MARITIME INTERNATIONAL LAW. 295 



nations could, with their Naval Fleets, and flotillas of gun-boats, 

 plunder, burn, and destroy the Merchant Marine of the enemy. 



The subject was reopened by the United States, on the outbreak 

 of the War in Italy|, in 1859, on the accession of Mr. Buchanan 

 to the Presidency, when Mr. Cass, the Foreign Minister, addressed 

 the representatives of the United States in the Capitals of Europe 

 on the subject. The character of the proposals embraced the 

 Abolition ojf Privateering, and, therefore, were similar to those 

 discussed in 1856 ; but, in addition, it was proposed by the 

 United States Government, "that the right of blockade of a 

 commercial port, should only be permitted, when the forces on land 

 invested it, and, that any attempt to intercept trade by blockade, or 

 to blockade commercial ports, ought not to be allowed." 



The answer of the British Government, as expressed by Lord 

 John Russell, then Foreign Minister, was, in substance, that the 

 maintenance of these -maritime rights is essential to the Naval 

 Supremacy of England, and, therefore, the proposals of the United 

 States were necessarily rejected. 



It is generally understood, that when this proposal was made, in 

 1856, the Governments of Russia and Prussia declared themselves 

 prepared to give their tonsent thereto, and that they responded to 

 the letter of Mr. Marcy in a favourable manner. 



The Government of France also, it was said, shared in this view, 

 and would have publicly communicated its adhesion, but, by doing 

 so, it might have resulted in embarrassing her relations with Great 

 Britain. ' 



The nature of the reply of Great Britain is somewhat important, 

 and she being the only Maritime Power that has hitherto assumed a 

 hostile attitude to this Reform, it may be well to examine these 

 objections, as to whether they are founded upon justice- 



Undoubtedly, to Great Britain, in a former period of her Naval 

 History, this Maritime Right was a most formidable weapon, which 

 her great sea Captains, Frobisher, Drake, Cavendish, and Nelson 

 wielded with terrible and dire results ; but, during that period, whilst 

 her Naval power was supreme, her Commercial Marine was less 

 than that of the other Maritime Powers; whereas, now, it is estimated^ 

 that her Commercial Marine is upwards of 120 millions sterling in 

 value, or is equal to the entire value of the Merchant Marine of all 

 maritime nations. 



Moreover, prior to the Declaration of Paris of 1856, such a 



