The Virginia Gazette

LONDON.
April 18.

The following is a declaration from the Empress of Russia to the Courts of London, Versailles, and Madrid.

The Empress of all the Russias has so fully manifested her sentiments of equity and moderation, and has given such evident proofs during the course of the war that she supported against the Ottoman Porte, of the regard she has for the rights of neutrality and the liberty of universal commerce, as all Europe can witness. This conduct, as well as the principles of impartiality that she has displayed during the present war, justly inspires her with the fullest confidence, that her subjects would peaceably enjoy the fruits of their industry, and the advantages belonging to a neutral nation. Experience has, nevertheless, proved the contrary. Neither the above mentioned considerations, nor the regard to the rights of nations, have prevented the Subjects of her Imperial Majesty from being often molested in their navigation, and stopped in their operations by those of the belligerent powers.

These hindrances to the liberty of trade in general, and to that of Russia in particular, are of a nature to excite the attention of all neutral nations. The Empress finds herself obliged therefore to free it by all the means compatible with the dignity and the well being of her subjects; but before she puts this into execution, and with a sincere intention to prevent any future infringements, she thinks it but just to publish to all Europe the principles she means to follow, which are the properest to prevent misunderstanding, or any occurrences that may occasion it. Her Imperial Majesty does it with the more confidence, as she finds these principles coincident with the primitive right of nations, which every people may reclaim, and which the belligerent powers cannot invalidate without violating the laws of neutrality, and without disavowing the maxims they have adopted in the different treaties and public engagements.

They are reducible to the following points:

First, that all neutral ships may freely navigate from port to port, and on the coasts of nations at war.

Secondly, that the effects belonging to the subjects of the said warring powers, shall be free in all neutral vessels, except contraband merchandize.

Thirdly, that the Empress, as to the specification of the above-mentioned merchandize, holds to what is mentioned in the 10th and 11th articles of her treaty of commerce with Great Britain, extending her obligations to all the powers at war.

Fourthly, that to determine what is meant by a blocked up port, this is only to be understood of one which is so well kept in by the ships of the power that attacks it, and which keep their places, that it is dangerous to enter into it.

Fifthly, that these principles serve as a rule for proceedings and judgments upon the legality of prizes.

Her Imperial Majesty, in making these points public, does not hesitate to declare, that to maintain them and to protect the honour of her flag, the security of the trade and navigation of her subjects, she has prepared the greatest part of her marine forces. This measure will not, however, influence the strict neutrality she does observe, and will observe, so long as she is not provoked and forced to break the bounds of moderation and perfect impartiality. It will be only in this extremity that her fleet will have orders to go wherever honour, interest, and need may require.

In giving this solemn assurance with the usual openness of her character, the Empress cannot do other than promise herself that the belligerent powers, convinced of the sentiments of justice and equity which animate her, will contribute towards the accomplishment of these salutary purposes, which manifestly tend to the good of all nations, and to the advantage even of those at war. In consequence of which, her Imperial Majesty will furnish her Commanding Officers with instructions conformable to the above-mentioned principles, founded upon primitive laws of people, and so often adopted in their conventions.