the respective countries, I am authorised to declare that his majesty's orders in council of January and November, 1807, will have been withdrawn as respects the United States on the 10th day of June next. I have the honour to be, &c. Hon. Robert Smith, &c. &c. No. VI. MR. SMITH TO MR. ERSKINE. Department of State, April 19, 1809. Sir,-Having laid before the president your note of this day, containing an assurance that his Britannic majesty will, on the 10th day of June next, have withdrawn his orders in council of January and November, 1807, so far as respects the United States, I have the honour of informing you that the president will accordingly, and in pursuance of the eleventh section of the statute commonly called the Non-Intercourse act, issue a proclamation, so that the trade of the United States with Great Britain may on the same day be renewed, in the manner provided in the said section. dencies and for other purposes," that "in case either France or Great Britain shall so revoke or modify her edicts, as that they shall cease to violate the neutral commerce of the United States," the president is authorised to declare the same by proclamation, after which the trade suspended by the said act, and by an act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbours of the United States, and the several acts supplementary thereto may be renewed with the nations so doing. And whereas the hon. D. M. Erskine, his Britannic majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, has, by the order, and in the name of his sovereign, declared to this government that the British orders in council of January and November, 1807, will have been withdrawn, as respects the United States, on the 10th June next. Now, therefore, I, James Maddison, president of the United States, do hereby proclaim that the orders in council aforesaid, will have been withdrawn on the said 10th of June next; after which day the trade of the United States with Great Britain, as suspended by the act of Congress above mentioned, and an act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbours of the United States, and the several acts supplementary thereto, may be renewed. Given under my hand and JAMES MADDISON, Declaration of the Emperor of Russia, dated April 25 (5th May.) The peace between France and Austria, which has long been wavering, is at length entirely at an end. By the last advices, the Austrian troops have entered the duchy of Warsaw, and the states of Saxony and Bavaria. It is thus that the flames of war which had been so lately extinguished upon the continent, have just been rekindled, and, by the force of circumstances, it is necessary that all the powers of Europe should take up arms again. The preparations for war on the part of Austria were the first cause of this misunderstanding. Russia could not see these with indifference, every means were employed from the beginning to put an end to them: the guarantee of Russia for the integrity of the Austrian states, was even offered, and at the same time it was declared, that in virtue of the existing alliance with France, every attack upon the present or der of things would be considered as a violation of the rights stipulated by treaties, which ought to be maintained by the force of arms. Austria not rejecting the pacific in sinuations made to her, pretended at first that her measures were only defensive; that they were occasioned only by the fear of the danger which threatened her; that her intention was not to undertake an offensive war, and that she would not break the peace. Facts have proved of how little value these assurances were. The measures of defence which progressively increased have changed into offensive measures. In the room of the fear that was expressed, ambi tious plans have been developed, and the war has broken out by the invasion of foreign states, even before any declaration of war in the accustomed form. Austria, who knew perfectly well the conduct which Russia would hold, under the present circumstances, has determined to renounce her friendship, and re-kindle the flames of war even upon our frontiers, rather than desist from her projects. In consequence orders have been given to the Russian ambassador at Vienna to quit that capital immediately, and it has been declared to the Austrian ambassador at this court, that from this moment his diplomatic functions have ceased, and that all relations are broken off, with him and his court. Ukase to the Senate, dated St. Petersburgh, May 7, 1809. It is known to the whole world, with what firmness the trade of neutrals has been protected by Russia, when the powers of Europe were at war; it is known with what valour she has guarded the interests of trading nations in time of peace, against the events of war. Following up this invariable principle, also during the present rupture with Britain, we entertained the fullest hopes that the trade with friendly powers would not be carried on by forbidden means; but as experience during last season has proved to us, that the enemy has found it practicable, by means of neutral vessels, to supply himself with such produce as he stood in need of, and to gain strength by exchanging his own produce, we have at present been compelled to order two vessels to be seized. For For these reasons, and to prevent various subterfuges and artifices, we have deemed it necessary to establish some rules, and hereby order, 1. That all masters of neutral vessels, arriving at our ports, are to prove the property being neutral, by the following documents of the ship, viz.a pass, ship's register, mus ter-roll, log-book, cocket, manifest of the cargo, the charter-party, bills of lading, certificates of origin, whether the cargo, or part of the same belonging to the captain, and by the invoices of such vessels as come from America or the Indies, or are bound there. In case, however, the master is not provided with any one of the documents, the ship is to be sent out of our ports, and not to be permitted to discharge. 2. In case of neutral ships being partly loaded with merchandize which can be proved to be of the, manufacture or produce of the enemy, the same to be stopped, the goods to be seized and sold by public auction, for the benefit of government; but if more than half of the cargo consists of such goods, then not only the cargo, but also the ship is to be seized. 3. A pass granted the ship, by a neutral, friendly, or allied power, is not to be considered legal, as soon as it appears that the master has acted contrary to the same; or if the ship is named in the pass differently to what she is in the rest of her documents, unless the alteration made is proved by documents, attested by legal authority, at the place from which the vessel depart ed, and produced before the magistracy of said place; in this instance the master is not to be considered guilty. valid, if it should appear that the vessel to which it is granted was not, at the very time it is dated, at one of the ports of the power by which it had been given. 5. If the supercargo or master, or more than one third of the crew, of a neutral vessel, should be subjects of powers at war with us; or if such a vessel is not provided with a muster-roll of the crew, duly attest ed by the magistracy of such neutral ports from which the same departed, then both ship and cargo are to be seized, but the crew to be set at liberty. 6. If it should appear that the pass produced by the master has been counterfeited or altered, ship and cargo are to be seized for the benefit of government, and the master to be brought to trial, and to be dealt with as is prescribed by the laws for those who make false documents; the crew to be set at liberty. 7. If it should appear that a vessel is provided with double documents, with different destinations, such a vessel and her cargo to be seized for the benefit of government. In case the master wishes to justify himself, by having lost his docu ments, and cannot produce any proofs, his vessel to be detained, granting him time for procuring the same, proportionate to the distance, if he wishes it; else, if the master cannot wait so long, ship and cargo are immediately to be sent off; but if at the expiration of the period fixed, the master does not produce the needful proofs, ship and cargo are to be seized for the benefit of government. 8. No ship built by the enemy is to be considered neutral, unless 4. A pass is not to be considered amongst other documents, a duly attested attested document is found, proving the sale or transfer to have taken place, before the declaration of the war; else ship and cargo are to be seized for the benefit of govern ment. 9. If the owners or commanders of a neutral vessel happen to be natives of a nation at war with us, and are provided with passes of a neutral power, in such a case the pass is not to serve as a clearance, as long as they cannot prove having become subjects and residents of such a power previous to the declaration of war; else, they are to be sent off, with their ships, not allowing them to take in return cargoes. Abdication of Gustavus, King of Sweden, and Election of a Suc cessor. The members of the states met at an early hour on the 10th of May at Stockholm; when the regent having ordered the lord chancellor to read aloud the act of Abdication voluntarily made by the unfortunate Gustavus on the 29th March, baron Mannheim addressed the assembly; and, after drawing an affecting pic ture of the situation to which Sweden was reduced by the king's passion for war, renounced all allegiance and obedience to the person and authority of Gustavus IV. and declared him and his issue, now and for ever, deprived of the crown and government of Sweden. This declaration was received with shouts, and adopted by the constitutional representatives of the Swedish nation, without a dissentient voice. The prince regent then declared that it would be necessary to new-model the constitution, for which purpose a committee was appointed. By a report from gen. baron Wrede, a commander in chief of the northern army, dated head-quarters, Hernosand, the 22nd May, 1809, it appears, that lieut.-col. Fummark, with a detachment of 600 men belonging to the regiments of West Bothnia and Wasa, was on the 17th of this month attacked and surrounded by a Russian corps, upwards of 2,000 men strong, unexpectedly, which had crossed the ice, and, after a vigorous resistance, compelled to surrender in the vicinity of Bure; but that the Russians have not since made any further progress, in consequence of the warmth of the weather having rendered the ice impassable. The duke regent issued an edict on the 1st inst. by which he orders all Swedish subjects, belonging to the militia, who are absent on leave, to rejoin their regiments. He declares in his edict, that although he has offered to the enemies of Sweden the fairest and most equitable terms of peace, yet they have not been accepted either by Russia or Denmark; both these neighbouring powers having refused to enter into any negotiations on that important subject, and the former having even recommenced hostile operations against Sweden; he adds, that under all circumstances, it is unavoidably requisite to employ the whole military force of the country to repel the threatened invasion; and that he accordingly feels obliged to call all the militia to arms, and trusts that the known valour of the people of Sweden will ultimately succeed in asserting her independence, and obtaining peace. Pro Proclamation of Prince Gallatzin, who has the command of the Russian Army which has penetrated Gallicia, addressed to the Inhabitants, in the Russian and Polish Languages, dated May 11, 1809. Russia could not behold with indifference, the war that has broken out, between France and Austria. Russia did every thing to prevent the commencement of these hostile operations. She declared even to the court of Austria, that, pursuant to articles of treaty between the emperors of Russia and France, and to the close alliance entered into by those two powers, she should be obliged to act in concert with France. Austria listened to none of these remonstrances; but long endeavoured to conceal her warlike preparations under pretence that she was obliged to adopt necessary measures for her security and defence, till she at last by open hostilities, betrayed her designs, and kindled the flames of war. Russia has no longer hesitated to take a part in a war in which she is bound to engage by the most solemn treaties. As soon as she learn ed that hostilities had commenced, she broke off all relations of friendship which had subsisted between her and Austria, and gave orders to her army to advance into Gallicia. The commander in chief of the army entering that province to oppose the views of Austria, and to resist force by force, has received from his majesty the emperor, express orders solemnly to assure the peaceable inhabitants of Gallicia that the views of Russia are not hostile; that amid all military operations, the security and safety of persons and property shall be most strictly respected. The commander in chief shall prove, by his conduct, that the principles recommended by his sovereign are also consonant to his own inclinations and feelings. PRINCE GALLATZIN, Commander in Chief. Imperial Decree, dated Viena, 17th May, 1809, proclaimed in all the public squares and market-places of the city. Napoleon, emperor of the French, &c. taking into consideration that when Charlemagne, emperor of the French, and our sublime predecessor, endowed the bishops of Rome with various lands, they were given as fiefs to maintain the peace of his subjects, and that Rome did not therefore cease to form a part of his empire: Considering further, that since that time the union of spiritual and temporal power has been and still is, the source of dissention; that the popes have but too frequently availed themselves of the one, to support their pretensions to the other; and that spiritual concerns, which are in their nature immutable, have been confounded with worldly affairs, which change with the circumstances and politics of the times: Considering finally, that it is in vain to attempt to reconcile with the temporal pretensions of the pope, all that we have concerted for the security of our army, the repose and prosperity of the nations over which we reign, and the dignity and inviolability of our empire, We have decreed, and do decree as follow: Art. |