The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-09 00:00:00

MEXICAN LETTERS OF MARQUE.
On Wednesday an office for granting letters of marque
and reprisal, according to the decrees of the Mexican
Government, was first opened in the vicinity of the
Tower, being the first time that an occurrence of the
kind has happened during the last 40 years in England.
'The following are'extracts from the official ordinances
of the Mexica❑ Government relating to this subject:—
"TO WHOM AND WITH WHAT CONDITIONS LETTERS OF

MARQUE HAVE TO BE GIVEN.
" Art. 1. To obtain letters of marque against the
United States during the present war, a patent from the
Supreme Goiernment will be required, which will be
granted in the form and under the conditions prescribed
in this regulation.
" Art. 2. The patent referred to in the foregoing
article will only be granted to vessels of which the
captains, officers, and other individuals appointed thereto
are Mexican citizens, according to the laws of the
Republic.
" Art. 3. Every individual who may wish to arm one
or more privateers shall deposit for each one a capital
of not less than $4,000 should the vessel not exceed 100
tons, or $B,OOO if of a larger burden ; or shall give se-
curity for like amount, to the satisfaction of the, person
who may furnish the patent.
"TO WHOM To APPLY FOR OBTAINING SAID PATENTS.
" Art. 4. The requisition shall be addressed to the
Supreme Government in the territory of the Republic,
through the respective governors ; and in foreign coun-
tries through the consuls, or authorised agents for this
purpose.
" Art. 5. In the requisition shall minutely ex-
ple_ssed everything that may be necessary to give a cir-
cumstantial account of the vessel destined to cruise, its
tonnage, force, equipment, and crew, on the understand—
ing that it shell not be less than 60 tons.
" Art: 6. With letters of marque will also be given to
the parties interested letters of commission for those in
charge of the prizes, if they should solicit them, to the
number which the functionary delivering the said patent
may consider necessary, having in view the appointment
of the vessel.
"ON THE PR3TECTION WHICH HAS TO BE GIVEN TO
THE OWNERS.— ,
" Art. 9. The naval commanders, harbour masters,,
and other local authorities shall afford to the owners
and captains of the privateers all the piotection which
they may need, and which may be in their power, in
everything conducive to the quick armament of the ves-
sels, permitting them to receive all the persons they may
require, excepting those who may be in actual service
on board the national vessels of war, coercing those who
may resist to obey their orders, and prosecuting de-
serters, who shall be condemned to six years' service in
the army or navy, if they should be apprehended after
the privateer shall have mare sail.
" Art 10. Likewise they shall be furnished with arms
of every description, powder, and shot, when they may
be asked for and the service may not want them, giving
out to them these last articles at the cost or costs, with
a credit at the most of six months; if they should not
be able to make immediate payment, to take sufficient
s,curity for it. 'rust which they may not consume
during the period they shall return, the value thereof
being credited to them.
" Art. 11. In case of shipwreck, or the vessel being
taken, they shall be freed from all responsibility, both
themselves and their securities, the loss or seizure being
fully proved.
" ON THE RIGHTS OF THOSE EMPLOYED IN CRUISING,

AND THE PRIVILEGES GRANTED TO THEM.
" Art. 12. All those who may be employed on board
of privateering vessels shall be subject, in their internal
police and regulations, to the ordinances of the navy,
and shall enj!,y he rights of the navy in all that may
not relate to prizes.
Art. 15. The individuals out of their crews who
may he disabled from wounds received in action, and
without the necessary supplies for their subsistence,
shall have the same privileges as invalids of the navy,
each one according to his class, and in conformity with
the reports made by captains and commanders of the
privateers, also consulting thereon the respective com-
manders of the naval department.
" Art. 16. The widows of those who may die from
like causes, and who should also be left without re-
sources, shall enjoy pensions which the Supreme Govern-
ment may be pleased to grant them.
"ON THE ADJUDICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.
"Art. 17. The owners and other individuals.who may
be employed privateering shall have entirely adjudicated
to them, and without any reserve whatsoever, the prizes
which they make, under the following regulation:—
" Art. 18. Moreover, should the vessels taken be of
war, a gratuity of 60 dolls. shall be given for every
cannon that may exceed twelve inclusively, 40 dolls. if
they should exceed four, also inclusively; and 20 dolls.
for every prisoner of the enema's force; the amount of
this gratuity exclusively belongs to the captain, subal-
terns, narines, and sailors of the privateering vessels,
amongst whom it will be divided according to the wages
which they may receive.
" WHAT VESSELS AND EFFECTS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED
OF LAWFUL SEIZURE.

" Art. 24. Of lawful seizure are—
" 1. Vessels of the enemy with all that they may carry
on board belonging to them, whether of war, privateers,
or merchant vessels.
" 2. The cargo and effects of neutrals and Mexicans
which may be found on board these said vessels, after,
sufficient time has elapsed for the declaration of war,
proclaimed by the Government of the United States to
the Mexican nation, being known.
" 3. Vessels constructed by the enemy, or which may
have belonged to the enemy, if the property be not suffi-
ciently accredited or neutral.
4. Those which may be navigated without patents
bestiff
etiean alone on
motivee of
for
or register that may prove their neutrality, their entire
cargo, or part thereof, being, if they should be found in
the same predicament, for want of the indispensable
papers,li the ac
throwing
declaringal era
seizure.
" 5. Those which may be found without. legal patent
tihnetora the sea,
ha
ef sovereignty, state, or republic, having the authority
for granting it.
" 6. Those which may have it from one or more Powers.
" 7. Those who may fight under other colours than
the sovereign or state to whom their patent belongs. It
these vessels, and those comprised in the foregoing para-
graphs, should be armed for war, their captains and
officers shall be reputed as pirates.
" 8. Those which, after the national flag is hoisted,
should refuse to lie to, and should provoke combat.
" 9. Those which may navigate wish the patent of the
enemy in the terms expressed in the second paragraph.
" 10. Those belonging to Mexicans and neutrals
which may be armed for privateering under the Mexican
flag, without having obtained permission from the
Supreme Government, and accredited with the patent,
their captains shall be treated as pirates.
" 11. Those of pirates and mutineers returning to
their owners should they appear within on.e year and a
day, and those also who can prove not to have taken
part, directly or indirectly, in piracy, separating a third
part of their total value for the benefit of those making
the seizure.
" 12. Vessels abandoned by the enemy, or which may
be adrift from tempest, or any other accident, before
being brought into safety, if it should not be known to
wham they belong, for want of documents, or if they
should not have their proper crew, and if the owners of
them should not appear within a year and a. day ; adju-
dicating, under any circumstances, the third part to
those taking them, the two remaining parts shall belong
to the public treasury.
" 13. Merchandise known in war to be contraband, on
board of whatsoever vessel it may be found, if it be
going to the country of the enemy, or point occupied by
it. By contraband effects of war are understood to be
the following:—Cannon', mortars, howitzers, swivel guns,
blunderbusses, muskets, guns,carbines, rifles, pistols, pikes,
swords, sabres, lances, harping irons, battle-axes, gre-
nades, shells, powder, matches, balls, and w hatever other
articles which may apply to arms; shielicU, helmets,
breastplates, coats of mail, infantry and cavalry belts,
uniforms or apparel for soldiers, horses with their trap-
pings, and, lastly, every description of arras, or instru-
ments of iron, steel, bronze, and copper, or other mane
lectured materials prepared and made for the purpose of
waging war by sea or land.
" 14. Provisions which may be carried to the enemy's
camp, tdeckeded or besieged by the forces of the nation.
" 15. The effects and merchandise which may be
found on board neutral vessels, wherever the Power to
which they belong should nut recognise the principle or
exemption.
" ON THE CONDUCT TO BE OBSERVED BY PRIVATEERS
AND VESSELS OF WAR.
" Art. 28. If a vessel should refuse to lie to after the
Mexican flag has been hoisted, it shall be compelled
to do so by force.
" Art. 29. If a vessel flying enters the waters of ano-
ther Power, it should no longer he pursued; the seizure
made on these waters shall be unlawful.
" Art. 30. Should the enemy not respect this prin-
ciple, claims will be made of the Power whose euris
diction has been violated; and if a reparation should not
be obtained it will he acted against, according to the
orders which the Government may find it convenient to
dictate.
" Art. 49. It is prohibited, under the penalty of from
two to ten years' hard labour, to drive on shore, sink, or
burn the vessel captured, unless without absolute neces-
sity ; and if, in consequence thereof, one or more of
those on board should perish, then, and for such offence,
shall the punisment of death be inflicted upon him who
gave the order for the act, and, in default of such order,
upon the actual perpetrators.
Art. 50. It shall only be allowed to sink or burn
"
•mpossible in any other why
the vessel when it shall be
•
to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, re one
leasing before all things every one there may b
board, and taking all the papers ;
any omission with •
in the
re-
spect to the first shall be punished as directed
second part of the Article 49 ;
and with respect to the
hard labour.
second, with from two to ten years'
" Art. 51. The same penalty of death shall the cap-
tain incur who leaves the crew of the vessel to perish,
if it should go to pieces in consequence of the action,
and when he, being able to save the lives, does not
do so. incurred if they
" Art. 52. The same penalty shall be
are abandoned on desert coasts or islands.
" Art. 53. Prisoners of war shall be treated with all
humanity and moderation, paying to every one the con-
sideration due to his rank, until they are delivered over