American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-12-01
IMPERIAL. DECREE,

IMPERIAL DECREE,
Declaring the British Isles in state Of blockade.
IMPERIAL CAMP, Berlin, Nov. IL, 1906.
NAPOLEON, Emperor of the FRENCH and King OF raiy'
Considering.
/. That England does not admit the right Of Ma.
lions as universally acknowledged by all civilzeo
people: -,
3 That she declares as an enemy, every indvid-
usl belonging to an enemy State, and 10 cohse
ouence. makes prisoners of war not only the crews
Of armed vessels but those also OF merchant vessels
and even the super cargoes oil the same
5. That abe extends or applies to merchant yes
sells TO articles OF Commerce, and to the properly
OF individuals, the right OF conquest, which can only
be applied or extended TO what belongs TO an enemy
State:
A. That she extends to ports not fortified, 10 the
harbors and mouths Of rivers the right nt btockdde
which. according to reason and the usage oil civ-
zed Nations is applicable only 10 strong or fortified
ports.
1ha, she declares blocksded, places before which
she has not single vessel OF war although place
ought not TO be considered blockaded except when
it is so invested as that no approach 10 It can De
made without imminent hazard; that she declares
even place, blockaded, which her united forces would
be incapable of doing; such as entire coasts, and
whole empire
s. That this uneoualled abuse OF right OF blockade
has no other object than 10 interrupt the eommuni'
cation OF different Nations and to raise the Com
merce and industry Of England upon the RUN o.
those Of tho continent:
6. That this being the evident drsign OF England
! whoever deals the continent, IN Engish msr
>handise, ayors that design and becomes an accom-
pce:
:. That this conduct in England, (worthy only
OF The frs, ages OF bsrbarsm) has benefited her 10
! the tctrlmcnt OF other Nations
s. That II being right 10 oppose to an enemy the
arms she makes use OF, TO combat as she does
when all IDEAS OF Justice and every liberal sentiment,
| he result OF civilization among mem are disre-
garded
We have resolved to force against England The
usage, which she has conseciated in her mari
time code:
The present decree shall be consider as the fun
d.mental law oil the empire. until England shall
have acknowledged that The right Of uar IS the
same on land as that l, cannot be extended
any private property whatever, nor to persons VII
are no, military, and until the right oil blockade Dc
restrained 10 fortified places actually invested by
competent forces
| Article |. The British Islands are in state oil
blockade.
/ 2. All commerce and correspondence with them
j. prohibited Consequently, all letters or packets
written IN England, or 10 an Engshman, nritten
! N the English language, shall not be despatched
I from The Post Offices and shall be seized
Every individual, subject OF Great Britain, Of
whatever rank condition, who is found 10 coun-
tries occupied by troops or those o. our allies,
shal be made sprsoner OF war
I. Every are house, all merchandise or proper
ty whatever. belonging 10 an Engshmsn are decar-
| ed coed prize.
s. The commerce Of English merehadze is pro-
hibited All merchandise belonging to England
or coming from her manufactures and colonies are
declared TO be good pize.
6, One half Of the proceeds Of merchandise de
cs' ed 10 be good prize and forfeited 10 the pre-
oeding articles, shall 60 to indemnify merchants
who haye suffered loss BY he English eruizers.
II z. No vessel coming directly from England or
hsr colonies. or having been there since The publ
ca'on Of this Decree shall be admitt into any port
Every vessel, that BY false declaration, contra
senes The foregoing disposition, shah be srized and
be ship and cargo conhscated as English property
Our prize tribunal at Paris, shall pronounce
final sentence in all disputes which may arise ~ our
empire or in Tie countries occupied by the French
, army, relative 10 the execution Of The present De
cree. Our prize tribunal al Milan shall pronounce
Gnal sentence 10 all such like disputes which may
arise throughout our kingdom Of Italy.
10 Communications Of this Dectee shall be made
10 The Kings Of Spain, Naples, Holland Euuris
and 70 our other Allies whose subjects as well a.
ours. are victims OF the injustice and babarty Of tht
English Maritime Code
II. Our Ministers Of Foreign Relation &c
&c. are charged with he execution Of the presen
Decree. tsignedj
By the Emperor,
H. B. MARET, Secretary or State.