Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-04-29

:rnesIf Of fome inferior national rlghi-Dnt
for her contribution, her commerce, her
Independence, Great Britain was COM
pelled tohrain every fnew, to avail her
! ieif of every refouree, 70 oppole with en-
eray and facets the deGgns Of her mott
| inyeterate enemy.
While, engaged in fuch a contea, it was
to be expected that The Bfitlih Cabinet,
would procraftinate the adjuament OF
claims which threatened their treafury
with The demand Of fun then indiipenfi-
bly, nsceilary for the preaing emergencies
OF the exiting war.
Yet all theie ";dificulties," notwith-
aanding, our Aainifter at London, by his
address,. his influence lrelulting from his
known talents and character and by re-
iolute perseverance. in line of policy, the
true aim of which was his country good,
| has accomplished an objett, which, while
it lettles anational difpute--whlleit eloies
the only breach which divided US from
our natural friend,, 1.-THE Britiih aafi0n)
pfomifes to reltore 10 our fuffering mes-
chants, property TO large amount, of
which they have long--too long, been
deprived.
The iiTue Of this important bufinefs un-
avoidably leads our attention 10 the tate
Of cur claims on the French government.
In the one inRance great nation :" feel-
ing powerbus not forgetting right" agrees
in liberal manner to compeniate Us tor
our loGes-i the ether, with one dalh of
his . en- the Fira Conful of France eralss
our jua claims-refuies to reimburfe our
mercilan for loass to much greater a.
mount, and fuiained under circumstances
Infinitely mole hunlilia,ing TO our national
character.
1t is fubiea Of deep regret, not to the
citizens of the United STATES alone, bur
10 TIE fabieas Of the Northern powers,
who have been neutral thro' the late war,
that the courfe Of jufice in the Englilh
Courts of Admiralty ihould be attended
With fuch delays ard expenfe, as amount
almoff 10 denial of ju9ice-yet it is an
evil that cannot be remedied, unlefs thro
the interpoGtion Of the Britih Legislature,
or BY fpeciaI convention, as in the cafe
with our own country. It isa matter Of
regret alto, that in cafes where fentence
of condemnation ina Vice Admiralty court
is reverted by the High Court of Appeals,
and the property condemned IS ordered TO
be reAored, that the claimant cannot eb-
tain full compensation for his lois in Bri-
tin Court Of Admiralty. The rule here
is in fuch cafe to award the claimant
g the nett proceeds of fale, after deduaing
all COTS and expenfes This, IN mott
cafes, operates as bounty to'captors, and
is ruin to the neutral while with the
Board of Commiiliorers, under the 9TH
article of the treaty ofI7o4, the rule Isl
give the full value Of the yeael, according
to a fair climate, made by two merchants,
one from each fde, and the faH valas Of
The cargo, according to 9rbatit pvoaia haze
brougbt at tie pors gifts dsfiuatisr, after
dedaRxg 1rsigbt and sxpealfs.
This appears to be the jnf and true
rule of compensation TO the injured claim
ant, Whole property, contrary to the laws
Of nations, has been unjualy feized and con-
demned. And altho Great Britain may
feel fome reluctance in departing from re-
cent precedents, which operates fayorably
to her own fubjeds, yet it is to be hoped
that her government, animated by that
fenle ofjufice which has been lis guide IN
70 many cafes in which this country has
been concerned, will conform TO rule Of
compensation, founded inequisy, and which
(upported, ifnot by very lufe at leaa BY
former presidents, on the records Of Bri-
tifh Courts of jufice. Bur however IN
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