The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-01
A SUBSCRIBER.
From Mr.. King 10 Lord Rs7rk5eary.
GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE,
March Is, 1901.

My LORD,
THE decree of the vice admiralty court of
Nalau, a copy OF which is annexed condemniny the
cargo OF an American veGel, going from the United
States to port IN the Spaniih colonies, upon the
ground that the article, OF io,ent merchandise. conf
polling the fame, though bona f,e neutral properly,
were OF the growth of Spain, having been ianttion-
ed and the principles excluded by the prize courts
OF the Britiih Hands, and particularly by the court
ut Jamaica, has been deemed iuificens authority to
the commanders of the fhips Of war and p.ivateers
cruiiing in thoe feas, to fall upon and capture all
American vef.tls bound to enen,ys colony and ha-
wing on board any article Of the growth or anusac-
ture OF 4 nation at war with Great Britain.
Theie captures which are vindicated BY what is
termed the beilgeraut's right to diarers his enemy,
by interruptng the fuppes which his habits or con-
venienee may require, have produced the ronge(t and
mott ferrous complaints among the American Mer-
chants, who have feen, with Indignation, a reafon
aligned for the capture and conie1tion of their
perty, which is totally diirerardd in the open trade
carried on between the Birth and s,,anih CO.
onies by Brit:!h and Spanith fubjetls il the We
~ article, the tupp.y of which, BY neutral merchants
suniuhly interrupted.
The law of nations acknowledged in the treaty OF
unity, commerce and navigation, between the United
States and Great-Britain, allows the goods of AN
nemy, TO be lawful prize, and pronounces thoIe of
friend to he free.
bridge The rights OF G. Britain as begerant taev
are bound TO reiit with frmneis every a,t emit 20
extend them, at the expence of the equally neon
seitble rights Of nations which find their in,ereR
and duty IN living i'll peace with the rel of the world
So long as the ancient law of nations is obferved.
which protes the innocent merchandise of ne;trais
while abandons the heligerant the goods of his
enemy plain rule exits, and may be appealed to- to
decline the rights of peace and Wharf.-The belligerant
mas no better authority curta the rights OF the
neutral than the neutral has to do the like in regard
70 the rights of the begerent and il is only by an
adherence to the ancient CODE and the ree tfion of
modern glolles, that fixed ID precie rules can he
found defining the rights and regulating the duties OF
independent ftates.
This iuhjecf is of fach Importance, and the t.6en-
tia nterets the United States, whole policy is that
OF peace are 10 deeply affected by the doctrines which
during the preient war, have been fet up, in order
co enlarge the rights Of begereuts, at the expence
OF thoe of neutrals that iha without lois of time
iuhmit to your Lordlhps confederation fuch further
reflections repe6ting the ane great importance
appears to demand.
In the time, the decilions referred to cam
not from the unavoidable DELAY which attends tn
ecution of appeals, be ipeedy reverted and as the
effect OF thoe DEGREES, will continue be the uninil
and ruinous nterception of the American commerce
IN the Weit-India Seas it my duty to require that
preciie intrueions hall, witho, delay be diipateh
ed to the proper officers in the Wea-ndies and Nova
Scotia TO correct the abues which have arifen ont of
thoe Illegal decrees and put end the depreds-
tons which are waiting the lawful commerce of a
peateable and friendly nation. With great conf lera-
tien and repect, have the honor be your lord
hip's moi obedient and nolt humble fervant,
(Signed) RUFUS KING.
LORD HAwxrsBuRY.