The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-05-28

4ueHCeS.
On the 18th Meaiior, 4th year Of the French
Republic, one and iniiviibe fJuly I'd 1907
the Executive Directory decreed sThat ali neu
trail or. allied powers ihall without delay be no
tined that the flag Of the French republic will
treat neutral vef-ls ether as to con6fcation, as
TO fearches or capture, in The fame manner as
they lhall fufer the Englih to treat them. -
This decree, in any point of view in which it can
be coniidered, could not fail TO excite in he US
the mot ferrous attention II difpenles at once
as they conceive, with the mott folemn o6liga-
ITEMS which compact can create, and COME
quentiy aherts a right on the part Of France, to
recede at her die elton from any POPULATIONS ihe
may have entered lnto. 1t las been demon
tra!ed that governments may by coutrad
change, as between them elves, the rules eiab-
lthed by the law Of nations, and that fuch con-
tract becomes completely obligatory on the par
ties, tho it can in no manner afett the rights Of
othe s, yet by this decree, allies wi whom iuch
tlpulations exit are 10 be treated, without re-
gard 70 iuch Gipulatious, in the fame manner
as they are treated by others, who are bound BY
different rule This, as it refpe6ts the u. s.
stae more uniriendy, becaufe a readinefs has
been manleited on their part u to modify by
COMMIT Their treaty with France as to reinltate
me rules ettab lthcd'by the law Of nations.
lhe general term too il which this decree Is
conceret, threatened but too certainly til. mif
chiefs It has generated, ard the abufes which
have been pra6liced under it. Neutrals are to
be treated as they fl II permit the Eng,ih to
treat them. No rule extracted from The practice
OF England is laid down, whi:h might gov n
The cruf-rs Of France, or innru4 the veG.ls If
neutrals No principles are Gated maniIeaing
the opinion entertained Of the treatment recejv-
ed from Eng Ind, which might enable a neutral
to controvert that opinion, and To thew that the
En8lIlh were not PERMITTED to treat its flag as
was iuPPole6 BY the government Of France.
10 Judge from the decree iftlf, from any il
formation given concerning it, or from he
Pratt &c under It, thofs who were 10 be befeht-
cd by IT'S abuie were 10 decide II what manner
1t lEoulj be executed, ard the cruicr who ihould
tai in w!.h a valu ible veheI had only 10 con.
init bis own r4pacity, in order to determine
whether an Engilh priva Ger, meeting a vefe
under tmi ar circumstances, would capture and
bring her into port. Multiplied excedes, anj
accumula ed vexaJons could net bu. have been
apprehended from luch decree, AID the fa6t
has realized every fear that was entertained
II
Europe To- authorize tie c pture and condenna
ton Amer an veheis for tie Gngl- circum
farce Of thrir being defined for Br,iih port
AT no ,rioj Of The war has Britain undertaken
TO eAer, lie "a power. At no Feriod IF the
war has ihe aAeteI fuCh right Its row
er Wi. b proIiriies every principle Of nat onal
iovtreisnty an 70 which 10 nation caa iu1mlt,
without reii quilhing at the fame time its bef
ntertHS ard iacriI,ing dearef rights. This
power has been exercied by France On the rich
and unprotected commerce Of IN ally, on the
Preiumpton th4t thar ally was fufaining the
fam jnjurie { ON B tin, It time when it
vas b-li- ej that the derredations q tl@t nation
had cedled, and the princi E FIR comp ,ating
for them had been re ognhe1.
II the Weaind Is limilIr depredl.i5ns h7ye
been experienced. On the n Of Al ut 1896,
the fptcidl agent Of the Executive Directory ID
the Wiadward Hand, decreed, that al eHels
loaded with contrabanl fhould te ieized and
con6icated FL the benefit Of the captois.
o. The feverth Frimaire, 9Th year Of he
| French PePublic on and indiviiib (27th Nov.
1900 The & mmi6ion delegated BY the French
/ Republic to the Leewdri iaandG, reoved Ii az
The captains Of French matte nal vefels and pri-
vateers are authorized T. flop and bring into
ports OF tle colony Anne lean velIels bound 10
Enqlilh ports, cr coming from the Eid Forts.
On the 10Th PIuvioGe, 9Th year Of the French
| Republic, one and inGiviible (Feb 1T I797}
Victor Hughes and Lebas, the fpe:ial agents
q the Executive Directory to the Windward
iiands, Pa6ed decree, fphjeding to capture &
conhicarJn neutralvefsls defined for theWnd-
ward and Leeward lfands Of America, deliver
ed up to the Englih, and occupied and defend
ed BY The emigrants. Thefe ports are faid to
! Be MHtini-o, St. LUCE, Tobago, Demarara,
Berbice, Eaequbo, PortauPrince, ST. Marks,
L'Archave, and Jerime. This decree a4o
iubjeds to capture all yedels which hive clear
ed out for the WeGindies generally.
I'VE nnderlinned viii not detnin rnm citizen