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council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, that all ships and goods belonging to Prussia which may have been seized subsequent to his majesty's order of the 19th of November, 1.806, and are now detained in the ports of this kingdom, or elsewhere, and all ships and goods belonging to inhabitants of Lubeck which are so detained, shall be restored, upon being pronounced by the high court of admiralty, or any court of vice-admiralty, in which they have been or may be proceeded against, to belong to subjects and inhabitants of Prussia or Lubeck, and not otherwise liable to confiscation; and that such ships and goods shall be permitted to proceed to any neutral port, or to the port to which they respectively be long. And it is further ordered, that the ships and goods belonging to Prussia or Lubeck shall not, until further orders, be liable to detention, provided such ships and goods shall be trading to or from any port of this kingdom, or between neutral port and neutral port, or from any port of his majesty's allies, and proceeding direct to the ports specified in their respective clearances.

And the right honourable the lords commissioners of his majesty's treasury, his majesty's principal sccretaries of state, the lords commissioners of the admiralty, and the judges of the high court of admiralty and courts of vice-admiralty, are to take the necessary measures herein as to them shall respectively appertain.

W. FAWKENER.

At the Court at the Queen's PaJace, the 25th of November, 1807, present, the King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. His majesty taking into consideration the circumstances under which

Portugal has been compelled to shut her ports against the ships and goods of his majesty's subjects, is pleased, by and with the advice of his privy council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, that all ships and goods belonging to Portugal, which have been, and are now detained in the ports of this kingdom, or elsewhere, shall be restored, upon being pronounced, by the high court of admiralty, or by the court of vice admiralty, in which proceedings may have been, or shati be commenced, to belong to subjects and inhabitants of Portugal, and not otherwise liable to confiscation; and that the said ships and goods shall be permitted to proceed to any neutral port, or to Portugal. And it is further or dered, that the ships and goods belonging to Portugal shall not, until further orders, be liable to detention; provided such ships and goods shall be trading to and from any port of this kingdom, or to and from Gibraltar, or Malta, and proceeding direct to the port specified in their clearance, or between neutral port and neutral port, or between Portugal and the ports of her own colonies, or from any port of his majesty's allies, and proceeding direct to the ports specified in their respective clearances; provided such ports shall not be at the time in a state of actual blockade. And it is further ordered, that the ships of Portugal shall not be considered as entitled, under any treaty between his majesty and Portugal, to protect any goods laden therein which may be otherwise subject to confiscation.

And the right honourable the lords commissioners of his majesty's treasury, his majesty's principal secretary of state, the lords commissioners

of

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of the admiralty, and the judges of blood of Russians was shedding in the high court of admiralty and the most glorious warfares; which courts of vice admiralty, are to take drew drown, and fixed against the the necessary measures herein as to armies of his imperial majesty, all thein shall respectively appertain. the military force of his majesty the W. FAWKENER.

emperor of the French, with whom England was, and is now, at war.

When the two' emperors made Declaration of the Emperor of peace, liis majesty, in spite of his

, Russia.

just resentments against England,

did not refrain from rendering her “ The greater value the emperor service. His majesty stipulated, altached to the friendship of his Bri- even in the very treaty, that he tannic majesty, the greater was his would become médiator between regret at perceiving that that mo- her and France; and finally he ofnarch altogether separated himself fered his mediation to the king of from him.

Great Britain. His majesty an“ Twice has the emperor taken nounced to the king, that it was up arms, in which his cause was with a view to obtain for him homost directly that of England; and nourable conditions. But the Brihe solicited in vain from England a tish ministry, apparently faithful to co-operation which her interest re- that plan which was to loosen and quired. He did not demand that break the bonds which had connecther troops should be united with ed Russia and England, rejected the his; he desired only that they mediation. should effect a diversion. He was “ The peace between Russia and astonished that in her cause she did France was to prepare a general not act in union with bim; but peace. Then it was that England coolly contemplating a bloody spec- suddenly quitted that apparent letacle, in a war which had been thargy to which she'bad abandoned kindled at her will, she sent-troops herself, but it was to cast upon the to attack Buenos Ayres. One part north of Europe new tire-brands, of her armies, which appeared des- which were to enkindle and nourish tined to make a diversion in Italy, the flames of war, which she did quitted at length Sicily where it was not wish to see extinguished. Her assembled. There was reason to

fleets and her troops appeared upon believe that this was done to make the coasts of Denmark, to execute an attack upon the coasts of Naples, there an act of violence of which when it was understood that it was history, so fertile in examples, does occupied in attempting to seize and pot furnish a single parallel. A appropriate to itself Egypt.

tranquil and moderate power, which “But what sensibly touched the by long and unchanging wisdom had heart of bis imperiad majesty was, obtained in the circle of monarcisies to perceive that England, contrary a moral dignity, sees itself assaulted to her good faith and the express and and treated as if it had been forging precise terms of treaties, troubled at plots, and mealitating the ruiu of sea the commerce of liis subjects. England : -- and all to justify its And at what an epoch! When the prompt and total spoliation.

« The

"The emperor, wounded in his dignity, in the interests of his people, in his engagements with the courts of the north, by this act of violence committed in the Baltic, which is an enclosed sea, whose tranquillity had been for a long period, and with the privity of the cabinet of St. James's, the subject of reciprocal guarantee, did not dissemble his resentment against England, and announced to her that he could not remain insensible to it.

"His majesty did not foresee that when England, having employed her force successfully, was about to bear away her prey, she would commit a new outrage against Denmark, and that his majesty was to share in it. New proposals were made, each more insidious than the foregoing, which were to connect with the British power Denmark, subjected, disgraced, and affecting to applaud what had been wrought against her.

"The emperor still less foresaw that it would be proposed to him that he should guarantee this submission, and that he should pledge himself that this act of violence should have no unpleasant consequences to England. Her ambassador believed that it was possible to propose to his majesty's ministry, that his majesty should become the apologist and the protector of what he had so loudly blamed.

"To this proceeding of the cabinet of St. James's, the emperor paid no other attention than it deserved. He thought it time to put limits to his moderation.

"The prince royal of Denmark, endowed with a character full of energy and nobleness, and possessing from providence a dignity equal to his high rank, had informed the emperor, that justly incensed at what had taken place. at Copenhagen, he

had not ratified the couvention, and considered it as of no effect.

"At this moment he has just communicated to his imperial najesty new proposals which have been made to him, which serve only to inflame his resistance instead of appeasing it; because they tend to impress upon his actions the seal of degradation, the impression of which they have never borne.

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The emperor touched with the confidence which the prince royal placed in him, and having considered his own peculiar complaints against England; having maturely examined, too, the engagements which he had entered into with the powers of the north-engagements formed by the empress Catherine, and by his late majesty the emperor, both of glorious memory-has resolved to fulfil them. His imperial majesty, there' fore, breaks off all communication with England, he recals the whole of the mission which he has sent thither, and no longer chuses to keep with him that of his Britannic majesty. There shall from henceforth be no connection between the two countries.

"The emperor declares, that he annuls, and for ever, every preceding convention between England and Russia, and particularly that entered into in 1801, the 5th (17th) of the month of June.

"He proclaims anew, the principles of the armed neutrality, that monument of the wisdom of the empress Catherine, and engages never to recede from that system.

"He demands of England complete satisfaction to all his subjects, for their just reclamations of vessels and merchandize, detained against the express tenor of treaties concluded in his own reign.

"The

"The emperor engages, there shall be no re-establishment of concord between Russia and England, till satisfaction shall have been given to Denmark.

"The emperor expects that his Britannic majesty, instead of suffering his ministers, as he does, to scatter the seeds of fresh war, listening only to his own feelings, will be disposed to conclude such treaty with his majesty the emperor of France, as shall prolong (to use the expression) interminably (a toute la terme), the invaluable blessings of peace.

"When the emperor shall be satisfied upon all the preceding points, and especially upon that of peace between France and England, without which no part of Europe can promise itself real tranquillity, his imperial majesty will then gladly resume with Great Britain those relations of amity, which, under the just discontent which he could not but feel, he has, perhaps, preserved too long.

"Given at St. Petersburgh, 20th (31st) October."

Message of the President of the United States of America, to both Houses of Congress, delivered Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1807.

To the Senate and House of Repre

sentatives of the United States. Circumstances, fellow-citizens, which seriously threatened the peace of our country, have made it a duty to convene you at an earlier period than usual. The love of peace, so much cherished in the bosom of our citizens, which had so long guided the proceedings of their public councils, and induced forbearance under so many wrongs, may not insure our

continuance in the quiet pursuits of industry. The many injuries and depredations committed on our commerce and navigation upon the high seas for years past, the successive innovations on those principles of public law which have been established by the reason and usage of nations, as the rule of their intercourse, and the umpire and security of their rights and peace, and all the circumstances which induced the extraordinary mission to London, are already known to you. The instructions given to

our ministers were in the sincerest spirit of amity and moderation. They accordingly proceeded, in conformity therewith, to propose arrangements which might embrace and settle all the points in difference between us, which might bring us to a mutual understanding on our neutral and national rights, and provide for a commercial intercourse on conditions of some equality. After long and fruitless endeavours to effect the purpose of their mission, and obtain arrangements within the limits of their instructions, they concluded to sign such as could be obtained, and to send them for consideration, candidly declaring to the other negociators, that they were acting against their instruc-. tions, and that their government there. fore could not be pledged for their ratification. Some of the articles. proposed might have been admitt ed on a principle of compromise, but others were too highly disadvantageous, and no sufficient provi sion was made against the principal so urce of the irritations and collisions which were constantly endangering the peace of the two nations. The question, therefore, whether a treaty should be accepted in that form, could have admitted but of one decision, even had no declaration of the other party

impaired

impaired our confidence in it. Still anxious not to close the door agaiust friendly adjustment, new modifications were framed, and further concessions authorised, than could before have been supposed necessary, and our ministers were instructed to resume their negociations on those grounds.

On this new reference to amicable discussion, we were reposing in confidence, when, on the 22d day of June last, by a formal order from a British admiral, the frigate Chesapeak, leaving her port for a distant service, was attacked, by one of those vessels which had been lying in our harbours under the indulgencies of hospitality; was disabled from proceeding, had several of her crew killed, and four taken away. On this outrage no commentaries are necessary. Its character has l een pronounced by the indignant voice of our citizens with an emphasis and unanimity never excecded. I immediately, by proclamation, interdicted our harbours and waters to all British armed vessels, forbade intercourse with them, and, uncertain how far hostilities were intended, and the town of Norfolk indeed being threatened with immediate attack, a sufficient force was ordered for the protection of that place, and such other preparations commenced and pursued as the prospect rendered proper. An armed

veisel of the United States was dispatched with instructions to our ministers at London, to call on that government for the satisfaction and security required by the outrage. A very short interyal ought now to bring the answer, which shall be communicated to you as soon as received: then also, or as soon after as the public interests shall be found to admit, the unratified treaty, and proceedings

relative to it, shall be made known to you.

The aggression, thus begun, has been continued on the part of the British commanders, by remaining within our waters, in defiance of the authority of the country, by habitual violations of its jurisdiction, and, at length, by putting to death one of the persons whom they had forcibly taken from on board the Chesapeak. These aggravations necessarily lead to the policy either of never admitting an armed vessel into our harbours, or of maintaining in every barbour such an armed force as may constrain obedience to the laws, and protect the lives and property of our citizens against their armed guests; but the expence of such a standing force, and its inconsistence with our principles, dispense with those courtesies which would necessarily call for it, and leave us equally free to exclude the navy, as we are the army of a foreign power, from entering our limits.

To former violations of maritime rights, another is now added of very extensive effect. The government of that nation has issued an order, interdicting all trade by neutrals between ports not in amity with them, and being now at war with nearly every nation on the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas, our vessels are required to sacrifice their cargoes at the first port they touch, or to return home without the benefit of going to any other market. Under this new law of the ocean, our trade on the Mediterranean has been swept away by seizures and condemnations, and that in other seas is threatened with the same fate.

Our differences with Spain remain still unsettled, no measure having been taken on her part, since my last communications

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