exportation, in any case, from their said ports for France, of any military or naval stores, or corn, grain, salt meat or other provisions; and to take all other measures in their power for injuring the commerce of France, and for bringing her, by such means, to just conditions of peace.

"ART. IV. Their majesties engage to unite all their efforts to prevent other powers, not implicated in this war, from giving, on this occasion of common concern to every civilized state, any protection whatever, directly or indirectly, in consequence of their neutrality, to the commerce or property of the French, on the sea, or in the ports of France."

Extract from a Treaty between his Britannick Majesty and the King of Spain, signed at Aranjuez, the 25th May,

1793.

"ART. IV. Their said majesties engage reciprocally to shut their ports against French vessels; not to permit that there shall in any case be exported from their ports for France either warlike or naval stores, or wheat or other grains, salted meat or other provisions; and to take every other measure in their power to distress the trade of France, and reduce her by that means to just conditions of peace. "ART. V. Their said majesties also engage, the present war being generally interesting to every civilized state, to unite all their efforts, in order to prevent those powers, which do not take part in the said war, from affording in consequence of their neutrality, any protection, direct or indirect, on the seas or in the ports of France, to the commerce and property of the French."

Extract from a Convention between his Britannick Majesty and the King of Prussia, signed at the Camp before Mayence the 14th July, 1793.

"ART. III. The high contracting parties having already taken the resolution to shut all their ports against French ships, and not to permit the exportation, in any cases, from their said ports for France, of any military or naval stores, or corn, grain, salt meat or other provisions, they reciprocally engage to continue those measures, and pro

mise to employ all other means which shall be in their power for injuring the commerce of France, and for bringing her, by such means, to just conditions of peace.

"ART. IV. Their majesties engage to unite all their efforts to prevent, on this occasion of common concern to every civilized state, other powers not implicated in the war, from giving, in consequence of their neutrality, any protection whatever, directly or indirectly, to the commerce or property of the French, on the sea, or in the ports of France."

Extract from a Convention between the Emperor of Austria and his Britannick Majesty, signed at London the 30th August, 1793.

“ART. II. Their said majesties reciprocally engage to shut their ports against French vessels, not to permit, in any instance, warlike or naval stores, corn, grain, salted meat, or other provisions, to be exported from their said ports for France, and to take all other means in their power to annoy the commerce of France, and thereby to reduce her to just conditions of peace.

"ART. 111. Their majesties engage to unite all their efforts to prevent other powers, who shall not take part in this war, from giving, on this occasion of common interest to every civilized state, any protection whatever, direct or indirect, in consequence of their neutrality, to the commerce or to the property of the French, at sea, or in the ports of France."

GEORGE, REX.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

To the Commanders of His Majesty's Ships of War and Privateers that have or may have Letters of Marque against France. Given at our Court at St. James, the eighth Day of June, 1793, and in the thirty-third Year of our Reign.

1st. THAT it shall be lawful to stop and detain all vessels laden wholly or in part with corn, flour, or meal, bound

to any port in France, or any port occupied by the armies of France, and to send them to such ports as shall be most convenient, in order that such corn, meal, or flour, may be purchased on behalf of his majesty's government, and the ships be released after such purchase, and after a due allowance for freight, or that the masters of such ships, on giving due security, to be approved of by the court of admiralty, be permitted to proceed to dispose of their cargoes of corn, meal, or flour, in the ports of any country in amity with his majesty.

2d. That it shall be lawful for the commanders of his majesty's ships of war and privateers, that have, or may have letters of marque against France, to seize all ships, whatever be their cargoes, that shall be found attempting to enter any blockaded port, and to send the same for condemnation, together with their cargoes, except the ships of Denmark and Sweden, which shall be prevented from entering on the first attempt, but on the second shall be sent in for condemnation likewise.

3d. That in case his majesty shall declare any port to be blockaded, the commanders of his majesty's ships of war and privateers that have or may have letters of marque against France, are hereby enjoined, if they meet with ships at sea, which appear from their papers to be destined to such blockaded port, but to have sailed from the ports of their respective countries before the declaration. of the blockade shall have arrived there, to advertise them thereof, and to admonish them to go to other ports; but they are not to molest them afterwards, unless it shall appear that they have continued their course with intent to enter the blockaded port, in which case they shall be subject to capture and condemnation as shall likewise all ships wheresoever found, that shall appear to have sailed from their ports, bound to any port, which his majesty shall have declared to be blockaded, after such declaration shall have been known in the country from which they sailed; and all ships which in the course of the voyage shall have received notice of the blockade in any manner, and yet shall have pursued their course with intent to enter the same.

G. R. [L.S.]

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION

To the Commanders of all our Ships of War and Privateers that have or may have Letters of Marque against France. Given at our Court at St. James, the sixth Day of November, 1793, and in the thirty-fourth Year of our Reign.

THAT they shall stop and detain all ships laden with goods, the produce of any colony belonging to France, or carrying provisions or other supplies, for the use of any such colony, and shall bring the same with their cargoes to legal adjudication in our courts of admiralty.

By His Majesty's Command,

H. DUNDAS.

G. R.

INSTRUCTIONS

To the Commanders of our Ships of War and Privateers that have or may have Letters of Marque against France. Given at our Court at St. James, the 8th Day of January, 1794.

WHEREAS by our former instruction to the commanders of our ships of war and of privateers, dated the 6th day of November, 1793, we signified that they should stop and detain all ships laden with goods, the produce of any colony belonging to France, or carying provisions or other supplies for the use of any such colony, and should bring the same with their cargoes to legal adjudication. We are pleased to revoke the said instruction, and in lieu thereof, we have thought fit to issue these our instructions, to be duly observed by the commanders of all our ships of war and privateers, that have or may have letters of marque against France.

1. That they shall bring in for lawful adjudication all vessels with their cargoes, that are laden with goods. the produce of the French West India Islands, and coming

directly from any port of the said islands to any port in Europe.

2. That they shall bring in for lawful adjudication all ships with their cargoes, that are laden with goods the produce of the said islands, the property of which goods shall belong to subjects of France, to whatsoever ports the same may be bound.

3. That they shall seize all ships that shall be found attempting to enter any port of the said islands, that is, or shall be blockaded by the arms of his majesty or his allies; and shall send them in with their cargoes for adjudication, according to the terms of the second article of the former instructions, bearing date the 8th day of June,

1793.

4. That they shall seize all vessels, laden wholly or in part with naval or military stores, bound to any port of the said islands, and shall send them into some convenient port belonging to his majesty, in order that they, together with their cargoes, may be proceeded against, according to the rules of nations.

G. R. [L.S.]

INSTRUCTIONS

To the Commanders of our Ships of War and Privateers, that have, or may have Letters of Marque against France, Spain, or the United Provinces. Given at our Court of St. James, the 25th Day of January, 1798, in the 38th Year of our Reign.

WHEREAS by our former instructions to the commanders of our ships of war and privateers, dated 8th January, 1794, we signified that they should bring in for lawful adjudication all vessels, with their cargoes, that were laden with goods, the produce of the French West India Islands, and coming directly from any port of the said islands, to any port in Europe; and likewise all ships, with their cargoes, that were laden with goods, the produce of the said islands, the property of which goods should belong to subjects of France, to whatsoever ports the same might be bound; and that they should seize all ships that should be found attempting to enter any port of the said islands, that was or should be blockaded by the arms of his majesty,