Art. 14. And in the same case where one of the parties is engaged in war with another power, that the vessels of the neutral party may be readily and certainly known, it is agreed, that they shall be provided with sea-letters, or passports, which shall express the name, the property, and burden of the vessel, as also the name and dwelling of the master, which passports shall be made out in good and due form, (to be settled by conventions between the parties whenever occasion shall require,) shall be renewed as often as the vessel shall return into port; and shall be exhibited whensoever required, as well in the open sea as in port. But if the said vessels be under convoy of one or more vessels of war, belonging to the neutral party, the simple declaration of the officer commanding the convoy, that the said vessel belongs to the party of which he is, shall be considered as establishing the fact, and shall relieve both parties from the trouble of further examination. Art. 14. Dans le cas où l'une des deux parties contractantes se trouveroit engagée dans une guerre avec une autre puissance, et afin que les vaisseaux de la partie neutre soyent promptement et sûre ment reconnus, on est convenu qu'ils devront être munis de lettres de mer ou passe-ports, exprimant le nom, le proprié taire, et le port du navire, ainsi que le nom et la demeure du maître. Ces passe-ports, qui seront expédiés en bonne et due forme (à déterminer par des conventions entre les parties, lorsque l'occasion le requerra) devront être renouvellés toutes les fois que le vaisseau retournera dans son port, et seront exhibés à chaque requisition tant en pleine mer que dans le port. Mais si le navire se trouve sous le convoi d'un ou plusieurs vaisseaux de guerre appartenants à la partie neutre, il suffira que l'officier commandant du convoi déclare que le navire est de son parti moyennant quoi cette simple déclaration sera censée établir le fait, et dispensera les deux parties de toute visite ultérieure. Art. 15. And to prevent entirely all disorder and violence in such cases, it is stipulated, that when the vessels of the neutral party, sailing without convoy, shall be met by any vessel of war, public or private, of the other party, such vessel of war shall not approach within cannon shot of the said neutral vessel, nor send more than two or three men in their boat on board the same, to examine her sea-letters or passports. And all persons belonging to any vessel of war, public or private, who shall molest or injure, in any manner whatever, the people, vessels, or effects of the other party, shall be responsible in their persons and property or damages and interest, sufficient security for which shall be given by all commanders of private armed vessels before they are commissioned. Art. 15. Pour prévenir entièrement tout désordre et toute violence en pareil cas, il a été stipulé que lorsque des navires, de la partie neutre, navigans sans convoi, rencontreront quelque vaisseau de guerre public ou particulier de l'autre partie, le vaisseau de guerre n'approchera le navire neutre qu'au delà de la portée du canon, et n'enverra pas plus de deux ou trois hommes dans sa chaloupe à bord, pour examiner les lettres de mer ou passe-ports. Et toutes les personnes appartenantes à quelque vaisseau de guerre public ou particulier, qui molesteront ou insulteront en quelque manière que ce soit l'équipage, les vaisseaux ou effets de l'autre partie, seront responsables en leurs personnes et en leurs biens, de tous dommages et intérêts; pour lesquels il sera donné caution suffisante par tous les commandans de vaisseaux armés en course, avant qu'ils reçoivent leurs commissions. Treaty with Prussia of 1799. Art. 12. Experience having proved, that the principle adopted in the twelfth article of Art. 12. L'experience ayant demontré, que le principe adopté dans l'article 12, du the treaty of 1785, according to which free ships make free goods, has not been sufficient ly respected during the two last wars, and especially in that which still continues, the two contracting parties propose, after the return of a general peace, to agree either separately between themselves, or jointly with other powers alike interested, to concert with the great maritime powers of Europe, such arrangements and such permanent principles, as may serve to consolidate the liber ty and the safety of the neutral navigation and commerce in future wars. And if, in the interval, either of the contracting parties should be engaged in a war, to which the other should remain neutral, the ships of war and privateers of the belligerent power shall conduct themselves towards the merchant vessels of the neutral power, as favourably as the course of the war then existing may permit, observing the principles and rules of the law of nations, generally acknowledged. traité de 1785, selon lequel les vaisseaux libres rendent aussi les marchandises libres, n'a pas été suffisament respecté dans les deux dernières guerres, et nommément dans celle qui dure encore, les deux parties contractantes se reservent de s'entendre après le retour de la paix générale, soit séparement entr'elles, soit conjointement avec d'autres puissances cointeressés pour concerter avec les grandes puissances maritimes de l'Europe, tels arrangements et tels principes permanens, qui puissent servir à consolider la liberté et la sûreté de la navigation et du commerce neutres dans les guerres futures. Et si, pendant cet intervalle, l'une des parties contractantes se trouve engagée dans une guerre à laquelle l'autre reste neutre, les vaisseaux de guerre et les armateurs de la puissance belligerente, se comporteront, à l'égard de batimens marchands de la puissance neutre, aussi favorablement que la raison. de guerre, pour lors existante pourra le permettre, en observant les principes et les régles du droit des gens généralement reconnus. NOTE No. IV. TO THE AMIABLE ISABELLA. Copy of the Convention with the Court of London, signed at St. Petersburg, the 5th (17th) of June, 1801. In the name of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity. The mutual desire of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, and of his Majesty the King of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, being not only to come to an understanding between themselves with respect to the differences which have lately interrupted the good understanding and friendly relations which subsisted between the two States; but also to prevent, by frank and precise explanations upon the navigation of their respective subjects, the renewal of similar altercations and troubles which might be the consequence of them; and the object of the solicitude of their said majesties being to settle, as soon as can be done, an equitable arrangement of those differences, and an invariable determination of their principles upon the rights of neutrality, in their application to their respective monarchies, in order to unite more closely the ties of friendship and good intercourse, of which they acknowledge the utility and the benefits, have named and chosen for their plenipotentiaries, viz. his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, the Sieur Niquita, Count de Panen, his counsellor, &c. his Majesty the King of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Alleyen, Baron St. Helens, privy counsellor, &c. who, after having communicated their full powers, and found them in good and due form, have agreed upon the following points and articles : Art. I. There shall be hereafter between his Imperial Majesty of all the Russias, and his Britannic Majesty, their subjects, and the states and countries under their domination, good and unalterable friendship and understanding; and all the political, commercial, and other relations of common utility be tween the respective subjects, shall subsist as formerly, without their being disturbed or troubled in any manner whatever. Art. II. His Majesty the Emperor and his Britannic Majesty declare, that they will take the most especial care of the execution of the prohibitions against the trade of contraband of their subjects with the enemies of each of the high contracting parties. Art. III. His Imperial Majesty of all the Russias, and his Britannic Majesty, having resolved to place under a sufficient safeguard the freedom of commerce and navigation of their subjects, in case one of them shall be at war whilst the other shall be neuter, have agreed : 1. That the ships of the neutral power shall navigate freely to the ports and upon the coasts of the nations at war. 2. That the effects embarked on board neutral ships shall be free, with the exception of contraband of war, and of enemy's property; and it is agreed not to comprise in the number of the latter, the merchandise of the produce, growth, or manufacture of the countries at war, which should have been acquired by the subjects of the neutral power, and should be transported for their account, which merchandise cannot be excepted in any case from the freedom granted to the flag of the said power. 3. That in order to avoid all equivocation and misunderstanding of what ought to be qualified as contraband of war, his Imperial Majesty of all the Russias and his Britannic Majesty declare, conformably to the 11th article of the treaty of commerce concluded between the two crowns on the 10th (21st) February, 1797, that they acknowledge as such only the following objects, viz. cannons, mortars, fire arms, pistols, bombs, grenades, balls, bullets, firelocks, flints, matches, powder, saltpetre, sulphur, helmets, pikes, pouches, swords, sword belts, saddles and bridles, excepting, however, the quantity of the said articles which may be necessary for the defence of the ship and of those who compose the crew; and all other articles whatever not enumerated here, shall not be reputed warlike and naval ammunition, nor be subject to confiscation, and of course shall pass freely, without being subjected to the |