STATE PAPERS. 



339 



comtnunication on the subject of 

 an armistice was unofficially made 

 to the British governraent in this 

 country. The agent, from whom 

 this proposition was received, 

 acknowledged that he did not 

 consider that he had any authority 

 himself to sign an agreement on 

 the part of his government. It was 

 obvious that any stipulations enter* 

 ed into, in consequence of this 

 overture, would have been binding 

 on the British government, whilst 

 the government of the United 

 States would have been free to re- 

 fuse or accept thera> according to 

 the circumstances of the moment. 

 This proposition was, therefore, 

 necessarily declioed. 



After this exposition of the cir- 

 cumstances which preceded, and 

 which have followed the declara- 

 tion of war by the United States, 

 his royal highness the Prince Re- 

 gent, acting in the name and on 

 the behalf of his majesty, feels 

 himself called upon to declare the 

 leading principles by which the 

 conduct of Great Britain has been 

 regulated in the transactions con- 

 nected with these discussions. 



His royal highness can never 

 acknowledge any blockade what- 

 ever to be illegal, which has been 

 duly notiHed, and is supported by 

 an adequate force, merely upon 

 the ground of its extent, or be- 

 cause the ports or coasts blockaded 

 are not at the same time invested 

 bj land. 



' His royal highness can never 

 admit, that neutral trade with 

 Great Britain can be constituted a 

 public crime, the commission of 

 which can expose the ships of any 

 power whatever to be denation- 

 alized. 



His royal highness can never 



admit that Great Britain can be 

 debarred of its right of just and 

 necessary retaliation, through the 

 fear of eventually affecting the in- 

 terest of a neutral. 



His royal highness can never 

 admit that in the exercise of the 

 undoubted and hitherto undisputed 

 right of searching neutral mer- 

 chant vessels in time of war, the 

 impressment of British seamen, 

 when found therein, can be deemed 

 any violation of a neutral flag. 

 Neither can he admit, that the 

 taking such seamen from on board 

 such vessels, can be considered by 

 any neutral state as a hostile mea- 

 sure, or a justifiable cause of war. 



There is no right more clearly 

 established, than the right which a 

 sovereign has to the allegiance of 

 his subjects, more especially irt 

 time of war. Their allegiance is 

 no optional duty, which they can 

 decline and resume at pleasure. It 

 is a call which they are bound 

 to obey: it began with their birth, 

 and can only terminate with their 

 existence. 



If a similarity of language and 

 manners may make the exercise of 

 this right more liable to partial 

 mistakes, and occasional abuse, 

 when practised towards vessels of 

 the United States, the same cir- 

 cumstances make italso aright,with 

 the exercise of which, in regard to 

 such vessels, it is more difficult to 

 dispense. 



But if, to the practice of the 

 United States, to harbour British 

 seamen, be added their assumed 

 rij^ht to transfer the allegiance of 

 British subjects, and thus to cancel 

 the jurisdiction of their legitimate 

 sovereign, by acts of naturaliza- 

 tion and certificates of citizenship, 

 which they pretend to be as valid 



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