The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
The news from Petersburg of the 13th of June is, that the last advices
received from Mohilew have confirmed the news, that the Empress would
return sooner than was at first expected, and that the Emperor, under
the name of the Count de Falckenstein, would arrive at the same time,
at Petersburg. That the fleet of Cronstadt had been eight or ten days
in the road, waiting only for their final instructions to put to sea.
It will be separated into three divisions, each of five ships of the
line, under the command of the Rear Admirals Barisson, Cruse, and
Polibin. Since the departure of a courier, which Mr Harris, the
British Envoy, has expedited to his Court, the 26th of last month, a
report has been spread, that he has demanded his recall.
The ordinance, which the Empress has passed at Czarsko-Zelo, on the
19th of May, to the end to ascertain the rights and duties of her
subjects relative to the neutrality, is too remarkable, in the present
conjuncture, not to be given entire to the public. The following is
the preamble.
"The maritime war, subsisting for some time between Great Britain, on
the one part, and France and Spain on the other, has begun lately to
do equal injury to the commerce and the navigation of our faithful
subjects. We have not in consequence failed to employ for their
protection and indemnification from all the losses, which have been
occasioned to them, our most efficacious intercession; in consequence
of which several merchants have already obtained, in proportion to
their demands, a considerable indemnification. Nevertheless, although
we doubt not, that all the others will be equally indemnified by the
belligerent powers, yet we cannot regard the particular compensation
of individuals, as a sufficient pledge of the safety upon which
neutral nations may hereafter depend. From this motive, we have
resolved not only to take measures the most effectual for the
maintenance of the maritime commerce of our subjects, but to put them
in execution, in case of need. They have already been announced to all
Europe, by a declaration delivered in the same terms to the three
belligerent powers, by which we fix expressly and with precision, the
rights and prerogatives of a commercial neutral flag. The one and the
other are founded either upon the proper terms of our Treaty of
Commerce with the Crown of Great Britain, or upon the evident and
immutable principles of the law of nature and nations. But while we
require of other nations, for our proper utility the entire and
unlimited accomplishment of their duties, we are not less fixed in the
intention on our part to observe inviolably, in regard to them, the
obligations of the strictest neutrality. Thus it is necessary, that
all our subjects should conform themselves vigorously in their
maritime commerce, and in the enterprises relative to it, to this our
will. In default of which, they will render themselves unworthy of our
protection and of our succor. But to the end, that no man may fall
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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