Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-09-26
From the .Mses-York Commercial advertiser

"Rfs lNaje&ty loves the americans OF
this text, the following memoir, presented by
the consignees ofthe ship Jersey to the Coun-
ell of Prizes, furnishes luminous, practical
commentary. We invite the attention OF our
rulers and of our fellow-citizens to this inter-
esting paper. 1t is of no ordinary import 1t
unfolds one of the most daring and unprinci-
pied cases of Imperial Robbery, which the
present desolating war in Europe can furnish.
The reader will perceive, that clearer
case of neutral property, than that OF the Jer-
sey and her cargo, has never existed.
He will find, that she was regularly iurnlSf-
ed with every paper required either BY our
own laws or by the edicts OF France.
He will find, that she had violated no statute
of our own government, nor amy decree OF his
Imperial Majesty.
He will find, that so plain was the case OF
this ship, so ample and satisfactory was the
testimony in her favor, that the Council OF
Prizes, acting under the existing DEGREES OF
France, could not pronounce her condemna-
ton and, in obedience to the imperious man
date of their sovereign, delayed 10 pronounce
her acquittal.
He will find, that, after detairing the ship
and cargo for nearly three gears, alternately
cherishing the hopes and exciting the aPpre-
tensions Of the rightful owners-atter lnvolv-
ing them in the immense expences we are
authorized to state absut twenty thousand dol
lars, of so long detention, and of prosecut-
ing their claims-the Emperor without the
color of law, without the shadow of pretext,
issued Stecial Decree, condemning both YES
sci and Cargo.-And,
He will find, as paradoxical as it may seem,
that this SYteciai Decree Of Condemnation was
issued nearly one month after the celebrated
Cd of November, when, if we are to believe
the sober proclamation of our Credulous exc
cutive, the DEGREES of France, as far as relates
10 our country, zvere actually revoked, and the
hand of the Corsican, so far as relates to Anne
ric2n property, had ceased to hlunder!
MEMOIR
Of Messrs. Degen, Guebhart & Co. consign-
ees of the ship Jersey, Captain Robert
Williams.
TO the Council Of Prizes.
Just and generous Magistrates rejoice to
see vessel that has happily escaped the num-
berless difficulties with which the navigation
of neutrals is surrounded They will hasten
TO repair the errors of the local authorities,
and restore valuable cargo to its rlghttul
owners, who ought never to have been dispos-
sessed of it.
The Jersey sailed from New-York the s6th
of September, 1907, with cargo consisting OF
Sugar, Coffee, Pimento, Waa, Logwood and
Tobacco. This vessel was directed to touch
at Palermo, but her actual destination, as ap-
pears by the papers on board, was Leghorn.
The regularity of the expedition was proper
toned to its importance. The vessel was pro-
tected by register, which proves that she is
of American construction, and that she belongs
to Henry W. and Lewis Phillips, Merchants
of New York, and native born citizens of the
u. States, by regular passport from the Pre-
sident of the United States; by Turkish
passport; by role d'equipage, and articles Of
conrention with the men composing hercr
which show that the Jersey was navigated by
eleven men, all citizens of the United States.
Here then are all the documents, and more
than are required by the treaty with that coun-
try.
The regularity of the flag, agreeable to the
sixth article of this treaty, rendered 1t unne-
cessary to prove the neutrality of the cargo !;
but, however super-abundant, this proof is al
SO furnished us. We have the following do
cll;nents relative to the merchandise An in
voice amounting to 45,377 dollars, designating
the same owners, Henry w. and Lewis Phil
lips: am acknowledgment that the same is
tor their sole account; sworn certificate,
from which it appears that Henry w. and
Lewis Phillips, are native citizens OF the Unit
ed States, three certificates from the Gus
tom House of New-York, attesting that the
cargo was imported into that country by neu-
trails; in short, to complete so many proofs, a
certificate of origin, delivered by the Consul
of his Imperial Majesty at New-York, from
which it appears that the various articles COM
nosing this cargo, are of the growth of the fol-
lowing countries :--Hasanna, Martinique,
bourbon, Guadalupe, St. Thomas, Canton,
cuba, ST. Domingo and Campeachy.
The expedition thus regularly combined,
xrss onnosed by the caprice of the elements,
which human wisdom cannot master. After a
voyage of "A days, the Jersey, on the stA of
December, describes the heights of Sicily