Resolved, That fifty blank commissions for private ships of war, with an equal number of instructions and resolutions of Congress for taking or destroying the vessels of the subjects of Great Britain, be delivered to the committee for foreign affairs, to be by them transmitted to the commissioners at the court of France.

Ordered, That the committee for foreign affairs revise the commissions for private ships of war, and the instructions, heretofore given to the commanders of the said ships, and report such alterations and amendments as they judge proper to be made therein.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to inquire into the laws and customs of Nations respecting neutrality, and to report their opinion whether the conduct of the King of Portugal, in forbidding the vessels of the United States to enter his ports and ordering those already there to depart at a short day, is not a breach of the laws of neutrality, and will justify acts of hostility against the subjects of the said King.

Congress took into consideration the letter of the 26 of last month from Governor Johnson, the copy of the said governor's letter to Captain James Nicholson, and Captain Nicholson's answer; Whereupon,

Resolved, That this Congress will never countenance or support any continental officer in violating the laws of any State or treating its magistrates with contempt:

That Captain James Nicholson be suspended from all command, in the service of the United States, until he shall have made such satisfaction, as shall be accepted by the executive powers of the State of Maryland, for the disrespectful and contemptuous letter written by him to the governor of that State.

Resolved, That Captain James Nicholson be served with a copy of the said resolutions, and that, in case he shall not, within five days after he has been served with the said copy, make the satisfaction required, he be dismissed from his command and from the service of the United States.

Ordered, That the foregoing resolutions be immediately transmitted by the Marine Committee, and that they give the necessary orders for immediately dismissing the men impressed by Captain Nicholson.²