z8z RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



trading vessels where their intervention, or that of 

 one of their agents, is deemed indispensable. To be 

 present when the houses of any of their compatriots 

 are searched for contraband goods (their presence must 

 be first requested by the local authorities before they 

 proceed to the search). To act as interpreters for 

 their fellow-countrymen, and to settle their differ- 

 ences by arbitration and not otherwise, and juris- 

 diction is specifically denied them by the treaties 

 and by the tenor of their letters of exequatur. To 

 appoint vice-consuls for the different ports in their 

 districts." 



The convention of 1769 also accords to the respec- 

 tive consuls, when they are subjects of the prince who 

 appoints them and when they are not in trade : 

 " 1st. Personal immunity from being arrested or cast 

 into prison, except for some atrocious crime. 2nd. 

 exemption from all personal charges or service, and 

 from having soldiers billeted on them. 3rd. The in- 

 violability of their papers and those of their chan- 

 celleries, which are not to be touched under any pre- 

 text whatever, unless the consul is a merchant. 4th. 

 The privilege of not being liable to be called as wit- 

 nesses in court, the tribunal 'of war, or, failing it, the 

 ordinary tribunal, in the event of requiring any judi- 

 cial declaration from the consul, being expected to 

 send him a polite message to say that they are under 

 the necessity of coming to his domicile for that pur- 

 pose, etc. 5th. The right of placing' upon the door 



