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_Extract of a Letter from the Grand Judge, Minister of Justice,
to the Imperial Attorney-General for the Council of Prizes._
PARIS, September 18, 1807.
SIR: I have submitted to his Majesty, the Emperor and King, the
doubts raised by his Excellency, the Minister of Marine and
Colonies, on the extent of certain dispositions of the imperial
decree of the 21st of November, 1806, which has declared the
British Isles in a state of blockade.
The following are his Majesty’s intentions on the points in
question:
1. May vessels of war, by virtue of the imperial decree of the
21st of November last, seize on board neutral vessels, either
English property, or even all merchandise proceeding from the
English manufactures or territory?
ANSWER.--His Majesty has intimated that, as he did not think
proper to express any exception in his decree, there is no
ground for making any in its execution in relation to any
whomsoever, (_à l’égard de qui que ce peut être_.) His Majesty
has postponed a decision on the question, whether armed French
vessels ought to capture neutral vessels bound to or from
England, even when they have no English merchandise on board.