Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-12-28

ever before any ports Of the United
Kingdom.
Such principles are in themselves
extravagant, and repugnant to the law
Of nations and the prctensions found
ed on them though profcssedly direct
ed solely against Great Britain, tend to
alter the practice ofwar among civilized
nations, and utterly to subvert the
rights and independence ofneutral pow
ers. The undersigned cannot there
fore believe that the enemy viii ever
seriously attempt ID enforce such 2 sys-
TEN. If ne should, they are confident
that the good sense Of the American
Government viii perceive the fatal con
sequences Of such protensions 70 neu-
tral commerce, and that Its spirit and
regard TO neutral honor, viii prevent lis
acquiescence, in such palpable violation
Of It's rights, and injurious enc.oach-
mcnt on its interests.
off, however, the enemy should car
~ these threats into execution, and if
neutral nations should contrary to eZ-
pectation,acquiesccin such usurPations,
his majesty might probably be COM
PEELED however reluctantly, 10 rotlllatc
in his Just defence and To issue orders
To bis Cruizer5 To adopt towards neutrals
any hostile system to which those ncu-
trails shall have submitted from Ills en-
emies. The Commissioners Of the VI
nited States viii therefore feel that III a
moment when his Majesty and an the
neutral nations are threatened with such
an extension Of the beIigercnt preten-
sions OF his enemies, he cannot enter
into the stipulatiprs Of the present trea-
ty without an explanation from the l.
nited Sites O. their intentions, or q re-
servation on the part Of lis Majesty in
the case aforementioned il it should
ever occur.
The undersigned, considering that
The distance Of tEe Amer Govern
ment, renders any immediate explana-
ton on this subject impossible, and AMI
imated by desire 8l forwarding this
beneficial work III which they are en-
gagged, are authorized by his Majesty
to conclude the Treaty without delay
They proceed To The signature under
the full persuasion that before the trea-
ty Shall b. returned from America,
With the ratification Of the United
States, the enemy will either have for
mally abandoned or tacitly relinquished
his unjust Prctensions, or that the gov
eminent of the United States by its
conduct or assurances, will have given
security to his Majesty that it will
not submit To such innovation, il the
established system of maritime law !;
and the undersigned have presented
this note from an anxious wish, that il
should be clearly understood on both
sides, that without such abandonment
OF lis pretcnsions on the par, vi the en-
envy, or such assurances, OF such con-
duct on the part Of the United States,
his Majesty VIII not consider himself
bound by the present signatures Of his
commissioners to ratihy the treaty, or
be precludcd from adopting such meas
urcs as may seem necessary for Coun-
teractng the designs Of his enemy
whenever they shall occur, and be Of
such an extraordinary nature rs 10 re-
qufre extraordinary remedies.
The undersigned cannot conclude,
without expressing their satisfaction al
the prosp ct Of accomplishing an object
soimportunt To the interests and friend
~ connections Of both nations, and
their Just sense Of the concIlia,0ry dis
position manifested BY the Commiss-
toner's Of the United States, during the
whole course Of the Negotiation.
Signed, NASSALL HOLLAND,
AUCKLAND.
Dec. 81, 1906.
JAMES MONROE, &c. sc.