Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 8.djvu/180

 [53 TREATY WITH PRUSSIA. 1799. other decent and suitable places, and shall be protected from violation or disturbance. ARTICLE XII. Relative no the Experience having proved, that the principle adopted in the twelfth principle of article of the treaty of 1785, according to which free shzps make free l"°° *‘h'p“ "“‘k' goods, has not been sufficiently respected during the two last wars, and mg lm goods` especially in that which still contim1es, the two contracting parties pm. pose, after the return of a general peace, to agree either separately between themselves, or jointly with other powers alike interested, to concert with the great maritime powers of Europe, such arrangements and such permanent principles, as may serve to consolidate the liberty and the safety of the neutral navigation and commerce in future wars. And if in the interval, either of the contracting parties should be engaged in a war, to which the other should remain neutral, the ships of war and privateers of the belligerent power shall conduct themselves towards the merchant vessels of the neutral power, as favourably as the course of the war then existing may permit, observing the principles and rules of the law of nations, generally acknowleged. ARTICLE XIII. 0, contraband_ And. in the same case of one of the contracting parties, being engaged in war, with any other power, to prevent all the difficulties and misunderstandings, that usually arise respecting merchandize of contraband, such as arms, ammunition and military stores of every kind, no such articles carried in the vessels, or by the subjects or citizens of either party, to the enemies of the other, shall be deemed contraband, so as to induce confiscation or condemnation and a loss of property to individuals. Nevertheless, it shall be lawful to stop such vessels and articles, and to detain them for such length of time, as the captors may think necessary to prevent the inconvenience or damage, that might ensue from their proceeding, paying however a reasonable compensation for the loss such arrest shall occasion to the proprietors; and it shall further be allowed to use in the service of the captors, the whole or any part of the military stores so detained, paying the owners the full value of the same, to be ascertained by the current price at the place of its destination. But in the case supposed of a vessel stopped for articles of contraband, if the master of the vessel stopped will deliver out the goods supposed to be of contraband nature, he shall be admitted to do it, and the vessel shall not in that case be carried into any port, nor further detained, but shall be allowed to proceed on her voyage. All cannons, mortars, tire arms, pistols, bombs, grenades, bullets, balls, muskets, thnts, matches, powder, salt-petre, sulphur, cuirasses, pikes, swords, belts, cartouch boxes, saddles and bridles, beyond the quantity necessary for the use of the ship, or beyond that which every man serving on board the vessel, or passenger, ought to have; and in general whatever is comprized under the denomination of arms and military stores, of what description soever, shall be deemed objects of contraband. ARTICLE XIV. hgg§:‘r’£g",;’° To ensure to the vessels of the two contracting parties the advantage vom;,,,,, ,;,,,8 of being readily and certainly known in time of war, it is agreed, that of war. they shall be provided with the sea letters and documents hereafter specified: 1. A passport, expressing the name, the property and the burthen ol