25th. May we within our own ports sell ships to both parties prepared merely for merchandise? May they be pierced for guns?
26th. May we carry either or both kinds to the ports of the belligerent powers for sale?
27th. Is the principle that free bottoms make free goods, and enemies bottoms make enemies goods, to be considered as now an established part of the law of nations?
28th. If it is not, are nations with whom we have no treaties, authorized by the law of nations to take out of our vessels enemy passengers, not being soldiers, and their baggage?
29th. May an armed vessel belonging to any of the belligerent powers, follow immediately merchant vessels, enemies departing from our ports, for the purpose of making prizes of them? If not, how long ought the former to remain after the latter has sailed? And what shall be considered as the place of departure, from which the time is to be counted? And how are the facts to be ascertained?
The first twenty-one questions by Alexander Hamilton.
Twenty-two to twenty-eight, by Thomas Jefferson.
Twenty-ninth, by the President.
XVI.
Heads of consideration on the conduct we are to observe in the war between Spain and Great Britain, and particularly should the latter attempt the conquest of Louisiana and the Floridas.
The dangers to us, should Great Britain possess herself of those countries:—