The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-22
FaoM A PApEa' OF JAN. 1e.

- MADRID, IAN 8, 1903.
HIS Majesty has been pleased to issue the fol-
lowing Royal Decree -.
The abominable crime committed by the En-
glsh ships ofwar, in 1904, by the express order of
their government, against the frgates of INV row.
al navy, which we're iniquitously surprised, at
tackled and captured, while navigating in the full
security OF peace, induced me 10 put an end to
all intercourse with the British Cabinet, and to
consider myself as in state of war with a power
which had so unju,tly violated the laws of nations
and humanity. So atrocious an aggression was
sufficient motive for me to break asunder all
the bonds by which nation is connected by ano-
Their, If had not taken into consideration what /
owed to myself, and to the honor and glory of nv
crown and of my beloved subjects. Two years
| of war elapsed without the pride of Great Bri-
tain iii the least a6ating, or her renouncing the
unjust dominion. which she exercises over the
seas instead Of which, on the contrary, confoun-
ding friends with foes, she has displayed her de-
termination to treat ailn the same tyrannica man
ner. Moved by these considerations, / determi-
ned III February last, conforming myself to the
| wise measures adopted by my intimate ally, the
Emperor of the French, King of Italy, to declare,
rs did declare, The British Islands in state of
blockade, i'll order to try whether could BY this
| MEANS bring the British cabinet to give up their
| unjust dominion over the seas, and to conclude
a solid and lasting peace.-Far from It, not only
| have they rejected the propositions which have
been made to them, on the part Of my intimate
| Ally, the Emperor of the French, King of Italy,
| both directly and through the channel Of several
powers in amity with England but, having been
| guilty ofthe greatest atrocity and piracy in the
scandalous attack upon the town and port of CO.
penhagen, they have pulled off the mask i'll such
| n masner that nobody can doubt but their insat-
able ambition aims at the exclusive commerce
and navigation of every sea. Nothing evin-
ces it so clearly as the measures which they have
just adopted, under date the 18th (11) ofNov.
last, not emily declaring in state of blockade all
the coasts of France, Spain, their Allies or those
occupied by the armies of either power, but sub
jeotng the vessels Of neutral powers, at peace
or even in alliance with England, not only to be
searched by the British crulzcrs, but also to
touch, in spite of themselves, at port of Great
Britain, and to pay 50 much per cent upon the va
lue of their cargoes, according to the arbitrary
determination of the British /, .gislature III con-
sequence whereof being authorised by the just
rights ofreciprocityt to take such measures as ]
deem fit to prevent the abuse which the British
cabinet are making Of their forces, with regard
to neutral flags, aud in order to see whether they
may thereby be prevailed upon to give up such
unjust tyranny, have resolved to adopttbe same
measures which have been taken by my intimate
| Ally, the Emperor Of the French, King of Italy,
andtis my will that they shall be adope through
out my domiRions, as follows
| CUnsideripe. hat, by the above mentioned act
Of the 1fth Its ] of November last the British
cabinet have stripped the vessels Of oil EurOpeali
nations other national character and that no GO
gernment has the power of giving up any share Of
its independence, all the Sovereigns Of Europe
being guarantees ofthe sovereignty and indepen-
dencs of their flags and that, If, through wv
psrdonable weakness, which would be an indcli-
BILE stain in the eyes Of Posterity, such tyranny
were allowed to be laid down principle, and
consecrated by custom, the English would take
it for granted 10 establish it sy tipht, ~ ~
ssn,e ifianher that tiey have a.aiicd thcmselye.
OF tine liberation Of governments, for the purpose
Of establishing the infamous principle, that tic
flag does not protect the goods, and Of giving