The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-28 00:00:00

THE CONTINENTAL WAR.

PROCLAILATION OF NEUTRALITY BY ENGLAND.
A supplement to the London Gazdte was pub-
lished but evening, oontaning the tenoning invelenuitien

by the Queen :
Whereas we are happily at peace with all sovereigns
powers, and states; and whereas, notwithstanding our utmeet
exertions to preserve peace between all the sovereign
powers and states now at war hostilities have unhappily
commenced between his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of
Austria, his Majesty the Sing of Primal., his Majesty the
Ring of Italy, and the Germanic Confederation ; and where-
as a state of war now exists between his Imperial Majesty
the Emperor of Austria, his Majesty the King of Premix,
his Majesty the Sing of Italy, and the Germanic Confede-
ration, and between their respective subjects and others
inhabiting within their countries, territories, or do-
minions ; and whereas we are on terms of friendship
and amicable intercourse with all and each of these sove-
reigns and with the Germania Confederation, and with
their several subjects, and others inhabiting within their
countries, territories, or dominions ; and whereas great
numbers of our loyal subjects reside and carry on com-
merce, and possess property and establishments, and enjoy
various rights and privileges, within the dominions of mob
of the aforesaid sovereigns and states, protected by the
faith of treaties between ns and each of the aforesaid
sovereigns and states ; and whereas we being desirous of
preserving to our subjects the blaming. of , which
they now happily enjoy, are firmly and deter-
mined to abstain altogether from taking any part, directly
or indirectly, in newer now unhappily existing between the
said sovereigns and states, their subjects and territories
and to remain at peace with, and to maintain a
and friendlyinterootuve with all andwith each of them and
their respective subjects, and others inhabiting within any
of their countries, territories, and dominions, and to main-
tain a strict and impartial neutrality in the said hostilities
and war unhappily existing between them : We, there-
fore, have thought fit, by and with the advice of our Privy
Council, to issue this onr royal protramation. And we do
hereby strictly charge and command all our loving subjects
to govern themselves accordingly, and to observe a traiet
neutrality in and during the aforesaid hostilities and war,
and to abstain from violating or contravening either the
laws and statuses of the realm in this behalf, or the law of
nations in relation thereto, as they will answer to the con-
trary at their peril.
The provisions of the Act 59 Geo. 111., " To prevent the
enlisting or engagement of his Majesty's subjects to serve
in a foreign service, and the fitting out or equipping, in his
Majesty's dominions, vessels for warlike purposes without
his Majesty's licence," are then cited, and the proclamation
continues as follows :
Now, in order that none of our subjects may unwarily
render themselves liable to the pennltaes imposed by the
said statute, we do hereby strictly oornmand that no per-
son or persons whatsoever do commit an 7 act, matter, or
thing whatsoever contrary to the provisions of the said
statute, upon pain of the several
(Rallies by the said sta-
tute imposed, and of our high • leisure. And we do
hereby further warn and amonis all our loving sub-
jects, and all persona whatsoever entitled to our protec-
tion, to observe towards each and all of the afore-
said sovereigns and states, their subjects and terri-
tories, and towards all belligerents whatsoever, with
whom we are at peace, the duties of neutrality ; and to
respect, in all and each of them, the exercise of those
belligerent rights which we and our royal predecessors
have always claimed to exercise. And we do hereby
further warn all our loving subjects, and all persons what-
soever entitled to our protection, that if any of than shall
presume, in contempt of this our royal proclamation, and
of our high displeasure, to do any seta in derogation of
their duty as subjects of a neutral eovereign, in a war be-
tween other sovereigns and states, or in violation or con-
travention of the law of nations in that behalf, as more
espetrally by breaking or endeavouring to break any
blockade lawfully and actually established by or on behalf
of any or either of the said sovereigns and states, by carry-
ing officers, soldiers, despatches, arms, ammunition, mili-
tary stores or materials, or any article ur articles considered
and deemed to be contraband of war, according to the law or
modern usages of nations, for the use or service of any or
either of the said sovereigns and states, that all persons so
offending, together with their ships and goods, will right-
fully incur, and be justly liable to, hostile capture, and to
the penalties denounced by the law of nations in that be-
half. And we do hereby give notice, that all our subjects
end persons entitled to our protection who may miscon-
duct themselves in the premises will do so at their peril
and of their own wrong ; and that they will in no wise
obtain any protection from us against such capture or such
penalties as aforesaid, but will, on the contrary, incur our
high displeasure by such misoonduct.—Given at our court
at Windsor, this 27th day of June, in the year of our Lord
1866, and in the 30th year of our reign.—God save the
Queen !