ledged in similar cases. Mr. Monroe is therefore requested to apprize the American consuls and merchants residing in England, that the entrances of the above mentioned ports are, and must be considered as being in a state of blockade; and that from this time all the measures authorized by the law of nations and the respective treaties between his majesty and the different neutral powers, will be adopted and executed with respect to vessels attempting to violate the said blockade after this notice. The undersigned requests Mr. Monroe, &c. &c. HARROWBY.

GEORGE R.

INSTRUCTION

To our Courts of Admiralty, and to the Commanders of our Ships of War and Privateers.

Given at our Court at St. James's, the 17th Day of August, 1805, in the 45th Year of our Reign.

We are pleased hereby to direct the commanders of our ships of war and privateers not to seize any neutral vessel, which shall be carrying on trade directly from the colonies of the enemy to the ports of this kingdom, and laden solely with the property of inhabitants of the neutral country to which the ship belongs; provided such neutral ship has already cleared out, or shall clear out from such colony, prior to the first day of November next. and shall not have supplied the enemy with any articles contraband of war on the outward voyage, and shall not have entered or be coming from any blockaded port. And in case any neutral vessel, trading as aforesaid, hath been. or shall be detained or brought before any of our courts of admiralty, it is our will and pleasure, that such ships. together with their cargoes, be forthwith liberated.

By his majesty's command,

HAWKESBURY.

Mr. Fox to Mr. Monroe. Downing Street, April 8, 1806. THE undersigned, his majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, has received his majesty's com

mands to acquaint Mr. Monroe, that, in consequence of his majesty the king of Prussia having taken possession of various parts of the electorate of Hanover, and other dominions belonging to his majesty, in a forcible and hostile manner; and having also notified, that all British ships shall be excluded from the ports of the Prussian dominions, and from certain other ports in the north of Europe, and not suffered to enter or trade therewith, in violation of the just rights and interests of his majesty, and his dominions, and contrary to the established law and practice of nations in amity with each other; his majesty has judged it expedient to establish the most rigorous blockade at the entrances of the Ems, the Weser, the Elbe and the Trave, and to maintain and enforce the same in the strictest manner, according to the usages of war, acknowledged and allowed in similar cases.

Mr. Monroe is therefore requested to apprize the American consuls and merchants residing in England, that the entrances of the above mentioned rivers are and must be considered as being in a state of blockade; and that from this time all the measures authorized by the law of nations, and the respective treaties between his majesty and the different neutral powers, will be adopted and executed with respect to vessels attempting to violate the said blockades after this notice.

The undersigned requests Mr. Monroe to accept the assurances of his high consideration.

Mr. Fox to Mr. Monroe.

[See Vol. vi. p. 230.]

C. J. FOX.

Lord Howick to Mr. Monroe. Downing Street, Sept. 25,

1806.

THE undersigned, his majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, has received his majesty's com mands to acquaint Mr. Monroe, that the king having been pleased, on the 16th of May last, to cause it to be signified, that he had directed the necessary measures to be taken for the blockade of the coast, rivers, and ports, from the river Elbe, to the port of Brest, both inclusive, his

majesty is now pleased to declare, that so much of such blockade as extended from the river Elbe to the river Ems, both inclusive, is for the present discontinued, and that from the date hereof, the navigation of the coast, rivers and ports, from the river Elbe to the river Ems, both inclusive, is as free as if such blockade had not taken place.

The undersigned requests Mr. Monroe to accept the assurances, &c. &c.

HOWICK.

At a Court at the Queen's Palace, the 7th of January, 1807, present, the King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

WHEREAS the French government has issued certain orders, which, in violation of the usages of war, purport to prohibit the commerce of all neutral nations with his majesty's dominions, and also to prevent such nations from trading with any other country in any articles, the growth, produce or manufacture of his majesty's dominions; and whereas the said government has also taken upon itself to declare all his majesty's dominions to be in a state of blockade, at the time when the fleets of France and her allies are themselves confined within their own ports by the superior valour and discipline of the British navy; and whereas such attempts, on the part of the enemy, would give to his majesty an unquestionable right of retaliation, and would warrant his majesty in enforcing the same prohibition of all commerce with France, which that power vainly hopes to effect against the commerce of his majesty's subjects, a prohibition which the superiority of his majesty's naval forces might enable him to support by actually investing the ports and coasts of the enemy with numerous squadrons and cruisers, so as to make the entrance or approach thereto manifestly dangerous; and whereas his majesty, though unwilling to follow the example of his enemies by proceeding to an extremity so distressing to all nations not engaged in the war, and carrying on their accustomed trade, yet feels himself bound by due regard to the just defence of the rights and interests of his people not to suffer such measures to be taken by the enemy, without taking some steps on his part to restrain this violence, and

to retort upon them the evils of their own injustice; his majesty is thereupon pleased, by and with the advice of his privy council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, that no vessel shall be permitted to trade from one port to another, both which ports shall belong to or be in the possession of France or her allies, or shall be so far under their control as that British vessels may not trade freely thereat; and the commanders of his majesty's ships of war and privateers shall be, and are hereby instructed to warn every neutral vessel coming from any such port, and destined to another such port, to discontinue her voyage, and not to proceed to any such port; and any vessel, after being so warned, or any vessel coming from any such port, after a reasonable time shall have been afforded for receiving information of this his majesty's order, which shall be found proceeding to another such port, shall be captured and brought in, and together with her cargo shall be condemned as lawful prize; and his majesty's principal secretaries of state, the lords commissioners of the admiralty and the judges of the high court of admiralty, and the courts of vice admiralty are to take the necessary measures herein as to them shall respectively appertain.

W. FAWKENER.

Extract of a Letter from the Honourable David M. Erskine, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannick Majesty, to the Secretary of State of the United States. Philadelphia, June 26, 1807.

"I HAVE the honour to inform you, that his majesty has judged it expedient to re-establish the most rigorous blockade at the entrances of the rivers Ems, Weser, and Elbe inclusive, in consequence of the present position of the enemy upon the continent, which enables him to command the navigation of those rivers."

BY THE KING,

From the London Gazette.

A Proclamation for recalling and prohibiting British Seamen from serving Foreign Princes and States.

[See Vol. VI. p. 58.]

At the Court of the Queen's Palace, the 11th of November, 1807, present, the King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

[See Vol. vi. p. 62.]

At the Court at the Queen's Palace, the 11th of November. 1807, present, the King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

[See Vol. v1. p. 65.]

At the Court at the Queen's Palace, the 11th of November, 1807, present, the King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

[See Vol. v1. p. 68.]

At the Court at the Queen's Palace, the 25th of November, 1807, present, the King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

WHEREAS it has been represented that it would be expedient to fix certain periods, at which it shall be deemed that a reasonable time shall have elapsed for receiving information, at different places, of his majesty's order in council of the 11th of November instant, respecting the trade with his majesty's enemies, and in their produce and manufactures; his majesty, taking the same into consideration, and being desirous to obviate any difficulties that may arise in respect thereto, and also to allow ample time for the said order being known to all persons who may be affected thereby, is pleased, by and with the advice of his privy council, to order and declare, and it is hereby ordered and declared, that information of the said order of the 11th of November instant, shall be taken and held to have been received in the places hereinafter mentioned, at the periods respectively assigned to them; namely,

Ports and places within the Baltick-December 21, 1807. Other ports and places to the northward of Amsterdam -December 11, 1807.