Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-06-06
WAsHiNcroM Cry, yune 1.


The following extracts from Official Bri-
fish documents will sasw the sentiments of
the British government for ages past, as 10
the neutral right, in the case of beliigerents,
in ships of war, lowering on and frequenting
neutral coasts and harbors:
Deciu,ution Of his Britannia 1Eyes.y James
l. fiu6dshedhn tie yea l1C4.
Sour pleasure is, that WITHIN C;4r ports,
Ravens, roads, creeks, Or other PLACES or our
dominion, CT SO near 10 ans of CO.: sid por.s
or havens, az may DC ccaacnaSiy coilstf ned -
be within that title, Hlnit or precinct there
shall be no force, violence or surprise, or OF
fence suffered TO be done, either from man Il
war to man OF war or from man. of war t.
merchant, &c. bit that all, OF what ratif
soever, so long as they shall be wit1:n tn1sk
our ports and places o. Jurisdiction, or where
our officers may prohibit violence, shall he
understood to oe under our protection, and 30
DC ordered by course OF Justice, sc. And
that our officers and subjects snail prohibit,
ss mach as in thea lies, al loterirg Of men
CT war, &c. so rear TIE entry OF any OF oi-
haveTs or coasts; aid that they shall receive
and succour ali merchants AID csiIcrS th2c
shall fall within the danger ~ any s6cli as
shall await coast, in 80 near places 10
tie hindrauce OF trade 60 End from our king
/ DOM e..
: EXTRACT from Proclamation ofh.a R,ita.r-
7iic 1L1jesty Charles 81, dQtsG S.h Fea,L-
| cru, 1767--s.
! 90. We will and command, that all our Of
fcers and subjects by sea ard land. do, rs
much as in them lies, prohibit the Iarins add
! lowering ct men Of war, SO near the entry OF
any of cur haroors, or our ccIets, as that
| merchant men, hone-Warli o. ward bound
to and from any OF cur porss shall appreiie,lt
| their fC he,
being set upon and surprised, to the hinier-
ing and diveStiiig OF trade and commerce
from our ports: And We strictly charge nd
require our officers and subjects to rescue,
succor and defend, al merci,ant-rnea and
| others, that shall harnen 20 be SET upon, or
| surprised so near our coasts, or the ertry OF
our harbors, as may easily Ie construed tore
under our more special care and projection
and that they apprehend and seize all CitcI-
ders OF this Kind i'll order to bring them y
! condign punishment, for disturbing and him
dering the trade and commerce between ONT
subjects, and those CT our neisi,bcrs AMI a.
lie5.'
Extract from, charge gipea at an I'd ,.l1al-
~ sessions held at tiic Old -3aiiy, cy sS.-
l.. Jenkins.
" You are therefore to enquire, if any men
of war under foreign commissions, fromia .
ny of the paroles now in war, do lie towering
near any of his Tnaiestys ports, haychs -
haibors; or skulking within any Of these spa
ces called the kings chambers, IN order 70
surprize merchants ships belonging u tns
kings friends and allies, aud To soap tam as
they are coming, or going out of our ports !:
you are to present such if you know any;
and the kings majesryis to be informed OF 1t
out of the records and prcsentEGsnts ot this
court; that they may be seized and ar,tsied.
If they be driven, or do Coarse IN, or else mag
be fetched in by nis Taajesty's ships snd pun
ishei as wilul violators ofthe treaties AIS IA 4
ljesty hath with MS neishoors, ana IS malici-
GUS disturbers or our trade.
"You are to enquire il any men OF war
have presumed to search, Stop or carry away
by force, c.r merchaA, Ships in their course
at sea, under pretsnce Of suspicion that they
belonged to their enemies if they nave
brought them cut oftheir course to their own
ports without lticitl.1 c3use, such-a is a.
lowed of by treaty bety cen His Iaiessy and
the Prince or state from which the man Of
war mas his commission; that is a grievo1s
trcspass and the parry shat hath done it.
coming into any If MS msjesY's ports, may
be arrested and HI, ship made to answer and
SATISFY the merchants damage. II they have
robbed or plIaged them it is down-r1., It 1sf-
TGcy, as have already told you"
4