3114 detButiuii of vcfsels in mutral ports. Aug. 14, 

 with opposing them in arms ; or were these to seize 

 at sea, as they would do on land, all provisions and 

 warlike stores going directly to add to the strength 

 of the enemy, there would be nothing contradictory 

 in our practice ; but surely it is in the highest de- 

 gree absurd, in the one case to make prisoners of 

 private individuals unarmed, or to seize property 

 that does not come under the above description, and 

 to protect them in the other. 



So long however as the general opinion gives 

 sanction to such practices, the utmost that an indi- 

 vidual can with propriety do, is to attempt, not to 

 stem the torrent directly, but only to moderate its 

 course, that it may be by degrees stopped entirely ; 

 and blefsed would be the eft^-'cts of such a stoppage^ 

 as it would remove one of the many inducements 

 to war, — the hope of private plunder. With that 

 view, I fliall beg leave to propose one other ques-^. 

 tion, with which I fhall close this disquisition. 



If capturing vefsels are not permitted to allow 

 prises to rot in the harbours of neutral powers^ 

 with a view merely to injure their enemies, with- 

 out benefitting themselves, are they at liberty to'sink 

 these prises at sea, in order to prevent them from 

 being recaptured by the enemy ? 



I never have heard this question discufsed ; yet 

 methinks it is necefsary that it fhould not be left 

 doubtful ; for although it does not often happen that 

 it can be done, yet we can easily conceive that it 

 might, in some cases, be pofsible to effect it without 

 the lofs of men. 



