684 ^- ^' lySi' 



their hands upon them. The goods and merchandize in the town of 

 S'. George in that ifland, to a vciy large amount, not merely in- 

 tended tor the ufe and conlumption of the ifland, but for the general 

 market of the Weft-Indies, remained untouched ; and every fpecies 

 of property whatever was left inviolate, even the goods upon the keys 

 and beach in various parts of the ifland. 



' There were indeed certain ordinances ifllied by the French govern- 

 or on taking pofl^ellion of the faid ifland, by which the produce of all 

 plantations belonging to abfentees was to be fequeftered until a peace ; 

 and the payment of all debts due to your Majefty's fubjeds, refiding 

 in any part ot your Majefty's dominions, was prohibited under pain 

 of military execution. But, on the application of the parties inter- 

 efted to the court of France, thofe ordinances were immediately 

 revoked by his Moft Chriftian Majefty, and all perfons whatever, 

 whether prefent or abfent, were fecured in the full poflellion of their 

 eftates and t ffeds ; his Moft Chriftian Majefty, having been pleafed 

 at the fame time to exprefs his difapprobation of thofe ordinances, 

 as tending to injure civil contrads, which are founded on the law of 

 nature, and which form the moft facred bond of fociety, being the 

 principal fource of that reciprocal communication and intercourfe 

 fubfifting between the fubjec'ls of all nations; to which contrads, and 

 to private property in general, the practice of war, among civilized 

 ftates, has ever had the moft tender regard.' 



' Your petitioners, likewife, with pleafure refledl, that your Majefty, 

 in the very beginning of your reign, gave a ftriking example of cle- 

 mency upon the capture of Dominica, the inhabitants of which ifland 

 were fettled there againft exprefs treaties, unacknowledged by any 

 fovereign, profefljng neutrality, yet exercifing hoftilities againft your 

 Majefty's fubjeds ; and, when fummoned to fubmit to your Majefty's 

 arms, not only refufed to furrender, but, provoking an aflault, were 

 reduced fword in hand. — Yet by your Majefty's wildom and gener- 

 ofity, the inhabitants of that ifland were preferved in the pofl'efllon 

 of all their property. 



' Your petitioners do not conceive, that thofe defencelefs Dutch 

 iflands were furprifed, and taken pofleffion of, by your Majefty's arms 

 for the fake of inglorious fpoil, but merely with a view to great poli- 

 tical objeds in conduding the prefent hoftilities againft the combined 

 enemies of Britain, by depriving them in future of the convenience 

 and advantage of thofe marts. They have ever confidered Great 

 Britain as priding herfelf in ads of generofity and humanity, not lefs 

 than in brilliant atchievements of valour in war : and they are con- 

 fident, that your Majefty will not permit the Britifli name to be 

 ftained by a departure from that line of condud, which has hitherto 

 fo peculiarly charaderized this nation, and her facred regard to the- 

 rights of mankind. * 



