Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-31
NAPOLEON.
II. B. MAREr, Secretary of State.

NAPOLEON, by the grace of God, and by the Consti-
tuition, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, and
Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine
l. Considering the dispositions decreed by the
British Government, dated the l4th Of Novem-
Der last past, which subject the vessels Of friend
" neutral Nations, and also the allies of Eng
land, not only 10 the visit Of English Cruizers,
but even 10 a particular station in England, and
TO an arbitrary imposition of a certain per CEN
tum on their cargoes, to be established by the
English Legislature:
Considering, that by. this act, the English
Government hath deprived Of their distinctive
National quality (denazionalizzato) the vessels
Of all the Nations Of Europe; that it is not in
the power Of any Government to suffer an in
fringement of its independence and rights-all
the Sovereigns Of Europe being conformity qua
runtees Of the Sovereignty and independence of
their Aags-that if, by an inexcusable weakness,
which would be an indelible stain in the eyes of
posterity, such tyranny were permitted 10 be-
come a principle and, consecrated by use, the
English would from thence deduce a claim to
establish 1t into a right, as they have already
proG,ed by a liberation Of Governments, to es-
tablish the infamous principle, that the flag
Goes not cover merchandise, and to give to their
right of blockade, an extension, arbitrary and
derogatory to the Sovereignty of every State.
We have decreed, and do decree as follows:
Article |. Every vessel, TO whatsoever Nation
it may belong, which shall have suffered the vi
sit Of an English vessel, or shall have submit
ted to a voyage to England, or shall have paid
any duty whatever TO The English Government,
is, for that reason alone, declared to be depriv-
ed of her distinctive National quality, has lost
the guarantee Of her flag, and has become Eng
lish property.
9. The above mentioned vessels thus depriv-
ed of their National distinction by the arbitra-
ry measures of The English Government, are
declared to be good and lawful prizes, as well
in case they enter our ports or those of our al
lies, as also in case they fall in the power of
our vessels of war or privateers.
8. The British Islands are declared to be in
a state of blockade as we'll by sea as by land
Every vessel Of whatsoever Nation, or whatso.
ever be her cargo, coming from the ports of
England or from English colonies, is a good
prize, as contravening the present Decree -
They shall be captured by our vessels of war,
or by our privateers, and shall be adjudged to
the captors.
4. These measures, which are but a Just re-
ciprocity for the barbarous system adopted by
the English Government, which assimiIates its
Legislation to that OF Algiers, shall cease TO
have their effect with respect to all those Ma
tons, which may succeed in compelling the
British Government to respect their flag. They
shall continue TO be in force during all such
time as the Government shall fail to return to
the principles of the right OF war, which gov
ern the relations of civilized Nations in a state
of war.
The dispositions of the present decree shall
be abrogated, and null in fact, so soon as the
English Government shall have returned to
those principles of the law of Nations, which
are equally the principles of justice and honor.
5. All the Ministers are charged with the exc
| cution of the present Decree, which shall be
published, and inserted in the bulletin of the
| Laws.
Given from The Royal palace of MILAN, the
seventeenth day of December, 1907.
NAPOLEON.
BIZ the Emperor and King, The Minister Sscre-
tary Of State. A. ALDINI.
No. XIV.
The RIGHT of neutral Nations TO pursue Com