TH. JEFFERSON.
Extract of a Letter from the Grand Judge, Minister of Justice, to the Imperial Attorney-General for the Council of Prizes.
Paris, September 18, 1807.
Sir: I have submitted to his Majesty, the Emperor and King, the doubts raised by his Excellency, the Minister of Marine and Colonies, on the extent of certain dispositions of the imperial decree of the 21st of November, 1806, which has declared the British Isles in a state of blockade.
The following are his Majesty’s intentions on the points in question:
1. May vessels of war, by virtue of the imperial decree of the 21st of November last, seize on board neutral vessels, either English property, or even all merchandise proceeding from the English manufactures or territory?
Answer.—His Majesty has intimated that, as he did not think proper to express any exception in his decree, there is no ground for making any in its execution in relation to any whomsoever, (à l’égard de qui que ce peut être.) His Majesty has postponed a decision on the question, whether armed French vessels ought to capture neutral vessels bound to or from England, even when they have no English merchandise on board.
REGNIER.
The Message, and documents accompanying it, were severally read.