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Foreign News
July 8, 1803
Berkeley And Jefferson Intelligencer
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia
What is this article about?
On 16 May 1803, at the Court of the Queen's Palace, his Britannick Majesty in Privy Council declared war on the French Republic due to repeated insults and provocations, ordering general reprisals against French ships, goods, and subjects, and authorizing letters of marque and admiralty proceedings for captures.
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DECLARATION OF WAR
By his BRITANNICK MAJESTY
At the Court of the Queen's Palace
16th of May, 1803.
PRESENT
The KING's most excellent Majesty in Council.
Whereas in consequence of the repeated insults and provocations which his Majesty has experienced from the Government of France, his Majesty finds himself compelled to take such measures as are necessary for vindicating the honor of his Crown and the just rights of his subjects his Majesty therefore, is pleased by and with the advice of his Privy Council to order, and it is hereby ordered, that general reprisals be granted against the ships, goods, and subjects of the French Republic so that as well as his Majesty's fleets and ships, as also all other ship and vessels that shall be commissioned by letters of Marque, or general reprisals, or otherwise, by his Majesty's Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, shall and may lawfully seize all ships, vessels and goods belonging to the French republic or inhabiting within any of the Territories of the French Republic, and bring the same to judgment in such courts of admiralty within his Majesty's dominions, as shall be duly commissioned to take cognizance thereof :
And to that end, his Majesty's Advocate general, with the advocate of the Admiralty, are forthwith to prepare the draft of commission, and present the same to his majesty at this board, authorizing the commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral, or any persons by them empowered and appointed to issue forth and grant letters of Marque and reprisals to any of his majesty's subjects, or others whom the commissioners shall deem fitly qualified in that behalf, for the apprehending, seizing and taking the ships vessels and goods belonging to the French republic, or to any persons being subjects to the French republic or inhabiting within any of the territories of the French republic :
and that such powers and clauses be inserted in the said commission as have been usual, and are according to former precedents.
His Majesty's said advocate general with the advocate of the admiralty, are also forthwith to prepare a draft of a commission, and present the same to his majesty at this board authorizing the said commissioners for executing the office of lord high admiral, to will and require the high court of admiralty of Great Britain and the lieutenant and judge of the said court, his surrogate or surrogates, as also the several courts of admiralty within his majesty's dominion which shall be duly commissioned to take cognizance of, and judicially proceed upon all and all manner of captures, seizures, prizes and reprizals of all ships and goods that are or shall be made, and to hear and determine the same, and according to the course of admiralty and the laws of nations, to adjudge and condemn all such ships, vessels and goods as shall belong to the French republic, or to any persons being subjects to the French republic - or inhabiting within any of the territories of the French republic ;
and that such powers and clauses be inserted in the said commission as have been usual and are according to former precedents;
and they are likewise to prepare and lay before his majesty at this board a draft of such instructions as may be proper to be sent to the said several courts of admiralty in his majesty's foreign governments and plantations for their guidance herein:
as also another draft of instructions for such ships as shall be commissioned for the purpose above mentioned."
From the court of Queen's Palace, the sixteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and three.
[Signed by all the privy council.]
By his BRITANNICK MAJESTY
At the Court of the Queen's Palace
16th of May, 1803.
PRESENT
The KING's most excellent Majesty in Council.
Whereas in consequence of the repeated insults and provocations which his Majesty has experienced from the Government of France, his Majesty finds himself compelled to take such measures as are necessary for vindicating the honor of his Crown and the just rights of his subjects his Majesty therefore, is pleased by and with the advice of his Privy Council to order, and it is hereby ordered, that general reprisals be granted against the ships, goods, and subjects of the French Republic so that as well as his Majesty's fleets and ships, as also all other ship and vessels that shall be commissioned by letters of Marque, or general reprisals, or otherwise, by his Majesty's Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, shall and may lawfully seize all ships, vessels and goods belonging to the French republic or inhabiting within any of the Territories of the French Republic, and bring the same to judgment in such courts of admiralty within his Majesty's dominions, as shall be duly commissioned to take cognizance thereof :
And to that end, his Majesty's Advocate general, with the advocate of the Admiralty, are forthwith to prepare the draft of commission, and present the same to his majesty at this board, authorizing the commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral, or any persons by them empowered and appointed to issue forth and grant letters of Marque and reprisals to any of his majesty's subjects, or others whom the commissioners shall deem fitly qualified in that behalf, for the apprehending, seizing and taking the ships vessels and goods belonging to the French republic, or to any persons being subjects to the French republic or inhabiting within any of the territories of the French republic :
and that such powers and clauses be inserted in the said commission as have been usual, and are according to former precedents.
His Majesty's said advocate general with the advocate of the admiralty, are also forthwith to prepare a draft of a commission, and present the same to his majesty at this board authorizing the said commissioners for executing the office of lord high admiral, to will and require the high court of admiralty of Great Britain and the lieutenant and judge of the said court, his surrogate or surrogates, as also the several courts of admiralty within his majesty's dominion which shall be duly commissioned to take cognizance of, and judicially proceed upon all and all manner of captures, seizures, prizes and reprizals of all ships and goods that are or shall be made, and to hear and determine the same, and according to the course of admiralty and the laws of nations, to adjudge and condemn all such ships, vessels and goods as shall belong to the French republic, or to any persons being subjects to the French republic - or inhabiting within any of the territories of the French republic ;
and that such powers and clauses be inserted in the said commission as have been usual and are according to former precedents;
and they are likewise to prepare and lay before his majesty at this board a draft of such instructions as may be proper to be sent to the said several courts of admiralty in his majesty's foreign governments and plantations for their guidance herein:
as also another draft of instructions for such ships as shall be commissioned for the purpose above mentioned."
From the court of Queen's Palace, the sixteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and three.
[Signed by all the privy council.]
What sub-type of article is it?
War Report
Diplomatic
What keywords are associated?
Declaration Of War
French Republic
General Reprisals
Letters Of Marque
Privy Council
Admiralty Courts
What entities or persons were involved?
His Britannick Majesty
Privy Council
Where did it happen?
French Republic
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
French Republic
Event Date
16th Of May, 1803
Key Persons
His Britannick Majesty
Privy Council
Outcome
general reprisals granted against ships, goods, and subjects of the french republic; authorization for letters of marque, seizures, and admiralty judgments of captures.
Event Details
His Britannick Majesty, in Privy Council at the Queen's Palace, ordered general reprisals against the French Republic due to repeated insults and provocations, empowering fleets, ships with letters of marque, and admiralty courts to seize and judge French vessels and goods.