Articles agreed to between the United States of America, and the Officers, Seamen, Marines, and Others, Serving on Board the Ships and Vessels of the said States.

We, whose Hands and Marks are hereunto set and subscribed, being Officers, Seamen, Marines, &c. do, and each of us doth agree to and with Henry Johnson Commander of the good Brig called the Lexington belonging to the United States of America, in Manner and Form following, That is to say,

First, We do, for the considerations herein after mentioned, agree, to and with the said Commander, forthwith to enter and ship ourselves on Board the said Brig called the Lexington and to the utmost of our Power and Ability, respectively to discharge our several services or stations, and in every thing to be conformable and obedient to the lawful Commands of the said Henry Johnson and his Successors, during the Term of Twelve Months, unless sooner discharged from her to another Ship on the Service of the States.

Secondly, We do also oblige and subject ourselves, to serve on Board the said Brig during the said Term; and, as she is a Vessel of War, We do severally oblige ourselves by these Articles to comply with, and be subject to the Rules and Discipline of the American Fleet, and to be governed and commanded in time of Action with an Enemy according to said Rules, and submit ourselves to the Punishments and Penalties therein mentioned, in case we or any of us offer to desert our Quarters, or do not obey the lawful Commands of the said Commander or his Successors; and if, upon due examination, we or any of us should be found guilty of any breach of Duty, or act of Cowardice, We do hereby severally submit and agree, to forfeit our respective Shares of and in any Prize or Prizes we shall then have taken, to be divided among the said Ship's Company.

Thirdly, That when any Prize or Prizes have been taken, we will follow the express Directions of the said Commander or his Successors, in boarding the said Prize, and be under the Command of any Officer whom the said Commander shall appoint, and assist him in carrying the said Prize to such Port or Ports as he or his Successors shall direct; that we will not in any shape embezzle or plunder any thing on Board such Prize or Prizes, but will discharge our Duty with fidelity and care: And in case any or either of us shall be found guilty of any Breach of Trust, contrary to the true Meaning of this Article, we do hereby severally agree, to forfeit so much of our shares in the said Prize and Prizes then or thenceafter to be taken, and of our respective Wages which shall then be due, as shall make good such Plunder orembezzlement.

Fourthly, And it is also further agreed, to be the true Intent andMeaning of all Parties hereto, that the Officer or Officers, or any of the Ship's Company sent on Board any Prize, shall have as good ashareandInterest in any other Prize, that shall be thereafter taken, during his or their absence as if he or they had been on Board the said Vessel at the time of taking thereof, any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Fifthly, And the said Commander for and in behalf of himself and the said United States, doth hereby Covenant and Agree to and with the said Officers, Seamen, Marines, and others whose Names or Marks are hereto set or subscribed, to pay them, in consideration of such services, so much Money per Month, as is specified in a Schedule hereto annexed, and set opposite to the Name or Mark of each respective Officer, Seaman, or Landsman; and likewise to advance unto each and every of them, one Month's Pay at Entrance, due security for the same being first given.

Sixthly, And as an encouragement to exert the Valour of the Seamen and Marines, in defending said Brig and in subduing and distressing the Enemy, the said Commander for and on behalf of the said United States, doth further Covenant, Promise, and Agree to and with all and every of the Officers, Seamen, Marines, and others, Parties hereto, that in case any Prize or Prizes shall be taken by the said Ship or Vessel, the same shall be proceeded against, and distributed according to the Resolutions of the saidStates.

Seventhly, And it is by those Presents mutually agreed and consented to, by and between the said Commander and every the Officers, E:eamen, Marines, and others, Parties hereto, That in case the Commander for the time being lose a Limb in an Engagement, or be otherwise disabled, so as to be rendered incapable afterwards of getting a livelyhood, he shall receive, out of the neat Profits of such Prize or Prizes, and Prize Goods, if so much arise, before a Dividend or Distribution be declared, the sum of Four Hundred Dollars, or if he lose his Life, his Widow or Children (if any) shall receive the said Bounty of Four Hundred Dollars, together with all Prize Money to him belonging at the time of his Decease. And if the Captain of the Marines, or any other Commission or Warrant Officer, lose a Limb or be otherwise disabled, so as to be rendered incapable afterwards of getting a subsistance, he or they so disabled, shall receive a Bounty of Three Hundred Dollars, if so much arise, from the neat Profits as aforesaid, and in case of Death, the Widow or Children (if any) shall be entitled to the same, together with their Share of Prize Money, due at the time of their Decease. And if any inferior Officer, Marine, or Sailor, lose a Limb, or be otherwise disabled, so as to be rendered incapable afterwards of getting a subsistance, he or they shall receive a Bounty of Two Hundred Dollars, to be deducted as aforesaid; and in case of Death, his Widow or Children (if any) shall be entitled to the same, together with his share of Prize Money due at the time of his Decease.

He who first discovers a Ship or other Vessel which shall afterwards become a Prize, shall be entitled to a double share of such Prize.

He who shall first Board a Ship or other Vessel making resistance, which shall become a Prize, shall be entitled to a triple share.

There shall be ten shares of every Prize, which shall be taken and condemned, set apart, to be given to such inferior Officers, Seamen, Marines, &c. as shall be adjudged best to deserve them, by the superior Officers who shall be appointed to make such determination.

Provided always, And it is hereby declared to be the true Intent and Meaning of the Parties to the afore-mentioned Orders and Articles, that any of the Officers, Seamen, or Marines, shall be liable to be removed by order of the United States, or by the Commander in Chief of the American Fleet for the time being, from the foresaid Vessel to any other armed Vessel in the service of the said States, any thing contained in the foregoing Orders and Articles notwithstanding.

N B. That a bounty of Twenty dollars be paid to the Commander, Officers &Men of such Continental Ships or Vessels of War, for every Cannon mounted on board each prize at the Time of such Capture, and Eight Dollars pr head for every man then on board and belonging to such Prize —