The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-05-21 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

BY TIIE QUEEN.-A PROCLAMATION.

VICTORIA R..
Whereas we arc happily at peace with all Sovereigns,
Powers, and States:
And whereas hcatilities have unhappily commenced
between the Government of the tnited States of
America and certain States styling themselves "the
Confederate States of America :"
And whereas we, being at peace with the Govern-
ment of the United State,, have declared our Royal
determination to maintain a strict and impartial
neutrality in the contest between the said contending
parties:
We therefore have thought fit, by and with the
advice of our Privy Council, to issue this our Royal
Proclamation :
And we du hereby strictly charge and command all
our loving subjects to observe a strict neutrality in and
during the aforesaid hostilities, and to abstain from
violating or contravening either the laws and statutes
of the realm in this behalf, or the law of nations in
relation thereto, as they will answer to the contrary at
their peril.
Here follow the statutes passed in the reign of
George lfl., relating to the question, and the proclame-
ties is continued thus :
Now, in orler that none of our subjects may on-
warily render themselves liable to the penalties
imim-
posed by the said statute, we do hereby strictly corm
mind, that no person or persons whatsoever do commit
any act, matter, or thing whatsoever contrary to the
provisions of the said statute, upon pain of the several
penalties by the said statute imposed, and of our high
"fiCIIOUTO.
nd we do hereby further warn all our loving sub-
jects, and all persons whatsoever entitled to our protec-
tion, that if any of them shall presume, in contempt of
this our Royal Proclanirtion, and of our hiAli dis-
pleasure, to do any acts in derogation of their dirty, as
subjects of a neutral sovereign, in the said contest, or
in violation or eintravention of the law of nations in
that behalf—as, for example and more especially, by
entering into the military service of either of the said
contending par ti s as coanuissioned or non-counuissioned
officers or soldier ; or by serving as officers, bailors, or
marines on board any ship or vessel of war or transport
of or in the tiers its of either of the said contending
par.ies ; or by serving as officers, sailors, or marines, on
110.1,1 my privateer bearing letters of marque of or from
either of the said contending parties; or by engaging
to go or going to any place boyond the seas with intent
to enlist or engage in any such service, or by procuriug,
or attempting to procure, within Her Majesty'e
dominions, at home or abroad, others to do so; Of by
fitting out, arming, or equipping any ship or vessel to
be employed as • ship of war or privateer or transport,
by either of the said contending parties; or by break-
ing, or endeavouring to break, any blockade lawfully
and actually established by or on behalf of either of the
said contending parties; or by carrying officers, soldiers,
despatches, arms, military stores, or materials, or any
article or articles considered and deemed to be contra-
band of war &wording to the law or modern usage of
nations, for the use or service of either of the said con-
tending parties, all persons so offending will incur and
be liable to the several penalties and penal consequences
by the said statute, or by the law of nations, in that
behalf imposed or denounced.
And we do hereby declare that all our subjects and
persons entitled to our protection who may misconduct
themselves in the premises will do an at their peril and
of their own wrong, and that they will in nowiee obtain
any protection from us against any liabilities or penal
consequences, but will, on the contrary, incur our high
displeasure by such misconduct.
Given at our Court at the White Lodge, Richmond
Par k, this 11111 day of May, in the year of our Lord
Mil, and in the 24th year of our reign.
(101) save the QUEEN.