The Inhabitants of several of His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in North America, Vizt in New Hampshire Massachusets Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, the three lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland Virginia North Carolina and South Carolina having traiterously combined together for the general purpose of resisting the Authority of this Kingdom and having, in a hostile manner, arrayed themselves in Arms and committed Acts of Open and actual Rebellion; You are hereby required and directed, in pursuance of the King's Pleasure signified to us, by the Earl of Dartmouth one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State in his Letter of the 29h of last Month² to give Orders to the respective Captains and Commanders of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels under your Command to seize all Ships and Vessels belonging to any of the said Colonies or owned by the Inhabitants thereof, except only in cases where it shall clearly appear, from their Papers or from other Evidence, that they are bound to, or returning from some Port or Place in Great Britain, Ireland or His Majesty's Islands in the West Indies; but you are to observe that this Exception is not to extend or be applied, to, such Ships or Vessels as may have Arms or Ammunition on board, which Ships and Vessels are to be seized in all cases whatsoever, unless it shall appear that the Arms and Ammunition shall have been shipped with Licence either from His Majesty in Council, from the Master General_ and Principal Officers of the Ordnance, or under the usual Clearances from the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs.

And, in pursuance of His Majesty's further pleasure signified as aforesaid you are to cause all Ships and Vessels, which shall be seized in the Cases beforementioned to be carried to some British Port, not within the twelve associated Colonies, and there detained til further Orders, or be proceeded against according to Law as the nature of the Case shall require. Given &c the 2d of September 1775