By the Viscount Howe Vice Admiral of the White & Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships & Vessels Employed & to be Employed in North America

Whereas the Kings Service has rece1ved great prejudice in the decrease of the Ships Complements from the Recapture of Vessels the Property of the Kings disaffected subjects, taken & manned by the Ships of War, (which can not be spared from services of greater moment) to see such Prizes safe into Port, Wherefore for Answering the more important Purposes of the Act of the second session of the Present Parliament, for prohibiting all Intercourse with the several Colonies therein mentioned, & untill the constitutional authority of Government is so far restored in some Part of the said Colonies, that the benefit intended may be secured to the Captors, according to the Provisions of that Act; It is recommended to the several Captains making Prize of such Vessels of little Worth to take out the Crews with the most valuable Parts of the Cargoes where it can be consistently done; & to destroy the Vessels; rather than to risk the loss of useful Men, now so much wanted for the Service, in attempting to send such Prizes of little Consequence, to distant Ports for Condemnation—

And altho' the Captains are empowered by the before recited Act, to enter the Men navigating such Prizes to serve as part of the Complement in the Ships they Command: It is nevertheless to be remembered that any Confidence put in men so acquired is likely to be productive of great disappointments

Given on board His Majs Ship Eagle
off New York the 8th June l777

To The Honble Captain Wm Cornwallis
Commander of his Majestys Ship the Isis
By Command of the Vice Admiral Joseph Davies