war, or may be involved therein hereafter, and with whom the king has no treaties to reclaim. It is the universal law, and when there are no particular engagements existing, it becomes obligatory upon all

nations.

In consequence thereof, the king declares hereby again, "That he will observe the same neutrality, and with the same exactitude as he has hitherto done. He will enjoin all his subjects, under severe penalties, not to act in any manner whatever contrary to the duties which a strict neutrality imposes on them; but he will effectually protect their lawful commerce, by all possible means, whenever they carry on the same, conformably to the principles here above mentioned."

(An. Reg. 1780, p. 353.)

No. IX.

Ordinance and declaration of the king of Prussia, concerning the navigation and maritime commerce of his subjects; made in consequence of the armed neutrality.

Frederic R.

EVER since the beginning of the present maritime war, which has since spread over almost all the southern parts of Europe, the king has been particularly attentive to procure to all his subjects, who traffic by sea or practise navigation, all the security they were entitled to. To this end, his majesty has, by means of his ministers, requested of the belligerent powers, that they would give strict and pre

cise orders to all commanders of their ships of war and privateers, to respect the Prussian flag, and to let all Prussian ships, laden with goods and merchandises, which according to the law of nations are lawful, and not contraband, free and peaceably pass and repass, without causing them the least damage or delay; and much less to conduct them, without any right or necessity, into any foreign ports. To this request, the said powers have not only returned the most satisfactory answers, but have also given the most friendly assurances that it should be complied with in every respect.

To obtain this end, with still more certainty, his majesty has commanded all his ministers, residing at the courts of the belligerent powers, to interest themselves in the most efficacious manner, and by the most energetic representations, in favor of the Prussian subjects trading by sea, whose ships may have been taken, and conducted into any foreign port, or, as it has often happened, pillaged and robbed in the open sea; and to insist that they be speedily released, that all law-suits, which their capture may occasion, be decided with impartiality and without loss of time.

In order, therefore, to second these beneficial views of his majesty, and to enable the king's ministers to acquit themselves of these his royal orders in that respect, it is necessary that the subjects of his majesty, who may find themselves in that case, should either apply personally, or by means of a commissioner, to the king's minister at the court where complaint is to be exhibited, and that they should give him a true and circumstantial account of

the subject of their complaint, in order that he may exhibit and support the same, where and when he shall see cause. They are, however, not to rely entirely and only on the intercession of the said minister, but they are likewise to exhibit their complaints, either by themselves or by their commissioners, before the admiralties or maritime courts of the country where their ships may have been conducted, or wherein they may have sustained any damage; to support these complaints with the necessary proofs; to conform to the judiciary forms established in each country; and to plead and pursue their causes with all possible diligence, by means of their attornies, or other persons properly qualified. By these means, his majesty flatters himself, that they will obtain a prompt and impartial decision; but if the contrary should be the case, they shall then apply to the king's envoys, for them to lay before each court such complaints as the case may require, and to obtain due satisfaction.

But in order to secure the more effectually, for the future, the navigation of his subjects from all insults, the king has, by his minister, requested her majesty the empress of Russia, and the two other maritime powers, who, as it is well known, have joined in a convention for maintaining the maritime neutrality, that they would be pleased, as powers with whom the king has the satisfaction to live in perfect harmony and friendship, to give orders to all commanders of their ships of war, to take the Prussian mer chant-ships, which they may meet with at sea, within sight, and within reach of their cannon, under protection and convoy, and to assist and defend

them, in all cases where they shall be attacked, or any ways molested by the ships of war or privateers of the belligerent powers.

Her majesty, the empress of Russia, has assured the king, by a written declaration from her ministry, that she has not only caused the most precise orders to be given to all commanders of her ships of war, that they shall protect, against all attacks and molestations whatever, the ships of the Prussian merchants and navigators, which they may meet with, either at sea, or in any port, as belonging to a power allied with Russia, and which shall scrupulously observe the rules of maritime neutrality, as founded on the law of nations; but that she would likewise enjoin all her ministers at the courts of the belligerent powers, that whenever the Prussian envoys may have any complaint to exhibit at the court where they reside, concerning any hindrance or vexation caused to the maritime commerce of Prussian subjects, that shall support the same, in the name of her imperial majesty, with all the good offices, influence, and assistance in their power; and that in return to this, her imperial majesty expects, that his majesty the king of Prussia, would also furnish his ministers, residing at the courts of the belligerent powers, with instructions conformable to the convention of the northern maritime powers, with orders to support, likewise, by the most energetic representations, all the complaints of the ministers of the allied powers for the defence of maritime neutrality, in all cases where they may have any satisfaction to demand for the subjects of their sovereigns.

The king has accepted this amicable declaration of her imperial majesty with great pleasure and gratitude; and by a counter declaration, every way conformable to the above, has signified his willingness to comply with the views of her imperial majesty, and in consequence thereof has caused the necessary instructions to be given to his ministers residing at the different courts.

Already before this, his majesty had, on the occasion of another negociation with the court of Denmark, requesting his Danish majesty to grant the protection of his naval forces to the Prussian merchant-ships, from whom his majesty had likewise received the friendly assurance, that the Danish ships of war should take under their protection and convoy all such Prussian ships as should conform to the treaties subsisting between the court of Denmark and the belligerent powers, with regard to contraband commodities. The king has caused the same request to be made to the court of Sweden, and he flatters himself with an answer from his Swedish majesty, equally favorable as those from their majesties the empress of Russia and the king of Denmark.

His majesty, therefore, thinks proper to acquaint all his subjects, who traffic by sea, or practise navigation, and all others whom it may concern, with the above arrangements, in order that they, or the captains and commanders of their ships, may conform thereto; and that in case they should be attacked, molested, or taken by the ships of war, or privateers of the belligerent nations, that they may apply to the Russian, Danish, or Swedish ships of war, that may be within their reach, to demand their