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majesty's territories: thus, in carrying on such a correspondence, he would not have in any manner violated his public duty. A minister in a foreign country is obliged, by the nature of his office and 'the duties of his situation, to abstain from all communication with the disaffected of the country where he is accredited, as well as from every other act injurious to the interests of that country; but he is not subject to the same restraints with respect to countries with which his sovereign is at war. His actions to them may be praiseworthy or blameable, according to the nature of the actions themselves; but they do not constitute any violation of his public character, except in as far as they militate against the country, or the security of the country, where he is accredited.

But of all the governments which pretend to be civilized governments, that of France is the one which has the least right to appeal to the law of nations. With what confidence can it appeal to that law? a government which, from the commencement of hostilities, has never ceased to violate it! It promised protection to the British subjects resident in France, and who might be desirous of remaining there after the recall of his majesty's ambassador. It revoked that promise without any previous notice-it condemned those same persons to be prisoners of war; and it detains them still in that quality, in contempt of its own engagements, and of the usages universally observed by all civilized nations. It has applied that new and barbarous law, even to individuals who had the authority and protection of the French ambassadors and ministers

at foreign courts to travel through France on their return to their own country. It commanded the seizure of an English packet-boat in one of the ports of Holland, though its ambassador in that country had previously engaged to let the packet-boats of the respective countries pass in perfect safety until notice should be given to the contrary. It has detained and condemned in one of the ports of France, a vessel which had been sent thither as a matter of indulgence, in order to carry to France the French governor of one of the different islands which had been conquered by his majesty's arms. Its conduct relative to the garrison of St. Lucia has not been less extraordinary: the principal fort of th it island had been taken by assault, yet the garrison had been allowed all the privileges of prisoners of war, and had been permitted to return to France, with an understanding that an equal number of English prisoners should be released. Yet, notwithstanding that indulgence on the part of the British commander, to which, by the nature of the case, the French garrison could not have the slightest pretension, not a single prisoner has been restored to this country.

Such have been the proceedings of the French government towards the power with which it is at war. What has its conduct been to those powers with which it remained at peace? Is there a treaty it has not broken? Is there an adjoining terri tory whose independence it has not violated? It is for the powers of the continent to determine how long they will tolerate these unexampled outrages. Yet is it too much to say, that if they do suffer without control or resistance the continuance

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BLOCKADE OF THE ELBE.

The following are copies of the letters relative to the relaxation in the blockade.

Downing-street, July 18, 1804.

It having been a matter of considerable doubt, whether the request signified to me in several notes, which I have had the honour to receive from you, relative to a relaxation of the blockade of the river Elbe, in favour of the Gluckstadt whale fishers, could be complied with, without in too great a degree departing from a measure which his majesty has thought it incumbent upon him to adopt, my answer to your notes on that subject has been unavoidably delayed. I have now the satisfaction to acquaint you, that orders have been given conformably to your request, to allow the Greenland ships, enumerated in the list enclosed in your note of the 19th June, to proceed to Gluckstadt, and that orders have also been given, to allow lighters, barges, and small crafts, coming within that description, and laden with innocent and neutral cargoes, to pass and repass along the Danish side of the Elbe, over the Shallows Watten, between Tonningen and Hamburgh; a measure which will remove the obstruction of the coast

vent the recurrence of those complaints which this government has lately not unfrequently received. His majesty trusts, that his consenting to relax the blockade in these instances will be considered by the Danish government as a proof of his wish to alleviate as much as possible every unnecessary pressure on the commerce of his Danish majesty's subjects, and that no improper use will be made of this indulgence, which may compel him to revert to all the strictness of the blockade.

I have the honour to be, (Signed) HARROWBY. To the count of Wedel Jarlsberg, minister of Denmark.

Downing-street, July 18, 1804.

I have the honour to inform you, that due attention has been paid to the requests signified to me in several notes from you on the part of the town of Bremen, that lighters might be allowed to navigate between the rivers Fade and Weser.

Orders have been given to his majesty's ships employed in the blockade of the latter, to permit the passage of lighters (really coming within that description, and laden with innocent and neutral cargoes) to pass and repass over the Shallows, between Varel and Bremen. His majesty trusts that care will be taken that this permission may not be abused, or any advantage taken, which would compel him to revert to all the strictness of the blockade.

I have the honour to be, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
HARROWEY.

ing trade of Denmark, and pre- Mr. Groning, deputy of Bremen.

GENERAL

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With a view to ascertain whether there are any, and what number of men in regiments of the line and militia, who from age or infirmities are at present unfit for duty, and, from little prospect of regaining their strength, may, to a certain degree, be considered as not effective for service in the field, the commander in chief desires you will cause a board to be assembled in each brigade in the district under your orders, consisting of the general officer commanding the brigade, a president, and any numBer of field officers you may judge expedient as members. The board will call for the attention of the regimental medical staff officers, with whose assistance they will proceed to inquire into the cases of any men who are not in the habit of the regular performance of their regimental duties, or who are considered unequal to marches or other fatigues. Men unfit for duty, from accidental hurt, illness, or other transient cause, are not the objects of their investigation; but the cases of those who have been for a considerable period in hospitals, or are returned on sick furloughs, will fall particularly under their cognizance. And his royal highness expects, that from the information derived from the regimental medical staff officers, they will be enabled to form a tolerably accurate judgment as to the probable chance of each individual's

competence to the performance of military duty. (Signed)

HARRY CALVERT, A. G. Head-quarters, Colchester.

In obedience to his royal highness's instructions, contained in the above letter, lieutenant-general sir James Craig directs the several officers commanding brigades in the districts under his orders, to assemble the board therein mentioned, the first convenient opportunity, aud report their proceedings to him.-The board is to con

sist of a field officer of each of the regiments composing the brigade; and where there may chance to be only one regiment under the command of a general officer, he will then cause the board to consist of two field officers of that regiment in conjunction with himself.

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Whitehall, Aug. 20, 1801. My lord,

I have received his majesty's commands to communicate to your lordship the inclosed particulars of an arrangement to be adopted in the several countics of Great Britain, in the event of the invasion of the country in force by the enemy. His majesty relies on your zeal and exertions in giving effect, within the county committed to your charge, to these regulations, which in the supposed crisis may become indispensable, for the purpose of preventing the confusion which, in the first moment of alarm, might otherwise arise, and of the utmost importance with a view to the operations of his majesty's army, to the protection of the property of individuals, and to

the

the internal peace and tranquillity of the country.

I request that your lordship would inform me, with as little delay as possible, of the names of the magistrates to whom you would propose to intrust the different divisions within the county of and that you would communicate to them the heads of the proposed arrangements, and concert with them as to the most effectual means of carrying them into complete execution.

It is essential, that the magistrates who are thus employed, should, if possible, be persons not holding commissions as volunteer officers, nor liable on any account to be removed from the county in which they reside.

His majesty has the fullest reliance that, in the event of the enemy succeeding in making good a landing on the coast of this kingdom, the loyalty and public spirit of all classes of his subjects will induce them to submit to every sacrifice, and to concur in every exertion which the safety of the country may render necessary; and that they will be impressed with the conviction that the peace and good order of those districts which shall not be attacked by the enemy, will contribute most effectually to assist the exertions of his forces in those parts of the country which may become the theatre of the war, and of enabling him thereby to bring the contest in which we may be engaged to a speedy and glorious

termination.

I have only to add, that directions will be given to the general, or other officer commanding the district in which the county of is included, to communicate with your lordship on the subject of these regulations, and to afford you every

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The magistrates of each division of the county remaining at home, to sit daily at a place to be appointed in each division for that purpose.

To procure the trust-worthy housekeepers and others to enrol themselves to serve as special constables under their orders, where the same has not been already done pursuant to the secretary of state's circular letter of the 8th of November last.

To be attended at the place appointed for each division by an officer of the volunteer force, if any should remain in that division, and by the chief or superintendant of the special constables enrolled for that division. Such volunteer officer and chief of the special constables to receive and execute the orders of the magistrates, in preventing and quelling disturbances, in taking up and conveying offenders to prison, in supplying escorts for all military purposes required by the general or other officer left. in command of the district, and in furnishing a guard for the county gaol or other prisons, if wanted.

If, contrary to expectation, any inpediments should occur in the regular 'supply of the different markets, every assistance to be afforded to the persons who are accustomed or who offer to supply

them,

them, and escorts to be granted in cases where it may be necessary for the secure passage and conveyance of cattle and provisions.

The constables within each division, assisted by patroles of volunteers, if requisite, to see that all public-houses within the same are orderly and regularly conducted, and, if thought necessary by the magistrates, to be shut at such hours as they may direct; and to bring all unknown persons, who cannot give a satisfactory account of themselves, before the magistrates.

A certain portion of the constables and volunteers, in rotation, to go such different rounds in the night, as shall from time to time be prescribed by the magistrates of the division; to whom they are to make their report each morning.

The magistrates of each division to report daily to the lieutenant of the county, or deputy-lieutenants within the division appointed to receive the same.

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The lieutenant or deputy-lieute nants so appointed, to report all matters of inportance immediately to the secretary of state for the home department, and to the neral or officer left in command of the district, or to the officer who shall be appointed by him within the county to receive the same; to whom they are to apply in case of wanting further military aid.

EAST INDIA PAPERS.

PROCLAMATION.

By his excellency the most nolle the governor-general in council.

Fort William, Sept. 13, 1803. Whereas the governor-general in council has received official notifications from one of his majesty's 1804.

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GENERAL ORDERS.

By his excellency the most noble the governor-general in council.

Fort William, Sept. 15, 1803. The governor-general in council, under the strongest impressions of public gratitude, notifies to the army his unfeigned admiration of the distinguished conduct of the forces employed under the personal command of his excellency general Lake, in the gallant and successful assault of the strong fort of Ally ghur on the 4th instant.

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The proposals of surrender of fered by the commander in chief to the garrison, immediately after the retreat of M. Perron's forces, afford the most convincing proof that the humanity of the British character is intimately connected with that spirit of alacrity and valour, which marked the commander in chief's judicious resolution, to meet the obstinacy of the enemy by an immediate assault of the place.

The judgment and energy manifested by the commander in chief, in the plan of the attack, corresponds with the intrepidity, spirit, and perseverance of his brave offi cers and soldiers, in executing the orders of their able and gallant (1) general;

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