[Extract]

The Proclamation publish'd by the States General for restraining provisionally under certain Penalties, the Exportation of Arms and Ammunition for the space of Six Months, appeared this morning in Print, & will be distributed & fixed up in all the trading Towns of the Seven Provinces. I have the Honour to inclose one of the Copies of the Proclamation, with a Translation of it.² It is the Opinion of Persons well conversant with Trade here, that these Orders of Their High Mightinesses will totally stop these clandestine Expeditions on Ships carrying the British Flag; And that the Dutch Merchants who appear to have acted chiefly on Speculation, will in the present State of Affairs in North America, & from the Obstacles now thrown in their way at home, be deterred from speculating upon such Uncertainty, & with so many different Obstacles to surmount; But of this, Time only can give us the necessary Proof.