embezzlement.

Fifth.  The commanders of American private armed ships are by all convenient opportunities to send to the Secretary of the Navy written accounts of the captures they shall make, with the number and names of the captives and intelligence of what may occur or be discovered concerning the designs of the French and the destinations, motions, and operations of their fleets, cruisers, and armies.

Sixth.  Where it can be done without injury or great inconvenience, the armed French vessels captured as aforesaid are to be sent to some port in the United States to be tried according to law.  But such captures may happen in places remote from the United States or under circumstances which would render the sending of the captured vessels thither extremely inconvenient, while, from the vicinity of the ports of the British dominions or those of any other power in friendship with the United States, but at war with France, or from other circumstances, it would be easy to send such captured vessels into those friendly ports.  In such cases it will be lawful to send such prizes into those friendly ports where they will find an asylum; and if the laws of those countries admit of it and it can be done to the satisfaction of the captors, there will be no objection on the part of the American Government to the libeling and trying such captured armed French vessels by the proper courts of those, countries, where also may be delivered to the proper officers all French persons and others who shall be found acting on board of any French armed vessel which shall be captured or on board of any vessel of the United States which shall be recaptured as aforesaid.

Seventh.  With respect to American vessels, goods, and effects recaptured, it seems not necessary to bring them immediately into a port of the United States.  If brought in, they are to be restored to the owners on the payment of salvage.  But such recaptured vessels, goods, and effects may at the time of recapture be so remote from the United States and so near a market, or the goods and effects may be of a nature so perishable, that to send such vessels, goods, and effects back to the United States may prove extremely injurious to the owners and recaptors, whereas, if