To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 2 April 1797
From Rufus King1
London Ap. 2. 1797
Dear Sir,
As Mr. Church2 is the bearer, I refer you to him for what it would take many Pages to relate, and will only say that notwithstanding the injuries we continue to receive from France I still hope, the same policy that has hitherto kept us out of the war, will continue to influence and decide our Government.
How the new President will conduct himself in a situation thorny and embarrassing remains to be seen; the first Step is very important, and therefore shd. be deeply and extensively considered.
Every thing looks like an active, and to a certain degree, a vigourous campaign: yet with all these appearances of the continuance of the war, Peace may be near: But what will be the consequence of such a Peace as alone can be had at this Time? A late Arret of the Directory3 gives notice to all french Citizens, that the Treaty of Feb. 1778 between France and the UStates of Amer. has been (of full right,) in virtue of the 2d. article thereof, modified so as to conform to the stipulations contained in the treaty of 1794 between the UStates & G Britain4—the arret then proceeds to specify the modification:
1. all Enemy Goods, and all merchandize “non suffisament constatée neutre,” on board Amer. Vessels shall be lawful Prize; but the vessel shall be released &c.5
2. to the articles of Contraband specified in the treaty of Feby. 1778 shall be added “les bois de construction” &c enumerating the additional articles of Contraband contained in the treaty between the US. & G. Br.6
3. “D’apres l’article 21 du traité de Londres de 19. Nov. 1794, tout individu reconnu Américain, porteur d’une commission donnée par les Ennemis de la france, ainsi que tout marin de cette nation faisant partie des Equipages des Navires ou Vaisseaux ennemis, sera ce seul fait, declaré pirate, et traité comme tel, sans qu’il puisse aucun cas, alleguer qu’il y a été forcé par violence, menace ou autrement.”7
4. According to the Law of 14. feb. 1793, the Regulations of that of ye 21. Octr. 1744, and of that of 26 July 1778, concerning the Trial of neutral Ships & Cargos, shall be observed; and in Consequence thereof, every american Ship shall be a good Prize, on board whereof there shall not be found, un Rôle d’equipage en bonne forme such as is required by the Form annexed to the Treaty of the 6. feb. 1778, the execution of which is hereby required.8
5. respects certain causes of Forfeiture by reason of misconduct in destroying papers, possessing double Papers &c &c.9
6. repeals certain former Regulations.10
7. directs the insertion of the arret in the Bulletin of the Laws &c The third article is a false construction, for obvious purposes, of the analogous article in our Treaty with Engd—the fourth will render all our Ships liable to Capture and if acted upon to condemnation, since no American Vessel has on board her the Document required. In our printed Laws, are also the treaties; and among them those we formed with France—to the coml. Treaty, though the 25. & 27 articles refer to it,11 there is no model or Form of a Passport. Mr. Jefferson has certified that Treaty to be correct, and a perfect copy, as you will see by his printed certificate in the Law Book.
I have a copy of the coml. Treaty with France printed in London in 1783, wh. has the Form of a Passport, Role d’Equipage &c annexed.12 A copy of it I have given to Mr. Church who will shew it to you; by wh. you will see that none of our Vessels are exempt from Capture if this Copy is that referred to in the late Arret—indeed it seems too absurd in some things to be genuine, yet I suspect it is the model or Form referred to & required by the 4th Art. of the arret.13
farewel yrs &c
Rufus King
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. A former United States Senator from New York, King was United States Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain.
2. John B. Church was married to Elizabeth Hamilton’s sister, Angelica.
3. King is referring to a decree issued by the Directory on March 2, 1797 (, IX, 358–61). An English translation is printed in , Foreign Relations, II, 30–31.
4. King is referring to that part of the introduction to the decree which reads: “… qu’il importe, par conséquent, à l’instruction tant des commandans de la force armée de la République et des bâtimens commissionnés par elle, que des tribunaux chargés de prononcer sur la validité des prises, de prendre des mesures pour empêcher, ou qu’on ne suppose existans des traités qui n’ont jamais eu lieu, ou qu’on ne regarde comme étant encore en vigueur des traités conclus pour un temps déterminé qui est expiré, ou comme devant être encore exécutés à la lettre des traités qui ont été modifiés depuis leur conclusion; qu’à cette dernière espèce appartient singulièrement le traité d’amitié et de commerce conclu, le 6 février 1778, entre la France et les Etats-Unis de l’Amérique, qu’en effet, par l’art, 2 de ce traité, la France et les Etats-Unis de l’Amérique s’engagent mutuellement à n’accorder aucune faveur particulière à d’autres nations, en fait de commerce et de navigation, qui ne devienne aussitôt commune à l’autre partie; et qu’il est ajouté par le même article, que celle-ci jouira de cette faveur gratuitement si la concession est gratuite ou en accordant la même compensation si la concession est conditionnelle; qu’ainsi les dispositions stipulées en faveur de l’Angleterre par le traité d’amitié, de commerce et de navigation passé à Londres le 19 novembre 1794 entre cette puissance et les Etats-Unis d’Amérique, sont censées l’avoir été en faveur de la République française elle-même, et par suite modifient, dans les points qui y sont contraires, le traité conclu le 6 février 1778; que c’est d’aprés ces dispositions que le Gouvernement français a déclaré par ses arrêtés des 14 et 28 messidor an 4, comme il est encore forcé de le faire aujourd’hui, qu’il usera des justes mesures de réciprocité qu’il était en droit d’exercer à cet égard, en tout ce qui tient aux circonstances de la querre ainsi qu’aux intérèts politiques, commerciaux et maritimes de la République française; que conséquemment, il est nécessaire de fixer, par le rapprochement des traités du 6 février 1778 et du 19 novembre 1794, toute incertitude sur les cas où doit s’exercer ce droit de réciprocité” (, IX, 359).
For the decree of July 2, 1796, see H to George Washington, January 19, 1797, note 4. No evidence has been found that a new decree was issued on July 16, 1796.
5. Article 3, Section 1, of the decree of March 2, 1797, reads: “D’après l’article 17 du traité de Londres du 19 novembre 1794,… toute marchandise ennemie ou non suffisamment constatée neutre, chargée sous pavillon américain, sera confisquée; mais le bâtiment à bord duquel elle aura été trouvée, sera relâché et rendu au propriétaire. Il est enjoint aux commissaires du Directoire exécutif de faire accelerer, par tous les moyens qui sont en leur pouvoir, le jugement des contestations qui pourront s’élever, soit sur la validité des prises de cargaison, soit sur les frets et surestaries” (, IX, 360).
For Article 17 of the Jay Treaty, see “Remarks on the Treaty … between the United States and Great Britain,” July 9–11, 1795, note 59.
6. Article 3, Section 2, of the French decree of March 2, 1797, reads: “D’après l’article 18 du traité de Londres du 19 novembre 1794,… aux objets déclarés contrebande par l’article 24 du traité du 6 février 1778, sont ajoutés les objets suivans:
“Les bois de construction;
“Les brais, goudrons et résines;
“Le cuivre en feuilles;
“Les voiles, chanvres et cordages,
“Et tout ce qui sert directement ou indirectement à l’armement et à l’équipement des vaisseaux, excepté le fer brut et le sapin en planches. Ces divers articles seront confisqué toutes les fois qu’ils seront destinés ou qu’on essaiera de les porter à l’ennemi.” (, IX, 360.)
For the text of Article 18 of the Jay Treaty, see “Remarks on the Treaty … between the United States and Great Britain,” July 9–11, 1795, note 63.
7. This is a quotation of Article 3, Section 3, of the French decree of March 2, 1797 (, IX, 360–61).
For the text of Article 21 of the Jay Treaty, see “Remarks on the Treaty … between the United States and Great Britain,” July 9–11, 1795, note 68.
8. Article 3, Section 4, of the French decree of March 2, 1797, reads: “Conformément à la loi du 14 fevrier 1793, les dispositions des réglemens du 21 octobre 1744 et du 26 juillet 1778, concernant la manière de constater la propriété des navires et des marchandises neutres, seront exécutées selon leur forme et teneur:
“Sera en conséquence de bonne prise,
“Tout navire américain qui n’aura pas à bord un role d’équipage en bonne forme, tel qu’il est prescrit par le modele annexé au traité du 6 février 1778, dont l’exécution est ordonnée par les articles 25 et 27 du même traite.” (, IX, 361.)
For the decree of February 19 (not 14), 1793, see , V, 200. The regulation of October 21, 1744, is printed in , XXII, 173–77. The regulation of July 26, 1778, is printed in , III, 18–25.
9. Article 3, Section 5, of the French decree of March 2, 1797, reads: “II est enjoint aux commissaires du Directoire exécutif d’appeler la séverité des tribunaux sur les manœuvres frauduleuses de tout armateur se disant neutre, américain ou autre, à bord du bâtiment duquel il sera trouvé, ainsi qu’il a déjà été fait plusieurs fois dans la querre actuelle, soit des papiers de mer en blanc, quoique signés et scellés, soit des papiers en forme de lettres contenant des signatures de particuliers en blanc, soit de doubles passeports ou lettres de mer qui indiquent différentes destinations au bâtiment, soit de doubles factures, connaissemens ou pappiers de mer quelconques qui assignent à tout ou partie de la même marchandise des propriétaires différens ou différentes destinations” (, IX, 361).
10. Article 6 of the decree of March 2, 1797, reads: “Au moyen des dispositions du présent arrêté, celui du 9 frimaire dernier, concernant les frets et surestaries, est rapporté en ce qui concerne les surestaries seulement” (, IX, 361).
For the regulations of November 29, 1796, see , IX, 275–76.
11. King is referring to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and France, which was signed at Paris on February 6, 1778 (, 3–29). Article 23 (originally 25) of the treaty reads: “It shall be lawful for all and singular the Subjects of the most Christian King and the Citizens People and Inhabitants of the said United States to sail with their Ships with all manner of Liberty and Security; no distinction being made, who are the Proprietors of the Merchandizes laden thereon, from any Port to the places of those who now are or hereafter shall be at Enmity with the most Christian King or the United States. It shall likewise be Lawful for the Subjects and Inhabitants aforesaid to sail with the Ships and Merchandizes aforementioned and to trade with the same Liberty and security from the Places, Ports and Havens of those who are Enemies of both or either Party without any Opposition or disturbance whatsoever, not only directly from the Places of the Enemy afore mentioned to neutral Places; but also from one Place belonging to an Enemy to another place belonging to an Enemy, whether they be under the Jurisdiction of the same Prince or under several; And it is hereby stipulated that free Ships shall also give a freedom to Goods, and that every thing shall be deemed to be free and exempt, which shall be found on board the Ships belonging to the Subjects of either of the Confederates, although the whole lading or any Part thereof should appertain to the Enemies of either, contraband Goods being always excepted. It is also agreed in like manner that the same Liberty be extended to Persons, who are on board a free Ship, with this Effect, that although they be Enemies to both or either Party, they are not to be taken out of that free Ship, unless they are Soldiers and in actual Service of the Enemies” (, 20–21).
Article 25 (originally 27) of the treaty reads: “To the End that all manner of Dissentions and Quarrels may be avoided and prevented on one Side and the other, it is agreed, that in case either of the Parties hereto should be engaged in War, the Ships and Vessels belonging to the Subjects or People of the other Ally must be furnished with Sea Letters or Passports expressing the name, Property and Bulk of the Ship as also the name and Place of habitation of the Master or Commander of the said Ship, that it may appear thereby, that the Ship really & truely belongs to the Subjects of one of the Parties, which Passport shall be made out and granted according to the Form annexed to this Treaty; they shall likewise be recalled every Year, that is if the Ship happens to return home within the Space of a Year. It is likewise agreed, that such Ships being laden are to be provided not only with Passports as above mentioned, but also with Certificates containing the several Particulars of the Cargo, the Place whence the Ship sailed and whither she is bound, that so it may be known, whether any forbidden or contraband Goods be on the board the same: which Certificates shall be made out by the Officers of the Place, whence the Ship set sail, in the accustomed Form. And if any one shall think it fit or adviseable to express in the said Certificates the Person to whom the Goods on board belong, he may freely do so” (, 23–24).
12. For the “Form of the Passports and Letters, which are to be given to the Ships and Barks, according to the twenty seventh Article of this Treaty,” see , 28–29.
13. See note 8.