In the first place, we do hereby agree for, by, and under the considerations aftermentioned, to and with the said commander, forthwith to enter and ship ourselves, and in due and seasonable time to repair on board the said ship, called the..., and during the term of.... months, to the utmost of our power and ability, respectively, to discharge our several services or stations, and in every thing to be conformable and obedient to the several requirings and lawful commands of the said..., and his successors in command.

Secondly. We do also oblige and subject ourselves to serve on board the said ship during the said cruise; and as she is a ship-of-war, we do severally oblige ourselves, by these articles, to comply with and be subject to the rules and discipline of the American fleet, as established by the Congress, and to be governed and commanded, in time of action with an enemy, according to the same rules, and submit ourselves to the same punishments and penalties as are there inflicted in case we, or any of us, offer to desert our quarters, or not obey the commands of the said..., or his successors in command, in giving chase to any ship or ships, vessel or vessels, or otherwise; and if, upon a scrutiny of our said..., or his said officers, we, or any of us, should be found guilty of any breach contrary to the tenor of this agreement, or any act of cowardice, we do hereby severally submit and agree to allow and forfeit our several and respective shares of and in any prize or prizes we shall then have taken, to be divided amongst the said ship’s company.

Thirdly. We do also severally agree and oblige ourselves, that when any prize or prizes have been taken, to follow the express directions of the said..., or his successors, in boarding the said prize, and be under the command of any officer whom the said.... shall appoint, and be assisting to him to carry the said prize to whatever port or ports such prize or prizes shall be assigned by the said.... And we do hereby further severally agree and covenant, in that case, to be true and faithful in discharge of our duty and trust, and will not, in any shape, embezzle, defraud, or plunder any thing on board such prize or prizes; and in case any or either of us shall be found guilty of any breach contrary to the true meaning of this agreement, we, and such of us being guilty thereof, do hereby severally submit and agree to allow so much of all and every of our shares and part of our shares of and in the said prize or prizes then or thence after to be taken, and of all our respective wages that then shall be due and coming to us, in respect of our services, as shall make good such plunder and embezzlement we shall have been found guilty of.

Fourthly. And it is also further agreed to be the true intent and meaning of all parties hereto, that the officer or officers, or any of the ship’s company sent on board any prize, shall have as good a share and interest of any prize that shall be thereafter taken, during his or their absence, as if he or they had been on board the said vessel at the time of taking thereof, any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided always, and it is hereby agreed to be the meaning of the said last above-mentioned clause, that if the said officer or officers, and such of the said ship’s company to whom the conduct and management of any prize has been intrusted, do not (first having accepted the commands of the said commander concerning the said prize under his or their custody) immediately repair to the respective port or harbour where the said..., or his successors in command, shall order, or do not proceed with the said prize or prizes so taken to the respective port or ports to be assigned by the said.... for the time being, that then, and in failure of any or either of the agreements aforesaid contained on our parts, we, and each and every of us so offending, do hereby severally submit and agree to be cashiered, not only for our several and respective interests and shares of and in the capture of prize-money, but totally to be excluded and divested from the payment of any wages then due to us, for and in respect of our several services on board the said ship..., and the interest and shares of such delinquents that otherwise would have accrued to us.

Fifthly. And the said..., for and in behalf of himself and the thirteen United Colonies of North-America, doth hereby covenant and agree, to and with the said officers, seamen, and marines, whose names or marks are hereto set and subscribed, to pay them, in consideration of such services, so much money per month as, in a schedule here undermentioned, is set opposite to the names or marks of each respective officer, seaman, or landman; and likewise advance unto each and every of them, one month’s pay at entrance, (due security for the same being first given,) the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge.

Sixthly. And as an encouragement to exert the valour of the seamen and marines in defending the said ship, and in subduing and distressing the said enemy, the said..., for and on behalf of the said thirteen United Colonies of North-America, doth further covenant, promise, and agree, to and with all and every of the officers, seamen, and marines, parties hereto, that in case any prize or prizes shall be taken by the said ship, during the intended cruise, that the same shall be proceeded against and distributed according to the resolutions of the Congress.

Seventhly. And it is by these presents mutually agreed and consented to, by and between the said..., and every the officers, seamen, and marines, parties thereto, that in case the commander for the time being lose a limb in an engagement, or be otherwise disabled, so as to be rendered incapable afterwards of getting a livelihood to subsist upon, he shall receive, out of the nett profits of such prize or prizes, and prize-goods, if so much arise, before dividend or distribution be declared, the sum of four hundred dollars; or if he lose his life, his widow or children (if any) shall receive the said bounty of four hundred dollars, together with all prize-money to him belonging at the time of his decease. And if the Captain of marines, or any other commission or warrant officer, lose a limb, or be otherwise disabled, so as to be rendered incapable afterwards of getting a subsistence, he or they so disabled shall receive a bounty of three hundred dollars, if so much arise from the nett profits as aforesaid; and in case of death, the widow or children, if any, is, are, and shall be entitled to the same, together with their share of prize-money due at the time of their decease. And if an inferior officer, marine, or sailor, lose a limb, or be otherwise disabled, so as to be rendered incapable afterwards of getting a subsistence, he or they shall receive a bounty of two hundred dollars, to be deducted as aforesaid; and in case of death, his widow or children (if any) is, are, and shall be entitled to the same, together with his share of prize-money due at the time of his decease.

He who first discovers a ship or vessel which shall afterwards become a prize, shall be entitled to a double share of such prize.

There shall be ten shares of every prize, which shall be taken and condemned, set apart to be given to such inferior officers, seamen, and marines, as shall be adjudged best to deserve them by the superior officers, who shall be appointed to make such determination.

He who shall first board a ship or other vessel, making resistance, which shall become a prize, shall be entitled to a triple share.

Provided always, and it is hereby declared to be the true intent and meaning of the parties to the aforementioned articles and orders, that any of the officers, seamen, and marines, shall be liable to be removed by the Congress or Committee of the Congress, during the recess thereof, or by the Commander-in-Chief of the American fleet for the time being, from the aforesaid vessel to any other armed vessel in the service of the United Colonies, any thing contained in the foregoing orders and articles notwithstanding.

The Congress then took into consideration the Report of the Committee on North-Carolina, which being read, and debated by paragraphs, Congress came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That the two Battalions which the Congress directed to be raised in the Province of North-Carolina be increased to the Continental Establishment, and kept in pay at the expense of the United Colonies for one year from this time, or until the further order of Congress, as well for the purpose of defending the good people of that Colony against the attacks of Ministerial oppression, as assisting the adjacent Colonies.

That application be made to the Councils of Safety of the Province of Pennsylvania and South-Carolina, for so