Marseilles, Oct. 23. The following is a copy of the letter written by the Minister of the Marine Department, and sent to all the ports of France.

“You could noty Gentlemen, be ignorant of the orders so often renewed by his Majesty at the sittings of the different Admiralties in his ports, not to permit the sale of any prizes made by foreign privateers, or to suffer the corsairs and their prizes to remain any longer in the ports than is absolutely necessary to procure them the provisions and assistance that they might want. This prohibition, which springs from a principle of faithfully observing a treaty once made, ought not to be eluded on any pretence whatever; and it is not without great displeasure, that his Majesty hears that many illegal methods have been made use of to evade the vigilance of his Officers, and to buy and sell the goods belonging to the above-mentioned prizes; and I am charged by the King again to give notice to the Chambers of Trade, and through them to the Merchants, that they shall not directly or indirectly buy any of the merchandizes which in any shape belong to the prizes brought into any of his ports, on pain of answering for it personally, and being obliged to return the goods or their value.

“I desire you will make these intentions of his Majesty known to the Merchants, and at the same time that the King will not permit the least evasion of his orders to go unpunished; and, I am persuaded, that the Merchants will shew the utmost alacrity to prove their submission to the King's pleasure. I am also to order you, that those who counteract these orders be rigourously proceeded against; and I am further to add, that as the ports of the kingdom are open for the trade of all nations, the Merchant ships from North America may be admitted with their cargoes, which they may dispose of, and take in return any merchandize which is permitted: to be exported, except ammunition, &c. and his Majesty particularly warns all Merchants to avoid the introducing of the American prizes, under pretence of their being Merchantmen.”