(Vol. &)
Saturday
, September . 7 T7$.'
(AP- 4C0.)
-The following letter has BeenJranfmUted by the
Secretary cf theTreafitry to the Collectors
nfthc different - Ports in the United States
CIRCULAR to the collectors 6F the
CUSTOMS.
Philadelphia, Jucufi 4th, 1793.
SIR,
TT appearing that repeated contraventions1
rspl our neutrality have taken place in the
to any of thofe parties,- they will be-abafrr- - VIL Equipments of vefTels irr the ports
doned to the penalties wh'ich the raws of of the United S ates, which are of a nature
war authorize.
You will be particular ly Careful to . ob
ferve, and to notify as directed in other in
itances, the cafe of any citizen of the Unto
cd States,- who lhall be found ; in the fer
vice of either of the parties at war. j
j In cafe any veflcl (hall be found in the act
folely adapted war, arc deemed unlawful i
a. w. t. i j a 11 1 jiii ni w r-w w r w km in m w-i .,.
tioried in the eighteenth article of our treaty
with France, the fixtcenth of our treaty
with the United Netherlands, the ninth of
out treaty with Pruffia ; and except thofe
mentinnpil in thf nlrut fnh
ports' of the Unued States; without having df contravening ariy of the rules or principles - treatywith France the fe vynteenth' of our
been clilcovered in time lor prevention or winch are the grourtd of this inftruclion" ireatywith the United NJe
Tcmcay, x - nave . jc m -commaau "ut". "5 inc to oe retuled a clearance until Ihe malt
JVcfidcnt, toaddrefs to the Collectors of have complied with what the Governor fhall
'tlit' refpeaive diftrkls a particular inftrcdt- baye decided in reference to her. ! Care,
ion on the fubjed. , . . however, is to be taken hot to embarrafs
It is cxpeded, that the officers of the cuf- trade or to vex any of the partiesconcerned.'
toms in each diftri& will, in the courfe of j In order that Contraventions maf be bet-
theirofEcial funQions, haveia: vigilant eye j terafcerfaincdif is defired that the officer
ypon -whatever may be paffing within the 1 who fhall flrft go' on board any Veffel arri-
ports, harbours, creeks, inlets, and waters,
of " fuch diflria, of a nature to contravene
,che laws of neutrality, and upon difcovery
of shv thinrr of the kind will irive Immediate
1 --0 - 0- -
notice to the Governor of the ftatc, and to
the Attorney of the judicial diftrit, com
prehending the diftridi of the cuftoms with
in which any fuch contravention may hap-
To affift the judgment of the officers on
rules, concerning fundry particulars, wlixch
have been adopted by the Prefident, as
deductions from the laws of neutrality,
cflablifhed and received among nations.
Whatever (hall be contrary to thefe . rules
will, of courfe, be, to be noticed,' as abdtfe
inentioned. " ! !
There are lome other points; which, pur
suant to our treaties and the determinations
of the executive, I ought to notice to you.
If any veiTd of either of the powers at war
with France (hould bring or fend withlrt
jour diftril a prize, made of the fubjecls,
people, or property of Prance, j it is immC
diitely to be notified to the Governor of the
ftatc, in ordrr that meft Aires miy be taken,
with France, to oblige fuch ve0el and her
prize, or fuch prize, Wheh fent in without
the capturing ve!:;l, to depart. J
No privateer of any of the powers at war
with France, coming within a dfftrib of
the United States, can, by5 the lid article
01 our treaty with France, enjoy any other
privilege than that of purchajing -fuch viftu
.ik :as py.l be necefjjry for her going to the
::ex: psrt of the Prince or ftatc from ivktcb
Jhe has her commijfion. If (he mould do any
thing befide this, it is immediately to be
jcponed to the Governor, and the Attorney
of -the dilhitt. You will obferve by the
rules tranfmitted, that the term t privateer
is underflood not to extend to vcflels armed
ving within your diftria, fbaU niakc an
.accurate furvey of her then condition as to
military equipment j to be forthwith reported
to you, and that prior to her j clearance a
like lurvey be made; that any tranfgrefliori
of the rules laid down " may be afcertained.
But as the propriety of any fuch infpect
ion of a veffel 9 war, in the immediate fervice
of the goverment of a foreign natiorij is hot
withdpt queftion, in reference to the' lifage
of nations, no. attempt is be made to in
fpedi any fuch Veffel till further order ? on
the point;' ; - if. - .K. : j
I The Prefideiit defircs me to fighify to yoii:
his mod particular ; expectation, that the
inflru&ion contained in this letter will bd '
excuted with the greateli vigilance, activity
care, and impartiality, j Omiffions will
tend to expofe the governmerit to injurious
imputations and fufpicions, arid foportion
ably to commit the good faith and ptace of
the country ; objects of too ; much impor
tance not to engage every proper exertion of
your zeal. . .j j ; 1 ' : -.
: With conlidcration, t am, Sir, j
Yoilrobedientfervant;
RULES adopted by the Prefident of the United
1 1 y- ' ' . " States. - " ' ;
I. The original arming add equipping of
VefTels in the ports of the United Statfcs, by
any of the belligerent parties, for military
fervice, bffenfive or defenfive, is deemed
unlawful;' ' " : ; . i '.. .'.'ji-:tv ;
II. Equiprtients of n1erchantsi vefTels by
either of the belligerent parties, in the ports
of; the -United States, purely for the accom
liiodation of them, as fuch is deemed laV-
'III. Flquipments irt the ports of the UnU
ted States of vefTels of war, in the imme
diate fervice of the government df jany of
the belligerent parties, which if done to
other vefTels would be df a doubtful nature.
as oemg appncaoie thoie Which ihall ihave
NJetherlando. the
eighteenth ot our treaty with Pruflia. .
VIII., ,-yeffds of either of h e parties, ,not
armedi previous to their coming, into the
ports of the United States, which fhall' not
have' infringed any of rhe foregoing; rules,
may; lawfully engage or inlift therein-: tlieir
bwr. fubjectsor citizens,notbeinginhabitants
I of the United States except privateers of
the powers at jwar with France and except
thofe vefTels which fhall have 'made priz2 of
the fubjets, people, or property of France, ;
coming with their prizes into the ports of '
the United States, purfuant to the feven
teenth "article.of our treaty, of amity and.
commerce with France.' ; t
ibr merchandue and war, commonly called made, prize of the fubjects, people, or pro
with us letters of marquet nor, of courfe, to perty of France, coming with their,! prizes
veifcls of war in the immediate Service of into the ports of the United Stateis, purfuant
the goverument of either of the - powers' at
,rar. . . -' ' . . - "". . :
NJrmed veflcl which has been or fball
be triinally fitted out in arty t port of .the.
United States by either of the parties at
T?ar, is henceforth, to have afylum in any
iTiflrict of the Unitejl States." !" If buy fuch
armed veflcl fhall appear within your did-'
TtrV. (ht- i Jmmfdjafplv to h rtntifirA fn
the Govemornd Attorney of the dlflrict ,
which is alfo to be clone, in refpeck to any
lend in. At foot is a lift of fuch armed -veflels
of the above defcriptionaS have hi
therto come fo the knowledge of die ex
ecutive. ;" m ; V .;; ; x ' - .
The purchaCng within, and exporting
from, the United States, by way cf merchant
siitf, articles commonly called eon traband
(being generally warlike inftruments and
military florcs), is free to all thq parties at "
war, and is not to be interfered Avith. If
our own citizens undcxtakc to carry them
to the feventecnth article of pur treaty of
amity and commerce; with France. ! j
IV. Equipments in the ports of the Uni
ted States, by any, of the parties at war
with France, of veiiels fitted for! merchan -dize
and war, whether without commiffi
ons, which are doubtful in the nature as
being applicable either to commercerwar,
are deemed lawful; mf except thofe which
(hall have made prize of the fubjects; 'peo
ple, or property of France, coming jwith
tneir prizes into te ports ot the United
i I F K A Ni C E; .
NATIONAL CONVENT! IONT,. May 30.
: Barrere read the following defpatches,
s which give an account of the progrefs of
I the Royalifts: r y J ' '
-Letter from the Commandant of the naej ! d'rvU
Jiun of the army: cfrtferve, to the. Aclihir.i
kflrators of the department of. Marne and w
' Loire. J - i L .- . ' -,"
'i : St Crcrge9s, May 24.
receiving yefterdav evening the
alarming news; that the rebels were at
tempting to pafs the Loire near fChalons, I
ihftantly ordered the general to be beat,
and cniletinfr!i as manv rroons as I mnln '
. r - - -
left St. George's at .ten o'cleck' at ,hight, '
and advance'jd towards P'oft- Girault, at the
head of the national. guards and a detarh
tnent of cavalry. Before. I fet Qut, I def-
patched exprefies to the Commandants cf
Laien, La P,le0bniere, Saveniers, and hx
pointe, with ordcis ro beat the general im- :
mediately, I and fend out numercu and fre
quent patrbles on the rigkt and left of the
.banks1 in order: to guard the whele extent
of the pofls with all poffible attention.
defpatched the gendarmes to go the rounds
and fee again to the execution of thofe, or
ders. JVjiyfelfjVand the national guards un
der my command remained watching un
der arms from ten o'clock lafl night to five
in the morning, when we returned to r.
George's. I kept all the while patroles in-,
CefTantly going on ail fides where chey could
be of ufe. '1 he rebels have indeed effect
uated nothing as yet, but they are in force
to meditate'frcfh attempts upon that line v !
s - ' ' .Four o' click i
t('J have iuft beat the ceneral atrain. and i u
flialkprqceed with my national guards to ; ,
fecurc the j weaked and mod , threatened I
pbfts. . In the interim, I conjure you, ci- i
tizen-aaminiiiraiors, taxe every Decenary
meaiure to haften the. reenforcements of !
which we ftand in fuch great need I have
juft heard from the Commandant of Savim- i
ers, that the rebels have- appeared on the
fide of -Rochefbrt with 200 horfe, and liav
fired feveral vollies -over the barges
(Signed): V. ' GAUVliLLIERJ' - .
States, purfuant to ihe feventccth article of- Letterl from Citizen Cout den : Commandant' of
our treaty of amity and comniefcer with
France.' :. . j - ' :v I h . . :
V. Equipmentsof any of the j vefiels of
France, in the ports of the United States,
which are doubtful in theirnature; as being .
applicable to commerce or war, are deemed. ,
'lawful. - ,m , :' .).'.-. .-! , j .;.. :
VI. Equipments of every kind irt the
United Jtates, of privateers of the powers
at war with France are decaied unlawful.
, the Me of Chalonnes, to Citizen Cauviltier.
From the Sjland of thahnnes, May 24..
: Citizen, '
' We havej pafied ihe night in tranquilli
ty, but to-day I fent feven men, vineyard
labourers, to obtain intelligence 5 5 the ban
ditti told them, that . they gave them the
whole day to confider which fide they
would take ; on their return they informed
us tha; their grand army arrived . yelterday