that house has passed over to us, in consideration of the cession of three of our provinces, and is now subject to our power only: consequently, from the present time, the government and the administration of these countries will be administered simply in our name alone, and under our supreme authority. We therefore call upon all persons, whatever may have been the functions assigned them, to execute those functions only in our name, and under our authority. Count Schulenberg Kehnert, and the commissioners who are attached to him, expect no less than that all the prelates, the burghers, and the inhabitants in general, will obediently conform themselves to the orders of things, which a new æra has rendered necessary for their tranquillity and well-being; and in so doing, they will afford his majesty a proof of their devotion to their country. So, on our part, nothing shall be neglected to confirm them in the persuasion of our paternal affection, and our sincere wish to render them happy. (Signed) The wish to secure our faithful subjects and the neighbouring states of the north of Germany during the war, and to preserve and confirm the duration of the blessings of peace, was at all times the intention of our indefatigable endeavours. These wholesome measures were made known, upon some recent occasions, as the object of our late patent, dated January 27, 1806, according to which the electoral states of Brunswick Lunenburg in Germany were taken possession of by our troops, when the administration of the same passed into our hands. But in consequence of the exchange of the elec- April 1, torate of Hanover, in consideration of the cession of three of the provinces of our monarchy, and for the permanent tranquillity of our subjects and the neighbouring states, we have found it indispensably necessary to enter into and conclude a convention with his majesty the emperor of the French and king of Italy; and as the electoral states of the house of Brunswick, situated in Germany, were obtained by the emperor Napoleon by right of conquest, we hereby declare, that the rightful possession of the territory of 1806. FREDERIC WILLIAM. Message to the house on the 21st of April, respecting the present state of the relations of this country with Prussia. "GEORGE R. His majesty thinks it proper to acquaint the house of commons, that he has found himself under. the necessity of withdrawing his minister from the court of Berlin, and of adopting provisionally measures of just retaliation against the commerce commerce and navigation of PrusHis majesty deeply regrets this extension and aggravation of calamities already so severely felt by the nations of the continent, whose independence and prosperity he has never ceased to consider as intimately connected with those of his own people. But measures of direct hostility, deliberately adopted against him, have left him no alternative. "In a moment of confidential intercourse, without even the pretence of any cause of complaint, forcible possession has been taken by Prussia of his majesty's electoral dominions. Deeply as this event affected the interests of this kingdom, his majesty chose, nevertheless, to forbear, on this painful occasion, all recourse to the tried and affectionate attachment of his British subjects. He remonstrated, by amicable negotiation, against the injury he had sustained, and rested his claim for reparation on the moderation of his conduct, on the justice of his representations, and on the common interest which Prussia herself must ultimately feel, to resist a system destructive of the security of all legitimate possession. But when, instead of receiving assurances conformable to this just expectation, his majesty was informed, that the determina tion had been taken of excluding by force the vessels and the commodities of this kingdom from ports and countries under the law ful dominion or forcible control of Prussia, his majesty could no longer delay to act, without neglecting the first duty which he owes to his people. The dignity of his crown and the interests of his subjects equally forbid his acquiescing in this open and unprovoked ag gression. He has no doubt of the 1806. full support of his parliament in vindicating the honour of the British flag, and the freedom of the British navigation; and he will look with anxious expectation to that moment when a more dignified and enlightened policy, on the part of Prussia, shall remove every impediment to the renewal of peace and friendship with a power with whom his majesty has no other cause of difference than that now created by these hostile acts. "G. R." At the court at the Queen's palace, the 17th of September 1806, present, the king's most excellent majesty in council. Whereas the capital city, town, and fortress of Buenos Ayres, and its dependencies, have been con quered by his majesty's forces, and the territory and forts of the same are delivered up to his majesty, his majesty is thereupon pleased to order and declare, that all his loving subjects may lawfully trade to and from the said capital city, town, and fortress of Buenos Ayres, and its dependencies, including therein all and every the territories belonging to, or forming a part of the government of the same, in British ships, owned by his majesty's subjects, and navigated according to law; or in ships bonâ fide belonging to any of the subjects or native inhabitants of the said city, town, or territories, such native inhabitants being peaceably resident within the same, and under the obedience of his majesty's government there; and that such trade shall be subject to the same duties, rules, regulations, conditions, restrictions, penalties, and forfeitures, to which the trade to and from his majesty's colonies, (L) plantations, plantations, and islands in the West Indies and South America is, or shall be subject by law, except as is hereinafter specified: And his majesty is further pleased to order and declare, that all commodities, being of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the said capital city, town, and fortress of Buenos Ayres, and its dependencies, including therein all and every the territories belonging to, or forming a part of the government of the same, or which have been usually exported therefrom, shall be permitted to be imported into any of the ports of the united kingdom in British ships, owned by his majesty's subjects, and navigated according to law; or in ships bona fide belonging to any of the subjects or native inhabitants of the said city, town, or territories, such native inhabitants being peaceably resident within the same, and under the obedience of his majesty's government there; and that such commodities shall be subject to the same duties, rules, regulations, restrictions, conditions, penalties, and forfeitures, as articles of the like sort are subject to coming from his majesty's colonies, plantations, or islands, in the West Indies or South America: And whereas information has been received, that the commander of his majesty's forces, to whom the said city, town, and fortress have surrendered, has reduced the duties on importation into the same, from about thirty-four and a half per cent. ad valorem, to ten per cent. cd valorem, and two and a half per cent. for the consulate or municipal duties, making, in the whole, twelve and one-half per cent. on all articles imported into the said place and dependencies in Pritish, ships, owed by his majes ty's subjects, and navigated according to law; or in ships lond fide belonging to any of the s bjects or native inhabitants of the city, ovn, or territories, such native inhabitants being peaceably resident within the same, and under the obedience of his majesty's government there; his majesty is thereupon pleased to order and declare, that the said reduced duties shall continue to be levied, and no other, on all articles so imported, with the exception of German linens, which are to continue to be subject to the same duties as were paid thereon before the conquest of the said place by his majesty's arms, until his majesty's pleasure shall be further signified;---and it is hereby finther ordered, that it shall not be lawful for any slave or slaves to be landed, or imported, or brought into the said city, town, and fortress of Buenos Ayres, and its dependencies, including therein. all and every the territories belonging to, or forming a part of, the government of the same as aforesaid, upon pain that all slaves so landed, imported, or brought, together with the vessels bringing in the same, or from which the same shall be landed, and their cargoes shall become forfeited to his majesty, his heirs and successors :--provided always, that this prohibition shall not extend to the several cases of slaves bná fide employed in navigating any ships trading to or from the said place, or of slaves lona fide employed as domestic slaves, and coming into the said place with their masters; or of slaves in any manner employed in his majesty's naval or military service:--And the right honourable the lords commissioners of his majesty's treasury, and the lords commissioners of the admiralty, are At the court at the Queen's palace, the 17th of September 1806, present, the king's most excellent majesty in council. Whereas by an act made and passed in the last session of the present parliament, and in the present year of his majesty's reign, entitled, "An act for authorising his majesty in council to allow, during the present war, and for six months after the ratification of a definitive treaty of peace, the importation and exportation of certain goods and commodities in neutral ships into, and from his majesty's territories in the West Indies and continent of South America;" It is enacted, that from and after the passing of the said act, it shall and may be lawful for his majesty, his heirs and successors, by and with the advice of his and their privy council, to permit, or to authorise the governors of the islands and territories hereinafter mentioned, in such manner, and under such restrictions as to his majesty, by and with the advice of his privy council, shall seem fit to permit, when the necessity of the case shall appear to his majesty, with the advice of his privy council to require it, from time to time during the present war, and for six months after the ratification of a definitive treaty of peace, the importation into, and the exportation from, any island in the West Indies (in which description the Bahama Islands and the Bermuda or Somer Islands are included), or any lands or territories on the continent of South America to his majesty be longing, of any such articles, goods, and commodities as shall be mentioned in such order of his majesty in council, in any ships or vessels belonging to the subjects of ty, in such manner as his majesty, any state in amity with Iris majes his heirs and successors, by and with the advice aforesaid, shall direct; provided such ships or vessels shail duly enter into, report, and deliver their respective cargoes, and reload at such ports only, where regular custom-houses shall have been established: And whereas it appears at present to be necessary to permit, for a limited time, subject to be sooner terminated, varied, or altered, as is hereinafter provided, the importation into, and exportation from the islands and territories of his majesty in the West Indies, (including the Bahama Islands and the Bermuda or Somer Islands,) and the lands and territories on the continent of South America to his majesty belonging, of certain articles, goods, and commodities hereinafter mentioned, in any ships or vessels belonging to the subjects of any state in amity with his majes ty; his majesty is thereupon pleas ed, by and with the advice of his privy council, to order, and doth hereby order, that the governors and lieutenant-governors of his majesty's islands and colonies in the West Indies, (in which description the Bahama Islands and the Bermuda or Somer Islands are included,) and of any lands or territories on the continent of South America to his majesty belonging, and each and every of such governors and lieutenant-governors shall be authorised, and they, and each, and every of them are hereby au thorised to permit for twelve months from the date hereof, sub. (L2) ject ject to be sooner terminated, varied, or altered as is hereinafter provided, in any ships or vessels belonging to the subjects of any state in amity with his majesty, the importation into the said islands, colonies, lands and territories respectively, of staves and lumber, and also of every kind of provisions (beef, pork and but ter always excepted), which are of the growth or produce of the country to which such ship or vessel importing the same shall belong and also the exportation from the said islands, colonies, lands and territories respectively, into which such importation of staves, lumber, and provisions as aforesaid, shall be made, of rum and molasses, and of any other articles, goods, and commoditics whatsoever, except sugar, indigo, cotton, wool, coffee, and cocoa; provided always, that such ships or vessels shall duly enter into, report, deliver their respective cargoes, and reload at such ports only where regular custom-houses shall have been established: And his majesty, by and with the advice of his said privy council, is further pleased to order, and doth hereby order, that notwithstanding any thing hereinbefore contained, the said permission and authority to import and export, shall cease and determine, or be varied and alter ed before the expiration of the above-mentioned period of twelve months, at the expiration of six months after notification in the London Gazette of any order of his majesty, by and with the advice of his privy council, for revoking, varying, or altering such permission or authority, or shall cease and determine at the expira tion of six months after the ratification of a definitive treaty of peace. W. FAWKEN&R. At the court at the Queen's palace, the 1st of October 1806, present, the king's most excellent majesty in council, Whereas it has been represented to his majesty, that, over and above the royal duties, and the consulate or municipal duties, payable upon divers articles exported from the city, town, and fortress of Buenos Ayres, and its dependencies, including therein all and every the territories belonging to, or forming a part of, the government of the same, a duty of two reals upon each or hide, and of one real upon each horse hide, exported, was levied and paid during the time the said city, town, and fortress of Buenos Ayres, and its dependencies, were under the Spanish government: And whereas the commander of his majesty's forces, to whom the said city, town, and fortress have surrendered, has thought fit, until his ma jesty's pleasure should be known, to reduce the said additional duty to one real upon each ox hide, and to make a proportionate reduction of the duty payable upon each horse hide exported; his majesty is thereupon pleased to order and declare, that the said reduced duties, and no other, shall, until the further signification of his majesty's pleasure, continue to be paid upon each ox hide and horse hide exported as aforesaid, in British ships, owned by his majesty's subjects, and navigated according to law; or in ships bona fide belonging to any of the subjects or native inhabitants of the said city, town, and territories, such native inhabitants being peaceably resident within the same, and under the obedience of his majesty's government there: And the right honourable the lords commissioners of his majesty's treasury, |