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AND SOLD BY J. HATCHARD, PICCADILLY; AND

J. BUTTERWORTH, FLEET-STREET.

1806.

10526

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PREFACE

TO THE

FIRST EDITION.

THOUGH

HOUGH the following sheets have been written and sent to press in considerable haste, on account of some temporary considerations which add to the immediate importance of their subject, the author has spared no pains that could tend to guard his statements from mistake. His facts are, for the most part, derived, as the reader will perceive, from those authentic and original sources of information, the records of our courts of prize and it may therefore perhaps be sur mised, that some practitioner in those courts, if not the author of the argument, has at least contributed his aid, in furnishing premises for its

use.

Adverting to the probability of such a conjecture, and to an erroneous notion which he knows to be very prevalent, namely, that the practitioners in the admiralty courts have an interest

opposite to the pretensions of neutral merchants, he thinks it right to guard both his facts and his opinions against this source of jealousy, by one brief remark-contests in the prize jurisdiction arise almost exclusively from claims of property preferred by neutrals; and therefore, the business of the prize courts, would obviously be impaired, not extended, by narrowing the legal confines of the neutral flags.

If the intelligent reader should stand in no need of this information, he will still feel such caution in an anonymous writer, not to be excessive; for however sacred a national cause may be, it is become too common a rule, to suppose that no man exerts himself in it from a public motive, if a private one can possibly be surmised.

October 18th, 1805.

PREFACE

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

On the same day on which the first impression

of the following sheets issued from the press, an event took place off Cape Trafalgar, which in the eyes of many, perhaps, may have diminished the importance of their general subject; and which has certainly taken from some of the facts and reflections contained in them, a part of their original interest. Our immortal Nelson, and his brave successor in command, have materially thrown back the naval preparations of Buonaparte, and dashed his rising hopes of ❝ ships, co"lonies, and commerce.'

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The gallant Sir Richard Strachan has since given the Usurper another proof, that more than equality of force, and more even than intrepidity of conduct, is necessary to protect his flag from the most signal and entire defeats, in a conflict with British seamen : and the general result is, not only a great increase of national glory, but a most important deduction from some of the dangers, to which the following pages relate.

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