Case ID: us_16/html/0014-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Chief Justice Marshall", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(prize. )
    
    The Friendschaft—Winn, et al. Claimants.
    Informal and imperfect proceedings in the district court corrected and . explained In the circuit court.
    A bill of lading, consigning the goods to a neutral, but unaccompanied by an invoice or latter of advice, is not sufficient evidence to entitle the claimant to restitution; but is sufficient to lay a foundation for the introduction of farther proof.
    The fact of invoices and letters of advice not being found on board, may induce a suspicion- that papers have been spoliated. But even if it were proved that an enemy master, carrying a cargo chiefly hostile, had thrown papers over board, a neutral claimant, to whom no fraud is impatable, ought not thereby to bo precluded from farther proof.
    
      The- native character does no!, revoirt, by a more return to his native country, of a merchant, who is domiciled in a neutral country at the time of capture; who afterwards leaves his commercial establishment in the neutral country to be conducted by his clerks in his absence; who visits his native country merely on mercantile business, and intends to return to his adopted country. Under these circumstances, tho neutral domicil still continues.
    British subjects resident in Portugal, (though entitled to great privileges-,) do not retain' their native character,' but acquire that of the country where they reside and carry on their trade.
    Appeal from the circuit cotnt for the district of North Carolina.
    The' brig Friendschaft was captured on' a voyage from London to Lisbon, by the.privateer Herald, a'nd brought into Cape iiar, in North Carolina, where the vessel and cargo were libelled, in July, 1814, as prize of war. The commercial agent of his royal highness the Prince Regent of Portugal, interposed a claim to several packages, parts of the said cargo, on behalf of the'respective owners, whom he averred to be Por-, tugúese subjects and merchants residing in Portugal. The cargo consisted of many different shipments. Most o'f them were .accompanied with bills of lading, directing a delivery to shipper or order. Of these a few were specially indorsed. Generally, however, they were without endorsements, or ■ with blank endorsements only. A few shipments were accompanied With bills of lading, deliverable to persons-in Lisbon, especially named in the. bills. Very few were accompanied with letters or invoices.' These, it was alleged in the claim, had probably been sent by the regular packet.
    In August 1814, the district court pronounced its sentence, condemning as prize of war, “all that part of carS° for wh’ch no claim had been put. in,” and “all'that, part of the cargo which was shipped, as evidence by bills of lading, either without endorsement or with blank endorsements, and not accompanied by .letter or invoice, viz.
    and that part appearing by the bill of lading to ponsist of forty bales of goods shipped by Moreira, Vieira, and Machado. Farther proof was ordered with respect to. the residue of the cargo ánd the vessel.
    From this sentence the claimants appealed, to the circuit court. That courti in May, 1815, dismissed so much of the appeal as reSpected-the Jbrig, and that part of the cargo- in respect to whióE? farther proof was ordered, as having been improvidently allowed before a.finaí sentence, and affirmed the residue of the decree, except in regard to the forty bales shipped by Moreira-, Vieira,^and Machado, with respect to which farther proof was directed, to establish the right of Francis Jose Moreira to restitution óf one third part thereof.
    In April, 1816, farther proof was. exhibited to the district court, in support of the claim for the parts of the cargo comprehended in the bills oflading numbered 108,109, 141,122, and 118, which bills being deliverable to merchants residing in Lisbon, whose names were expressed therein, were not endorsed. The farther proof was deemed sufficient and restitution was ■ordéred. The vessel and the residue of the cargo were condemned as prize of war.
    From so much of this sentence as awarded restitutxon, the captors appealed ; and in May, 1816, the circuit court decreed as follows: “This court being of opinion that the former sentence of the district court, affirmed by the sentence of this court, rendered in May term, in the year 1815, having been left, imperfect by omitting to recite the particular claims . intended to be involved in the condemnation pronounced in the district court in terms of general description ; and being also of opinion tíxat the words * all that part of the cargo which was shipped as evidenced,- by bills of lading, either without endorsement, or with blank endorsements, and not accompanied with letter or invoice,’ could be intended for those ' bills only wdxich were to shipper or order, and not to those' addressed to consignees named'in the bill itself, is of opinion that there is no error in the sentence of the district court, and doth affirm the same.”
    From this decree the captors appealed tó this court, On the interposition of this appeal, the circuit court ord.er.ed that Joseph Winn, a British bor.n subject^ resident in Portugal, .in whose behalf a claim was filed to No, 118, should be permitted to offer farther proof to the supreme cour.t, to be admitted or rejected by that court.
    Mr. Wheaton, for. the' appellants and captors.
    1. The decrees of the district court of August, 1814, and of the circuit court of May, 1815, were final and conclusive, and ought to have' precluded, the district court from subsequently allowing farther proof as to these five claims. The terms of general description, which are! used by the judge of the district court, are ecilIi'v’alenk<:0 a particular designation of the claims intended to be .condemned. “ All that part of the cargo which was shipped as evidenced by bills of lading, .either without endorsement, or with blank endorsements, and not accompanied with letter or invoice,”— is as effectually condemned by the sentence, as if-the particular portions of the cargo' thus( documented had been .specifically enumerated. The portions now claimed were shipped, as evidenced by bills of lading, either without endorsement, or, with blank endorsements, ■ arid not accompanied with letter or invoice. Consequently, they were included in the condemnation by the district court, which, became , final and conclusive upon the. parties, by Jhe decree' of the circuit court rendered- at May term, 1815, affirming that of the district court, and from which no appeal was entered. The subsequent proceedings, by which the district court admitted the claimants to farther proof, were, therefore, coram non yudice, and utterly null and. void. These branches of the carise were completely extinct, and could not be revived in any court. 2. .And .can this court have the least doubt of the justice and legality of this decree of the district court, as thus understood and explained ? Is it possible that it is come to this, that in a court of prize, a mere bill of lading to A. B. or assigns, unsupported by any other documentary evidence found on board, or by the oath of the- master, shall.be regarded as sufficient, even to entitle the party to farther proof? íf goods shipped in the enemy’s country can pass the seas under so thin a veil as this, (he defects of which may afterwards be supplied by fabricated proofs, what security is there for belligerent' rights ? To What cause are we to attribute a transaction so unusual and irregular in commerce, but to the deáre of the British shippers and owners to retain in their own hands the double power of stopping the goods in transitu, an,d of enabling the consignees-to claim them in the prize court in case of capture ? If this'practice be tolerated by the'court, the enemy shipper need resort to' no complicated machinery of liraud in.order to hover his property. He need-do' no more^ than put on board a bill of lading, unaccompanied by:-any invoice <f the goods,- or letter, of ad* vice showing to whom the property vests. In case of capture, nothing more, will be necessary than to enter a claim in the name of the neutral consignee» and to demand an order for farther proof, and under that order to ransack the great offióina fruudis to find the instruments of forgerv and perjury; the aid of which will not become necessary, in case the shipineht thus made, escapes the vigilance and activity of the belligerent cruisers. Should they thus escape, the goods will be sold on account of the enemy shipper, and the proceeds of the sale will be remitted to him again by the same process ; and thus the whole of the enemy’s trade may be effectually screened from the perils of war. A bill ■ of lading is an instrument too easily fabricated, to permit a court of prize to' consider it alone as furnishing any proof, (evert presumptive,) of property in the consignee. Whether the goods had been previously ordered by the Portuguese consignee, or sent by ihe British shipper for ] sa^e or* ov,'a accountb they would equally havé been accompanied by the same document, which is equivalent ro no evidence whatever of proprietary in■etest.found on board. Unless some such evidence be found on board, or a foundation be laid, by the preparatory . examinations of the captured, crew, to let the claimants into farther proof,- the necessary simplicity of the prize proceedings forbids a resort to extraneous testimony ; and, as. that originally before the 'eburt-is insufficient to entitle ihe party to restitution,; Condemnation must ensue.- Not only are the bills -of lading unaccompanied by invoices and-letters-of advice, but they do not express the shipment to be “ for account and risk”, of the consignees ; and the freight ' is payabie in London,. and, (of course,) by the consignors. These circumstances distinguish this case from all those cases in which it has been determined, (under the municipal law,) that a bill of lading, expressing the. shipment to be for account and risk of the consignee or his assigns, vests the property in him, subject only to the right of stoppage in transitu ; and the same' circumstances liken it to those where the obligation on'the part of the consignor to pay the freight was held to authorise him to bring an action against the carrier master for the goods notwithstanding the form of the bill of lading. It is wholly incredible, that, the letters and invoices which ought to have accompanied these shipments, were sent by the Lisbon packet, (as suggested,) since though- duplicates of such papers may be sent, and frequently are sent, by conveyances, other than that ■ofthe ship in which the goods are transported, yét it is .unusual and mercantilely irregular not to send the originals with the goods. The invoices aré, by the revenue laws of most,, if not all countries, indispensably necessary to enter the goods at'the custom-house, avoiding the inconvenience of unpacking and valuing .them.' These papers are required by the law of-nations, and the prize code of every country, to accompany the-.bill of lading, in order to fortify and confirm, it; The absence of them does not, indeed, in all cases, furnish a substantive ground of condemnation, and exclude the party from farther proof But in order to avoid this consequence there .must be some favourable presumption raised by the circumstances of th,e case, and the nature of the documentary .evidence found' on- board. This presumption cannot exist in the' case óf a shipment in the enemy’s country, of goods, the growth of manufacture of that country, •under a bill of lading, unsupported by the oath .of the master, and unaccompanied by any invoice,’ letter of advice, or other' document whatever.' The- privilégé, of.farther proof- is imparted under - the sound discretion of the court, where a foundation is laid for it, by the papers found .on board, and the depositions, of the captured, persons.* Neither the documentary evidence, nor the examinations in preparatorio, afford, any foundation for it in the present case; since they do not furnish any, the slightest reason for believing, that it belongs as claimed-. The court. would, be. ó'pbning a wide door for fraud, were it to extend the privilege of farther proof to such a case’, uhich is neither - one of honest ignorance or mistake i It is impossible that the parties should have been ignorant of-what both the usage of trade, and the practice of prize courts, require. It is impossible that they should have omitted by mistake, what could nót have been Omitted but-by design, The ancient French prize law, and the prize regulations of many other countries, do absolutely exclude farther proof, and condemn, or restore, upon the original evidence only. If by the mor.e'mitigated practice which this court has adopted, farther proof .be sometimes allowed, it is not as of strict right, but of equitable indulgence, where the circumstances of the case lay a foundation for it, and the claimants do not forfeit the privilege by their own misconduct. 3. No additional farther proof ought .to be admitted in tli.is court, under the special orders of" the circuit court, in .the claim of Mr. ’Winn, giving him liberty to produce still farther proof (in addition to the farther proof ex* hibited to the district court,) in this court, to be admitted, or rejected at the discretion of the courts It is a settled principle; of practice, that farther proof' cannot be introduced in this court, unless' under the circumstances'of. the case, it ought to have been ordered in' the court below. Such id3-he limbtation to the admission of farther proof in the appellate, tribunal, which has been established by the lords of appeal in England and adopted by this court, if, as has been contended, farther proof ought not to have been admitted in the dirtrict court, the consequence follows, that it ought not to be admitted here, But the lapse of time alone ought to preclude the .claimants from this indulgence'. They were fully apprized of the nature of the proof which their case required; they had it. in their power to produce- it j and after two years have, elapsed, the necessity of supr pressing the frauds which might be consequent upon such excess of indulgence, demands that' the court should reject the additional farther proof now offered by them. Mr. Winn’s claim ought to be rejected, be^ cause, supposing , his proprietary interest to be made out ever so clearly, he is a British born subject, who offers a claim upon the ground-, of his being a resident merchant of Portugal, although at the'time of the first adjudication, he was not .domiciled in that country. The claimant makes and’ -affidavit at London, in June, 181.6, -in which he describes ■ himself, as ?{o£ the ..city- of Lisbon, in Portugal, now in London on mercantile business,'''’ swears to the property in him„ self, and that nt the time of the shipment and cap" ture, he was ft domiciled subject of Portugal, and had, resided in Lisbon for several years preceding the capture, and until the 12th of June, 181.4,” when he left Lisbon for Bordeaux, and “has since arrived,’’ (without- saying when,) “ in this city oh mercantile business, that he still is a domiciled subject of Portugal, &c'. 1C The native character easily reverts,” says' Sir W-. Scott 5- apd it js so, hot merely because he gays it, but from the very nature of things, and gravitating' 'tendency, (if the expressioñ may be allowed,) which every person has towards-his native country. Here Mr. Winn' was returning to his native country, shortly after the capture., and we may. safely conclude, arrived there ¡long before the .first adjudication. There he continued until -long after the peace, without resuming his acquired domicil in Portugal ; and more-than a year afterwards, we find him still residen .in his native country. He was not i» transitu' to regrin his neutral character, like Mr.- Pinto in the case of ¡the Nereide ; but he was in transitu to regain his native hostile character. He did regain it, .and became a -rediAtegr'ated British subject. That the party must be in a capacity to claim' át fhetime'of adjudication, as well as entitled to restitution' ■at the time of sailing' and capture, is an. elementary principle which lays at the very foundation- of the law of prize. It is alluded to by Sir W. Scott, in a leading case on -this subject ; it is evidenced by the anciently established formula of the test affidavit, arid sentence of condemnation, both of which point to the national character of the party at the time of adjudication, os on essential ingredient* in determining the fate of his claim. Mr. Winn had no persona standi in judicio at the time of the first adjudication ;-and unless he has been -re-habilitated by the subsequent intervention of peace, and restored to' his capacity to claim, by a species of the jus postliminii, his native character still remains fixed upon him, and his property must be. condemned by relation báck to- the time of the first adjudication, to which period every thing must be referred. 6. But even the Portuguese domicil of, Mr. Winft- will not avail to avert the condemnation of.his property, because his native character is preserved, notwithstanding his residence and trade in Portugal. As the native domicil easily reverts, so also, it may with truth be affirmed, that it is • with difficulty shaken off. Every native subject of a belligerent power, is,prima facie, an enemy of the other belligerent. To repel this presumption, he must shpw, not merely that he has acquired a personal doiqicil in a neutral country, but that, under all the circumstances of the case, he is unaffected with .the hostile character of- his native domicil. The political relations between Great Britain and Portugal, completely recognize the. privileged national character Pf British subjects in Portugal* which is preserved to them, in a manner analogous to that of European merchants in the East, who are held to take their, national character ftom the'fhctory to'which they are attached, and from the European government under whose protection they carry on their trade. Thus, also, Sir W. Scott states, in the Hen-rick and Maria, that. British subjects resident in Portugal retain 'their native national character in spite of thbir Portuguese domicil, even in the estimation of fhé enemy himself, (France,) and that they exercise^n active jurisdiction over their own countrymen settled there.. This peculiar immiscible cha-, racier of British subjects in Portugal is strengtheaed by the circumstance of that country having' been, ^le earliest periods of her national existence, the ally of Great Britain ; and something more than a mere common ally, as Sir W. Scott, observes, 'a the Fiad Oyen. The case of the Dañaos, cited in a note-to. thé Nayade, in which the lords of appeal .allowed a British born subject resident in the English factory at Lisbon, the beneft. of a Portuguese character, so far as.to legalize his trade with Holland, then at war with England, but not with Portugal,. mu3Í be considered as a- departure from principle, and,..imputed- to some motive of national' or commercial policy, operating on the Ipnls at the time. Certain ,it is, that the reasons on which Sir W. Scott grounds the' opinion expressed by him, are entitled to much more weight than is the mere authority of of the lords, unsupported by any reasons whatever. This court, which is Ike supreme appellate prize tribunal of this country, will scrutinize carefully all the precedents settled in the British prize courts, (since •the United States * ceased, to be a portion of' the British empire,) and will regard rather the reason than the authority on which they áre founded'. Trace the treaties between .Great Britain and Portugal, and it will be found thát they impress something like at provincial dependent on Portugd!, and a» independent rharacter on' Biitish snb-'ects resident in that country.- It is to the, lights of history that we must resort to account for. compacts so singularly unequal. Before the subjugation-of Poitugal by Spain, the'an* cient Portuguese, kings granted special immunities to English merchants settled in their dominions. want of capital in a poor and comparatively barba* rous country, made it necessary to encourage the es-' tablishment of foreign merchants in jfactories, which were essential to their protection, on account of the difference of language, manners, religion, „and laws, almost (if not quite) as great as between Christendom and the' Countries of the East. On the restoration of the monarchy by the house of Braganza, in 1640, John IF, was supported by Charles I. of England, who was the first prince that acknowledged the »ew Portuguese monarch, and entered into a treaty with him. Under the English Commonwealth, this treaty was renewed by Oliver Cromwell, whose •energy in maintaining the. foreign influence and commercial interests of’ his country is so well known. Charles ÍÍ .married, the Infanta of Portugal; confirmed all other treaties; and made a new and perpetual one with .Alfonzo VI. Under his mediation and guarantee, Spain acknowledged the independence of Portugal; which Great Britain has since constantly maintained, by succouring Portugal against her enemies. In return for a friendship so ancient, so unalterable, and so beneficial, Portugal has lavished upon the subjects of Great Britain the most precious.commercial privileges; and for them has even relaxed her 'commercial monopoly, and opened to them the sanctum sanct'prum of her possessions in the two Indies. These privileges have been uniform-]y revived and renewécj in every successive treaty which has been ' formed between-the two countries, at>d may be enumerated under, the following heads. First. Prizes- made, by British subjects, from nations át peace with Portugal, may be carried into the Portuguese ports, for'adjudication, and condemned whilst lying there. If the ports of .Portugal cán be so far considered as British, as that British prizes nAy.be carried into them, 'and condemned, surely' they must be considered such in respect to British subjects, residing and trading there. The rule of reciprocity,, pr amicable retaliation may be extended to them, (being tnemiet,) though it may not be extended by the Court to.the subjects of Portugal, (because -they are friends,) and the judicial department cannot reciprocate'to, or retaliate on therp, the unjust proceedings of . their nation. Second* Portugal is bound] by treaty, to deliver Up British vessels captured and brought into her portji by the enemies o.f Great Britain, but her friends.
      Third. British subjects resident in Portugal are ex* empt fron) the ordinary jurisdiction of-the. country; ..and are amenable' only .to the judge-conservator appointed by themselyes, who has cognizance of all civil causes in whieh they are concerned ; and the ordinary authorities of. the country’ cannot proceed against them in criminal cases, without a permission in writing from the judge conservator, expept only where the offender js taken flagrante delicto,
      
       Fourth. 
      The Portugueseicou.rts of probate, or orphan’s courts, have no authority whatever, in the distribution of the «fleets of British subjects deceased,' in Portugal, but the same is referred to the judge conservator, under ■fvhose superintendence administrators are appointed by a majority of the British merchants resident , in the place, Fifth• British .subjects in Portugal-, have the privilege of being paid with debts due to them by Portuguese subjects, whose property may be seized by the inquisition, or the king’s exchequer.
      Sixths They are exempted from the operation' of the fundamental- law of the Portuguese monarchy, which' has ...immemorially excluded e.very other religion from Portugal, except the Roman Catholic; and they are' permitted to enjoy their own religious prícíples and Worship as Protestants-»
      Seventh. This favoured nation are also exempted from till the monopolies, and other, exclusive privileges, with which the internal §nJ external .commerce of Portugal and her colonies are cramped and restrained and to which Portuguese subjects are exposed. The only exception to this immunity is the crown farm, for the exclusive sale of certain- precious productions. The treaty of 1810, now subsisting, confirms and renews all.the privileges and immunities granted by former treaties, or municipal regulations, except only the stipulation that free ships should make free goods. These privileges and immunities segregate British residents in Portugal fro.mthe general society, and from the commerc’a^’ P(^^‘ca^ and ecclesiastical regulations of the country. They distinguish .those residents from the othér inhabitants,.a.s much"a^ the merchants of Christehdom are distinguished from the’natives in-the oriental countries. The privileged, character of Christians, established in those countries, depends as much upon the conventional law, as «lees that of British subjects settled in Portugal. The treaties and capitulations between the .powers of Christendom and the Porte secure to the subjects of the former, privileges not more extensive than those which' are now ■enjoyed, and have been e.ijoyej from time immemorial, by-the British i,n Portugal. It is true, that by -the treaty of 18}0, art. 26. his Britannic majesty renounces-the right of. -establishing factories or corporations of merchants in the. Portuguese dominions, but there is a proviso, that this concession “shall not deprive the subjects of his Britannic majesty,, residing, within the dominions of Portugal; of the. full enjoyment, as individuals engaged in commerce, of any rf those rights' and privileges which-they did or might possess, as members of incorporated commercial bodies ; r.rd, also, that the trade and commerce ■ carried on by British subjects shall not be. restricted, annoyed) or olheiwise affected by any favours within the dominions of Portugal; ” .and in the case of Mr. Fremeaux, the lords of-appeal in England decided, that the claimant was to be considered as a Dutchman, because he carried on trade at Smyrna, under the protection of the Dutch Consul, al“ though it was proved in that gentleman’^ cass, that there was no Dutch factory at Smyrna, and that the Dutch merchants there are not incorporated.
    
    Mr. Gaston, for the respondents and claimants.
    1. On the first point the claimants have to encounter a difficulty purely -technical, which Cannot pretend to' a foundation in justice, and which, indeed, aims to prevent a decision upon the merits . of the controversy. If this difficulty can neither be surmounted nor escaped without a violation of the established principles and wiles of jurisprudence, the claimants mu-it submit without repining. ' But it will pe impossible for-the friends to the repose of nations, «fld to the impartial administration ofjustice in.the courts of belligerents, not to regret, that the highest tribunal in our land should find itself so fettered with forms, as to be unable to do what shall appear to them to be right ; _a$’fo be compelled to condemn as prize of warwhatthe inferior tribunals shall have restored, (in théir opinion 'justly,) as neutral .property. The captors’ objection is founded on a literal exposition of the decree of August, 1814, inconsistent with its obvious meaning. However desirable it may be that precision should be used m drawing up the decrees of judicial tricunals, yet the infirmity of human nature,- and the imperfection of human language, alike demand that these decisions should not be perverted by verbal criticism from their substantial import. No one can doubt the tfteaning of the sentence of August, 1814. No one Can to s?)'» that it designed not to .condemn such parts of the. cargo as were evidenced by bills of lading addressed' to consignees, specially named in them. This design appears as distincly as though it had been expressed in the most formal terms. The court exempts from condemnation, and reserves for farther .proof, all the cases of bills of lading deliverable to shipper or order, which are specially endorsed to consignees- J1 fortiori, it could not but exempt from condemnation those where the bills of lading are addressed to consignees specially named in the bills of lading. It is the order of the English shipper for the delivery of the goods to the Portuguese consignee, that raises the doubt where resides the proprietary, interest; whether in the shipper or .in the consignee. And Unquestionably the probability that such interest in the consignee is, at least, as strong where the consignment is original, and on the face of the bill tff lading,, as where it is made by - an endorsement of. Vher bill. The sentence of August, 1814, which is insisted on ascondemning the property in question, could" not have that effect until it was completed. A blank was purposely left for the insertion of the parts of the ■cargo intended to be condemned. Until this blank was filled up, or something done by the court equally definitive and precise, the sentence was necessarily imperfect, both in substance and in form. This imperfection continued as to the district court until August torro, 18!6,and then the property in question was not-only not condemned, but ordered, to be restored. •The affirmance of the sentience of August? 1814. by • the circuit court was in general térms.' ,It cannot, therefore^ have any. other effect than if the sentence affirmed Ipid been repeated in todidem verbis. The sentence of condemnation, therefore, of the circuit court of May, 1815, was incomplete; and remained so until November term, 1816, wheft in direct terms it was declared that it should no; l.apply to the present claims. Whatever informalities1 or errors of proceeding may have been had below, yet as the property to which the claims apply- is still in the custody of the law, and the whole case in relation to it is now before this court, all these errors and irregularities will*be so corrected, as tomaké the final decision of the controversy, and disposition of the property, conform to the rights of the .parties litigant. Whether the district court, in August, 1814, did or did not condemn this part of. the cargo; whether it did or did. not decree that farther proof should b.e heard in relation to tt; yet if it ought not to have been condémned — if larther proof ought to have, been received in relation to it — this 'court will- receive such farther proof. 2. But, it is contended, that whatever might have been the meaning of the sentence of the district court of August, 1814, affirmed in the circuit coürt in May, 1815', it ought to have condemned the goods in question, and not to have let in the claimants to'farther proof. And this position is founded on an assertion that, the bills of lading, No. 108, 109, 141, 122, and 118, furnish no evidence whatever of proprietary interest in the consignees, and on-the apprehension that the admission of farther proof in- cases sq circumstanced might destroy all' security for belligerent rights. And, does a bill of lading" furnish no evi^ence’ not even presumptive, of proprietary interest .'the consignee ?. It is understood; and such was the language- of this court in" the case of the St., Joze ■ Indiano, that in general the rules of the prize court, as to the vesting of property, are the same with those of the common' law. Now, “ every authority which can be adduced, from the earliest period- of time down' -to the present hour, agree, that at law, the property does'pass as absolutely and as effectually, (by a bill of lading,) as if tfee goods had been .actually delivered into the hands of the consignee.’’^ If upon a bill of lading,” (says Lord Hardwicke, in Snee v. Prescott, ) between merchants residing in different countries, the goods 'be shipped and consigned to the principal expressly in the body of the bill of lading, tha* vests ‘.the property in the consignee.” The right of the consignor to stop'goods in transitu is not founded, on any presumed property in the consignor, but ne: cessarily supposes the property to be in. the consignee; for, “it is a contradiction in terms, to saya man has a right to stop his own goods in transitu.” It is a right founded wholly on. equitable principles, “which owes its origin to courts of equity — and, the question is not whether the property has vested under the bill- of lading, for that is cWr; but whether on the insolvency of- the consignee, who has not paid for the goods, the consignor can countermand the consignment, or, in other words, devest the property which was vested in the consignee.” Unless, therefore, a totally different rule, as'to the vesting of property, is to be asserted in a court of prize from that which is established at law, a bill of lading absolutely vests the property- in the consignee^ and, of'bourse, is the appropriate and definite, evidence of his proprietary interest. But, it is said, these bills of lading (do not express the shipment to be for the account and risk, of the. consignees, and state that the freight has been paid in London, and, “ of course, by the consignors.” Surely it is, not seriously contended, that the omission to declare the shipment to be on account of the consignees, and the declaration that the freight has been paid , in London, and, ^Cof bourse, by the consignors,” qould -have .been designed to secure to the consignors the right of stopping in transitu? This right is founded on principles> of equity which give it a direct application to Shipments made on account of the consignees,' and which have no connection whatever with the legal consequences of the payment of freight. Let us see, however, what inferences may he fairly drawn from the peculiarities which are noticed in the bills of lading.. — They omit to state that the shipment is on account and ri:k of the consignees. Shall we thence infer that the shipment is on account and risk of the consignors ?— This is not the inference of the L.w. If the bill of lading vests the property in the consignee, he, of oourse, sustains the peril of the shipment, unless thére he an agreement to the contrary. It would, be a singuiar absurdity, indeed, if the law, upon -the. instrumeat, presumed that the consignee . was the owner, And .at'the same time jer.red that he did not bear the ordinary risks of ownership. Where the shipment is on,account and at the risk, of the consignor, and ,not of the consignee, there it may be proper to express the fact, because it is opposed to the legal presumption — But that an omission to state, what. without statement is presumed, c-n be converted into ap argument against thé presumption — will be an instance of intellectual dexterity, rather.fitted to surprise -than to satisfy the inquirer after truth, A bill of lad ing evidences an agreement made by the master with thé shipper for the.delivery of the. goods to the consignee. His undertaking is simply to carry the' goods for the stipulated price to the • consignee. He knows not that the consignee- is t,o sustain the risk, ef the shipment — -He cannot,- therefore, with propriety, aver it in his- contract. If, indeed, the consignor is to sustain the risk, and wishes. this fact to-be stated in .the master’s undertaking, then' has he the full evidence- which warrants the insertion of such a clause in the bill of lading. And, accordingly, such is the mercantile usage. . Bills of lading. ordinarily express account and risk when they are hot the" aecount and risk of the consignee, i But it is otherwise with invoices; — These aré documents passing between-the parties, to the-shipment, and contain the declaration of the consignor to the consignee. These, therefore, declare, however -it may be, at whose account and' hazard the shipment is made. The other peculiarity nótiéed in the bills of -lading is, that the freight is paid in London,' apd, uof course, by the consignors.”. If this corollary, thus summarily duped of a- payment by the. "shippers, mean no more than a payment by the'.consignees through the Ripper® ns their immediate agents, at London, it may. be admitted as probable, and, at all events, as ■ harmles's. But If it mean a payment by the shippers'' as principals, or on their own account, then it is denied to follow from the proposition which it claim's as its premises. ' But the peculiarities, thus 'examined, are relied on-as constituting ’ a support ■ on which to rest, ‘the doctrine contained in the cases of Davis, etal., -v. James,
      
       and Moore v.' Wilsm
      
       which are cited, (ás It would se.em,) to prove, that where the consignor páys the freight, the bill of lading does not vest the property in the consignee; It is not material to inquire, how far these cases would now Stand the tést of a strict scrutiny. It is but doing justice, however, to ¿he gfeat men who decided them, to say, -thatthey establish no such doctrine. .Lord Mansfield expressly declares,- that he does not proceed at all bn the ground of proprietorship, but simply on the; agreement of the carrier. And Lord Kényon, in Dawes v. Peck,
      
       states, that the doctrine which they furnish is no more, than, that the consignor may bring an action for breach of contract against the carrier on his . agreement, where the consignor is to be at the expense ■of the carriage, “where he stands.in the character of an insurer to the .consignee for the safe arrival of the goods.” It is alleged,, that if the interest in these cldims •were bona, fide neutral, it is incredible, that the invoices and letters would not have accompanied the shipment. Is it pot equally propable, where the shipment is not on neutral account, or partly on neutral and partly on hostile account, and there is no attempt ut deception, that it would have been accompanied with letters and invoices? Yet in the vast multitude of the shipments clearly on enemy account, made by this ship, and which have been condemned without a controversy, there is not one in .ten thus accompanied. The packet sails between London and Lisbon with a regularity, certainty, and frequency, little short of what takes place in transmissions by mail. It is the •great and established medium of conveyance, established by treaty stipulations, for passengers and letters. Is it strange, therefore, that all the communications between the shipper and the' owner of the goods, except a copy of the bill, of lading, (which at once evidences the property, and is directory to the master,) should háve been sent by this certain and regular and official'medium of conveyance ? If duplicates of these communications hád accompanied the shipments in question, this unusual caution might have been cpnstrued into a proof of guilt, and1 these additional evidences of neutral proprietorship stigmatized .as the badges of fiaud. But it is alleged, also, that the bills oflading are not verified. The only individual of- the crew examined by the commissioners, is the master, and he supports the bill of lading as far ás can be expected of a carrier-master. In answer to the 13th interrogatory, he declares that the bills of lading are not false or colourable; and in answer to the 20th, that he presumes the goods shipped belong'to. the respective consignees. The.right of belligerents are not the only rights deserving of the notice, -and entitled to the protection ofth.e courts of prize. Though human testimony may sometimes be corrupt, and often fallacious, it is - by human testimony alone, that human tribunals can hope to ev.iscerate the ’truth. Cohdemnation should take ■ place only when the fact of enemy’s property has, been ascertained; and where that fact is doubted, proof should be resorted ,to. These principles have received the countenance of all those engaged • in the administration of public' law, whom the civilized world' (cruisers excepted) regard with reverence. They will be found stated with simplicity and perspicuity in the famous British'answer to the Prussian memorial, and communicated to the American government in 1794, as the basis'of the proceedings in British courts of Admiralty ; and which has been adopted by this court as the substratum of its own c.onduct in cases of'prize. — 3. When it is re,- . collected that the claimant's have sought to furnish .proof, both ftcm the port of shipment and the port of destination, from London and from Lisbon; that during the war, the means of procuring such proof, from Europe and bringing it to the United States were unfrequent and uncertain; and that delay will., not.' be occasioned by listening to the additional proof now tendered, it is believed .that the. court will not refuse to hear it. The case of the Bernon,  show's that the court, after receiving farther proof, may order additional proof, if requisite, to enlighten its judgment; and, the case of the Frances  is an authority in ^t *be appellate court may order additional proof, if the farther proof on which the cause has been héajd below is defective. May not .the' appellate court tnen-hear it, if to prevent injurious delays it be prepared in anticipation ? — 4. The only inquiries of fact,, as to the character of the claimant, .according to the .rules laid down by Sir William. Scott, in- the Hersfetder 
      
       are, was he?at the' time- of seizure entitled to, restitution; and is he, at the time- of adjudication, in a capacity to claim The present capacity of the claimant is without do.ubt. ' His right to restitution must b.e tested by his national charafcter at the time of seizure,. •on the -10th of Máy, 1814. But the objection1 is founded entirely on a misconception of the_ meaning of the •affidavits. Whether the facts testified be true or not,' must depend oh the veracity of the deponents. If they are. to be believed, they prove a residence of the claimant as, an established merchant .at Lisbon, for several years preceding the Seizure-, and up to -the 12th' of June thereafterthe leaving of Lisbon on mercantile business, animi) revertendiy on'" the Í2th of June, 1814, and tlhe‘continuance of his domicil, resi-. dence, and establishment there, and a continued purpose of actually returning thither, up to the date of the affidavits. — ^5. It ‘must be conceded, that for commercial purposes, among the civilized nations of Europe and the West, the national character of an' individual isordinarily that of the country in which, he resides. No position is better established than this, that if a person goes to another, country, - arid there engages in trade and takes up his residence, he is by the law of nations, to be considered as a merchant of that try. This general r.ule applies to the case of British merchants domiciled in Portugal. They owe allegiance to the government, are protected by its laws? taingle intimately with the natives in all the social and domestic relations, cherish Portuguese industry, increase Portuguese capital,'and contribute to the revenue of Portugal. It is .true tha¿ a very intimate, commercial connexion /has long subsisted between. Portugal and Britain, and that the subjects of the latter are encouraged to settle in the Portuguese dominions, by many advantageous regulations infavour of their trafic. But it is by no means true that any British authority is exercised in Portugal, or that Portugal can be viewed as the dependent, province of Britain. First. There, is no authority for the assertion that the por.ts of Portugal are open in war for the adjudication of British captures made from nations at peace with Portugal. An irregular practice for merly obtained to that effect,' to which Sir Wm. Scott alludes in the Heprick and Maria; but it was sanctioned neither by treaty nor decree. The" treaty of 1810 is utterly silent on that .head, and it is a matter of notoriety, that on the breaking out of the late war between the United States and Great Britain, a royal decree was issued, forbidding cruisers of belligerants from bringing their prizes into the dominions of Portugal,, which was enforced throughout the war. Second. Portugal is not bound by treaty to deliver up British vessels brought into hpr ports ■which have been taken by the enemy of Britain. The 30th article of the present treaty limits the'obli Sa^on restitution of propeity plundered btf pirates. And this obligation is reciprocal. Third. Brilmh residents are not exempt from the jurisdiction of the Portuguese tribunals. They have the privilege indeed of choosing from among the commissioned judges of'the realm one who is to be presented to the king for his approbation as their judge conservator, and who, if approved, is so appointed; The authority of this judge, (who is usually selected because of his knowledge of the English language,) reaches only to the trial in the first "instance of commercial disputes brought before him by British merchants, and is ever subordinate to the higher tribunals of justice established in the realm, who* in all cases, possess over him an appellate jurisdiction. The privilege is not peculiar to the British, but is extended to every friendly European nation. ’Fourth. The provision of the treaty of 1654, relative to the appointment of administrators to British residents dying intestate, is not renewed in the treaty Of 1810. There is in lieu of it a rceiprocal stipulation, (Art. 7th.) for the disposal, by the subjects of both nations, o'f their personal property by testament. Fifth The provision for applying the effects seized by the Inquisition' to the payment of debts due the British creditor, is but a dictate of justice, and probably places these creditors on the same - footing with ' native creditors. It is not found in the treaty of 1810. Sixth. There is nothing extraordinary in the mutual stipulation, for the. tolerance, by each, of the religion of the subjects of the other, as- far as it may consist- with the laws of ; their respective realms. Seventh Nor is it unusual to grant to the subjects of other nations, an exemption from monopolies obligatory on native merchants-It is perfectly familiar to the court, that under the British treaty of 1795, such an exemption was accorded to American merchants from the monopoly of the British East India Company. And in the trea- . ty of 1810 it will be seen that the stipulations are reciprocal. There is much difficulty in ascertaining the precise nature of the immunities .enjoyed by British merchants in Portugal, at the date of the treaty of 1810, because the practice had been to grant them occasionally by alvaras. These are temporary proclamations, which have effect, only, for a year anda day. It is 'very certain that some privileges heretofore granted, were not then possessed. For instance, the alvara of 1717 exempts. Englishmen from certain taxes to which' the natives are liable, while the 7th article of the treaty of 1810, provides that they shall be liable to the same taxes, (and no other) as are imposed on the natives of Portugal. The probability is, that the most important o^ these immunities are especially enumerated in , the treaty. It is unnecessary, however, to proceed further with this examination. Enough appears to show that the attempt to take the casé of British merchants resident in Portugal, out of the general rule applied to domicil among civilized nations, whatever admiration may be due' to its boldness, cannot receive the sanction of an enlightened court. The analogy be-, tween such merchants and Europeans in Turkey, who, there, neither sustain their original character, nor take the character of the people within whose territories they sojourn, but owe their name and political existence to • the factory and association under' whose protection they carry on a precarious traffick — - who are viewed as a people exempt from . Turkish dothinioiv, and who never mix with the natives in any Social or domestic concern — is toó forced and unnatural to afford a basis for ány arguments applicable to them both. No authority is cited in support of this objecting, other than "a remark of Sir William Scott in the Henriek and Maria, which must t,be understood secundum subjectam matériam. He is there speaking of the validity of -a condemnation in 'England of an enemy’s ship,'.carried into 'Lisbon or Leghorn — into fhe port of á very close and intiniaie ally. But in opposition to it there are great authorities. The case • of the Armenian . merchants resident, at Madras under special privileges, who were nevertheless, subjected to the - general rule of domicil, bears directly upon it. The case of the Nayade, ■ which applies the commercial rule - of domicil to Prussian merchants in Portugal, also bears upon it. The case of the Dañaos, decided. in March; Í802, at a time when the objection’was stronger than at present,- is directly in point, and of the'highest prize tribunal in England; In the St. Joze Indiano it was expressly decided by one of the learnéd judges of this court, that British residents in the dominions of Portugal take the character of their domicil, and as to all third parties, are to be’ deemed Portuguese .subjects. This decision was acquiesced in by the counsel -for. the captors. In the case of the Antonio Johanna, such. was considered the settled rule; and, accordingly, restitution was made by this court to Mr. I vers, a resident British merchant, at St. Michael’s, one of the firm of Burnet & Ivers, of the moiety claimed in Jiis behalf as a Portuguese subject The. counsel who ■now" advances this objection, declined then to bring it forward.
    Feb.
    
      
      . Davisetal v. James, 5 Burr. 2680. Moore v. Wilson, 1 T. R. 659.
    
    
      
      
         The Dos Hermanos, 2 Wheat. 76. 98.
    
    
      
      
         La Virginie, 5 Rob. 98.
    
    
      
      
         9 Cranch, 388.
    
    
      
       The Hersteider, 1 Rob. 97.
    
    
      
       The Indian Chief, 3 Rob. 25.
    
    
      
      
         2 Rob. 50.
      
    
    
      
       1 Rob. 135.
    
    
      
      
         4 Rob. 210.
    
    
      
      
        2 Posthelwaite's Dict. of Trade and Commerce, art. Treaties.
      
    
    
      
      
         The Henrick and Maria, 4 Rob. 50.
    
    
      
      
         2 Chalmer's Coll. Treat. 279.
    
    
      
       2 Chalmer’s 271. Treaty of 1674, art. 7. 13. Treaty of 1810, art. 10.
    
    
      
      
         2 Chalmers. 271. Ib. 281.
    
    
      
       2 Chalmers, 260.
    
    
      
      
         Chalmers, 255.
    
    
      
      
         Treaty of 1810, art. 3.
    
    
      
      
         Velin, Sur P Ordon. 234, 235. 2 Chambers, 436.
    
    
      
       Cited in the Indian Chief, 3 Rob. 32. Ib. App. Note No I. 235.
    
    
      
       1 Wheat. 212.
    
    
      
      
         Per Buller, J. in Dom. Proc. Lickbarrow v. Mason, 6 East. 23. Note.
    
    
      
       1 Alk. 245.
    
    
      
      
         6 East. 28. Note.
    
    
      
      
         5 Burr. 2680.
    
    
      
      
        1 T. R. 659.
    
    
      
       T. R. 330.
    
    
      
       1 Rob. 88.
    
    
      
      
         8 Cranch. 308. 353.
    
    
      
       1 Rob. 97.
    
    
      
      
         See Consuller Certificate in the Herman, 3 Rob. Appen. I. 295.
    
    
      
       The Angelique, 3 Rob. Appen. B. 294.
    
    
      
      
         4 Rob. 206.
    
    
      
      
        4 Rob. 210.
      
    
    
      
      
         2 Gallis. 268. 292.
    
    
      
      
         1 Wheat 159.
    
   Mr. Chief Justice Marshall

delivered the opinion of the court, and after stating e facts, proceeded as follows:

The appellants contend, 1st. That the sentence pronounced by the district court in August, 1814, which was affirmed by the circuit coúrt in May, 1815, ■condemned finally, the- packages for which a decree ■of restitution was afterwards made, and that the subsequent proceedings were irregular, and in a case not before the court. 2dly., That upon the merits, farther proof ought not to haxe been ordered, and a condemnation ought to have taken place.

On the first point, it is contended, that these goods, having been comprehended in’ invoices not endorsed, nor accompanied with letters of advice, are within the very terms of the sentence of condemnation, and must, consequently, be considered as condemned.

The principle on which this argument was overruled in the court below, is to be found in its sentence. The district court, in its decree of 1814, did not intend to confine its description of the’property condemned, to the general terms used iñ thaCdecree, but did intend to enumerate the particular bills to which those terms should apply. This is conclusively proved, by reference to the subsequent intended enumeration, which is followed by a blank, obviously left for that enumeration. ' Had the enumeration been inserted as was intended, the particular specification, would undoubtedly have controlled the general description which refers to it. The unintentional and accidental omission to fill this blank, leaves the decree imperfect in a very essen.fjal point ; and if the case, and the whole context of the decree can satifactorily supply this defect, it ought to be ¡Supplied. This court is of opinion,' that no doubt can be entertained respecting the bills with which the district court intended to ,fill up the blank. The condemnation of shipments evidenced by bills of lading, with blank endorsements, or without endorsement, could apply to those only which required éndorsement, or which were in a situation to admit of it. These wrere the bills which were made deliverable to shipper, or to the .order of the shipper. Bills addressed to a merchant, residing in Lisbon, could not be endorsed by such merchant, until the vessel carrying- them should arrive at Lisbon. Consequently, such hills could not be in the view of the judge, when condemning goods, because the bills of lading, were not endorsed; and, had he completed his decree, such bills could have been inserted- in it. No conceivable reason exists, for admitting to farther proof, the case of a shipment, evidenced by a bill of lading, made deliverable to shipper, or order, and endorsed to a merchant, residing in Lisbon ; and at the same time Condemning, without admitting to farther proof, the same shipment, if evidenced by a bill- of lading, made deliverable, in the first instance, to the Lisbon merchant. N.o. 108, for example, is made deliverable at Lisbon, to Seguior Jose Ramos de Fonseco, and is consequently not endorsed. It is contended, that these goods are not condemned. Blit had the bill been made deliverable, to shipper, or order, and endorsed to Segnior Jose Ramos de Fonseco, farther proof would have been admitted.

Nothing but absolute necessity could sustain a construction, so obviously absurd. This court is unanimously of opinion, that justice ought not to be diverted from its plain course, by circumstances so susceptible of explanation, that error is impossible; and that, when the decree was returned to the district, court of North Carolina, with the blank unfilled, that court did right in considering the specification intended to have been inserted, and for which the blank was left, as a substantive and essential part of the decree; still capable of being supplied, and in acting upon, and explaining the decree, as if that specification had been originally inserted.

This impediment being removed, the cause will be considered on its merits.

It is contended, with great earnestness, that farther proof ought not to have been ordered, and that the goods which have been restored, ought to have been condemned as prize of war. In support of this proposition, the captors, by their counsel, insist- that the rights of belligerents would be sacrificed, should a mere bill of lading, consigning the goods to a neutral, unaccompanied by letter of advice or invoice, let in thé neoc^a’Eaant farther proof,

, ding, paniT b°yTñ mvoice or ter of adrice, foundation* for tlon of*farther proof.

Effect-of..ie . suspicion or proof of spoli» ation of papers. by. the enemy clohn^f*neuconducting*^nafida.

It is not pretended, that such a bill would of itself justify an 'order for restitution : but it certainly gives person to whom it is addressed, a right to- receive goods and lays the foundation for proof, that the ProPerty is in him. It c.annot be believed, that, admit-farther proof in the aps'ence of an invoice qr letter ... , , ... advice, endangers the fair rights of belligerents. These papers are so easily prepared, that no frauducase would be without them'. It is not to be credited, that a shipper in Londdn, consigning his own. goods to a merchant in Lisbon,, with the intention of passing them on a belligerent cruizer -as neutral, would, omit to furnish a letter of advic.e and invoice, adapted to the occasion. There might be double papers, but it is not to be imagined, that papers so easily 'framed, would'not be prepared in a case of intended deception.

jf(. jg unquestionably extraordinary, that the same * J J1 vessel which carries the goods should not also carry CT . invoices, and letters of advice. But the inference which the counsel for the captors would draw from facL does not seem to be warranted by it. It might induce a suspicion, that papers had been’thrown overboard ; but in the total absence of evidence, that this fact had occurred, the court would not be justified in coming positively to such a conclusion. Between London and Lisbon, where the -voyage is short and the packets regular, the bills of lading and invoices might be s.ent by regular conveyances. But were it even admitted that a belligerent master carrying a cargo chi.efly belligerent, bad thrown papers overboard, this fact ought not to preclude a neutral claimant, to whom no fraud is imputable, from exhibiting proof of property. In the case before the court, no attémpt was made to disguise any part of the cargo. By far the greater portion of it was confessedly British', and was condemned without a claim. The whole transaction with respect to tir*f cargo, is plain and open; and was, in the opinion of this court, a clear case for farther ptoof.

The farther proof in the*claims 108, 109, 141, and 122, consists of affidavits to' the proprietary interestof the claimants; of copies of letters, in some instances ordering the goods, and in others advising of their shipment; and of copies of invoices — all properly authenticated. This proof was .satisfactory,.and. the order for restitution madé upon it was the necessary consequence of its admission.

In the claim to No. 118, made for Joseph Winn, the Pro°f was not so conclusive. It consisted oí the affidavit of the claimant to his proprietary in' terest, and to his character as .a domiciled Portuguese subject, residing and carrying on trade in Lisbon. The. affidavit was made in London oh the 29th day of June, 1815, hut states the claimant to have been at his -fixed place of residence in Lisbon, at the time of the capture, where he had resided for several years preceding that event, and where he continued until the 12th of June, 18l4, when he left-L isbon for Bordeaux, and has since, arrived in London on mercantile business. That he is still a domiciled subject of Portugal, intending to rfeturn to Lisbon, where his commercial establishment is maintained, and his business carried on by his clerks until his return. To a copy of this affidavit is annexed that of Duncan M‘Andrew, his clerk, made in Lisbon, who verifies all the facts stated in it.

há^Tneudoí'1™’1 itdob“ tive country afterwards amino revertendi, and leaving bis commercial establishment robe carried on by bis clerks in bis absence.

This property vas also restored by the sentence of the.district court, and affirmed in the circuit court. On an appeal being prayed, the circuit court made an order, allowing this claimant to take farther proof to be offered to this court- The proof offered under this order consists of a special affidavit of one of the shippers of sworn copies of letters, ordering the shipment, and of the invoice of the articles shipped-. •

. This claim not having been attended^ when the sentence of restitution was made, with 'any suspicious [circumstances, other than the absence of papers which have since- been supplied, and which was probably the result solely of inadverte nce, this court is of opinion, that the farther proof now offered, ought to be received. It certainly dissipates every doubt respecting the proprietary interest. The only question made upon it respects the neutral character of the claimant.

It has been urged, that his native character easily ’ reverts, and that by returning to his native country, the claimant has become a. redintegrated British subject. But his commercial establishment in Lisbon still rema^ns 5 his■ mercantile affairs are conducted in. his absence by his clerks; he was himself in Lisbon at the time of the capturé ; he has conáe to London merely on mercantile business, and intends returning to Lisbon. Under these circumstances,- hiá Portuguese domicil still continues.

British subjGcts residefit on Portugal do notretain their native characthat UtofCqUthe they reside*'re

. But it is contended, that the connection between Britain and, Portugal retains the British character, and the counsel for the captors has. enumerated the privileges of 'Englishmen in that country.

There privileges are certainly very great; but, ^ # without giving them a minute and separate examina- . • . ,7 . . ; . ,, ,, , ,. , tion, it may be .said, generally, that they do not confound the British and Portuguese ■ character. They do' 11 °^' identify' the.twó nations with each- other, or effect those principles on which, in other cases, a merchant acquires the .character of the nation in-which he resides and carries on his trade.. If a Brittish pierchant,- residing in Portugal,’ retains his'British character when Britain is at war and Portugal at peace, he would also' retain that character when Portugal is at war and Britain at peace. This no belligerent could tolerate. .Its effect would be to neutralize the whole commerce.of Portugal, and give it perfect security:

Sentence affirmed. 
      
      
         M Bomemant in his commentary upon Be Habreu, makes' the following remarks:
      Parmi les pieces dont un navire doit etre pourvu pour la regulante dé sa navigation,il en est de deux sortes; les unes seryent a prouver la neutralite du navire, les autres oel!e de la cai-gáison.”
      . Celles relatives a la carga.ison sont les connoissments, les polices de chargemont, lea factures.' Toutes ces pieces font pleine et entiere foi, si elles sont en bonne et due forme. Toute ne sont pasd’absolue necessite; comma elles sont correlatives, elles se suppleent entré -elle et peüvent etre supplees par d’autres equi. valentes. Mais si l’on en de- ■ coUvre d’autres qui les dementent, s’il se rencontre des dou- . ble expeditions on autres documens capable d’ebrariler la con fiancé, la presomption defraude se change des-lors en certitude', on ne presume pas simplement le navire ennemi, on le suppose.
      “ La preuve de la neutralité est toujours a la charge du capture.
      “ Cette preuve ne peut et ne doit resulter que des paers trouves a bord; toute aútre indirect© ne peut etre reque ni pour ni contre,. c’est la disposition de l’art. 11. du, reglement du 26 Juillet, 1773, et des precedens qui veulent qu’on n’ait egard qu’aux pieces trouvees a bord, et non a celles - qui pourroient etre produites apres la prise.
      “ C’estau captéur a prouver ensuite Virregularite des pieces a les discuter- de la maniere qu’il juge convenable pouren demontrer la fraude et la simulation.
      “Quant auxirregularitesque - peuvent contenir certaine piecés de bord, ce ri’est pas a des omissions de forme usitees que les tribuuaux doivent s’attacher c’est par 1’ensemble des pieces, et surtout par la verite des choses qui en resulte, qu’ils doivent se determiner; 1’ex-perience n’a que trop demontre que la plus grande regulante dans les pápiers mas quoit sou-Vent- la fraude etla simulation, nimia precautio dolus.” BonnemanVs Translation of de Hqbreu, Tom. 1. p. 28.
     
      
       The french prize praoliee not allowing farther proof, but acquitting or condemning upon the original evidence consisting of, the papers found on board -and the depositions of the captors and captured. The only exception to this rule is, where the papers have been spoliated by the captors, or los.t by shipwreck, and other inevitable accidents. Valin, Traite des Prises, ch. 15. n. 7. But the Spanish law admits of farther proof in the case of doubts arising upon the original, evidence. De Habreu part 2. ch. 15.