THE EARLY YEARS - (Cont'd) 



"Most serene, serene, most puissant, puissant, high illustrious, noble, 

 honorable, venerable, wise, and prudent emperors, kings, republics, princes, 

 dukes, earls, barons, lords, burgomasters, counsellors, as also judges, officers, 

 justiciaries, and regents, of all flie good cities and places whether ecclesiastical or 

 secular, who shall see these presents, or hear them read: 



'We, the United States in Congress assembled, make known that Thomas 

 Truxtun, captain of the ship called the Canton is a citizen of the United States 

 of America, and that the ship which he commands belongs to citizens of the said 

 United States, and as we wish to see the said Thomas Truxtun prosper in his 

 lawful affairs, our prayer is to all the before-mentioned, and to each of them 

 separately, where the said Thomas Truxtun shall arrive with his vessel and cargo, 

 that they may please to receive him with the goodness and treat him in a 

 becoming manner, permitting him upon the usual tolls and expenses in passing 

 and repassing, to pass, navigate, and frequent the ports, passes, and territories, to 

 the end to transact his business where and in what manner he shall judge proper, 

 whereof we shall be willingly indebted.' " 



