The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-15


right Of trading to, and between the ports OF the
enemies of France. The decree, as We know,
declares England in state OF iockade, and there
by regularly subjects to captive vessels destined
To our ports. Gen. Armstrong, the American
minister ut Paris, although we'll satisfied, from
the circumstances of the case, that no such effect
was contemplated, sought Al explanation without
delay. He addressed aletter, dated goth of De-
cember, to the minister OF marine, who WAS par
ticulariy charged with the execution OF the de-
cree specifying the articles susceptible of an III
terpret.tion prsjudicial To American commerce,
and requesting, Il solution of the doubts which
they were calculated to excite. On the oath OF
fffe same month, the minister of marine sent the
following reply, which have translated from a
lprinted copy, now before Inc, published at Paris
"PARIs, oath Dec. 1906.
$40 the Minister Plenipotentia,y OF the Unit
Ell States.
81 hasten to reply to the note which you did
me the honor to communicate on the 2Cth of this
month.
am of opinion that the Imperial decree OF
the 21st November, does not in its present shape,
alter the regulations now in force i'll France, on
the subject of Neutrality-suspicious., consequent
~ affect the convention of the Seth September,
1901, with the U. States.
" Hut although by this answer have fully re-
solved the tour questions submitted to nae by your
eNcetlency, Think MAY add-1st That, us tho
declaration contained in the first article Of the de-
cree OF the 2lst OF November, does not liter The
present French code of MARITIME capture, it Is
necessaryto examine what construction, restric.
ton, or extension may be given to this article-2
ahdt captures, contrary TO the existing idsrS, soit
nor 0ecrue to the benefit efthe caprors-S. Tan an
d7'eTcun ScSSe. cdnsot be tdken at sea, merely be-
e0"Ee S rs sailing to, returning from. an EmSiish
for., since, confsrn:a6Ly TO the 7th article IT tht
l crfg III
merely exclude from our ports vessels coming
from England, or English colonies-i. That as
the regulations of the I'd and sth articles of the
said decree are III the nature of general law,
they naturally apply to foreigners domiciliated in
France, or III countries occupied by the troops o
ms majesty the emperor and king but, that i,
would be proper for your excellency to refer e
the minister of exterior relstiOrs, to that part
winch concerns the communication of citizens Of
the C'nted States with England.
=" beg your eNceiency to accept the assurance
OF my high consideration.
(Sig1,ed) DEGREES"
am credibly informed that verbal expItnati
ons TO the same purport were given ; but nothing
in FACT could be more explicit satisfactory thar
| this answer. 1t was transmitted by the minister
of marine himself TO The United States to SeyUe a.
u 6o.l; 81 Instructions to French cruizers i'll the
Nest-}ndics, and zpGs otiaiiy communicated Il
the american Government BY General Tuyealt, th.
french ambassador, as the construction SigcH to ths
Gecree b. Tie ministers q, the Emperor and Xtss
| charged with rs execution. These facts are col
lccted from letter OF General armstrong, dated
| 12th September last to an American merchant,
who had occasion to make use of them before the
court @. Prizes at Paris, and must be well knoNr
| To our Government.
1t is also a matter of notorety, that orders, ir
conformity to the above explanation, were issued
to - French cIrIlzers, and that American vessels
I,.lh Ia,
French pryatcsrs, and suffered 70 pass without
mCicstation. No instance has occurred, al least
until within period so recent that Mr. Jefferson
could not have been appraised of the fact at the
time of writing his message, in which the decree
has been differently expounded. In one, case du
ring the last winter, capture on the ground of The
general blockade, fell coliaterally under the con
sideration of the court oi prizes at Paris, anl
was expressly adjudged to be unlawful.
VERITAS.