Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-10-03
The following Note accompanied
&c bfi'iih Treaty, lately publiihed
- the Gazette -
Ao's flm Lord Holland and Lard
oakland

sfcs.i pQIcaiIarIes OF his brit2nnic Maielty,
'iave the honor 70 inform James Monroe and
William Pincknev. coHmiiiioners extraordina
~ * pienipoi ensiaries of the United States Of
America, thar they are now ready 10 proceed
70 the Ggnature Of the treaty Of amilv, COM
iInc-ce AND navigation, on the articles Of which
they bavc mutually agreed.
Gus at the fame time they have il in COM
maud from lis majshy 10 cal tie attention Of
e. comnliilioners of fhe United States TO lone
.e.tia0rtiaasy proceedings which have taken
j. ace on IRE continent Of Europe, and 10 com
ngnoate 20 them, officially the fentimenEs of
hs,ma;eay's government thereuPon
The proceedings alluded &c. are certain de-
ciara,ions and orders Of the French governs
rHcnt, iGutd at Berlin, on ihe 2lit Of Novem-
her lat.
IN ,hofe orders, the French government
iceks 70 luiligy or palliate lis own unjnlt pre-
tsniioRs. ~ impnting to Great Britain, princi-
Pies which Che never Profched, and practices
which never exi}ed. His majety is acculed
AZ fYferatical and general dllregard Of the
law Of nations, recognized by civilized Gates,
and more particularly of an understandable ex-
reufon Of the r;ght cf blockade whereas his
nnaiefty NAV confidently appeal TO the world,
on his uniform rsfpeet for neutral rights, aud
lis general and fcrupnogs adherence 10 the
law of nations, without ccndeicending to con-
fraft his con1uEt in thele particulars with that
&C his enemy anl r.ith regard to the only
specific charge, X isnnfoFious that he has new
er declared any ports 10 be in Gate Of block
ade, without allo.t'ng TO that object force
fuiicicnt to make the entrance into them man
i.ealy dangerous.
81 fiich allegations, uufounded as they are
the enemy attempts to ju!tify his preteniions
OF coHElcating as lawful prize, all produce OF
Englifll ndu.try or manufacture, though II be
the property of neutra.s Of excluding from
his harbors every neutral veffel which has
touched at any port of his majelys dominions,
though employed in an innocent commerce;
and OF declaring Great Britain TO be in aase
-0t blockade, though his own naval ports and
arienals are actually hlockaded, and he is M
able to ffa.ion any naval force whatever, be-
fore any port Of tie United Kingdom.
snch principles are within themielves ex-
isavagant & repugnsnt to the law of nations ;
M the pTetcniions founded en- them, though
proleGedly dire6led foley againf Great Bri-
.ain, tend 10 alter The practice Of war among
civilized natisns, and utterly TO fubvert the
rights and Independence Of neutral powers.
The undsrG gned cznEos therefore believe I
that the enemy viii ever ferioufly attempt to
enforce fuch a tylfeHl. Il he ihonid, they are I
conhdant that the good ienfc Of the American |
government will perceive ~ fatal confe@nen- !
ces If iuch nreteuiious to neutral commerce, !
ard thar is iPirit and regard to national hon
OF viii prevent is acouieicence in fuch palpa- !
hle violations Of rs rights, aud. injurious en-
croachmenss DE- lis iciereh
Ii however the enemy ihould carry thefs |
threats into execution, and If neutral nations, I
contrary 10 all expectation. ihouid acqu'c{ce !
IN iuch ufurPations, his majeity might proba- |
Big be compelled, however reluctantly, TO re-
taate in his JUN defence, and 10 adopt in re-
gard to the commerce of neutral nations with |
MS enemies, the fame meafures which thoie |
llall have permitted to be enforced againlt /!
their commerce with bis luhJe6ts. The COM
TliilioueTs Of the Urited States VIII therefore J
feel that at Tollent when his majeffy and all !
neutral n.ions are threatened with luch an !.
ex:crion Of the belligerent pretenfons Of tbs |
enemies, he cannon enter into the Populations Z
Of the prefent treaty, without an explanation /,
from the United States Of their intentions, or
a reservation CT the part OF bis rlajefty in the |
cafe aforementioned # It lhoula ever occur.
The undersigned coaldering that the df-
fance Of he american government renders |
any immediate explanation On this fnbje6t i'm
y,olhble, and animated by defire Of forward
ing the beneficial work in which they are en-
gaec1, are authorized by his majetty to con-
.-'Ile The treaty without delay. they proceed |
20 the hgnarure under the full perfua6on that
before the treaty (hall &c returned from Anne
rica. wish the ratification Of the u. States, the
ererav will either have formally abandoned,
or ta.itiy relisIiiled his unjua prstenions, or
that the government of the II. States by its
conduct or aliurances, will have given fecuri-
tv TO his raieLfy that il will nor fabmit to fich
innovations IN the eilabliilied fyllem Of mari
Tisle law: Aud the undersigned have prelent-
CT this note from an anxious with tina. il fhould
Sc clearly unlcrlt5od on both iides, that with
n1t fHch an abandonment on the part cf the
ene.nv, or ll-.i ahurances or flch conoaGt Gu
ihe part az she u. States, his majeffy will not
coalidcr himieif hound by the prefer; igna-
surg Of his ccTaniiioneFs to ratifv the treaty,
or prseluded from adopting iuch rleslures Is
rizv Eecna reCelsry for counteracsing the de-
Las - - e0aal'rs.
The lnderf-.1ci cannot conclude without
eSPrtiiiag tier latisfacticn a. the profpea Of
s-c5mpi:lling "A object fc important to the
iatereas and friendly connection Of bo,h IA
si0ns. and heir iuit lenfe If the conciiiatorY
d.fnalrion n,anifst4sd 81 tie corlmi1ioners Of
tae ~ s,zses daring the whole courfe Of the
negotiation tSgnedl
yAss n. HOLLAND,
AUCKLAND.
IaAIg. --0.t-zgs> 81, Isn6.
--~s'=ssa@ ~~<z~'-
.fsst5sy cps-- 4 " tgye-We are Informed