Star.
London, England, 1812-03-23 00:00:00

FINCH PrIP.LIZS:

CONSERVATIVE SENATE.
SITTINOO/ TIE TENTH MARCH.
PARIS; MARCH 14.
The Sitting opened at noon, in the presence of his
Serene Highness the Arch Chancellor of the Empire,
his Serene Highness the• Prince Vice-Co stable was
present at it. Their.Excellencit's the Ministers frit
Foreign Affairs and War, Count itognatilt de Saint
JeAss ki'Angely, Minister of State, and Count Dumas,
Csitinsellor of State, being inttoduced, bis Excellency
.the Duke of Bassano, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
communicatA the fellov....ng Report ; '
EPPI4T or TILE MINISTER roc AEFATIIS TO HIS
MAJESTY TkIE EMPEROR AND KING.
" SIRE—The Thariture rights of neutrals, as sic-
kmnly fixed by the Treaty of Liu-eclat, became the
common law of nations,

" This law, completely renewed hi all 'subsequent
treaties, has consecrated the piinciples which L ant
going to state.
Ttt flag covers the inerchantlize. Enemy's
goods under a neural flag arc reutral, as neutral
property under an enemy's frig is censidered as be-
loagiir~r to an enemy.
•' 1 he only property which a neutral flag does not
cover is contraband articles, and aruis and warlike
stores alone are contraband.
44 All visiting of neutral vessels by an armed ship
can be made by a small number of men only, the
airrned ship keeping without cannon-shot.
6' Every neutral ship ma 7 trade from an enemy's
port to an enemy% port, and from an enemy's port
to a neutral one.
66 The only ports excepted are those really blocka-
ded, and ports really blockaded are those invested,
besieged, likely to be taken, and into which a mer-
chantmap could not enter without danger.
64 Such are the cbligati,nis of Belligerents towards
neutral powers; such are the reciprocal rights of ei-
• ther party ; such are the maxims consecrated by those
treaties which form the public tight of nations. Fre-,
quently has England dared to attempt substituting
in their place arbitrary and tyrannical regulations.—
. bier unjust pretensions were repelled by ail Govern-
ments sensible • to the voice of honour and the inte-
rests of their subjegs—Ahe constantly found herself
forced to acknowledge in her treaties the principles
• she wished to destroy and guard; the peace of Amiens
was violated—the maritime legislation still remained
upon its ancient basis. .
By a series of events the English marine became
more numerous than all the forces of the other Mari-
-time Powers. England then thought the moment
was arrived, when, having noshing to fear, she might
dare to do every th;ng—she immediately resolved to
subject the navigaticn of all seas to the same laws as
those .of the Thames.

- .
66 It was. in 1806 she began the execution of that
system, which tended to bend the common law of
nations before the Orders of Council, and the regu-
lations of the London Admiralty.
The Declaration cf. the Mit May, annihilated
by one single word tl:e rights of all maritime states,
'placed under an inter.iict vast coasts and whole em-
pires. From this moment England no longer ac-
knowledged any neutrals upon rrie seas.
64 The Decrees-of 1807 imposed upon every ves-
sel the obligation of touching at au English port,
whatever her destination might be, to pay a tribute
to England,-and submit her cargo to the tarifs of the
customs.
44 By the declaration of 1206, all navigation had
been interdicted to neutrals by the decrees of 1807
. the power of uavigating was restored to theM, but
they eoula Inc itonly for the common utility of Eng-
lish commerce, in the combinations of its interests
and its profit.
a The Eigiith Goverament-thuutore offthe mask.
' with 'WWI it had covered its projects; proclaimed
'the uuiects.4 don:Union of the seas, regarded all na-
••-ticot as its -tribut ries, and imposed upon the Con.:
tinent the espences olthe war which it maintained
against it. .
“ These unheard of measures eacited A general ir.-1
dignation among the powers who preserved the sen-1
timent of their insiependence and their rights 4 but in.
Landon they raised the national pride to tit, highest
.pitch ; they held out to,the Eoglish.people* a future
rich in the most brilliant hopes. Tneir commerce,
their industry were henceforth to be without opposi-
tion; the produce of the two worlds was to flow into
their ports, pay homage to the maritime and COMa
snercial sovereignty of England by paying tribute,.'
and afterwards arrive to orris nations loaded with
the enormous expences from which English merchan-
dizes alone would be free.
44 Your Majesty, at a single glance, perceived the
. evils with which the Continent was threatened—you
instantly applied the remedy—you annihilated by
your decrees this pompous unjust attack upon the
independence of every state, and the rights of all
nations.
" The Berlin Decree answered the Declaration of,
1806. The blockade of the British islands was op.
posed to the imiginary blockade established by Eng..
land. The Milan Decree' answered the Orders ofi
1807 ; it declared Demationalise every neutral vessel
submitted to English legislation, either by touching ,
at a British port, or paying tribute to England, and
‘Viich thus renounced the htdependence and rights
• of its the merchandize' proceeding either
from Bptish commerce or industry, were blockaded .
in the Britannic islands ; the Continental system ba.
•
nished them from the. Continent. . .
Never did any :let of reprisal attain its object in
a mole prompt, certain, and victorious manner. The
Berlin and Wm Decrees turned against England
the aims slur directed against universal commerce.
Tart source of commercial prosperity :which she be-
lieved, so abundant, became a source of ealamities to
ISlttish commerce, in place of those tributes whiolk
were no have enriched the treasury,. her bcredit dete-
riorates, hutting the fortune of the statoi: and that of
individuals, .

,e soon as your Majesty's Decrees appeared, 41
the Continent foresaw that such a ould be their results
if they received full execution; but howeirer accut-
tome'," Ettrore was to see success brown your inten-
tions, ithe- ci.uld scarcely conceive by what new pro.
digies your Majesty would realize those great designs
which have been so rapidly accomplisled. Your
Majesty armed yourself with all your power—nothing
co u dirtrt you from your iatcuticUlt ilo;land) the