Whereas sometime since, the Secretary was directed to take Bonds of all Persons applying for Commissions for Privateers or Letters of Mart in the sum of Five hundred pounds which sum is found much too small to answer the valuable purpose designed to be answered thereby. Therefore Ordered that no Commission for a Privateer or Letter of Mart be given out by the Secretary in future unless the Commander of such Privateer or other Vessel, with two sufficient Sureties shall have given Bond to the Treasurer of this State¹ in the sum of Two Thousand pounds conditioned that they shall put on shore & deliver to the Commissary of Prisoners in some of the United States all Prisoners by them Captured. And the Treasurer aforesaid is hereby directed to put in suit the Bonds of such Persons taken as aforesaid, who have not complied with the Condition thereof—And the Selectmen of the several Towns in this State are hereby called upon & directed to give Information to the Treasurer of this State of all Masters or Commanders of Privateers or other Vessels who have or may during their Cruize or Cruizes liberated any Prisoners by them taken since the first day of January 1778 Ordered that the Secretary be directed to have printed this Order in the Public News Papers—