Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-04-19
liz 1-2 Gents Single

proper list of contraband cannot be as
greed On. particularly one that excludes
money, provisions and naval stores.
| On drticie y. This article taken frnrh
the convention of 1900, be,weenite u. s
and France, is conformable to the general
ipractice OF the prize COUNTS in the latter.
and is the more worthy of adoption every
where, as it would contribute SO much to
the consistency and stability of the ri,jeS
of admiralty proceedings. Without SIN
gle objection justly lying against il. it will
nave the important advantages of being a
cneck on the inferior tribunals, Of enabling
the superior tribunal where a faulty reaspn
| appears on the face of the sentence. IN cor.
rect the wrong without delay or expense.
ana OF being check moreover on the deci
sion OF the superior tribunal itself. As
prize causes also are tried by courts not of
third party, but of one of the parties in
'eresteo, 1t is but reasonable that the ground
should be known to the other on which iudeA
heht mas passed against its citizens or SUBJ
Jects, IN order, if deemed proper. that ne
gociation may be employed for redrcssing
past or gua riding against future jniustite
On .HTficAe ~ The fictitious blockades
proclaimed by Great Britain, and made
the prete%t for violating the commerce of
neutral nations, has been one Of the great
est abuses ever committed on the high seas.
Dnrin8 the late war they we're carried to an
extravaganza which would have been ri.
aicu.ous, II IN their effects they had not IN
niCeed such serious and extensive injuries
on neutral nations. Ports were proclaimed
IN state Of blockade, previous 20 the ar
rival OF any force at them, were consider.
ca IN that state without regard tointermis-
sions n the presence ofthe blockading force.
ara the proclamations left in operation
after ITS inal departure, the British CRUZ
zers during the whole sine seizins eve
~ vessel hound to such ports, ut whatever
distance from them, and the British prize
courts pronounCing condemnations when
ever knowledge of the proclamation az
he time of sailing could be presumed. all
though IT might afterwards he known hat
70 real blockade existed. The whole scene
was n perfect mockery, IN which fact was
sacr'hced form, and right to power and
plumber The United States were AMONG
the greatest suffer IS; and would have Been
sill more 50, if redress for some of tho
'poliations proceeding from this source,
mad M fallen within the provisions of an
article IN the treaty &c 1794.
rom the effect of This and other arb;,
rary practices of Great Britain. on the
temper and policy of neutral nations to-
wares her; from the spirit Of her treaty
made near the close Of tho late war with
Nussia, from the general disposition mani.
iesfed at the beginning of the present To-.
wards the United States, and the GONNA.
rat've moderation Observed in Europe with
respect to blockades; Of indeed the two
cases OF The WeseT and F|he are not 10 be
excepted) 1T was hoped that the mocke-
FieS and mischieis practsed under the
name OF biockades would no where be re-
Peated. II is found, however, that the
West Indies are again he theatre of them.
i he three entire ard extensive iaIsnds IS
Martinique, Guadalupe ard G.. Domingo
nave been published as III a state IF block
ade' although the whole naval force appli-
ed TO the purpose is uncomfortable al.
trough II appears that par o. tnis incon
Siderable force is occa sionally seeh at the
oistance OF many leagues az sea althouph
1t does not appear that more than one or
Wo ports at most have ut any time been
actually blockadcd and sltnough COM
piaints are heard, that the British hips Of
war 90 not protect their own trade, a.
Ean9t the numerous cruzers from the
Islands under this pretended blockade.
lnclosed herewith are three letters on
this subject two from me, the first "a Mr..
Thornton, me second 20 Mr.. Merry, and
the third from Mr.. Merry to me. You
will observe that he does not pretend 10
Justify the measures pursued in the West
W. va ti'S NNblIAdy WISHES tHGrl .
to be regarded as proceeding from an off,
Ger VINO does not pursue the intentions cf
his government Still such measures prove
that no general regulations or orders have
been yt; issued by that government a.
gainst the evil, rs might reasonably have
been expected, and that stipulated secu.
rity against it is an object as importan, az
IL is inst.
In the two letters TO Mr. Thornton and
MIR Merry, the ground is marked out on
which YOU will be able TO combat the false
blockadcs, and to maintain the definition
Of real one, contained ia the proposed ar
ticle which is Q literal copy from the 9Th
article Of the Russian treaty above cited.
In addition 20 these letters, you will fnd
Enclosed q letter Of the Of
70 MIR Pinckney, ia which some
views are taken OF the subject, which may
also be Of use in your discussions with the,
British government.
On article vi. This article i'm due. III
not 90 all neuTas, at least TO The United
States, who are distinguished by the dis
tance of there situation. Decisions Of the.
British court ofadmiraity, have so far res
lpected this peculiarly a. TO admit q want Of
Information rs plea for giving toa blocka-
lded port, where such plea wcu be refused
10 less remote countries. But more thtn this