- Signed: by order of Congress, [John Hancock] president. Bristol B4254 supplies Watertown, Mass. as the place of publication. Actually, Bristol is describing this Philadelphia edition with ms. annotations for vessels of Massachusetts. The third and fourth lines end: war; make. In other editions the third and fourth lines end: vessels, them; shall, vessels; vessels, reprisal. New-York Historical copy signed in manuscript. References: Bristol B4398; Bristol B4254; Shipton & Mooney 43190; Shipton & Mooney 43069; Ford, W.C. Broadsides, 1987., New-York Historical Society
- Signed: By Congress, [blank] president. "This form was reprinted, and continued to be in use ... certainly as late as 1780; the later editions being signed in ms. by the president of Congress"--Evans 15137. Imprint date based on terms of the presidents of Congress who signed extant copies: NYPL copy signed by Henry Laurens (president, Nov. 1777-Dec. 1778); LC and Rhode Island Historical Society copies signed by John Jay (president, Dec. 1778-Sept. 1779). Not in Evans or Bristol. The third and fourth lines end: vessels, reprisal. In other editions the third and fourth lines end: vessels, them; shall, vessels; war, make. New-York Historical copy signed in manuscript: John Jay; inscribed at head: instructions to commanders of privateers in 1776. References: Journals of the Continental Congress, 104., New-York Historical Society
- "The condition of this obligation is such, that if the above-bounden [blank] who is commander of the [blank] called [blank] belonging to [blank] of [blank] in the colony of [blank] mounting [blank] carriage guns, and navigated by [blank] men, and who hath applied for a commission or letter of marque and reprisal, to arm, equip, and set forth to sea, the said [blank] as a private ship of war ... shall not exceed or transgress the powers and authorities which shall be contained in the said commission ... then this obligation shall be void, or else remain in force"., New-York Historical Society
- Signed on p. [2]: Extract from the minutes, Charles Thomson, secretary. Originally published: Philadelphia : David Claypoole, 1780. Imprint from Livingston. Probably printed about the end of April, 1781. Cf. Livingston, L.S. Franklin and his press at Passy, p. 84-86. Footnote to first article of text, at bottom of p. [1]: *This exception is taken away by an ordinance of Congress, of March the 27th, 1781, which see. References: Evans 17021; Livingston, L.S. Franklin and his press at Passy, 29; Journals of the Continental Congress, 331., New-York Historical Society
- Thirteen numbered regulations governing privateers and privateering. Signed: Extract from the minutes, Charles Thomson, secretary. Imprint from Evans. Line endings differ from those given by the Journals of the Continental Congress, v. 21, p. 1199-1200. References: Evans 17384; Journals of the Continental Congress, 359., New-York Historical Society