Their tendency, however, is too obvious to be mistaken by men of cool and dispassionate minds;--and, in my opinion, ought to alarm them; because it is difficult to prescribe bounds to their effect." * * * * * NOTE--No.

V._See Page 48._ They are as follows: 1st.

The original arming and equipping of vessels in the ports of the United States by any of the belligerent parties, for military service, offensive or defensive, is deemed unlawful.
2d.

Equipments of merchant vessels, by either of the belligerent parties in the ports of the United States, purely for the accommodation of them as such, is deemed lawful.
3d.

Equipments in the ports of the United States of vessels of war in the immediate service of the government of any of the belligerent parties, which if done to other vessels would be of a doubtful nature as being applicable either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful, except those which shall have made prize of the subjects, people, or property of France, coming with their prizes into the ports of the United States pursuant to the seventeenth article of our treaty of amity and commerce with France.
4th.