Henry Knox letter August 21, 1793.

H. Knox, Secretary of War, to the Governor.
August 21st
War Department
Sir:
The President of United States has instructed me to request your Excellency that in case any of the privateers, specified in my letter of the 16th inst., Should bring or send any prizes belonging to any of the belligerent parties, into any harbor or port of the State of Virginia, that you will pledge to cause such prizes to be restored to the persons who were masters or owners at the time of their being captured.
If no such persons should be found, and there should be a consul residing in Virginia of the power to which the prize belonged, at the time of its capture, then it is to be delivered to him or to his orders.
This interposition of the Executive is rendered necessary by our Courts having hitherto declined to take cognizance of such cases. But as in the instance of American Citizens and other Neutrals, there has as yet appeared no objection in the courts to interpose. I am directed by the President to inform' you that he wishes their cases to be brought before the Judicial tribunals. He will afterwards take into consideration any representation which may be made to him.
I have the honor to be with great Respect,
Your Excellency's Most Obedient Serv't.

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Source of Information

CALENDAR of VIRGINIA STATE PAPERS and OTHER MANUSCRIPTS, FROM AUGUST 11, 1792, TO DECEMBER 31, 1793, PRESERVED IN THE CAPITOL AT RICHMOND. ARRANGED AND EDITED BY SHERWIN McRAE. VOLUME VI. RICHMOND: A. R. MICOU, SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING. 1886