State of Massachusetts Bay

Whereas the Commissary of Prisoners has represented to this Board, that the Prisoners of War on board the Prison Ship Kingston, behave in a very turbulent in­solent manner; swearing they are not Prisoners, and that they will not be confined. Therefore Ordered that, the Commissary of Prisoners be and he hereby is directed in case ofabsolute necessity in theJudgment of the Captain of the Prison Ship Kingston and not otherwise to Order the Guard on board said ship to fire upon the said Prisoners and repeat the same untill they can bring the said Prisoners to a due Submis­sion.—and that this order be publickly read in the hearing of the Prisoners on board said ship Seven days successively at Eleven O.Clock on Each day