By His Excellency [blank] Esquire, governor, captain-general, and commander in chief, of and over the state of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations : Instructions to the commanders of private ships or vessels of war, which shall have commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, authorising them to make captures of British vessels and cargoes. ... Given under my hand, and the seal of the said state, at [blank] this [blank] day of [blank] ... one thousand seven hundred seventy [blank.].