(Copy.)
Circular.
Sir,

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having authorized you to grant Commissions of Marque against the Rebels, it is to be expected that Vessels bearing such Commissions will bring their Prizes into the Ports within your Government, and you may be under some Embarrassment in respect to the Disposal of the Prisoners, I have therefore received the King's Commands to signify to You His Majesty's Pleasure, that when any Prisoners taken in any Rebel Privateer or armed Cruizer shall be brought into any of the Ports within your Government, you do commit them to the common Goal or other Place of safe Custody and apply to the Assembly for an Allowance for their Maintenance and other Expences attending their Confinement, and in case the Assembly shall not think fit to take upon themselves the providing for such Expences, you are to draw upon the Lords Commiss[ioners] of the Treasury for the Amount, taking care that every thing be done in the most frugal and careful manner, and accompanying your Bills with the proper Vouchers; and when any Opportunity offers of putting them on board any of His Majesty's Ships, you will deliver them to the Commanders, in such Numbers as they can be received, in order to their being sent to England, under the Admiral's Direction and in case you cannot so dispose of the whole, you may agree with the Masters of different Merchant Ships, to take the Remain[der] in small Numbers and carry them to England as Prisoners, their Passage to be paid here upon Certificates of their Delivery on board any of His Majesty's Ships at Plymouth, Portsmouth, in the Downs, or at the Nore; and you are at the same time to transmit to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty one or more Affidavits properly authenticated that such Prisoners were taken in an armed Vessel commissioned by the Rebels. In regard to the Crews of any trading Vessels belonging to the Rebels, such of them, as the Commanders of His Majesty's Ships do not think fit to press into the King's Service, must be left at Liberty. I am, &c.