THE ORIGIN AND DUTIES OF CONSULS. 281 



nationality. There is nothing, however, to prevent 

 a Government conferring upon its agents such an 

 amount of latitude as may be deemed compatible with 

 its interests, and they should be considered as public 

 officials if they devote their attention solely to public 

 affairs, and if the Sovereign who appoints them, and 

 whose subjects they are, confers this rank upon 

 them. 



It is only in the Levant and in Barbary that the 

 consuls have a right of absolute jurisdiction over 

 their compatriots. In other countries they must con- 

 fine themselves to jurisdiction in trade disputes, 

 which is usually conferred upon them by treaty and 

 usage ; and if they decide as to the personal differ- 

 ences between their compatriots, it can only be when 

 called in to arbitrate. 



Of all the conventions concluded between the Euro- 

 pean Powers, none better defines the rights, the im- 

 munities, the privileges, and the duties of consuls than 

 that concluded between France and Spain on March 

 13, 1769. This convention and the previous treaties 

 between France and Spain, as set forth in ministerial 

 decrees and royal ordinances, empowers consuls " To 

 collect and administer the property of their compa- 

 triots who have died db intestat. To exercise the full 

 authority conferred by the navigation laws over the 

 vessels of their own nation. To regulate the salvage 

 of shipwrecked vessels. To claim the surrender of 

 deserters from ships. To assist at the examination of 



VOL. II. U 



