FRENCH WEST INDIA DECREES. EQUALITY. TRANSLATION. LIBERTY. Extract from the Registers of the Special Agency of the Executive Directory, to the Windward Islands. THE special agents of the executive directory, to the Windward Islands. Considering that the laws as well ancient as modern, forbid neutrals to carry to the enemy contraband or prohibited merchandises : Considering that notwithstanding the complaints of the minister plenipotentiary of the French Republick, near the United States of North America, of which he has informed us by his letter of the 2d July, 1796, those states, and especially Virginia, have fitted out vessels loaded with horses for the English : Decree, that from this day forward, all vessels loaded with merchandises designated by the name of contraband, as arms, instruments, munitions of war, of what kind soever, horses and their furniture, shall be stopped by the ships of war and privateers; to be seized and confiscated for the benefit of the captors. At Basseterre, Guadaloupe, August 1, 1796. Signed on the Register, VICTOR HUGUES, The Special Agents of the Executive Directory, to the Windward Islands. CONSIDERING that the ports of the Windward and Leeward Islands, as well as those of Demarara, Essequibo, and Berbice, delivered up to the English, occupied and defended by emigrants, are in a state of regular siege, and not entitled to the same advantages as the ports of the dif ferent English colonies, possessed by that power before the war, or to other rights; Considering that it is against every principle to treat a horde of insurgents, destitute of country, without government, and without a flag, with the same respect as civilized nations preserve towards each other during a war; Considering that, by the authentick acts which are in our possession, it is proved that the divers places of the colonies delivered up to the English by the rebel Frenchmen and Batavians, no more belong to the British government than la Vendée, in which the English ministry had in like manner mercenary troops under pay-some regiments clad in the same uniform as those of England; Considering that in virtue of the 2d article of the treaty of alliance concluded at Paris on the 6th of February, 1778, between the United States and France, the former power engaged to defend the American possessions in case of war, and that the government and the commerce of the United States have strangely abused the forbearance of the Republick of France in turning to its injury the favours granted to them of trading in all the ports of the French colonies; That by permitting neutral vessels any longer to carry provisions of war and of subsistence to men evidently in a state of rebellion, would be to prolong civil war, and the calamities and crimes flowing therefrom-Decree as follows: ARTICLE 1. The ships of the Republick and French privateers are authorized to capture and conduct into the ports of the Republick, neutral vessels destined for the Windward and Leeward Islands of America, delivered up to the English, and occupied and defended by the emigrants. These ports are Martinico, St. Lucia, Tobago, Demarara, Berbice, Essequibo;-and at the leeward, Port-au-Prince, St. Mark's, L'archaye and Jeremie. 2. Every armed vessel, having a commission from either of the said ports, shall be reputed a pirate, and the crews adjudged and punished as such. 3. The vessels and cargoes described in the first and second articles are declared good prize, and shall be sold for the benefit of the captors. 4. Every captured vessel, which shall have cleared out under the vague denomination of West Indies, is comprehended in the first and second articles. 5. The decree of the 4th of last Nivose, in pursuance of the resolution of the executive directory, of the 14th Messidor, 4th year, shall be executed till further orders, as far as shall not be contravened by the present decree. This decree shall be printed, transcribed in the register of the criminal and commercial tribunals, sent to all the French colonial ports, read, published, and posted up, wherever it may be necessary. It shall be notified officially to the neutral governments of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. Bartholomews. Enjoining the criminal and commercial tribunals of Guadaloupes their delegates in the different French colonies and elsewhere, the rear-admiral commandant on the West India station, and the head of the administration, to aid in executing the present decree, each in his respective department. Done at Basseterre, island of Guadaloupe, the 13th of Pluviose, 5th year, (1st February, 1797) of the French Republick, one and indivisible. VICTOR HUGUES & LEBAS. TRANSLATION. Extract from the Register of the Resolves of the Commission delegated by the French Government to the Leeward Islands. THE Commission resolves, that the captains of French national vessels and privateers are authorized to stop, and bring into the ports of the colony, American vessels bound to English ports, or coming from the said ports. The vessels which are already taken, or shall be hereafter, shall remain in the ports of the colony, until it shall he otherwise ordered. At the Cape, 7th Frimaire (27th November, 1797) in Signed on the Records of the Process Verbal. SANTHONAX, RAIMOND, Commissioners. A true copy. The Secretary General of the Commission, PASCAL. L. Ferrand, General of Brigade, Commander in Chief of St. Domingo, acting as Captain General, and a Member of the Legion of Honour. EXPERIENCE has, for too much time, taught the general, that all kind of regard and modification towards those scoundrels, who maintain the rebellion in Hispaniola, by furnishing every thing necessary to the rebels, against the will and approbation of their respective governments, and who, by those acts of cupidity, dishonour the flags they sail under; and finding the necessity of putting a stop to rapacity, and to treat them as pirates, has proclaimed and proclaims.... ART. 1. All individuals whomsoever, found on board of any vessel or vessels, allies or neutrals, bound to any ports in Hispaniola occupied by the rebels, shall suffer death. Those found on board of any vessel, allies or neutrals, coming out of any ports in Hispaniola, occupied by the rebels, shall suffer death. Those found at two leagues distance, from any part of the coast of Hispaniola, occupied by the rebels, on board of allies or neutrals, shall suffer death. 11. The general informs, that all prisoners made in those different cases, shall be brought into one of the ports of Hispaniola, occupied by the French, to be tried by military commission, which is to pronounce sentence. III. This proclamation shall be put into execution, on the 1st Floreal, (21st April) and until that time all the preceding proclamations, in order to prevent all kinds of communication with the coast of Hispaniola, occupied by the rebels, shall be strictly executed. IV. Of this present proclamation registered at the colonial inspection, one hundred copies are printed, published and posted up in all the chief places, round the east part of Hispaniola, and all necessary steps shall be taken to its publicity in all the islands and continent of America. Done at head quarters of the general of St. Domingo, the 16th Pluviose, year the 13th, 5th February, 1805. The general commander in chief, acting as captain general, and member of the legion of honour. L. FERRAND. SPANISH DECREES, &c. Copy of a Letter from the Secretary of State of his Catholick Majesty, to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at Madrid. Aranjuez, Feb. 15, 1800. SIR, The king wishing to lessen as much as possible the evils resulting to the nation, from the scandalous traffick which many of his subjects carry on with Gibraltar by means of neutral vessels, and making use of just reprisals against the enemies of his crown, who have declared the ports of Cadiz and St. Lucar de Barrameda blockaded his majesty has thought proper to declare, that from this day he should consider Gibraltar as block aded, and that under this view all captures of neutral vessels going to the said place should be held as legitimate for which purpose, and that ignorance may not be pleaded, his majesty has commanded me to communicate this declaration for the information and government of your court. I place myself at your disposition, and pray God to preserve your life many years. MARINO LUIS DE URQUEJO. SPANISH DECREE. [See Vol. v. p. 487.] His Majesty has been pleased to issue the following Royal Decree : [See Vol, v1. p. 76.] |