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If the correspondence be complete, the evidence ought to be considered as complete also, that they were not in Great Britain for the purposes of commerce, and not being there for these purposes, the inference is fair, that their going there at all was involuntary. This is a rule the ministers will consent to: whether his majesty will do so also, will be known in a few days. He is expected here about the beginning of August.”

PARIS, LE 18 SEPTEMBRE, 1807. J'AI soumis à sa majesté l'empereur et roi, monsieur, les doutes que s'était formé s. E. le ministre de la marine et des colonies, sur l'éntendue de quelques dispositions du décrét imperial du 21 Novembre, 1806, qui a déclaré les isles Britanniques en état de blocus; voici quelles sont les intentions de sa majesté sur les points qui avaient mis en question.

1. Les bâtimens armés en guerre peuvent-ils en vertu du décrét imperial du 21 Novembre dernier, saisir sur les bátimens neutres, soit les propriétés Anglaises, soit même ' toutes marchandises provenant de manufactures ou du territoire Anglais ?

Sa majesté m'a fait connaitre, que, puis qu'elle avait jugé à propos de n'exprimer aucune exception dans son décrét, il n'y avait pas lieu d'en faire dans l'execution à l'égard de qui que ce pût être.

2. Sa majesté a sursis à statuer sur la question de savoir si les armemens Français doivent s'emparer des bâtimens neutres qui vont en Angleterre, ou qui en sortent, lors même qu'ils n'ont point à bord de marchandises Anglaises.

3. Sur la troisieme question, qui était de savoir si les armemens Français sont possible de la retenue ordonnée par l'article 6, du décrét du 21 Novembre, sa majesté a déclaré que la disposition de cet article n'etait susceptible d'aucune restriction, c'est a dire, que la retenue doit avoir lieu sur le produit de toutes les confiscations de marchandises et propriétés qui ont été ou pourroient être prononcées en exécution du décrét, sans égard au lieu de la saisie on à la qualité des saisissans.

Vous voudrez bien, monsieur, notifier ces décisions au conseil des prises, les faire consigner sur les régistres et m'assurer la reception de ma lettre.

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PARIS, SEPTEMBER 18, 1807. I HAVE submitted, sir, to his majesty the emperour and king, the doubts of his excellency the minister of marine and colonies, on the extent of some of the provisions of the imperial decree of November 21, 1806, which has declared the British islands in a state of blockade. The following are the intentions of his majesty, on the points in ques

tion.

1. Can armed vessels under the imperial decree of the 21st of November last, seize in neutral vessels, either English property, or merchandise proceeding from the manufactures of the English territories?

His majesty notifies me, that since he had not thought proper to express any exception in his decree, there is no ground to make any in the execution, with respect to any thing whatsoever.

2. His majesty has not decided the question whether French armed vessels may possess themselves of neutral vessels going to or from England, although they have no English merchandise on board.

3. On the question, whether French armed vessels are subject to the deduction ordered by the sixth article of the decree of November 21, his majesty has declared that the provision of that article was not susceptible of any restriction; that is to say, that the deduction must take effect on the proceeds of all confiscations of merchandise and property, which have been or may be pronounced in execution of the decree, without regard to the place of seizure or character of the captors.

Yon will be so good, sir, as to notify these decisions to

the council of prizes, to have them entered in the registers, and to acknowledge the receipt of my letter.

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YOUR excellency is not unapprized that, soon after the promulgation of the imperial decree of the 21st of November last, one of similar character and injunctions was issued by the prince of peace, in behalf of his catholic majesty. Under this order, sundry vessels belonging to the citizens of the United States have been captured on the high seas, brought into the ports of Spain, and are now before the court of admiralty for examination. To this brief statement, I subjoin an extract from a letter of the 27th ultimo, from the charge des affaires of the United States at Madrid, which will show your excellency, that the fate of these vessels will depend, not on the construction which might be given to the Spanish decree, by the Spanish tribunals, but on the practice which shall have been established by France under her decree of November last; and that Prince Masserano has accordingly been directed to ask from your excellency such exposition of that decree, and of the practice under it, as shall regulate, on this head, the conduct of Spanish courts and cruisers towards neutral commerce in general. Assured as I feel myself, that this exposition, whenever given, will not be less friendly and liberal, than hat already found in the decisions of his imperial majesty's council of prizes and correspondence of his minister of marine, viz. that the provisions of the decree in question do not infract any of the rights of commerce, stipulated by treaty between France and the United States, it is incumbent on me to pray your excellency that it (the exposition required) be

given as expeditiously as possible, to the end that the legitimate commerce of the United States be relieved from all farther annoyance, growing out of the doubtful meaning and operation of the Spanish decree aforesaid.

Your excellency will permit me to avail myself of this occasion to recall to your attention the subject of my letter of the 26th of June last. I learn from Antwerp, that the cargoes mentioned in that letter are yet under sequestration, and that considerable loss, as well by diminution of price in the articles, as by accumulation of interest and charges, has been already incurred.

Your excellency will do me the honour to accept the assurances of my profound respect,

(Signed)

JOHN ARMSTRONG.

His Excellency the PRINCE OF BENEVENTO.

PARIS, SEPT. 24, 1807.

SIR,

I HAVE this moment learned that a new and extended construction, highly injurious to the commerce of the United States, was about to be given to the imperial decree of the 21st of November last. It is therefore incumbent upon me to ask from your excellency an explanation of his majesty's views in relation to this subject, and particularly whether it be his majesty's intention, in any degree, to infract the obligations of the treaty now subsisting between the United States and the French empire?

I pray your excellency, &c. &c. &c.

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(Signed)

JOHN ARMSTRONG.

His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Relations.

MONSIEUR,

FONTAINBLEU, LE 7 OCT. 1807.

Vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'inviter le 24 Septembre à vous transmettre quelques éclaircissemens sur l'execution du décrét de blocus des isles Britanniques envers les bâtimens des Etats Unis.

Les dispositions de tous les réglémens et de tous les

traités relatives à l'état de blocus, ont paru applicables à la circonstance actuelle, et il resulte des explications qui viennent de m'être addressées par le procureur general imperial prés le conseil des prises, que sa majesté a regardé tout bâtiment neutre, sortant des ports Anglais, avec des eargaisons de marchandises Anglaises, ou d'origine Anglaise, comme pouvant être valablement saisi par les bâtimens de guerre Français.

Le décrét de blocus est rendu depuis prés de onze mois les principales puissances d'Europe, loin de réclamer contre ses dispositions, les ont adoptées. Elles ont reconnu qu'il fallait en rendre l'execution complette pour la rendre plus efficace, et il a paru qu'il était facile d'accorder les mesures avec la conservation des traités; surtout dans un temps où les infractions de l'Angleterre contre les droits de toutes les puissances maritimes, rendent leurs interêts communs et tendent à les unir pour le soutien de la même cause.

Recevez, monsieur, &c. &c.
(Signé)

S. Ex. le Gen. ARMSTRONG,

Min. Plen. des Etats Unis.

SIR,

CHAMPAGNY.

FONTAINBLEAU, OCT. 7, 1807.

You did me the honour, on the 24th of September, to request me to send you some explanations as to the execution of the decree of blockade of the British islands, as to vessels of the United States.

The provisions of all the regulations and treaties relative to a state of blockade have appeared applicable to the existing circumstance, and it results from the explanations which have been addressed to me by the imperial procureur general of the council of prizes, that his majesty has considered every neutral vessel, going from English ports, with cargoes of English merchandise, or of English origin, as lawfully seizable by French armed vessels.

The decree of blockade has been now issued eleven

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