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 Title: The mysteries of neutralization, or, The British Navy vindicated from the charges of 
 
 injustice and oppression towards neutral flags 
 Author: Brown, John, of Great Yarmouth 
 
 Publisher, year: London : Printed by the author, and sold by Jordan and Maxwell, 1806 
 
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 ISBN of reproduction: 978-1-926810-01-0 
 
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THE 
 
 MYSTERIES 
 
 OF 
 
 NEUTRALIZATION; 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 BRITISH NAVY VINDICATED 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 CHARGES OF INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION 
 
 TOWARDS 
 
 NEUTRAL FLAGS. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN BROWN, 
 
 OF GREAT YARMOUTH. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, 
 
 NO. 6, CONSTITUTION ROW, GRAY’s INN LANE ROAQ 
 
 1806. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 For upwards of a twelvemonth the author has 
 been in possession of a redundancy of original 
 proof for the establishment of almost every fact 
 mentioned in the following sheets. All those origi- 
 nal documents , upwards of one hundred in 
 number, written in the Spanish, French , German , 
 Dutch , and English languages , are verified 
 upon oath, and deposited in the archives of 
 the High Court of Admiralty o/ England. 
 The subject is to the highest degree interesting, 
 and merits the most solemn investigation*. The 
 very existence of the British empire depends on 
 the speedy extirpation of the evil treated of. It is 
 certainly much to be regretted, that it did not fall 
 to the lot of an able writer : — The talents of a 
 Burke would scarcely be adequate to the task 
 of displaying in its full deformity the black cata- 
 logue of the wrongs we suffer. The immor- 
 tal Nelson fell at the moment of unexampled 
 victory over our open foes. A combat less bril- 
 liant and terrible indeed, but no less momentous, 
 remains to be fought with our enemies in disguise. 
 To secure a victory, the whole talent of the conn- 
 
IV 
 
 try should be engaged. Every source of discord 
 and dissension should be avoided ; all inferior con- 
 siderations should be laid aside ; till the important 
 contest between violated faith and national 
 justice be decided. We shall always have the 
 power of correcting domestic abuses; but per- 
 haps the last golden moments that Providence 
 may spare this empire to fix on an adamantine 
 basis the pillars of her naval power, are now fleet- 
 ing away, and will soon have vanished for ever. 
 
 London, 
 
 15th January, 1806. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 P. 8 line 2 from bottom, for requires read require. 
 10 date, for 1801 r. 1799. 
 
 12 for 1805 r. 1803. 
 
 14 for 1825 r. 1803. 
 
 21 for 1805 r. 1803. 
 
 33 line 10 from top, for as r. and. 
 
 39 11 from bottom, for Joan r. Johan. 
 
 47 14 from top, for goes r. go. 
 
 74 2 in the Letter, for affects r. effects. 
 
 93 8 from top, forComminga r. Camminga, 
 
 1 09 for Falkers r. Folkers. 
 
 Ill ditto Folkers. 
 
 117 line 1 for sish r. fish. 
 
 118 for I S to seal r. L.S. 
 
 119 8 from bottom, for Maria r. Helena. 
 
 120 — — 7 for Maria r, Helena. 
 
THE 
 
 MYSTERIES 
 
 OF 
 
 NEUTRALIZATION, 
 
 Sic. 
 
 The prostitution of neutral flags , however 
 vast the extent to which that prostitution may 
 be carried, is not more prejudicial to the dearest 
 interests of Great Britain, political or commer- 
 cial, than it is derogatory to the honour of those 
 sovereigns or powers, whose names are audaci- 
 ously made use of to legalize the sale of maritime 
 neutrality. 
 
 Both hemispheres resound with reiterated and 
 aggravated charges against England, for being the 
 tyrant of the seas , and the oppressor of neutral 
 commerce ; and half the world credits the accu- 
 sation, little thinking that England, formidable 
 every where, and on the ocean irresistible, is 
 passively suffering the main pillars of her might 
 to be undermined, and her arm rendered nerve- 
 less, from the want of a vigorous exertion of 
 her naval preponderance, in curbing the unlaw - 
 ful traffic of neutrals. Yet nothing is more 
 certain. Had the subjects of Prussia, and the 
 petty maritime states, who claim the right of 
 
 B 
 
neutrality from Great Britain, openly joined the 
 ranks of our enemies, their utmost united efforts 
 could never have inflicted injuries, an hundredth 
 part so fatal to the British empire, as their base 
 and venal traffic of neutrality has done. The laurels 
 which adorn the brows of our warriors, they can 
 neither tarnish nor tear away ; but the fruits 
 of our naval triumphs, which the nation ought 
 to reap, are all blasted in the bud by their cu- 
 pidity. Yet the patient forbearance of England 
 seems to increase in proportion as the wrongs she 
 suffers, multiply. Does she fear to add to the ma- 
 lignancy of the foe, by cutting off the chief source 
 of his power, existing in the base practice of the 
 novel traffic called neutralization? Can she che- 
 rish a hope of reclaiming the mercenary venders 
 of neutral rights, by the effects of mild forbear- 
 ance ? Is respect due upon the ocean to the flag 
 of any power, which is prostituted for an annual 
 stipend by its dishonest subjects to cover and 
 carry on the coasting, foreign, and colonial trade 
 of the enemy ; to replenish his impoverished 
 arsenals with all sorts of naval stores ; to create 
 new navies, and when created, victual them ? 
 Is respect in our high court of admiralty due to 
 the fictitious documents surreptitiously issued by 
 a few obscure magistrates, who are grown rich 
 by the grossest violation of their neutral charac- 
 ter? Documents as completely articles of traffic 
 as the enemy’s property which they are sold to 
 
3 
 
 cover. France and her allies possess a thousand 
 leagues of sea-coast, embracing the fairest portions, 
 and enriched with the noblest ports and havens, of 
 Europe, whether viewed as marts of commerce 
 or stations for naval equipments. Antwerp 
 is rapidly becoming a second Brest, whilst 
 every intervening haven or creek is choked 
 with armaments insolently menacing the extinc- 
 tion of the British empire. It is universally 
 known, that the naval stores, which, during the 
 short interval of peace, were purchased at the 
 Baltic ports on account of the French govern- 
 ment, were afterwards sold to English merchants. 
 Whence then came the materials and stores suffici- 
 ent to construct and to victual these enormous 
 fleets and flotillas, but from the boundless violation 
 of maritime neutrality ? By this means it is, that 
 the materials were and are supplied for the con 
 struction and supply of the hostile fleets and 
 flotillas ; and it is only by the total extirpation 
 of this systematic violation of neutrality, that 
 England can ever make the foe feel the entire 
 weight of her vengeance, or reap the glorious 
 harvest of her naval prowess. 
 
 The Emden neutralizers themselves are some- 
 times heard to confess, that if the king of Prussia 
 knew the extent of their crimes, he would sen-* 
 tence them to hard-labour on the fortresses — - 
 the usual punishment of malefactors . Perhaps, 
 in such confessions, they alluded to the shame-* 
 
4 
 
 ful sale of blank burgher briefs , without regard 
 to whom or for what purpose ; to the evasion of 
 the laws relative to the administration of the 
 oaths ; to the issuing of outward clearances 
 from Emden to ships sailing from the enemies 
 ports, as though they had sailed from Emden ; 
 and to the addition made to the price of Prussian 
 burgher briefs, for monies pretended to have been 
 paid in taxes to the crown, which were never 
 levied or demanded. 
 
 When it is considered that all the ignominy of 
 this traffic rests with Prussia, to whose commer- 
 cial interest it is scarcely less injurious than to 
 England, there could be no impropriety in our 
 government adopting some official measure to 
 acquaint the court of Berlin, not merely of the ex- 
 istence of the practice, but of the dishonourable 
 conduct of certain magistrates of East Friesland , 
 by means of whom it is perpetuated and extend- 
 ed. Besides, it is when the court of Berlin is 
 decisively friendly towards Great Britain that 
 complete redress could be expected in the expo- 
 sure of wrongs, on the free and uninterrupted 
 exercise of which the enemy depends for nearly 
 all his resources for carrying on a maritime war. 
 
 But be that as it may, it is the violation of ma- 
 ritime neutrality alone which enables France to 
 prolong the contest. Tear up the fraudulent system 
 of neutralization by the roots, and if British com- 
 merce should suffer a temporary diminution, the 
 
5 
 
 loss would be repaid an hundred fold by the 
 total ruin of the maritime power and commercial 
 resources of the foe. 
 
 At Ejnden, Leer, Papenburg, Oldenburg, Griet- 
 zyl, Varel, Norden, Altona, Hamburgh, North 
 Bergen, See. are upwards of one hundred neutral- 
 izing establishments, formed for the sole purpose 
 of covering, by fraudulent documents, the vessels 
 and merchandize belonging to the subjects of 
 the belligerent powers*. 
 
 The neutralizers of Leer are connected 
 with, and supported by, Mr. C. a banker of 
 Berlin, and divide their profits with him. They 
 cover many large and valuable vessels by false 
 papers, and are entrusted with the expediting 
 2nd neutralizing very valuable cargoes to and 
 from the enemy’s settlements in the East, the 
 Cape of Good Hope, the West Indies, &c. 
 &c. In cases of very rich cargoes, a number 
 
 * Emden (which certainly must be considered the head- 
 quarters of neutralization on this side the Elbe) contains about 
 FIFTY of these establishments ; but from the superior local ad- 
 vantages of Leer, the greater complacency of those in power, 
 and the less extortionate charges for fictitious instruments, the 
 neutralizers of Emden look forward with fear and trembling to 
 the transfer of their lucrative and illicit traffic to that place. 
 
6 
 
 of neutralizers of Leer associate as part-owners, 
 the better to conceal the enemy’s property from 
 detection. At Leer and Emden, in common 
 with all other marts for the sale of neutral do- 
 cuments, attested proofs may be procured for any 
 purpose whatever connected with neutralization, 
 without difficulty or delay. It has yery com- 
 monly been the practice, after vessels had been 
 condemned in the ports of this country, and pur- 
 chased sometimes by the agents of the former 
 asserted proprietors, who were anxious to carry 
 on the same kind of trade, to send to Papenburg 
 for complete sets of papers, which have been al- 
 ways regularly forwarded under the sign and seal 
 of the magistrates, stating the number of the 
 several persons composing the crew ; that they 
 had been there shipped and hired, and a regular 
 clearance for the vessel, as if she had sailed from 
 Papenburg, notwithstanding neither the vessel or 
 persons had perhaps ever been there. 
 
 The neutralizers, speaking generally, afe of 
 the lowest and most worthless description of 
 men. A petty shoemaker of Norden had, during 
 some part of the last war, one hundred and fifty 
 Dutch vessels navigating as his own property 
 under the Norden flag ! Of the Emden dealers 
 in neutral documents, many are only able to 
 procure the covering of small craft and fishing 
 boats ; some of them traverse the adjacent dis- 
 
7 
 
 tricts to buy up burgher briefs, from the trading 
 magistrates who vend them,* which they in their 
 turn sell to their wealthier brethren ; those who 
 are unable to get any kind of property into their 
 hands, contrive to gain money by letting out 
 their names for others to make use of. The neu- 
 tralization and expediting of the most valuable 
 cargoes are always entrusted, to the wealthiest 
 and least disreputable of such establishments. 
 
 Few indeed, if any, of the neutralizers are 
 possessed of common honesty. U. W. Bertram, 
 of the well known house of Swart and Bertram, 
 accompanied the French commissary La Che- 
 vardiere to Meppen, in 1804, to identify, and 
 aid in causing to be confiscated, the British mer- 
 chandize seized there by the army of Hanover: 
 whilst O. C. Swart, in Emden, acted as a spy upon 
 British subjects and commerce. At that same 
 
 * Burgher briefs may indeed be bought in Emden for mas- 
 ters of vessels navigating as Prussian property, by depositing 
 600 rix-dollars in the city funds as security for a six years re- 
 sidence after peace ; and the persons here alluded to travel 
 to get such instruments unincumbered with conditions, and at 
 cheaper rates. The genuine burgher briefs, certifying that the 
 owner is a Prussian subject, resident in some town or village, 
 always bear the signature of the minister of the parish in which 
 he is said to reside. H. G. Willems, who used to deal in bur- 
 gher briefs, was lately arrested on that account at Emden by 
 an order from Berlin, and the affair is yet undecided. 
 
8 
 
 time those very men were sending circular letters 
 to the principal merchants and manufacturers of 
 Britain, soliciting their patronage, and promising 
 to expedite their property to France , Holland, 
 and Germany, with greater fidelity and care than 
 any of their competitors. 
 
 It is not possible to state with precision 
 the number of vessels which really belong to the 
 inhabitants of East Friesland. It is, however, well 
 known that they do not exceed one hundred vessels 
 of one hundred tons burthen each and upwards. 
 The lowest general computation of the number 
 of vessels bearing the Prussian flag, but be- 
 ing the property of subjects of belligerent 
 powers, is two thousand and the highest three 
 thousand sail ! Could a fair balance be struck 
 of the relative advantages arising from neutra- 
 lization to the different belligerent interests, and 
 the total be divided into a hundred shares y not 
 more than one would be found to rest with Eng- 
 land, nor less than ninety-nine with our enemies ! 
 
 From the immense disproportion of numbers 
 between the real and the simulated neutral ship- 
 ping, the injuries and hardships which the for- 
 mer are exposed to, requires but little elucidation. 
 It affects the Prussian ship-owners of every port 
 
9 
 
 of the Prussian dominions, for instead of its sub- 
 jects being the mere cOyerers of t^ie enemies’ trade, 
 their own commerce would necessarily be increas- 
 ed and established to a vast extent $ while by the 
 multitude of foreign ships which must be victualled 
 and manned at their ports, wages and provisions 
 are doubled in price. But the most serious 
 injury to which they are exposed \\s the frequent 
 detention of their vessels by our cruizerSj owing 
 to the utter impossibility of our naval com- 
 manders being able to distinguish between the 
 real neutral and the counterfeit. The owners of 
 those vessels are loud in their complaints against 
 our ships of war, while the' whole of the guilt 
 rests with their own countrymen. Were there no 
 neutralized vessels or cargoes, there would be no 
 detentions. This remark applies as well to Ame- 
 rica as to Prussia; but of the latter it may espe- 
 cially be said, that, were it not for this practice, 
 she would soon possess a carrying trade of the 
 very first magnitude and importance, which peace 
 itself would not materially diminish ; but, under 
 the present system, only a few worthless in- 
 dividuals are enriched by those forests of bellige- 
 rent ships under false papers, which at the hour 
 of peace vanish like a palace in the Arabian 
 Tales, and leave no trace behind, unless it be in 
 the contamination of morals and increase of 
 luxury and idleness. Indeed, so sensible were 
 the real Prussian ship owners of these melancholy 
 
 C 
 
10 
 
 truths, that a few years ago they represented the 
 hardships they suffered by the felonious practices 
 of the neutralizers to the king, and petitioned for 
 them to be punished. Soon after (in 1801) the 
 Aurich Zeitung contained a royal proclamation, 
 by which the practice was forbidden on pain of 
 capital punishment. But, alas ! the thirst after 
 its enormous gains proved too strong for faith or 
 justice, and neutralization has increased instead of 
 being diminished , owing to many of the magis- 
 trates themselves becoming accessaries to the 
 crime, and sharers of the gains. 
 
 Yet although the number of the enemy’s 
 ships and cargoes navigating under the Prussian 
 flag with Prussian papers is immense, there is but 
 little direct perjury committed ; for thera are 
 plenty of venal magistrates in Emden, Leer, &c. 
 who furnish documents of every kind, with all 
 the formalities of affidavits annexed, without 
 the oaths ever being administered or taken. The 
 certificates granted by Post Fiscal Bluhm are all 
 fictitious instruments, to which no oath what- 
 ever is administered. It is the practice, when 
 a person intends setting himself up as a neutrali- 
 zer of enemy’s property, to go once before the 
 burgo-masters, and take an oath of some kind , 
 on the credit of which they affix their hands and 
 seals to whatever affidavits and documents such 
 neutralizers may ever send for afterwards , not- 
 
11 
 
 withstanding the oaths are never administered. 
 When documents are wanting, some clerk of 
 the neutralizer is sent to the town-house with the 
 nature of the documents required, and the instru- 
 ments in due form are sent to the counting- 
 house ; but in no one instance was it ever known 
 that the oaths are required to be administered to 
 a neutralizing transaction. The trading magis- 
 trate above alluded to is known to gain 10,000/. 
 sterling per annum by such dishonourable means 1 
 
 A mere trifle of property is sufficient to set up 
 a neutralizer: a pliant conscience, and a good con- 
 nection in the belligerent countries, are the chief 
 requisites. Many of the Emden establishments 
 are Dutch , French, and Flemish; for the merchants 
 of those countries, unable to carry on business in 
 their own names, enter into engagements with 
 any citizen of Emden of whom they approve, 
 and with whom they can agree: to these persons 
 those belligerent merchants recommend as much 
 covering traffic as possible, and share one half of 
 the gain. A certain notorious neutralizer of Emden 
 commenced business in 1303 on similar terms. 
 His partner in Holland (or rather his principal) pro- 
 cured in a few months six thousand ton$ of Dutch 
 and French shipping to neutralize. They gained 
 in the course of nine months, by tribute money 
 for the use of the Prussian flag, by profits on fa- 
 bricated papers, and by the neutralization of 
 
12 
 
 French and Dutch merchandize at one per cent, 
 nearly Jive thousand pounds sterling ! Such are 
 the enormous profits of one establishment at its 
 very outset, and thatof the middle rank of neu- 
 tralizers ! At this hour that establishment has no 
 less than two hundred sail of enemy’s ves- 
 sels navigating as its property under false papers; 
 and has safely conducted hostile property in- 
 to hostile ports to the value of a million 
 
 STERLING ! 
 
 As the author does not desire the public to 
 ground their belief on his ipse dixit, he has thought 
 proper to insert accurate translations of some ori- 
 ginal letters and documents, the better to convince 
 them of the established system that is adopted. 
 
 “ MR. C. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 EMDEN, 
 
 SIR, * Amsterdam, 21th August 1805, 
 
 “ We hereby request you to mention to us, 
 and, if it can be, by the return of post, whether you 
 are agreeable to charge yourself with the trans- 
 mission of our expeditions beyond the seas, and 
 receive what we import from our foreign friends, 
 chiefly of France and Spain ; to neutralize their 
 
 * The lines in Italic, in these and other letters, &c. are 
 not so distinguished in the originals, but the translations are 
 fair and correct. 
 
13 
 
 goods and merchandize, and take their property 
 under the protection of your name. In case of 
 capture or detention, you must engage yourself to 
 claim restitution, and take every step to effectuate 
 that purpose, the same as though such merchandize 
 were really and truly your own property. 
 
 “ As you must very well know it will be 
 necessary for you to maintain a fabricated corre- 
 spondence with our frUnds, send them orders to 
 purchase, and a certificate of property, attested 
 by your magistrates, certifying that you have not 
 ordered any goods from such correspondents to 
 be transmitted to any other harbours; and which 
 act of property the skipper must keep on board, 
 with the bill of lading, and of which we should 
 be very glad to have a copy, to see beforehand if 
 such be properly worded. We have also to 
 request of you, to let us know at what price you 
 mean to charge such certificates , and how much 
 for neutralization of merchandize , and if we find 
 your conditions fair and reasonable, we shall 
 shortly have opportunities of making use of your 
 services, and to require from four to six certificates 
 each for an entire cargo. 
 
 “We also request of you to inform us upon 
 what terms you can freight a vessel of about 130 
 to 140 tons burthen, from Emden to Corunna, 
 to take a cargo of wheat; and also at what price 
 the purchase of wheat may be made at your port. 
 
14 
 
 “ You will have to correspond with our friends 
 in Spain in the French tongue, which we suppose 
 will not be difficult to you, as they understand 
 neither German nor Dutch. 
 
 “ As soon as we know your intentions respect- 
 ing the matters herein specified, we shall write to 
 you more particularly — and meanwhile salute 
 you, with esteem, 
 
 (Signed) “ Willink and D’arripe.” 
 
 “ P. S. The wheat for the Spanish , market 
 must be of the best white sort; and you would 
 much oblige us by sending a sample of wheat, 
 marking the weight of it; and also a pro-forma 
 account of the same, and all expences of the 
 cargo calculated, till it shall be in the ship, with 
 the price of the empty sacks that may be neces- 
 sary, and if we find it advantageous, we shall 
 probably send you an order to purchase the cargo 
 for the expedition; also be pleased to mention at 
 what length of credit the corn can be or is pur- 
 chased at your port. 
 
 “ W. & D.” 
 
 Mr. C. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 EMDEN. 
 
 SIR, Amsterdam, 3 d September 1825. 
 
 “We have received both your esteemed letters 
 of the 30th ult. to which this serves as a friendly 
 answer. What you were pleased to mention to 
 
15 
 
 us concerning the neutralization of goods we 
 found in perfectly good order, and accordingly 
 shall direct ourselves to you, in the firm expecta- 
 tion that you will manage these affairs with the 
 greatest, prudence, care, and caution ,for, in case 
 of being carried into British ports , the restitu- 
 tion entirely depends on the good management 
 of the claimants , and which is now more than 
 ever needful, because that the British will strive 
 by the severest means to detect every deception. 
 The charge of one per cent . for neutralization is 
 conformable with what we pay to other friends at 
 your place, an*d elsewhere ; but, that in case of 
 capture or detention, and a subsequent restitution, 
 for us to pay one or two per cent, more, is what 
 we cannot consent to, never having heard of such 
 a charge being made, and, as well as we can 
 judge, it is not practicable. From this reason, 
 one per cent, must cover every thing, be it that 
 the vessel luckily completes her voyage, or is 
 carried into port: in which case you must make 
 the reclaimation for the same one per cent, un- 
 derstanding of course that all expences remain to 
 be defrayed by us or our friends, on which 
 points we wait your decisive answer, in order that 
 we may perfectly understand each other. 
 
 “ We expect by the following post the draft 
 of a certificate, and also the sample of wheat, and 
 a fictitious order of purchase (eene gesimuleerdc 
 inkoop rckening) 3 after which we shall mention 
 
16 
 
 to you our intention to purchase a cargo, and also 
 about the chartering of a ship to Corunna. We 
 wait your answer, when we shall inform you hozo 
 many certificates zve shall zvant in the first in- 
 stance. Ad interim we greet you friendly, and 
 remain, with all esteem, 
 
 (Signed) <c Willink and D’arripe.” 
 
 It is not, however, the enemy’s ships and 
 cargoes alone which are neutralized , but false 
 documents are procured to natizralize French, 
 Dutch, and Flemish subjects, to a very great 
 extent. The price of a burgher brief varies 
 from ten to twenty pounds. False testimonials of 
 baptism cost but little, and are sold at various 
 prices. The oaths of allegiance are not admi- 
 nistered, nor are the names of such nominal sub- 
 jects ever enrolled for military service, as all true 
 Prussians are. Such burgher briefs are sold by 
 different Amtmen*, with a space left open for the 
 insertion of the name of any person who may 
 purchase them of the neutralizer ; which name 
 is afterwards inserted, as nearly as possible 
 resembling the original hand writing. W. J. 
 Folkers, confidential secretary to Post Fiscal 
 Bluhm, is the person most frequently resorted to 
 at Emden to insert the names in the blank spaces 
 purposely left in the false burgher briefs. It is 
 
 * Amtman, a sheriff or magistrate. 
 
17 
 
 also a custom with these mercenary justiciary 
 traders, to antedate these documents as many years 
 as they think necessary, the better to conceal 
 their nefarious traffic. A certain degraded Amt- 
 man has been constantly in the habit of issuing 
 false burgher briefs, or acts of naturalization, 
 which he antedates so as to carry them back to 
 the period when he really was Amtman, and 
 hundreds of Dutchmen, Frenchmen, and Flem- 
 ings, masters of vessels, now navigate as good 
 Prussians under his false documents. Sometimes 
 these naturalized masters are required to hire 
 chambers or sheds for a term of from three to six 
 years, and, exclusive of the nominal rent, a 
 charge is made by the neutralizer for taxes paid 
 to the government : these are all clear gain to the 
 neutralizer, as it frequently happens that these 
 amphibious neutral masters never saw such their 
 new habitations, or perhaps the town where they 
 are stated to be admitted burghers, yet these very 
 men, in case of capture, because they are charged 
 with rent and taxes, reconcile their consciences 
 to describe themselves of such places, and swear 
 such to be their residence. Since the com- 
 mencement of the present war, it is computed 
 that full two thousand fictitious burgher briefs 
 have been disposed of by the different Amtmen, 
 in East Friesland and its vicinity. 
 
 D 
 
18 
 
 THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSLATION OF A 
 BLANK BURGHER BRIEF, 
 
 (ACT OF NATURALIZATION) 
 
 <c This serves to certify , that* 
 
 had established himself and family in the village of 
 Planilunna before the beginning of the present 
 tear, under the protection of his Royal Majesty , 
 and which I confirm in my quality as amtman. 
 
 “ Fk.er.en-, 
 
 10 th Dec. 1803. 
 
 “ Amtman of his Prussian Majesty's 
 Amt-Freren 
 
 “ E. F- Strump.” 
 
 Every Dutch vessel intended for neutralization 
 is nominally sold by the proprietor to the neutra- 
 lizer, and a regular deed of sale, called in Dutch 
 “ een transport ,” is signed by the owner, by means 
 of which the claim for neutral papers is legalised, 
 and receipts for the purchase money are given, 
 the same as though such were real acts of sale. 
 In cases of large and valuable vessels, to give 
 such fraudulent transactions a greater air of vali- 
 dity, they are frequently sold by public auction, 
 and bought in again by some broker, for account 
 
 * The blank space was filled up with the name of Pieter 
 Gregotysen, by W. J. Folkers; the burgher brief was pur- 
 chased of the Amtman by H. G. Willems. 
 
19 
 
 of the owner, in the name of the neutralizer. 
 This manoeuvre is invariably practised by the 
 merchants who now conduct the import and ex- 
 port trade for the Dutch East India Company, 
 when any of their ships are meant to be sent to 
 sea under cover of the Prussian or any other neu- 
 tral flag. 
 
 Translated Copy of “ Ee?i Transport,” or “ No- 
 minal Deed of Sale.” 
 
 “ I, the undersigned, do by these presents de- 
 clare to have sold to Mr. Carl Frederic Schroder, 
 of Emden, the schuyt called “ de Goed Verwach - 
 ting,” long from ‘stem to stern 39 feet, breadth 
 18 feet, and depth 6 feet, measuring 30 tons, for 
 and in consideration of the sum of 1800 gilders, 
 Dutch money ; which purchase money I declare 
 to have been paid and satisfied ; in consideration 
 of which I do now cede and surrender the above- 
 mentioned schuyt, with all her stores and neces- 
 saries, to the said Carl Frederic Schroder, in full, 
 free, and entire property, free of all demands on 
 her, renouncing all my rights and claim to the said 
 bottom, her stores and necessaries, which did be- 
 long to me : promising farther to suffer the said 
 vessel to navigate any ports, waters, towns. 
 
20 
 
 streams, or rivers, wherever she may arrive, under 
 bond of my person and property. 
 
 (Signed) “ Zier Blok.” 
 
 *' Rotterdam, 
 
 30 th March, 1804 .” 
 
 Indorsed on the back of the instrument (in 
 Dutch) stands the following indorsement in 
 German : 
 
 “ By desire of the seller of the above vessel, 
 Zier Blok, the deed of sale mentioned on the 
 other side is confirmed in full, and registered in 
 our consulate, by virtue of our own signature, 
 and annexed consulate seal of his Prussian Ma- 
 jesty. 
 
 (Signed) “ G.lP. Schott, 
 
 “ The King of Prussia’s Consul 
 in this place.” 
 
 “ Rotterdam, 
 
 ? 0 th March, 1804 .” 
 
 To shew the value and importance of Mr. G. 
 P. Schott’s seal and signature, the purity of his 
 neutral conduct, and the extent of his benevo- 
 Jence, let the following letter suffice ; 
 
21 
 
 “ Mr. C. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 IMDEN. 
 
 “ SIR, “ Rotterdam, 20/A March, 1805. 
 
 “ I have received the documents for the three 
 schuyts, and paid your expences thereon at sight. 
 Herewiih I send you two more deeds of sale from 
 Captain Chiele Heyes, and Martin Jager, upon 
 which you will please to send me the papers in 
 the same order as the former ones, and which I 
 am impatiently waiting for. 
 
 “ I also request therewith letters from you to 
 the skippers, directing them to sell the fish they 
 may catch at Schevening, or elsewhere, as they 
 may deem it most profitable, taking however due 
 care to render an account of the same at the pro- 
 per time. 
 
 “ In calculating your charges have some mercy 
 on those unfortunate people j but at the same 
 time take care that you do not diminish my share 
 of the profit. I shall probably soon have occasion 
 to sell more vessels in your name, and am, with 
 esteem, 
 
 (Signed) “ G. P. Schott.” 
 
 An annual tribute is invariably paid to the 
 neutralizers, for the enjoyment of the privi- 
 leges arising from maritime neutrality, which 
 tribute money is technically and locally termed 
 “ protectie geldfi varying in amount according 
 
22 
 
 to the size and value of the ship ; but in some 
 cases, two per cent, on the amount of the freights 
 is given to the neutralizers, instead of any stipu- 
 lated sum ; and, as soon as the conditions are 
 agreed upon, an instrument is usually prepared 
 and interchanged, by which the owner binds 
 himself to pay to the neutralizer the annual tri- 
 bute, and the expences attending any claim of 
 restitution, &c. &c. ; and the neutralizer binds 
 himself, in case of capture or detention, to claim 
 restitution in the same earnest manner as though 
 
 i 
 
 the property was bona-fide his own, on condition 
 that all expences thereby occasioned be defrayed 
 by the proprietor. The neutralizer is always al- 
 lowed a commission of one or two per cent, on 
 the nominal purchase money, or upon such por- 
 tion of it as may be agreed on ; which allowance 
 is repeated whenever he is called upon, and does 
 nominally sell the vessel to the real owner, or 
 any person he may appoint. 
 
 COPY OF AN INSTRUMENT, 
 
 RELATIVE TO THE 
 
 “ Annual Tribute or “ Protectie Geld.” 
 
 “ We, the undersigned William Keats, mariner, 
 of Flushing, and Carl Friedrich Schroder, mer- 
 
23 
 
 chant, ofEmden, do declare by these presents, 
 that we have made the following agreement with 
 each other concerning the brig Cato, as named 
 before the magistrates of Dordrecht, in the act of 
 made in favour of the said Carl Friedrich 
 Schroder, on the 20th October, 1803, but now 
 called the Zee Nimf h : — Firstly, That during such, 
 time that the said brig shall be navigated as the 
 property of Carl Friedrich Schroder, who pro- 
 cured for her Prussian papers and sea pass, that 
 the said Willem Keats binds himself to pay to 
 Carl Friedrich Schroder the sum of two hundred 
 and twenty gilders Hollands geld per annum for 
 protection money, to commence from the day on 
 which the said papers and documents were sent 
 from Emden to Messrs. Hoog and Mauritz, by 
 order of the said William Keats, being the 4th 
 November, 1803, by equal and half-yearly pay- 
 ments; and, furthermore, that in case the said 
 brig should be bought up, or should afterwards 
 navigate under any other neutral colours; or, that 
 if the said Willem Keats should desire the said 
 Carl Friedrich Schroder to resign the said vessel 
 to himself, or to any other person, that he Wil- 
 lem Keats shall be obliged to pay the full six 
 months’ protection money* which may be entered 
 upon, and which shall be considered as elapsed. 
 In the second place, that the said Willem Keats 
 has at all times full right to desire the said Carl 
 
Friedrich Schroder to resign the said brig, either 
 to Willerp Keats, or any other person he may ap- 
 point ; and which conditions the said Carl Fred 
 rich Schroder undertakes to perform on the 
 demand of Willem Keats, on being paid two per 
 cent, upon the value of the said brig, and all costs 
 and expences which may be occasioned by such 
 transaction. 
 
 (Signed) “ W. Keats. 
 
 “ C. F.' Schroder.” 
 
 4< Done in Emben, 
 
 May , 1804.” 
 
 PARTICULARS CONCERNING THE DUTCH 
 BRIG CATO, 
 
 BELONGING TO WILLEM KEATS, OF FLUSHING, 
 
 Now navigating the Seas under the Prussian Flag, as 
 though she was the Property of 
 CARL FRIEDRICH SCHRODER, OF EMDEN; 
 
 EXTRACTED FROM HIS PRIVATE JOURNAL, 
 AND MARKED THERE NO. 6. 
 
 “ The brig Cato, now called the Zee Nimfh, 
 belonging to Willem Keats, of Flushing, 
 Messrs. Hoog and Mauritz, of Dort, being the 
 correspondents; she is long (binnensteven) 60 
 'feet, wide (op zyn binnenw^egering) l6 feet 4 
 inches, depth (hoi in ’t ruim) 8 feet 5 inches, 
 Amsterdam measure; the burthen 28 commer- 
 
2 5 
 
 cial lasts. The sale or resignation of the Brig 
 was made before the magistrates of Dordt, (ver- 
 deling van het water gerecht) by Willem Keats , 
 skipper and proprietor, of Emden, on the 20th 
 October, for the sum of /22 00. Dutch money. 
 The neutral papers were sent the 4th November, 
 1803, to Messrs. Hoog and Mauritz, of Dordt. 
 Willem Keats not being a Prussian, I procured 
 him letters of citizenship for / . and sent them 
 
 with the sea pass and papers. Sent the Re?i- 
 versal the 15th November, 1803. Protection 
 money 220 gilders per annum Hollands cur- 
 rency” 
 
 As soon as a ship is neutralized, the pre- 
 tended owner gives to the real owner, or his agent 
 for him, a deed called a “ Renversal ,” in which 
 the neutralizer formally and explicitly avows, 
 that he never, by any means, direct or indirect, 
 paid, or caused to be paid, the whole or any part 
 of the purchase money mentioned in the deed o 
 sale, or li transport” in any way whatever; the 
 whole being merely a nominal sale , made to pro- 
 cure the bene fits of neutrality for the said ship ; 
 and the neutralizers solemnly promise to deliver 
 up the same to the proprietor, whenever called 
 upon, all fair expences and their commissions 
 
 E 
 
 
being first duly discharged. Indeed so cautious- 
 are our enemies to secure their own shipping in- 
 terest, that in many instances the owner, who is 
 an enemy, is required, at the time of making these 
 false sales, to give his own bond or security to the 
 government, that his vessel shall be returned at the 
 peace : This is so strictly observed in Holland , 
 that not even a Dutch fishing vessel can be neu- 
 tralized y but by express sanction of the govern- 
 ment. The following is the Translation of a?i 
 original “ Renversal.” 
 
 “ I, the under-signed, Carl Friedrich Schroder , 
 declare by these presents, that although, according 
 to an act of sale, passed before the Post Fiscal 
 Bluhm, dated 22d instant, Messrs. Jan Luitjes 
 Ruyl and Son sold to me the brig named de J of- 
 fers Anna and Catharina , commanded at present 
 by Pieter Gregorysen , for a sum of / 6900 Dutch, 
 I never did pay the purchase money in any 
 way direct or indirect , the sale being only a no- 
 minal one , done to bring the ship in my name 
 under the Prussian flag, and as such to be protect- 
 ed. Therefore I the undersigned bind myself 
 by these presents, as a man of honour, that in case 
 the aforesaid ship should be detained or carried 
 into port by one of the belligerent powers, to 
 reclaim the same as though it were my own true 
 property, and when it shall be requisite, and to 
 
27 
 
 leave no means untried to give full effect to the 
 claim , and procure restitution , all on account of 
 the true proprietors of the above-mentioned ship , 
 being Messrs. Widow Frans van Aken and Sons, 
 of Ghent, to whom, or to such persons who 
 may hereafter become the proprietors by sale, I 
 bind myself to surrender to them the said ship on 
 the first demand , the expences occasioned there- 
 by remaining on their account. Done with good 
 faith at Emden, 26 June, 1804 .” 
 
 With a view of providing, in anticipation of 
 capture, the strongest possible evidence of neu- 
 tral property, the neutralizer fabricates a cor- 
 respondence with the master, who is fully in- 
 structed to keep up such simulated correspon- 
 dence, for the purpose of being exhibited as 
 proofs in the British Court of Admiralty, in cases 
 of capture or detention. When the war broke out 
 between Holland and England, a great number 
 of Dutch merchantmen were lying in different 
 foreign ports. Under their own flag they dared 
 not put to sea. How their owners contrived to 
 extricate them, let the following specimens of 
 neutralizing dexterity declare. 
 
Copy of a Letter written by H. Van Lidt de Jeude t 
 
 of Dort, to Mr. N. L. Koops, of Malaga , QOth 
 
 March , 1804. 
 
 tc As I have not yet received any answer from 
 Messrs. Niotti and Co. of Trieste , to mine of 
 the 10th ult. I suppose that all my endeavours 
 to procure 4 us l r ^ an papers for my vessel, by 
 means of those gentlemen, will come to nothing, 
 and as it is high time to withdraw my vessel 
 from your port, I have arranged it with Mr. Carl 
 Frederick Schroder that he shall write you a letter 
 direct from Emden, and therein give you to under- 
 stand, that he is informed that my vessel is to be 
 sold at Malaga by public sale, requesting you , if 
 the report be true, to purchase the vessel on his 
 account at a reasonable rate, you purchasing for 
 him as carefully as though you bought on your own 
 account, and to draw upon him for the amount, 
 payable at Amsterdam. Send the letter or act of 
 sale to him directly, that he may procure the ne^ 
 cessary neutral papers and sea pass, the master 
 provisionally, to retain his post. Thus, in case 
 Messrs. Nictti and Co. have not procured solid 
 and secure papers, or promised to procure such 
 immediately to enable my vessel to perform its 
 voyage to Trieste, then you will be pleased to put 
 the vessel up by auction within 14 days or 3 weeks 
 after the receipt of this, ( taking care however that. 
 
29 
 
 the vessel remains my property J, and in the con- 
 ditions to stipulate that the vessel shall imme- 
 diately become the property of the purchaser, and 
 that the payment must be made the day after the 
 sale, without being entered as an account. And , 
 to prove the legality of the sale, it would be bet- 
 ter if you were to drazv bills on Mr. Schroder , 
 payable in Amsterdam to my ordef , making due 
 entries in your books, so that should the vessel be 
 captured, an extract might be had in case of need. 
 To enable you to execute these orders, I here in- 
 close you a power of attorney, leaving it to you 
 to let the master know as much of the transac- 
 tion (of which I am anxious to know the issue) 
 as you may deem fitting. As soon as the ship is 
 in proper order, you must look out for a freight, 
 for which end I shall take care that you shall be 
 furnished with the necessary authority. If you 
 cannot procure a freight, the best thing will be to 
 make haste to Cadiz to see what can be done there 
 take in a cargo of salt, and as much piece goods 
 as can be procured, 'to proceed with to Holland , 
 for which end the address of Messrs. Ellerman 
 and Bresterveldt, of Cadiz, must be given to the 
 captain.” 
 
30 
 
 MR. LIDT DE JEUDE TO C. F. SCHRODER. 
 
 “ SIR, 
 
 “ I judged it necessary to send you a copy of the 
 order I have given to Mr. Koops, of Malaga, with 
 a view that your letters and further orders should 
 run in harmony with mine. I hope that your let- 
 ter to Mr. Koops is already sent off to prevent 
 any error, the consequences of which would be 
 irreparable. I wish to be informed per return 
 of every particular, and am, &c. 
 
 (Signed) et Lidt de Jeude.” 
 
 EXTRACT FROM SCHRODER’S PRIVATE JOURNAL. 
 
 “ No. 52. A snow, Susannah Margaretha , Capt. 
 Johan Barends Frerichs, H. van Lidt de Jeude 3 of 
 Dort , ozvner t sold publicly at Malaga, to me 
 for 56000 reale n de valor , burthen 180 tons. 
 The captain was made a burger of Varenrode , in 
 the district of Lingen , by an act of the Amptman 
 Strump y dated 12th March, 1804. Sea Pass, 
 &c. dated 5th July, 1804, sent on the 6th July, 
 Protection per year, /25Q. Hlld. Geld.” 
 
31 
 
 l/i TRACT OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY SCHRODEE’s' 
 
 NEUTRALIZING TRAVELLER, 
 
 Relative to the same Transaction. 
 
 “ I do not doubt but by the time this shall 
 reach you, that you will have already written to 
 Mr. N. L. Koops, of Malaga , in the manner I pre- 
 scribed to you in my hasty letter from Dort, con- 
 cerning the snow Susannah Margaretha , Johan 
 Barends Frerichs, master. I have now something 
 more to mention to you on that subject. To-mor- 
 row he means to write to his friend, to have the 
 said vessel sold by public auction, and to be 
 bought in upon your account , for which purchase 
 money he will give drafts upon you payable 
 in Amsterdam, which he will remit to Mr. Fan 
 Lidt de Jeude; which drafts you must make pay- 
 able at M. P. I. Wendorp' s, who is his friend, and 
 these bills they will afterwards send back to you 
 as though they had been legally discharged. Here 
 must also be a simulated correspondence prepared, 
 concerning and with the captain Johan Barends 
 Frerichs , so that he may go to sea as a native of 
 Holstein or Oldenburg , or, if needs must, he 
 must be made a burgher of Em den. I have fur- 
 
32 
 
 ther to inform you, that I told Mr. Lidt de Jeude 
 that the expences, including burgher brief, will 
 be about 300 gilders, besides 2 per cent commis- 
 sion ; i per cent stamp duty, and 2 percent more 
 in case of re-conveyance. He endeavoured to get 
 this vessel neutralized at Trieste, and said it 
 was possible he might yet get an answer, but he 
 did not think he should do any thing further that 
 way. He has also a new Hoeker which you will 
 be sure of having. We must not begin to talk of 
 his East Indiamen yet, it is enough to make a 
 beginning ” 
 
 The ship the Susanna Margaret ha, mentioned 
 in the preceding letters and extracts, had, in con- 
 sequence of the war, remained unemployed at 
 Malaga for twelve months, and probably must 
 have continued there till this time, had she not 
 been rescued in the fraudulent manner before 
 alluded to. In consequence of Mr. Schroder's 
 furnishing her with these simulated papers, she 
 did not remain longer in that dormant state, but 
 was immediately launched as a Prussian Vessel 
 into the commerce of Europe, and actually 
 made two or three voyages in that counterfeited 
 character. As has been already observed, the 
 rapacity of the neutralizers has no limits. Mr. 
 Schroder , not content with the prostitution of his 
 
S3 
 
 own neutral character in covering the property of 
 the enemy , employs this vessel in carrying on the 
 Coasting trade of France , being actually bound 
 from Marennes, in France, to the port of 
 Antwerp, with a cargo of salt , having false 
 papers on board to prove her destination to Em den ! 
 She was captured on the 23 d August last, near 
 Ostend, in the prosecution of this voyage from 
 Marennes ft? Antwerp, by hisMajesty’s sloop 
 of war CruIzer, at on that ground condemned 
 to the Captor. 
 
 If any thing was wanting to establish the hos- 
 tile intentions of this asserted neutral , the follow- 
 ing paper, which was found on board the Susan- 
 na Margaretha , the author thinks Would be quite 
 sufficient ; 
 
 “ I, the undersigned Judge, do hereby 
 certify and declare, that before the court herein- 
 after named unto me conferred* on the day here- 
 after set forth, the following deposition on oath 
 has been registered and actually made. 
 
 <c Bone in Emden, at the Court 6 f Up 
 and Wclthusen, the 24th May> 1805 . 
 
 “ Appeared personally before this court. Care 
 Friedrick Schroder, respectable merchant 4 
 inhabitant and citizen of this town of Emden , 
 
 F 
 
34 
 
 personally known to us to be a subject of his Ma y 
 jesty the King of Prussia, declaring the said depo-* 
 nent, that he had given an order to his Captain , 
 Jbhan B. Frericks, lying at present in Dordt, to 
 sail for Marennes , to buy for his own sole and ab- 
 solute account , with assistance of Mr. Lagaille 
 Bertrand , a cargo of salt, and to load them in his 
 vessel the Susanna Margaretha, and to sail with 
 the cargo to Emden ; and that these salts directly 
 when purchased by the said captain, shall be and 
 remain the property of said deponent until ar- 
 rived in Emden j that with the same salts, di- 
 rectly when purchased, no transfer or alteration 
 of property, neither directly nor indirectly, shall 
 be made; that thus in case the vessel so being 
 freighted might be taken and captured, and after* 
 wards be released, always the said salts, even at 
 the time of the capture and release, shall not be- 
 long to any body but him the said deponent; 
 that, moreover, no bill of lading of different tenor 
 shall be made of the said salts; and that neither, 
 the belligerent powers and nations, nor their sub- 
 jects and inhabitants, nor agents and commissioners , 
 nor any other pei'son whatever, except him said 
 deponent, shall have, neither dii'ectly or indirectly , 
 any part, right, title, or interest in the said cargo 
 of salts, or is at the time , of the shipping , or at the 
 time of the capture of the vessel and cargo and 
 their release, or at any other time, until the same 
 
35 
 
 will be disposed of for the own and sole account , 
 profit , and risk of the deponent 
 
 The preceding deposition having been read 
 over to the deponent, he affirmed the same to be 
 genuine and true , without any fraud or double 
 meaning , and without any reservation of mind or 
 any other circumstances — whereupon he made his 
 oath prescribed below : 
 
 Truth — as help him God ! 
 and then signed the present deed, in presence of 
 the also undersigned members of the court. 
 
 “ Done as above. 
 
 “ Carl Fred. Schroder. 
 
 “ In jidem , 
 
 “ D. L. Bluhm. 
 
 “ W. J. Folkers, Seed* 
 
 The following translation of the Prussian 
 sea pass and certificate for the Dutch ship 
 the Susanna Margaretha t represented to have 
 been granted on the oath of Mr. Schroder, 
 must strike conviction to every mind of the facility 
 with which papers of this solemn description are 
 
36 
 
 obtained— of the utter impossibility of any cf bis 
 Majesty’s navy officers discovering fraudulent 
 PAS$&sfrom fair ones; and the groundless hope 
 of putting an end to this alarming system , while 
 such persons as Mr. Schroder are suffered in 
 other instances to stand in judgment on the same 
 ground as, a fair neutral. 
 
 Translated from the Latin Language. 
 
 v We, Frederick William, by the grace of 
 God, King of Prussia, Marquis of Branden- 
 burg, Arch-Chamberlain and Prince Elector of 
 the Jloly Roman Empires Sovereign Duke of 
 Silesia ; Sovereign Prince of Orange, Neufchatel, 
 and Yalengin, and also of the counties of Glatz, 
 Magdeburg, Cleves, Burgin, Stettin, Pomerania, 
 Cassuben, and Wenden , and Mecklenburg’, and 
 Duke of Crossen j Burgrave of Nurenburg on 
 both sides the mountains ; Prince of Hildesheim, 
 Paderborn, Halberstadt, Minister, Minden , Camin, 
 Wenden, Schzverin, Ratzeburg, East Friesland, 
 Eichfeld, Erfert, Essen, Quidlinburg, and Ellen ; 
 Count of Hohenzoltern, Ruppin , Mark, Ravens - 
 burg and Hohenstein, Tecklenburg, Schzverin, 
 fin gen, BuJiron, and Leerdams Lord of Rostock, 
 
87 
 
 Stargard, Werden , Limber g, Lanenberg , Butone , 
 4rlay, and Breda , Sfc. 8fc. 8fc. 
 
 “ Do make known unto all and singular 
 who shall see and hear read these our letters. 
 That our subject Carl Friedrich Schroder, 
 of the city o/Emden, in our principality of East 
 Friesland, hath most humbly represented to us, 
 that he intends sending his ship, belonging to him 
 solely , not laden with any prohibited or contra- 
 band goods, of the burthen of about eighty lasts, 
 called the Susanna Margaretha , under the com- 
 mand of Johan Barend Frericks , the master, to 
 various countries, as circumstances and commer- 
 cial advantages may require, or as she may be 
 able to obtain freight, earnestly entreating that, 
 for the greater safely and security of her passage 
 and navigation, we would grant unto her these 
 letters of safe conduct or passport, as a certificate 
 of her domicil and freedom, and a protection 
 against any misfortune or suspicion; which re- 
 quest we have the more willingly complied with, 
 as it is our care and wish on every occasion to 
 promote and increase the convenience and adr 
 vancement of our faithful subjects: wherefore we 
 in the most gracious, benevolent, and amicable 
 manner, require all and every who shall see these 
 our letters, each in his respective quality, magis* 
 trates of cities, officers of ports and maritime 
 places, commanders of fleets, and all officers, both 
 
38 
 
 supreme and subordinate, as aiso captains and 
 masters of vessels, who may happen to meet with 
 the said ship on her passage, or with whose fleets 
 she may chance to fall in, or abide in their ports, 
 that they receive with kindness the said Captain 
 Johan Berend Frericks , on the production of this 
 our certificate, commencing from this day, and 
 continuing in force until the fifth day of the 
 month of July, in the ensuing year, together with 
 his ship, and all the persons, effects, and merchan- 
 dize on board the same. And after he shall at 
 each place have paid the usual customs, that they 
 will permit him freely to exercise and carry on 
 his commerce, and as much as each could wish in 
 the same situation to be assisted and advanced, 
 so much humane assistance let him afford to this 
 our subject : in doing which they will greatly 
 oblige us, and promote the exercise of free com- 
 merce; promising on our part to recompense all 
 and every according to their respective quality. 
 
 “ In witness whereof we have caused 
 these letters to be corroborated 
 with our seal. 
 
 “ Given at Aurich, in our Military 
 and Domain Chamber of the Principality 
 of East Friesland, this fifth day of 
 the month of July , in the year of our 
 
so 
 
 salvation one thousand eight hundred 
 and four. 
 
 {Signed) “Vincke. 
 
 “ Shultz. 
 
 “ Tannen. 
 
 “ Sethe.” 
 
 “ S. Lener. 
 
 M Upon the request of Carl Frederick 
 Schroder, of Emden, in the Royal Prussian 
 principality of East Friesland, ship owner , it is 
 hereby, on the part of the Royal Prussian Cham- 
 ber of War and Finances of this province, attested, 
 that the said Frederick Schroder is an actual royal 
 Prussian subject, and that he affirmed, by a cor- 
 poral oath , that the ship Susanna Margaretha, of 
 the burthen of eighty lasts, and commanded by 
 the ship-master Joan Berend Frericks, likewise an 
 actual royal Prussian subject , is solely his pro- 
 perty, and that no foreigner had any the least 
 share therein: — Wherefore we do hereby request 
 all civil and military authorities, by land and sea, 
 to allow the said ship Susanna Margaretha , on 
 producing this certificate,valid,for a twelvemonth, 
 free and unmolested to pass and repass at all 
 places as a real and actual royal Prus- 
 sian ship, belonging to a Royal Prussian Subject , 
 hnd to shew the shipmaster and his ship’s crew, as 
 
40 
 
 tveil on the voyage as in port, all good will, which 
 kindness we shall, on similar occasions, willingly 
 return on our part. 
 
 “ Done at Aurich, in the Royal Prussian 
 Principality of East Friesland, uwkr 
 the annexed Great Chamber Seal , 5th of 
 July , 1804 . 
 
 tl The royal Prussian Chamber of War and Fi- 
 nances of the principality of East Friesland/’ 
 
 It is a manoeuvre highly approved, and now 
 Constantly acted upon, that when a neutralizer has 
 documented a vessel or cargo, he, in anticipation of 
 Capture, informs his confidential agent in London* 
 and instructs him to demand restitution, in case the 
 Vessel should be captured and sent into port by any 
 British cruizer. A certain individual, (who is re- 
 sorted to as a universal claimant for neutralizers of 
 every country, America excepted) enjoys a great 
 degree of popularity in the havens of France and 
 Holland for having rescued many rich cargoes and 
 valuable vessels, knowing the same to have been 
 the sole property of the enemy , from inevitable 
 condemnation in the Court of Admiralty, and* 
 by means of the most flagrant perjuries and in* 
 
41 
 
 famous frauds, has torn innumerable prices from 
 the grasp of our brave seamen. He encourages 
 the enemy to trade under neutral colours, by 
 pointing out the facility with which, even in the 
 most desperate cases, restitution may be pro- 
 cured in the British Court of Admiralty, in the 
 event of capture or detention. Hence he is in 
 general preferred to the regular consul. 
 
 The following extracts, translated from letters 
 written by the house of Roche and Vink, of 
 Rotterdam , to C. F. Schroder, of Emden , will 
 enable the reader to form a very just estimate of 
 the character of the person alluded to : 
 
 “ Rotterdam, 30 th July, 1803 . 
 
 “ Inclosed is a letter from our friend Mr. J. C. 
 Preidel, of London , who has seen , by chance , in 
 the Admiralty at London , the manifest of the 
 cargo per Zimmerman , and observed that those 25 
 chests of cheese belonged to you. He now writes 
 to us, and likewise to you, to suffer him to claim 
 them. We will answer him on Monday, that 
 they are the joint property of you and of us, but 
 that you had chosen to employ the Consul Fridag, 
 to which we had agreed to. That Preidel is 
 one of the very best and most useful of men, for 
 
 G 
 
42 
 
 whom we have much esteem and friendship. We 
 are sorry that he has seen this, but we can fully 
 depend on him. You can answer him in the same 
 way as we do, saying, that in future you will em- 
 ploy him zvith pleasure. He is very clever and 
 active. At the same time, do you make him a 
 tender of your services. We formerly recom- 
 mended you to him, when he gave us the address 
 of Jan Luitjes Rcjyl and Son. Preidel 
 tells us that he could immediately succeed in the 
 claim, and even that he sees chance to claim and 
 get released cargoes destined from one enemy's 
 port to another ; and that claims are made on 
 neutral account with the greatest success. This 
 promises much good for the Soap, per Sjoerds , 
 and the madders *, per Desilles. Do you there- 
 fore recommend this to Fridag. Y ou will now 
 have received the letter from Rouen, and have 
 forwarded every thing. Preidel has got re- 
 leased half of a cargo coming in a French ship 
 from Charleston to Ostend — the other half was 
 on French account. He has got a cargo to claim 
 for Hamburgh account, from the Isle of France 
 to Marseilles, in which he likewise thinks he shall 
 succeed, if Hamburgh remains neutral. Thus 
 
 * The soap was Dutch, and the madders, French property, 
 and belonged to Messrs. Couturier and Maillard, merchants of 
 
 flnjiat, of which RESTITUTION WUS OBTAINED. 
 
4 3 
 
 you see that one must only venture , and I advise 
 you to forward the papers to Fridag ; with re- 
 commendation to do their utmost in moderating 
 expences.” 
 
 “ Roller dam, 5th August, 1803 . 
 
 “ It is very well that you have received the 
 French letter *, and intend forwarding the do- 
 cuments for the claim of Desilles ’ cargo. We desire 
 you to use all speed therewith, and give the neces- 
 sary recommendation to Mr. Fridag. As he is 
 Prussian consul , / thought it zvould give more 
 weight to the claim, and have therefore chosen him . 
 Preidel is a very active and clever man , who de- 
 serves to be recommended , and therefore you can 
 use him on other occasions . — Widxv.Jean de Vetle 
 and Fils are our particular friends, and are deeply 
 connected with Jan Luitjes Ruyl and Son. 
 They have many ships of their own. Our clerk 
 is at present in Ostend : we have told him to 
 speak to them, and to other merchants in that 
 place, about you, and to recommend you. At 
 the same time you can write in Dutch to Messrs, 
 de Vetle and Fils. We correspond very much 
 
 * The letter here alluded to was fabricated by the merchants of 
 Rouen, to prove the cargo Schroder’s. 
 
44 
 
 with them, and could inclose yours. A person 
 named Hofland, who was formerly a clerk of Jan 
 Luitjes Ruyl and Son, is now in their employ 
 — this for your government.’* 
 
 “ Rotterdam, 16 Ik August, 1803. 
 
 Enclosed is an extract of a letter we this day 
 received from Messrs . de Vetteand Fils, of Ostend, 
 by which you will observe that Mr . J. C. Preidel , 
 of London, has claimed with success a quantity of 
 brandy , out of a Dutch ship, of zvkick there zvas 
 not the least hopes. This is a case exactly simi- 
 lar with the goods per Sjoerds — much less favour - 
 able than the cargo per Desilles. We are nozo 
 more than ever sorry that Preidel has not made 
 the claim -, but it is too late, and you employ - 
 ed Fridag zvith the best intention. Jan Luitjes 
 Ruyl and Son* could not have done more than 
 you have done in bringing the documents in or- 
 der. This is again an additional reason to urge 
 Fridag to be active, and to inform them that you 
 were informed of this by Ruyl. The name of 
 the vessel, these latter will perhaps tell you, ab 
 -though it is of no consequence. It would now 
 
 * Messrs. Jan Luitjes Ruyl and Piepersberg ( the son) pride 
 themselves in being the most dexterous neutralizers in Etnden. 
 
45 
 
 be verv unfortunate if we do not succeed, and 
 your own reputation is too much involved in this 
 concern. 
 
 “ Our clerk, Louis Tollens , writes us concern- 
 ing Preidel’s activity. Hojland , who was with 
 JIuyl and Son of your place, told him that Fri - 
 dag zvas not active enough. Preidel has effected 
 that claim without its ever going into court. To 
 make use of Preidel now would be improper ; but 
 let Fridag see what Preidel has done. In fu- 
 ture, when such events occur , let no one else be em- 
 ployed.” 
 
 “ Rotterdam, 2,3d August, 1SQS. 
 
 “ It is something very strange that you do not 
 hear from Fridag. It is "Certainly a mark of 
 neglect and inattention about which they ought 
 to be written to. We are anxious to hear that 
 you have received letters from London. Had 
 we but employed Mr. Preidel it would have 
 been betters but it is now too late. Fridag is to 
 be blamed that the goods are lost. 
 
 “ Rotterdam, 3d September, 1803. 
 
 “ To Preidel’s letter, which we return you 
 inclosed, you must answer in such a way as you 
 
46 
 
 would do for yourself. It is so long since it was 
 shipped, that the cheese will be half spoiled. It 
 is very well that you recommended, that friend , he 
 is of double worth,” 
 
 “ Rotterdam , 25th October, 1803. 
 
 ts How sorry we are Mr. Preidel was not 
 employed from the commencement ! This man is 
 indefatigable , and astonishingly active in pro- 
 curing restitution ; for which reason we can recom- 
 mend nobody better to you than this friend : the 
 more so } as we ourselves have worked through 
 
 MANY DIFFICULT AFFAIRS BY HIS MEANS.” 
 
 28 th October, 1803. 
 
 “ As to what concerns the charges for civil 
 taxes and chamber hire, I continue of the same 
 opinion, and I believe that the people will com- 
 plain of it. If for example you only charged 
 four years taxes , and after the expiration of that 
 period, if the war continued, you could renew 
 the charge in account. You certainly keep a good 
 and accurate register* of all the ships which 
 
 * It was from that Register or Private Journal, the descriptions 
 ©f neutralized vessels, given in this work, were extracted. 
 
47 
 
 navigate in your name , their description and cor- 
 respondent , the dates that their paper's were taken 
 out , Sic. You could then always renew the 
 charge of chamber rent, which people are always 
 obliged to pay, if they will let their ships go to 
 sea. The protection money is also another good 
 thing , and then again at last, the surrender or re- 
 transport. If the charges were but more mode- 
 rate, I cannot help thinking that you would get 
 more to do, and that fewer vessels would go over 
 ^^ePAAPENBURG COLOURS.” 
 
 “ Rotterdam , 29 Ik. November, 1803 . 
 
 “ It is quite right that you have given Preidel 
 notice of all the ships and merchandize which goes 
 to sea under your name. This friend can now go 
 to work to obtain its release, as soon as any 
 thing is taken. I think you would do well to con- 
 tinue this practice. The amount of £ 50,000 . 
 sterling is certainly very considerable, and I think 
 it must soon become more*.” 
 
 f Tills neutralizing establishment of Messrs. Roche, Vink, 
 and Schroder’s, was then but in the third month of actual ope- 
 rations, and the amount of<£50,000,here alluded to, is the amount 
 of what was thereat that very moment, navigating on his name, 
 and not the total of enemy’s property which he had covered. 
 
48 
 
 Such is the character and occupation of Mr. J. 
 C. Preidel. Yet is this being openly counte- 
 nanced in his destructive practices by men, calling 
 themselves British Merchants , and to whom his 
 crimes are known. This country must be aware, 
 or it will fall, as Holland has done, the victim of a 
 boundless mercantile cupidity. If the legislature of 
 the country does not interfere between their ava- 
 rice and the impending consequences. Imperial 
 Britain must bow her head before her enemies, if 
 they continue to be aided by such a base system 
 of commercial confederacy. 
 
 In cases of vessels and cargoes being captured 
 by British ships of war, and afterwards claimed as 
 Prussian property, in the name of persons resident 
 in East Friesland, of one hundred documents ad- 
 duced as proofs of neutral property on the part of 
 the claimants, not five are genuine. As soon as it is 
 agreed upon to neutralize any vessel or cargo, a 
 fabricated correspondence, locally termed (C een 
 gesimuleerde correspondence ,” is commenced be- 
 tween the owner and the neutralizer ; the letters 
 composing which are duly stamped at the respec- 
 tive post offices*, and those written by theneutrali- 
 
 * The foreign post offices sometimes stamp the names of 
 towns on letters, but not the dates. 
 
49 
 
 Zer are regularly entered into his copy-book, 
 with intent to use them as evidence on any fu- 
 ture event of capture or detention. Even after 
 vessels have been captured, and whilst the case is 
 undecided at Doctor’s Common, letters, intended 
 as proofs of neutral property are forged and ante- 
 dated j and, though the magistrates, or Amtmen, 
 know perfectly well that those letters are coloura- 
 ble letters, they are base enough to affix counter- 
 feit affidavits to them, affirming them to be ex- 
 tracted and faithfully transcribed from such neu- 
 traliser’s copy or letter book, notwithstanding 
 they never inspect the same : the copies of the 
 neutralizer’s letters are merely transcribed from 
 a form given by the latter on a loose sheet of pa- 
 per. Such are the frauds practised upon our 
 Court of Admiralty by the neutralizers, some of 
 whose agents in London, and particularly the ce- 
 lebrated claimant before mentioned, give them 
 private intelligence what letters or documents it 
 may be necessary to prepare, in order to obtain 
 restitution of the contested property. 
 
 When the name of a neutralizer is grown 
 too familiar to the commanders of British ships 
 of war, or is become too notorious in the Court 
 of Admiralty, it is not at all uncommon for su9h 
 neutralizer to make use • of some other person’s 
 
 H 
 
50 
 
 name, less known as a vender of neutrality, to 
 whom he pays a small portion of his commission, 
 and the vessels then navigate as that person's 
 property ; but in case it happens that those ves- 
 sels are carried into English ports, the original 
 neutralizer generally employs his own agent to 
 demand restitution, seldom or ever entrusting 
 such affairs out of his own hands, as the follow- 
 ing extracts of letters from Louis Tollens , to C. 
 F. Schroder , will best explain : 
 
 “ Rotterdam, March 3, 180*. 
 
 “ It would really be a pity if there be any hope 
 of success, to let the vessel be lost. Thence I re- 
 quest of you to look out for some person who 
 would but lend his name : there are probably 
 such persons to be found (it does not matter if 
 they are merchants or not) who would be but 
 little affected let the claim of restitution end as it 
 may. Would not my landlord Van Baumgaar- 
 ten consent to such a measure ? I think he would $ 
 and also that you ought to make use of that man 
 upon other occasions, particularly in the follow- 
 ing, viz. It is to be feared, that if you goon neu- 
 tralizing Fish-hoekers (and to refuse them would 
 be folly) and any of them should be taken and 
 condemned, your character would sustain much 
 injury. To prevent which, it appears to me to 
 be needful, that some of them (i. e. those which 
 
51 
 
 you may hereafter bring under the Prussian flag) 
 should sail under the name of Van Baumgaarten, 
 the whole direction , however, resting with your- 
 self. For a small share of the protection money, 
 most likely. Van Baumgaarten would willingly 
 agree to it, and then, let what would happen, 
 your name would sustain no injury.” 
 
 “ Rotterdam, May 8 , 1804 . 
 
 “ The contracts for C. and IV. Hogendyk I did 
 not dare to send to them in the state they were 
 made out: in the beginning, it appears as though 
 you were obliged to have recourse to another 
 to be able to procure documents; and the very 
 first time you may use such words, might oc- 
 casion you to be entirely overlooked for the 
 future. In article the second stood, that in case of 
 reconveyance, they might apply themselves direct 
 to C. G. Baumgaarten . The frauds which might 
 proceed from it in case of bad faith (to guard 
 against which contracts are made) you will com- 
 prehend as well as me. I have altered the con- 
 tracts to their proper tenor, which I here inclose 
 for your inspection, and hope you will approve 
 of it.” 
 
52 
 
 " Dated 10 th March, 1804. 
 
 <f You will find here already, the transport of 
 the belonging to the de- 
 
 scription of the vessel stands in the transport 
 (deed of sale). You will perceive that the owners 
 have chosen that you must take part-owners*, 
 which you must be active in looking out for. Now, 
 for you to share alike with people who only lend 
 their names , while all the trouble lays with you, 
 1 think, would be unjust \ at least, if there ac^ 
 crues no advantage from them of equal value : 
 thence, under correction, I think it will be best 
 for you to find one or two houses,'and enter into 
 an agreement with them, to pay for the use of 
 their signatures , a certain sum, once for all. 
 Van der Wall and Co. and Szvart and Bertram , 
 are, I believe, the fittest for this purpose : as to 
 Jean Vetter , the people of Rotterdam are not very 
 fond of him.” 
 
 The frauds and forgeries which are” daily 
 committed, to bring a ship’s papers, to what the 
 neutralizers technically call “ a sure footing ,” 
 are almost too gross for belief. They forge names 
 
 * This stratagem is practised to allay the suspicion which 
 naturally arises from seeing many and large vessels navigat- 
 ing as the sole property of poor and obscure persons. 
 
53 
 
 without restraint, and lend their own to each 
 other as often, to support their common interest, 
 as for the purpose of immediate gain. It happens 
 very frequently, that the clerks of the neutralizers, 
 and those clerks but mere boys, are used by 
 their iniquitous employers, as buyers and sellers 
 of ships in their fraudulent sales, and frequently the 
 same person is made to appear in different trans- 
 actions under different names. The real Prussian 
 proprietor, conscious of the legality of his pre- 
 tensions ; is sometimes a little negligent as to 
 formalities ; but the crafty neutralizer, well aware 
 that a close adherence to formalities is quite suf- 
 ficient to stamp legality on his forgeries , attends 
 to the minutest injunctions of the law, and leaves 
 no point unguarded. 
 
 farther Extracts of Letters from Louis Tollens 
 to C. F. Schroder. 
 
 Hague, March 26, 1804. 
 
 u You will find inclosed the deed of sale, of 
 the Elizabct, belonging to Mr. De Jongh , for 
 which you have already procured the sea-pass. 
 This is merely sent to you, in order, that instead 
 of this simple deed of sale, you should cause a 
 second to be prepared, such as was done in the 
 case of L. Schelvischvanger, i. e. from Swart , to 
 
Baumgaarten , in the beginning of the year 
 1803*$ and from him to yourself the 22d De- 
 cember, whence it follows that you will please to 
 pass a new declaration of the 12th January, 1804, 
 instead of the former. You will readily conceive 
 that the only reason for doing all this, is to bring 
 the papers into better order . These conveyances 
 and declarations are required back again, per re- 
 turn of post, as the hoeker must not go to sea 
 without them. 
 
 “ The whole of yesterday, till three o’clock in the 
 afternoon, I passed with Mr. De Jongh , of Maas- 
 sluis, in devising the best means and plan of send- 
 ing his new hoeker out to sea, in the most solid 
 and secure manner possible. It is not possible 
 for me now to write to you all we resolved upon $ 
 that which is most material for you to be speedily 
 informed of is as follows : — There must be a cor- 
 respondence fabricated between Messrs. Roche 
 and Vink , and Mr. A. De Jongh , commencing in 
 the summer of 1803 $ and at the same time there 
 must be a correspondence between you and Messrs. 
 Roche and Vink y in which these gentlemen shall 
 take the vessel there lying upon the stocks to 
 
 * All these false and ante-dated documents were attested 
 by the Emden magistrates. 
 
55 
 
 themselves, as their own property, and directly 
 afterwards dispose of it to you. Messrs. Roche and 
 Vink shall give charge to Mr. A. de Jongh to take 
 upon himself the superintendance of the comple- 
 tion of the vessel, till she be entirely ready. In the 
 mean time, Messrs. Roche and Vink shall look out 
 for a freight, but not being able to get any, they shall 
 sell her to Van Baumgaarten , who saw her during 
 his late journey to Holland . — Van Baumgaarten 
 shall then request Mr. A. de Jongh to get the vessel 
 ready for sea, and provide her with barrels and salt, 
 and send her out to the fishery, and also to send 
 Jacob Ary Zevenhnyzen off. The plan and con- 
 tents of all the letters which are to be written is 
 already formed, and put on paper, in order to be 
 finished without delay. In the mean time you 
 may take out the documents, in doing which, you 
 must be particularly attentive to what follows :* — 
 You receive herewith a deed of surrenderor all 
 rights and privileges appertaining to the above- 
 mentioned vessel, to Messrs. Roche and Vink ; and 
 further, a deed of sale from Roche 3.ndVink to you. 
 You will please to get a notarial conveyance or 
 deed of sale to be made, disposing of the said 
 vessel to VanBaumgaarten 3 d 2 Xe.d 28th Jan. 1804, 
 for the sum of 12,S0fr gilders Dutch money, and 
 hereon, as soon as possible, take out the need- 
 ful papers in the name of G. C. Baumgaarten , 
 
trusting that you will have made an agreement 
 with him to that purpose. Jacob Ary Zeveri - - 
 huyzen , who formerly commanded the Elizabeth 
 belonging to Mr. A. DeJongh , is now appointed 
 to the command of this, and his burgher brief you 
 will find here inclosed. The account of expences 
 you will please to regulate according to the for- 
 mer agreement. You are to charge commission on 
 only 6000 gilders, and the protection money must 
 be the same as for the others, namely, 130 gilders 
 per annum. I add hereunto, in order to prevent 
 confusion, which might originate from the papers 
 of Zeveiihuyzen, and the inclosed documents also 
 speaking of that man, that the new conveyances 
 of the Elizabet must mention him also, although 
 he commands the vessel no longer ; and that be- 
 cause he is mentioned in the sea-pass. All this 
 we shall have altered at Rotterdam by Schott , to 
 the name of Jan Aryze , who is now to be captain, 
 and for whom the burgher brief is designed which 
 I demanded of you last post day from Maas-sluis. 
 I must yet detain you some time longer, concern- 
 ing the account of expences to Messrs. Hndig 
 Blokhuyzen and Van D*r Eb. Those gentlemen 
 complain most bitterly. They shewed me ac- 
 counts in the hand-writing of Johan Baacrman, 
 of vessels of 260 or 300 tons burthen, that never 
 exceeded in ex pence 350 or 400 gilders, includ- 
 
51 
 
 ing burgher-brief commission, and in the last in- 
 stance, a new Prussian flag. He shewed me 
 two accounts from Goedelman, concerning two 
 sloops, the entire expences of which were but 
 three hundred and tiventy gilders, and exclu- 
 sive of these, fourteen or fifteen old accounts 
 from P. J. Abegg , not one of which exceeded 
 230 gilders.” 
 
 EXTRACT FROM C. F. SCHRODER’S PRIVATE 
 
 JOURNAL, 
 
 Marked there No. 13 . 
 
 “ The hoeker Elizabet, belonging to Adrianus 
 de Jongh, of Maas-sluis , Jacob Ary Zevenhuyzen, 
 Master. 
 
 “ This vessel was nominally sold to me 
 on the 22d December, 180S, at Rotterdam, 
 by A. de Jonghy as certified by G. P. Schott , the 
 Prussian Consul — burthen 30 last, length 64 feet, 
 width 17 feet, and depth 11 feet. The burgher 
 brief, with the old papers, are dated the 15 th 
 January, 1797, according to which the civil taxes 
 were paid for three years. The sea pass and 
 certificate, with all the neutral documents, were 
 
 I 
 
58 
 
 sent to A. de Jongh. According to, agreement, 
 23d of February, the protection money was settled 
 at Maassluis at 1 30 gilders Dutch per annum. 
 
 “ On the 3d April tzvo contracts were sent to 
 A. de Jongh ; the one purporting to be an act of 
 sale of this vessel by Szvart to Baumgaarten, for 
 2750 gilders Dutch. This deed, done by Klose 
 the notary , dated February 6, 1803. The second 
 deed was done before Hullesheim, by which 
 Baumgaarten sells the vessel to me for /3000, is 
 dated the 22d and 23d December, 1803. This 
 vessel is now navigated by Jan Aryze , made a 
 burgher of Larrelt by Amtman Bluhm the 30th 
 June, 1803. This burgher brief was sent to 
 A. de Jongh the 1 7th April. The vessel now 
 sails with the following papers, viz. — O. C. Swart 
 sold this vessel y lying at Rotterdam, to C. G. 
 Baumgaarten for f 2750 — this deed executed 
 before Klose , the notary of Emden, dated the 6th 
 February, 1803. On the 22d December, 1803, 
 C. G. Baumgaarten sold it to me for 3000 gilders, 
 the vessel still lying at Rotterdam. This deed 
 was executed before, IJullesheim. The act or 
 declaration of its being my property is on board, 
 dated 10th January, 1804, executed before Post 
 Fiscal Bluhm." 
 
59 
 
 It has been very much the practice this war for 
 Dutch, French, and Flemish owners of vessels to 
 reap great advantages from the vitiated docu- 
 ments used in the former war, when their vessels 
 navigated under some other hired emblems of 
 neutrality. In all such instances, any clerk or 
 friend of the present neutralizer, pretending to 
 be empowered by the former neutralizer, affects 
 to sell the vessel to some second person, that 
 second to a third ; the vessels are then sent to sea 
 with the usual counterfeit affidavits and docu- 
 ments, and no other papers on board but those 
 representing the transfer to be from one neutral 
 proprietor to another. Many enemy’s ships so 
 covered are perfectly secure , and cannot be con- 
 demned, unless the masters should by any acci- 
 dent have documents on board which should not 
 be there. 
 
 The names of the vessels are generally changed 
 when neutralized, as are also the names of the 
 masters, and muster rolls are often sent in blank 
 to the place where the purchased ship is lying, 
 where the crew, when hired, sign their names, 
 and are taught to swear that they were engaged 
 in and sailed from Emden. The price charged 
 for a blank muster roll at Emden, is one louis 
 d’or. Immense numbers have been sold to our 
 enemies, bearing the city seal and official sig- 
 
60 
 
 nature of the city secretary. By means of these 
 deceptions whole fleets of our enemy’s merchant- 
 men pass unmolested by our cmizers, direct from 
 their own ports to their colonies. For instance, 
 wines, provisions, iron-work, &c. if appearing 
 to have been shipped at Bourdeaux for Guada- 
 loupe t would be liable to capture and confisca- 
 tion; but if those same articles appear to have 
 been sent by neutral Emden merchants from 
 their own ports y it is then permittable, except in 
 cases of blockade. Thence the whole of the 
 trade carried on direct between Nantz, Rochfort, 
 St. Malo, Lannion, Bourdeaux, &c. and the West 
 India colonies, is covered by means of false muster 
 rolls and false clearances, bought to prove that 
 the crew were mustered at , and the vessel sailed 
 from y a neutral port. In the filling up of the 
 blank-muster-roll, care is taken to arrange the 
 date of it to correspond with the time a vessel 
 would actually have taken in sailing from Emden. 
 The fal se clearances are obtained from the officers 
 belonging to the Emden custom-house. The 
 way in which this important fraud is managed is 
 as follows:— When an outward Emden clearance 
 is wanting for any vessel lying ready for sea in a 
 foreign port, the neutralizer reports at the custom 
 house, that the vessel is arrived in the Ems. If 
 the ship be in ballast, the last geld or tonnage is 
 paid to the Emden customs. If there be a cargo, 
 
61 
 
 jon board the transit duty of f per cent, is paid or 
 compromised by the neutralizer, who then clears 
 the vessel outward to the port of destination, and 
 this false clearance, (and if required) receipts for 
 transit duties, &c. are sent off to the port where 
 the vessel may chance to be. There is an officer at 
 Emden, whose duty it is to see that the vessels 
 cleared inward are really in the roads; but a small 
 bribe will make him report any vessel to be there, 
 though she be in Bourdeaux. 
 
 In this vile manner is “ ivar in disguise ” car- 
 ried on against us ; in this dishonourable way is 
 the power of our navy evaded — our enemies che- 
 rished and assisted— and the naval armaments of 
 the foe equipped and victualled. To every mer- 
 chant of France, Spain, and Holland ; to every 
 neutral who trades with those merchants, those 
 degrading facts are notoriously known, and the 
 country is, with all her wealth and power, the 
 victim of their combined frauds, and the butt of 
 their derision ! It is surely time for some en- 
 lightened statesman to step forward and rouse 
 this long suffering land to save herself from being 
 swindled out of her political existence ! 
 
62 
 
 A BLANK MUSTER-ROLL. 
 
 “Wy Burgermeesteren en Raad der Stad 
 Emden Oirkonden en betuigen mits deezen, dat 
 op heden ter Secretary deezer Steede geconipa- 
 reerd is Schipper voerende 
 
 het Scbip sisteerende in 
 
 Byzyn van den Capitain Schout 
 de Officieren en Matroozen op het zelve Schip in 
 Dienst genoomen, met namen 
 
 Verklaarende en belovende gemelde Officieren 
 en Matroozen ten eersten, zig te hebben geen- 
 
63 
 
 gageert, om met het zelve Schip te zullen vaaren 
 
 en voorts zoo als de Vragten 
 zullen lopen, dien volgens ook wederom her- 
 waards te zullen weederkeeren, of elders op te 
 leggen, zullende alsdan voor Reisgeld terug na 
 Emden te genieten hebben als volgt: 
 
 VanVriesland 3/ ~ 
 
 van Amsterdam .... 4/ 
 
 van Rotterdam of waar verders 
 
 in Holland een Schip mag ^Man^ 
 
 opleggen 5/ | 
 
 vervolgens van Hamburg . 6 f j 
 
 van Bremen of de Weezer 5/ j 
 
 “ Ten tweeden, met de bedongene Huire zig 
 te vreede te zullen houden. 
 
 “ Ten derden, den Schipper buiten ’s Lands 
 geen Geld boven het geen op Hand gegeven en 
 belooft is, te zullen afdringen, maar zig laaten 
 genoegen aan het geene de Schipper hun aldaar 
 uit vryen wille op afslag zoude willen voorschieten. 
 
 “ Ten vierden, de Bevelen en Ordres van den 
 Schipper en zyne Officieren in alle gehoorzaam- 
 heid te zullen nakoomen, den Schipper nooit in 
 eenigen Nood te zullen laaten bezwyken, maar 
 alles, wat tot Dienst is van Schip en Goed, te 
 zullen helpen uitvoeren. 
 
64 
 
 u Ten vyfden, geene Contrabande (joederefr 
 &en Boord te zullen neemen. 
 
 Ten zesten, het Schip zoo min binnen de 
 Haven en in de Stad als op de Reede, zoo min by 
 Nagt als by Dage, zonder dat de halve Equipage 
 aan Boord Blyve, te zullen laaten leggen ; ten zy 
 behoorlyke permissie daar over van den Capitain 
 of commandeerend Officier gevraagt en verkre* 
 gen is. 
 
 £< Ten zevenden, een ieder, die by de Maand 
 of Week vaart, zal zig te vreede moeten houden 
 met het Ranzoen bier na bepaalt, te weeten 2 ft 
 Vlees, 1 lb Boter, f ft Spek, 1 ft Stokvis, 3| ft 
 Brood pr. Week, dog by aldien (dat God ver- 
 hoede) door eenig Toeval, het zy van eene lange 
 reis of anderzins, by den Capitain en zyn Scheep- 
 sraad noodzakelyk gevonden werd, het gemelde 
 Ranzoen te verminderen, zal ieder van de Equi- 
 page verpligt zyn, zig daar meede te vreede 
 te houden, op verbeurte van alle te goede heb- 
 bende Gage, ten Voordeel der Redery, zullende 
 boven dien arbitrair bestraft worden. 
 
 Ten agsten, zal de Stuurman verpligt zyn, 
 gedurende zvne Diensten behoorlyk Journal te 
 houden van alle voorvallende Zaken, die ^enige 
 Opmerking verdienen, en hetzelve den Capitain 
 of Boekhouder van ’t Schip ter hand stellen. 
 
 Ten negenden, zal niemand van ’t Scheeps- 
 
65 
 
 volk weigeren, ’t zy voor of na de Afrekening, 
 ter requisitie van den Sehipper Verklaring te 
 doen, waar voor hy zal laaten staan een Maand 
 Gage tot agt dagen na de dag van afdanken, 
 edog zulks langer als agt dagen durende, zal ieder 
 Man daaglyks te genieten hebben een Gulden 
 voor Verzuim. 
 
 “ Ten tienden, al wie zig voor een Qualiteit 
 verhuirt mogte hebben, waartoe hy onbekwaam 
 te zyn ontdekt word, zal het den Capitain vry 
 staan, denzelven aan Land te zetten, en te dimit- 
 tem, ook zal de zodanige verpligt zyn, het op 
 Hand ontvangene te restitueren. Edog die Ont- 
 dekking op Zee of buiten Lands geschiedende, 
 zal het den Capitain vry staan, hem in zodanigen 
 Dienst te stellen, als hy oordeeld, dat dezelve 
 waarnemen kan, zullende alzulke Gage behouden, 
 als de Capitain meend, dat hy verdienen kan, 
 waarmeede de onbekwaame zig zal moeten laaten 
 genoegen. 
 
 “ Ten elfden, een ieder, die het Schip verlaat, 
 ’t zy buiten of binnens Lands, en deserteert, zal 
 verbeuren alle zyne verdiende Gagen ten behoeve 
 van ’t Schip, en boven dien voor de Lasten en 
 Schaden daar uit voortvloejende instaan. 
 
 “ Ten twaalfden, in gevalle het Schip buiten 
 Lands mogte worden verkogt, of afgekeurt, of de 
 verdere Reiseopgeschort,dus de Equipage moest 
 
 K 
 
66 
 
 afgedankt worden, zal de Capitain verpligt zyn, 
 met een ieder aldaar afterekenen, en assignatie 
 van zyn te gbede hebbende Gage op den Boek- 
 houder of Correspondent aftegeven, beneffens 
 behoorlyk Reisgeld naar maate der distante van 
 hier, zonder egter meer van den Schipper te 
 mogen vragen, by verbeurte van twee Maand 
 Gage. Ook zal niemand van de Equipage in ’t 
 laden of lossen of in eenig ander Scheepswerk 
 een ander in zyn plaats mogen stellen, dan alleen 
 by Ziekten. 
 
 “ Ten dertienden, geene vreemde Perzoonen, 
 met Booten of Jollen op de Reede verschynende, 
 by het Schip te zullen gedoogen, veel min zonder 
 expresse ordre van Schipper of Reeder te zullen 
 laaten overkoomen. 
 
 “ Ten veertienden, zig voorts in alles te zullen 
 reguleeren na de gebruikelyke Costumen en 
 Zeerechten, zig onderwerpende aan de Straffen 
 daarin begrepen, onder Verband van hunne Per- 
 zoonen en Goederen. 
 
 “ Ten vyftienden, vermits het alien Menschen 
 betaamd, God te loven en te danken, zoo zal ook 
 een ieder verpligt zyn, de dagelykse Gebeden en 
 Gezangen met Eerbied by te woonen. 
 
 “ Ten oirkonde is deeze Monster-Rolle onder 
 het Zeegel deezer Steede en Subscriptie van een 
 der Secretarissen geexpedieerd, om te dienen na 
 
67 
 
 behooren, gelykerwys dezelve ook van het Com- 
 parecrende Scheepsvolk ondergeteekent is. 
 
 “ Aldus gedaan te Emden op het Stadshouis, 
 den 
 
 “ Ex mandato Senatus , 
 
 “ Hullesheim, Sec . 19 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 “ We the magistrates and council of 
 the city of Emden, publish and declare by 
 these presents, that this day appeared in the se- 
 cretary’s office of this city, captain 
 commanding the ship 
 
 appearing in presence of the captain schout (water 
 bailiff), the officers and sailors who have been 
 hired and taken on board in service of the said 
 ship, their names as under: 
 
68 
 
 w The said officers and sailors declaring and pro- 
 mising, in the first place, to have engaged them- 
 selves to sail with the said ship 
 
 and afterwards according as the 
 freights may ran, and then likewise to return to 
 this place, or to be laid up elsewhere, for which 
 they shall then receive for travelling expences to 
 Emden as follows: 
 
 From Friesland f 3 j 
 
 Amsterdam .... 4 ! 
 
 Rotterdam, or where the 
 ship may otherwise 
 be, in Holland . 
 
 Further, from Hamburgh . 6 
 
 Bremen, or the Weezer 5 
 
 “ Secondly, To be satisfied with the wages a- 
 greed upon. 
 
 “ Thirdly, To require from the captain in 
 other countries no money above what has been 
 given and promised to them before hand, but to 
 be satisfied with what the captain will freely ad- 
 vance to them on account. 
 
 “ Fourthly, To follow with all obedience the 
 commands and orders of the captain and his of- 
 ficers, never to leave the captain in any time of 
 need, but to execute every thing which the ser- 
 vice of the ship and cargo requires. 
 
 “ Fifthly, To take no contraband goods on 
 board. 
 
 
 All per 
 head. 
 
Sixthly, Never to let the ship lay within the 
 harbour or town, nor in the roads, night nor day, 
 without the half of the crew on board, unless they 
 have first asked and obtained permission so to do, 
 from the captain or commanding officer. 
 
 “ Seventhly, Every one who navigates by the 
 month or week, must be satisfied with the rations 
 hereafter specified, that is to say : 2 lb. of meat, 
 1 lb. of butter, § lb. of bacon, 1 lb. of stock fish, 
 and 3f lb. of bread per week ; but if (which God 
 forbid) by any accident, whether a protracted 
 voyage, or by other means, it might be deemed 
 necessary by the captain and ship-council, to di- 
 minish the above mentioned rations, it will be the 
 duty of the crew to be contented therewith, on 
 pain of forfeiting all wages due to them, for the 
 good of the ship-owners, besides which to be ar- 
 bitrarily punished. 
 
 “ Eighthly, The mate will be obliged to keep a 
 journal during his voyages, of all that occurs, 
 worthy of notice, and to deliver it to the captain 
 or to the ship’s husband. 
 
 “ Ninthly, None of the crew shall refuse to give 
 evidence, upon being required so to do by the cap- 
 tain, whether called upon before or after being 
 paid off ; as a pledge for which, he shall leave one 
 month’s wages until eight days after his discharge, 
 hut if this continues longer than eight days, then 
 
70 
 
 each man will receive for his loss of time one 
 gilder per day. 
 
 “ Tenthly, Should any one be discovered to 
 have engaged himself in a capacity for which he 
 is not capable, the captain may freely set him on 
 shore, or dismiss him, and such person will like- 
 wise be obliged to return what money he has pre- 
 viously received ; — but, if such a discovery hap- 
 pens at sea, or out of the country, the captain 
 may freely employ him in such quality as he 
 judges him fit for, paying him what wages he 
 thinks him entitled to, and with which ^uch in- 
 capable person must be satisfied. 
 
 “ Eleventhly, Any one who leaves the ship and 
 deserts, whether in or out of the country, shall 
 forfeit all wages due to him, for the ship’s ac- 
 count, and shall also be accountable for any losses 
 occasioned thereby. 
 
 “Twelfthly, In case the ship should be sold, 
 or condemned as unserviceable, out of the coun- 
 try, or the voyage be terminated, so as to oblige 
 the captain to dismiss the crew, he is bound to 
 settle accounts with each of them there, and to 
 give an assignation for wages due to them, on 
 his ship’s husband or correspondent, together with 
 the necessary travelling expences, according to 
 the distance from hence, without their being al- 
 lowed to demand more from the captain, on pain 
 
71 
 
 of forfeiture of two months wages ; and no one 
 of the crew shall be excused from performing his 
 duty personally, either at the time of lading, un» 
 lading, or ship’s-work, except in case of sickness 
 alone. 
 
 “ Thirteenthly, Not to permit any strange per- 
 sons, who frequent roadsteads in bumboats, to 
 approach the ship, still less to let them come on 
 board, without the express command of the cap- 
 tain. 
 
 “ Fourteenthly, To regulate themselves in every 
 thing according to the customs and sea-usages, 
 submitting to the punishments therein mentioned, 
 under penalty of person and goods. 
 
 “ Fifteenthly, As it is the duty of all persons to 
 praise, love, and thank God, every one will be 
 obliged to attend daily, and repeat with due re- 
 verence their prayers and hymns. 
 
 “ In confirmation of this muster-roll, it is expe- 
 dited under the town’s seal and signature of the 
 secretary, to serve accordingly; likewise the 
 same is signed by the appearing ship’s crew. 
 Done in due form at Emden, in the town-house, 
 the 
 
 © Ex . Mandate Senatus 
 
 Hullesheim. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
72 
 
 The whole commerce of France, Flanders, 
 and Holland, and a great part of that of Spain, 
 is covered by neutralizers, to and from the colo- 
 nies, as well as from one hostile port to another, 
 exclusive of the numerous cargoes sent to Emden 
 and Leer, to be expedited thence to every 
 quarter of the globe. Previous to the blockade 
 of the French channel ports, not less than two 
 hundred sail of vessels were constantly employed 
 in lading cargoes of wines, brandies, &c. at 
 Bourdeaux , Nantes , Libourne , and other ports 
 of the south of France , as Prussian property, 
 and discharging them at the northern ports. 
 Those cargoes were always landed at those ports 
 where the largest armaments were collected. One 
 contract of 40,000 tons of wine and brandy, on ac- 
 count of the French government, got safe to the 
 destined ports, almost without molestation. The 
 price for the neutralizing such cargoes is one per 
 cent, if they arrive in safety at a French port ; 
 one and a half if they arrive at Emden, and are 
 thence sent to Holland, Brabant, or France j two 
 per cent, if taken, reclaimed, and the restitution 
 obtained. A certificate of property duly attested 
 in three languages, whether for a cargo or a cask, 
 costs \l. 14 s. sterling. 
 
 The cargoes shipped in the enemy’s ports by 
 attested certificates on Prussian account, but 
 
13 
 
 really belonging to the French or Dutch mer- 
 chants or contractors, clear out for Emden, and 
 run into any of the French ports as opportunity 
 may serve, or where the largest armies are en- 
 camped. To encourage the captains to make 
 every possible effort to enter blockaded ports, 
 double freight is allowed to their owners, and to 
 the captains a present is given equal to the earn- 
 ings of a year. These cargoes are generally 
 laden in vessels of 150 or 200 tons burthen, which, 
 during their voyage, keep as close to the French 
 coast as they can with safety, eagerly watch- 
 ing for opportunities of running into port. When 
 standing in for a blockaded haven, if they are 
 brought to by British cruizers in fine weather, 
 the masters pretend they are in want of water or 
 provisions, or are leaky; if it blows hard, 
 then they are getting into port to avoid the storm. 
 If, howevey, and it sometimes happens, that such 
 vessels are prevented by British cruizers from en- 
 tering any harbour between Brest and Emden, the 
 cargo is then eithef sold by auction for the French 
 owners’ account; sent via Delfzyl to Holland or 
 Brabant ; or furnished with new documents and sent 
 back to France ; a custom which is now more than 
 ever prevalent. In order to prevent detection by 
 means of the seamen, the crew is always discharged 
 as soon asthe vessel arrives at Emden. All such cases 
 may be detected , by observing in their muster-rolls 
 
 L 
 
74 
 
 if the cargo appears to have been laden before the 
 crew was engaged. In illustration of the facts 
 related in the preceding paragraphs, as to the 
 manner in which this most important branch of 
 our enemy's coasting trade is carried on even with 
 their blockaded ports , the author subjoins a series 
 of letters, which he doubts not will answer that end 
 more effectually, than a hundred pages of com- 
 mentations could do. 
 
 Extract. Genuine * 
 
 “ Mr. C. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 EMDEN. 
 
 “ SIR, “ Lannion, 10 Germinal, year 12. 
 
 “ I have one third in the expedition which Mr. 
 T. de Caze, of Bourdeaux, affects in the ship 
 “ the Mars of Arendahlf Hans Johannessen, 
 master, which, if he arrives with you , as you are 
 the correspondent, you will please to let us know 
 immediately. 
 
 (Signed) “ Le Coz Kistion.” 
 
 * " Genuine ” signifies that the letters so distinguished mean 
 what they express. Those marked u Simulated ” are such as 
 were written with a view to deceive our High Court of Admi* 
 rally, and save the property from condemnation. 
 
75 
 
 ( Genuine.) 
 
 “ Msl. C. F. SCHRODER. 
 
 “SIR, u Lannion, 10 Germinal, year 12. 
 
 “ Messrs. La Caze Jeune and Co. of Li- 
 boume, have laden and expedited on my account , 
 from Bourdeaux, the Danish brig the Diana, 
 Captain Alsingh. His freight is (for your port ) 
 30 gilders per tun (of wine) 15 per cent, primage, 
 and hat money. The cargo consists of 35 tuns 
 sweet white bergerac wine; 33 tuns red St. Foix 
 wine, and 25 pipes of brandy, all of the best qua- 
 lity. I desire if it happens that he arrives with 
 you , that you give me immediate intelligence, 
 and at what price you could dispose of the cargo. 
 Although I authorize you before hand to dispose 
 of them in the most profitable way for my interest, 
 and send me remittances for the nett proceeds 
 on some w r ell known houses in Paris ; but as I 
 have yet 20 demurrage days to come, could you 
 not first ask my opinion and receive my answer ? 
 The white wines are worth, in any part of Brittany, 
 550 livres per tun, and the brandy 9 livres and 
 10 sous per velt. 
 
 “ As I do a great deal of business under neu- 
 tral colours , I shall have very frequent occasions 
 of corresponding with you. It is to Mr. La Caze 
 Jeune that I am indebted for your address, and I 
 am sure that I shall have reason to thank him for it. 
 
76 
 
 “ You can with all confidence address yourself 
 to me, for any kind of business which you may be 
 inclined to do in this country, and your orders 
 shall be executed with exactitude and speed. 
 
 “ Believe me very sincerely, 
 (Signed) a Le Coz Kistjon” 
 
 In both of the above letters, Le Coz. Kistion 
 (who has large connections in the Isle of France) 
 desires Mr. C. F. Schroder to advise him with- 
 out delay, should it happen that the Mars or 
 Diana , both laden w r ith wines on Schroder's ac- 
 count, and cleared outwards for Emden, should 
 arrive at Emden ! But the following letters will 
 explain the mystery. 
 
 ( Genuine.) 
 
 *• Mr. C. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 EMDEN. 
 
 “ SIR, €t Bourdeauxy 3d May, 1804, 
 
 “ As within 8 or 10 days I shall have made use 
 of the two remaining certificates , you will please, 
 on the receipt of this, to send me two others , each 
 one for 130 tuns of red and white wines, and 25 
 pipes of brandy. The Diana is safely arrived at 
 MorlaiXy and in a few days I hope to hear of the 
 
77 
 
 arrivals of the ships the Mars and the Tivender 
 Damer , Capt. Sommers. 
 
 “ I remain very sincerely, 
 (Signed) “ T. de Caze.” 
 
 FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME. 
 
 ( Genuine.) 
 
 C Mil. C. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 IMDEN. 
 
 “SIR, “ Bourdeaux, 5th May, 1804. 
 
 ft I refer to my preceding letter of the 3d inst. 
 which transmitted you a demand for two certifi- 
 cates , each for ISO tuns of wine and 25 pipes of 
 brandy. Since which I have received your 
 esteemed favour of the 20th of April, which 
 hands me the four certificates I demanded, for 
 which I have credited your account with 74 
 gilders 8 stivers, and also with 215 gilders 4 
 for the neutralization of the (cargoes of the) 
 Diana and Mars. I inform you with pleasure, 
 that those two vessels are arrived in safety, the 
 first at Morlaix, the latter at Calais * Next 
 week I shall expedite the Sara Petrionella , Capt. 
 Raspy as I mentioned to you in my simulated let- 
 ter of the 29th ulto. and I will advise you more 
 amply at the proper time. 
 
 “ The premium of insurance against all risks , 
 
 * Both of them blockaded ports ! 
 
78 
 
 at Amsterdam , is too high ; it will be better for 
 me to have the insurance done here. 
 
 “ I salute you very sincerely, 
 (Signed) “ T. de Caze.” 
 
 Any comment on the preceding letters would 
 be superfluous. The writer now solicits his rea- 
 der’s attention to the three following letters, all 
 dated and written in one day, to Mr. Schroder. 
 Th t'first of the three is a genuine letter, the two 
 succeeding ones are simulated, and most artfully 
 composed, to prove, in our High Court of Admi- 
 ralty the neutrality of the commerce carried on 
 between Mr. C. F. Schroder and Mr. T. de Caze , 
 if any of our cruizers had happened to have captur- 
 ed that French property on its transit to some 
 other French port „ 
 
 Genuine. 
 
 “ m. c. F- SCHRODER, 
 
 IMDEN, 
 
 11 SIR, “ Bovrdeaur, May 13, 1804. 
 
 “ I refer to my last respects of the 5th inst. 
 which advised you of the arrival of the Mars and 
 the Diana ; the one at Calais and the other at 
 Morlaix. 
 
79 
 
 “ I have since received your two letters (the one 
 simulated) to which I answer this day, and advise 
 you of a shipment, which I shall effect by a ship 
 which I have freighted, and which will sail within 
 ten days. 
 
 “ Please to have the goodness to send me a letter , 
 ordering 90 cases Medoc wine, each of 12 bottles, 
 and for 5 tuns St. Emillion wine, dated 10th April 
 last, and explain therein that you want wines of 
 good quality, being for your own use. I write 
 you this day , that I have executed your orders. I 
 shall have no need of a certificate, as it is such a 
 trifling affair. Without doubt, the house of 
 Widzv. Peter Roche and Vink will advise me 
 of the sale of my wines. On all occasions do you 
 take care to demand the nett-proceeds, and send 
 me the account of sales, at the same time giving 
 me credit for the amount; that will reduce so 
 much off what I owe you. 
 
 “ I asked you some time ago for two certificates, 
 and although you have sent me four, please to 
 send me the two I desired, each from 100 to 120 
 tuns, without brandies. 
 
 ” I have the honour to be 
 “ Your devoted servant. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 “ T. De Caze.” 
 
80 
 
 ( Simulated .) 
 
 *• Mr. C.F. SCHRODER, 
 
 IMDZK. 
 
 “ SIR, (< Bourdeaux, \3th May, 1804. 
 
 “ In conformity of your orders , dated 10 th of 
 April last , I send you for your ozvn use 90 cases 
 of wines, each of 12 bottles, making together one 
 tun, which I have bought on your account , toge- 
 ther with the 5 tuns St. Emillion, which you or- 
 dered. 
 
 I loaded these wines two days since, on board 
 the ship the Vrow Amelia YVilhelmina, belong- 
 ing to your port, F. R. W. Hyncks, master, who 
 has not yet sent me the bill of lading, which hin- 
 ders me sending it to you by this mail, as well 
 as the invoice, which you shall receive next 
 post. 
 
 “ I remain, very sincerely, 
 
 “ Your devoted servant, 
 
 (Signed) “ T. de Ca^e.” 
 
SI 
 
 ( Simulated .) 
 
 « C. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 EIjlDEN. 
 
 “ SIR, “ Bourdeaux, 13 th May, 1804, 
 
 “ I refer to my last of th$ 29, th ult. which ad- 
 vised you of the charter of the ship the Sare. 
 Petronella, Captain Rasp, in which I have loaded, 
 for your account, part of the wines you had or- 
 dered from me. This ship, will be loaded by the 
 15th inst. Since I am favoured with your much 
 esteemed of the 27th do. 1 have received 9 bills 
 from Messrs. Roche .and Vink, as well on this 
 place as Paris, to the amount of frs. 34867- 73 cs. 
 for which I shall credit your account after the 
 payment, observing to you at the same time, that 
 the paper on Paris loses § £, and at usance, 1 
 which you will be obliged to bear, because I can- 
 not, as it would otherwise take away the com- 
 mission, I charge you for the shipments I make 
 on your ozvn account . Neither can I allow you 
 the credit of 3 months you desire ; but, however, 
 I will allow you 60 days for the shipments I have 
 still to make for you, to begin from the date of 
 the signing of the bill of lading. This is really a 
 favour I give you, as 1 must pay every thing in 
 ready money, to get the wines cheap. Do not 
 mention this to any of your friends which you 
 
 M 
 
$2 
 
 may recommend to me , as I will not allow them 
 more than thirty days, and you shall always be 
 served the first. 
 
 “ To fulfil part of your orders of 18th April 
 last, I now advise you that I have retained 
 room for 100 tuns on board the ship the Vrouw 
 Barbara, of Papenborg, Capt. Hendrick Abra- 
 hams. This ship will begin to load the 15th inst, 
 and after the shipment is effected, I shall send 
 you the invoice and bill of lading. I see that I 
 shall not be able to load more than 20 tuns white 
 wine, as those of this qualit y> which I have bought 
 for you, are not yet delivered, and the stay of 
 the ship in our roads will be very short; therefore 
 I shall fill up the rest with red wines. 
 
 “ In expectation of receiving news from you, 
 believe me very sincerely 
 
 “ Your’s, &c. 
 
 (Signed) “ Th. De Caze.” 
 
 The preceding correspondences demonstrate 
 in the clearest way possible the facility and dis - 
 patch with which attested certificates of 
 neutral property (and each for an entire 
 cargo of enemy’s property) are supplied 
 from Emden ! — In a country where the moral ob- 
 
S3 
 
 ligation of an oath is held so sacred, as to be 
 regarded as an inviolable test of truth, few per- 
 sons will be disposed to believe that any " re- 
 spectable merchant ', citizen , and inhabitant *” 
 of a commercial city would coolly , habitually , 
 and professionally appear in an open court of jus- 
 tice, in the presence of his friends and neighbours, 
 to execute by wholesale all his orders for perjury , 
 as regularly as he receives his letters by the post ! 
 The author has already asserted, “ that the oaths 
 are not administered in any neutralizing trans- 
 action .” Mr. Post Fiscal Bluhm possesses 
 at this moment a written acknowledgment from 
 Mr. C. F. Schroder , purporting that he ( Schro- 
 der) did appear before Mr. Post Fiscal 
 Bluhm, and there take the oaths before he ob- 
 tained the instrument , 3 translation of which is 
 here given. This singular business is managed 
 as follows: — Whenever Mr. Schroder orders 
 attested documents of the kind furnished by Mr. 
 Bluhm, those documents are supplied without 
 any personal attendance in court , or any admini- 
 stration of the oaths ! But , about once in fourteen 
 days , Mr. Schroder (in common with all the 
 fifty neutralizers of Emden) signs a copy of 
 each attested document in Mr. Bluhm 's “ proto- 
 calf acknowledging that he did attend in court , 
 
 * See the certificate which follows the Dutch letter of order. 
 
84 
 
 and 'there take tRe oaths. Ih this infamous 
 way those frauds are carried on, so importantly 
 beneficial to our enemies — so fatal to our maritime 
 power. With such evidence, the only question 
 left undecided is, which is the greatest crimi- 
 nal— the NEUTRALIZER or the MAGISTRATE.^ 
 
 ORDER FOR AN ATTESTED CERTIFICATE. 
 
 " Mr. C. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 EM DE N. 
 
 “ SIR, Amsterdam , 12 th November , 1S03. 
 
 “ We confirm by this our last of the 5th and 
 9th inst. and find ourselves since then without 
 any of your always agreeable letters to answer. 
 The certificate for Captain Zeeck we are expect- 
 ing, without fail, by your next, as the Captain is 
 now waiting for it alone. 
 
 “ This serves to request of you to send an order 
 brief (letter of order) and certificate to Messrs. 
 Perrot and Binaud, of Bourdeaux, for a 
 cargo of 180 a 200 tons of wine, red and white , 
 (each tun being four hogsheads) ivine of this 
 year's growth, from Bourdeaux hither , and to our 
 address; at the same time ordering them to 
 freight a vessel , and give them latitude to ckuse 
 such kinds as they shall deem fittest for our mar- 
 ket. Make the insurance yourself and they can 
 
85 
 
 reimburse you by a draft on us at three months . 
 We are still waiting the certificate for the 65 
 lasts of barley, for Captain Zee ck, and are, 
 with esteem, 
 
 (Signed) “ Willink and D’Arripe. 
 
 P. S. You would act very wisely to acquaint 
 your friends in England with the names of the ves- 
 sels, &c. which you neutralize, with a view of the 
 necessary steps being directly taken to reclaim 
 them, whenever the vessel may, contrary to our 
 expectations, be carried in. 
 
 " Les dits (the same.)” 
 
 AN ATTESTED CERTIFICATE. 
 
 “ I the undersigned Amtman do testify and 
 declare by these presents , that the following depo- 
 sition , upon oath, has been registered and ac- 
 tually made before the undermentioned court , 
 entrusted to my care on the following date. 
 
 “ Actum Emden, in the Court of Up 
 and W^olthusen, the 1 6th November , 
 1803. 
 
 “ Appeared personally before this court 
 " Carl Friedrich Schroder, respectable 
 merchant , citizen , and inhabitant of this city of 
 
86 
 
 Emden, personally known to us to be a subject oj 
 his Majesty the King of Prussia. 
 
 “ The deponent declared, that he had 
 given an order to Messrs. Perrot and Binaud , of 
 BourdeauXy to buy on his own sole and absolute 
 account , and to ship on board of a neutral ship for 
 Amsterdam , to the consignment of Messrs. Wil- 
 link and D'Arripe, the following property, viz. 
 
 “ From one hundred and eighty to two hundred 
 tuns, each tun containing four hogsheads of red 
 and white wines of this year's grozvth. 
 
 “ That these goods, directly they are purchased 
 by Messrs. Perrot and Binaud, are his the depo- 
 nent’.? property, and shall remain as such until 
 arrived at the port of their actual destination; 
 and that, after the shipment is made, no cession nor 
 alteration of property, direct or indirect, shall have 
 place ; and that in case the ship should be captured 
 andafterzvards released , that still the said cargo of 
 zvines, both at the time of the capture and of the 
 release, shall belong to him the deponent; that 
 there shall be drawn no bills of lading of different 
 tenor or date ; and that none of the powers or 
 nations nozo at war, neither their subjects or in- 
 habit ants, factors or agents, nor any other person 
 or persons zvhomsoever , except him the deponent 
 as subject of his Majesty the King o/*Prus$ia, 
 neither at the time when the cargo zvas shipped 
 or of the possible capture of the vessel and carga 
 
87 
 
 and subsequent release, nor in any way whatsoever , 
 neither direct or indirect, has or had a part, right , 
 title, or interest in the within mentioned cargo of 
 wines, nor shall they have at any future time, un- 
 til the cargo shall have been disposed of for the 
 Deponent’s own and sole account, profit, and 
 risks. 
 
 “ The above deposition having been read over 
 again to him the deponent, he persisted that the 
 contents are genuine and true , without any fraud 
 or mental reservation , upon which he confirmed, 
 with the oath, 
 
 “ True ! So help me God ! 
 
 “ And signed this instrument. 
 
 “ Dated as above stands. 
 
 “ Carl Friedrich Schroder. 
 
 (In fidem ) 
 
 “ D. L. Bluhm, Amtman. 
 
 “ W. J. Folkers, Secretary. 
 
 “ In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand 
 and the seal of the court. 
 
 “ Done as above, 
 
 (In fidem) 
 
 “ D. L. Bluhm, Amtman. u 
 
88 
 
 As a justification of the officers commanding 
 his majesty’s squadrons for sending in vessels, 
 whose ostensible papers point towards a neutral 
 destination, but who are detected in the act of 
 entering hostile ports, upon the pretences usually 
 resorted to on such occasions, the author subjoins 
 the following letter : 
 
 f * Mr. C. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 E M DEN. 
 
 u SIR, 49 Amsterdam , 14 tk Aprils 1804. 
 
 “ We find ourselves honoured with your ever 
 agreeable letter of the 6th inst. wherein we saw 
 with great satisfaction , that you were advised of 
 the lucky arrival of skipper /. D. Wolter, and thus 
 it is not necessary to continue the (fabricated) cor- 
 respondence. This captain has had some English 
 on board of his vessel , as he zvas before the Tex el, 
 who demanded c zvhat he was doing there F Upon 
 which the skipper answered, c that he endeavoured 
 to run in on account of bad weather ,' and he was 
 suffered to proceed. It appears that, if the papers 
 are but in order, vessels from Spain, Portugal, 
 and other neutral places, run no danger; but that 
 vessels from France, bound to Emden, are in 
 danger of being driven off or detained, and sent 
 jn for examination of their papers. 
 
89 
 
 <c Mr. Stanislas Merle Grandelos is not known 
 to us, nor do we know any one who does know 
 him. 
 
 “ The premium* to insure wines laden in Prus- 
 sian, Danish, and Swedish vessels, from Bour- 
 deaux to any port in the Channel, as far as Ant- 
 werp, against all dangers, ' is 18 to 20 per cent, 
 but our underwriters have very little inclination 
 to sign for any French port. Free from moles- 
 tation the insurance is If per cent. The neutra- 
 lity of Spain appears pretty well certain, as we 
 insured yesterday to a considerable amount on 
 an expedition from hence to Bilboa, on Spanish 
 account, as low as 10 per cent. Free from moles- 
 tation, people insure at If per cent. 
 
 “ What you have informed me concerning Cap- 
 tain Peter de Jonge demands our gratitude, and 
 we shall make the necessary use of it, without 
 prejudicing you. On these and similar occasions 
 we entreat of you to command us. 
 
 * By referring to Mr. De Case’s letter, dated Bourdeaux, 
 May the 5th, it will beeeen that the information furnished to 
 Schroder by Willinkand D’Arripe in the above letter, was con- 
 veyed to de Caze for his guidance in the insurance of his im- 
 mense trade, carried on under neutral colours. It is wor- 
 thy of remark, that the insurance against the dangers of the 
 seas is one and a half per cent, but against the dangers of en-> 
 tering a blockaded port, it is as high as 20 per cent. 
 
 N 
 
90 
 
 “ We hope, in a short time to hear some good 
 news of Jans Oelsoiiy and are with esteem, 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 " WlLLINK AND D’ArRIPE.” 
 
 The Dutch East India Company, a 
 part of whose extensive commerce is carried on 
 under the Prussian fag , too proud to enter into 
 agreements with neutralizers, except by the 
 agency of third persons, have placed the zvhole 
 of their export and import trade under the con - 
 trout and responsibility of ten mercantile estab- 
 lishments at Amsterdam, which houses are 
 fully empowered by the Asiatic council to 
 treat for the neutralization of the company* s ships 
 and cargoes , at such places , and with such persons 
 as they may deem eligible. Messrs. W — and Co. 
 appear to have the greatest share of influence in 
 the management of this delegated commerce, 
 
 and they have hired the names of , of 
 
 Emden, upon which to import the property of 
 the company, and to whom the cargoes so im- 
 ported may be nominally consigned, to be expe- 
 dited to Holland ; such cargoes, whether des- 
 tined to Amsterdam or Emden , are frequently 
 sent in American bottoms, as American 
 
91 
 
 property, covered by American neutra- 
 lizers, and pretended to be sent for sale on com - 
 mission to one or other of the houses before 
 alluded to. Perhaps the true reasoh for engaging 
 
 the house of , at Emden, arose from 
 
 the expectation that the blockade of the Texel 
 would be renewed directly after the commence- 
 ment of the war. The effect of the last blockade 
 was almost entirely avoided by means of the 
 neutralizers of Emden and Leer, to whom vessels 
 really destined for Amsterdam were nominally 
 consigned, which, after entering the Eems, sailed 
 through the Wad* Passage to Amsterdam ; or in 
 case of the Vessels drawing too much water, the 
 cargoes Were discharged into lighters, and so 
 conveyed to Amsterdam. 
 
 Ships and cargoes belonging to the Dutch 
 East India Company are also neutralized by 
 the well-known Mr. Claas Tholen, who is paid 
 two per cent, on the outward , and two per cent, on 
 the homeward-bound cargoes. The Henrietta , 
 one of the Company's ships , neutralized by Claas 
 Tholen , with her very rich cargo, was captured 
 
 * Between the continent and that chain of islands which 
 stretch from the Helder to the Elbe, is a narrow channel, 
 which at low water has the appearance of a river winding 
 along the coast, and at high water is navigable for any vessel 
 of shallow draught, and is called the Wad, Wads, or Wadden. 
 
92 
 
 during the present war on her homeward-bound 
 voyage, carried into England, and condemned. 
 This gigantic neutralizer was entrusted, during 
 the last war, with the neutralization and expediting 
 of cargoes and equipments to the Dutch colonics, on 
 account of the Dutch Government. T he char- 
 tering or vessels, and the neutralization and expe- 
 diting of naval stores tor the French marine , is 
 now almost exclusively monopolized by Claas 
 Tholen and D.T. Van Camminga, who were 
 expressly appointed thereto by the French govern- 
 ment , and by whom, during the summer and au- 
 tumn of the year 1804, masts, ship-timber, and 
 other naval stores, to an immense amount , were im- 
 ported from the Baltic , neutralized , and sent ill 
 safety ( via Delfzyl) to Amsterdam , Antwerp , Os - 
 tend , Boulogne , &c. &c. Those masters, who 
 were in the confidence of the neutralizers, ran with 
 their cargoes directly into the port of Delfzyl ; 
 others, who were not entrusted with the secret, 
 after having sailed as far as the roads of Emden, 
 received a douceur, and put about for Delfzyl. 
 A few cargoes were discharged into the Dollart, 
 done up into rafts, and floated by the ebbing tide to 
 the above port. So vast was the quantity of tim- 
 ber sent into Holland that way, that the travellers 
 coming at that time thence to Emden, reported 
 that the interior canals, for many leagues, were 
 
93 
 
 choked with the naval timber ; and what is no 
 less true, not a few of them, knowing for what 
 service that timber was designed , and by whom it 
 had been covered, most feelingly lamented that 
 Messrs. D. T. Van Camminga and Claas 
 Tholen were not to be seen suspended on gibbets , 
 and floating with the rafts*. 
 
 The reader has seen Mr. Van Comminga trans- 
 porting, by the magic power of his name, enor- 
 mous forests from the banks of the Wolga to the 
 shores of the Scheld ; and to shew that his duc- 
 tile genius is equal to the various details of his 
 traffic, however vast or however insignificant, he 
 may now behold him as the coverer of a very little 
 ship for a petty Dutch fisherman ! 
 
 * In former wars that timber might have been taken even 
 in the Dollart sea; but on the decline of the Dutch marine, 
 that government ceded the whole limits of the Eems and 
 Dollart to Prussia, by which those spacious waters became 
 neutralized, and our cruizers now daily see contraband car- 
 goes of naval stores enter Delfzyl, without daring to touch 
 one of them- 
 
94 
 
 Extract of a letter from Mr. Vink to Mr. 
 
 Schroder. 
 
 “ Rotterdam, 31 si December, 1803. 
 
 “ This further serves to communicate to you 
 that Mr Jacobus Hoogendyk, residing at Vlaardin - 
 gen, owner of the buis-ship the Jonge Ary, Capt. 
 Johannes Hoogerzverjf, of the size of 4 5 rye lasts 
 (the same buis-ship lying at this port) has freight- 
 ed her to Messrs. Verkuyl and Visser, of this 
 place, for/. 3000, 20 per cent, primage, and 5 
 per cent, hat money, to sail from hence in bal- 
 last, excepting a parcel of deals and a small quan- 
 tity of Geneva, to Castromarim, in Algarve, (Por- 
 tugal), and being arrived there, to be loaded with 
 oranges, lemons, figs, cork, and cane, till she has 
 a full and good cargo, and then to sail direct there- 
 with to Rotterdam, with simulated papers for 
 Emden, to load the goods at Castromarim, and 
 to unload them here in the space of 20 running 
 days, being longer detained to have /. 2 5 per day 
 demurrage; this is the real transaction. 
 
 “ We now wish you to neutralize this cargo, 
 and in the following way. D. T. van Cam- 
 ming a, of your place , has neutralized Hoogen - 
 dyk's ship , therefore the request is, that you speak 
 with him and contract with him about the charter- 
 ing, in the manner prescribed , as if this were a 
 genuine transaction betzvixt you ; that you send to 
 
95 
 
 us, properly translated, an exact copy of the char- 
 ter party, with a certificate in form , as welt for 
 the goods going outwards, as for the return cargo, 
 and in three languages, so as to give these docu- 
 ments with the ship, besides a letter of order 
 which you must write in French to 
 Mr. Anto. Roiz. Brabo , 
 
 Castromarim , 
 
 Algarve , 
 
 advising him of the chartering of the vessel and of 
 the consignment of the goods loaded on board, 
 and to purchase the return cargo, giving him or- 
 ders to execute every thing for the best of your in- 
 terest , and to reimburse himself on your account , 
 on Verkuyl and Visser, of Rotterdam ; such was 
 the request. Mr. J. Hogendyk will write the fol- 
 lowing post to Mr. Camming a, and confirm what 
 we now say; but the business must in the mean 
 time go on, and w’e receive the necessary docu- 
 ments as soon as possible, as the ship must be 
 dispatched without loss of time. If in case Cam - 
 minga make difficulties, or is unwilling to do this, 
 then you must only send to us the certificate for 
 the outward and return cargoes, with the letter 
 of order for Verkuyl and Visser, antedated, and 
 to effect the chartering of a ship, who then can 
 make the further correspondence , although we 
 should much prefer the charter party of Cam - 
 minga, trusting that you understand every thing 
 
96 
 
 properly, and will, with all punctuality, comply 
 therewith. Send every thing directed to us. 
 
 “ There are arrived three ships from Libourne: 
 two in the Texel , and one in the Maese. This will 
 give courage to order more wine , and you will 
 thereby have to procure a certificate the more , 
 which we shall be glad to learn.” 
 
 Not to tire the reader with multiplied proofs, 
 the following letter is the last document that 
 will be given relative to this subject. 
 
 “ M*. c. F. SCHRODER, 
 
 EM DEN. 
 
 €t SIR, u Amsterdam , 2 5tk February , 1 804. 
 
 “ It is upon recommendation of my parti- 
 cular friends, Messrs. Varkevisser and Dorre - 
 paal , that I now address you, desiring you to 
 send me per return of the mail a certificate for 
 200 hhds. beer, marked H, shipped on board 
 the Vrow Tantje, of Emden, Jan Gerds Smit, 
 master, bound for Bourdeaux ; as also a set of 3 
 or 4 bills of lading, as though this beer was loaded 
 by you in Emden , and with this the certificate must 
 agree. This ship is ready for sea, and only waits 
 
97 
 
 for the papers. The value of this beer is 3000/. 
 Upon safe arrival of this ship in Bourdeaux she is 
 to take in sugar, and her destination must appear 
 as for Emden . But in what manner can we pro- 
 cure her a certificate on board, to prove it neu- 
 tral property? As it is impossible to mention 
 the mark, numbers, and quantity beforehand, 
 can any thing else be done, than to procure an 
 attest of the Prussian consul at Bourdeaux , or can 
 you procure a certificate to state that the ship was 
 sent by you in ballast , to take in a cargo of sugars 
 for your ozvn account at Bourdeaux f 
 
 “ I remain with all esteem, 
 
 (Signed) “ Pieter de Haan, Prz.*' 
 
 The naval stores purchased in the Baltic 
 on account of the French government , for the year 
 1804, are said to have amounted to eighty millions 
 oflivres. Mr. Van der Hoeven, of Amsterdam, 
 and Mr. Van der Hoeven, of Antwerp, were the 
 principal agents for the French marine, who 
 were indemnified for their advancements and ac- 
 ceptances by the Dutch treasury . 
 
 A merchant of Riga, named B , 
 
 bought an immense quantity of masts, and other 
 
 O 
 
98 
 
 naval stores, on account of the French govern- 
 ment. Mr. Van der Hoeven, of Amsterdam ; 
 
 H , the Prussian consul general at St. P ; 
 
 Helmond, the P C at Riga; Mr. 
 
 Moir, of Memel, a Scotchman, formerly British 
 consul at Copenhagen, were also concerned in 
 the covering or supply of that enormous con- 
 tract; in fact, all the P C in the Baltic 
 
 ports seem to have had a share in it, a number 
 of them having arrived at Emden just before the 
 terms of it were finally arranged. Of this pro- 
 digious speculation, 150 cargoes arrived at the 
 different ports of France, and 35 only were 
 brought into England, arid claimed by Camming a 
 and Tiiolen. 
 
 The large carrying ships, which convey masts, 
 &x. direct from the Baltic to Brest, have inva- 
 riably two clearances on board — one for some 
 neutral haven, and the other for the true destina- 
 tion. The Vryheid, Frank Kars tens, master, be- 
 longing to H and D’B , of London , is (or 
 
 was recently) constantly employed in carrying 
 naval stores to Brest and other French naval sta- 
 tions, from the Baltic, and obtained very high 
 freights on account of the dexterity of the master 
 in eluding the vigilance of the English fleets . 
 
99 
 
 The following letters and extracts are inserted 
 to complete the chain of evidence , and prove that 
 France , Spain , and Holland are held in commer- 
 cial existence, solely by those abuses, so long and 
 unaccountably suffered by this country : 
 
 Mr. Joseph Antonio D'Lorea , of Bilboa , to C. F. 
 
 Koch , Emden. 
 
 “ Mr. C. F. KOCH, 
 
 SMDEN. 
 
 €t SIR, Bilboa , 25th April, 18G5. 
 
 <e I take leave to introduce to you my intimate 
 friend, Mr. Jean Bedat , who is going through 
 your city on his way to several other cities in the 
 north, to see my friends, and at the same time 
 to form some undertaking in conjunction with 
 myself. Be so kind, sir, I pray, as to protect 
 this friend, that he may succeed in his operations 
 among you ; that I shall be very grateful for all 
 the services that you may be pleased to render 
 him, and for all the civilities for which I shall be 
 indebted to you during his stay with you. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 “ Joseph Antonio D’Lorea.” 
 
100 
 
 Observations zvhich Don Jean Bedat will carefully 
 
 attend to. 
 
 “ Messrs. Willink and D'Arripe, of Amsterdam , 
 have in their possession, for my account, 1583 
 Buenos Ayres hides, which I consigned to them per 
 Captain Ryck,who was ready, on the 8 th April, to 
 unload and deliver them to the said gentlemen, to 
 whom I have given orders to proceed to the sale 
 thereof without delay. This sale has undoubtedly 
 already been effected at an advantageous price, 
 on account of the great scarcity of the said artir 
 cles which prevailed in that place, and the nume- 
 rous buyers which are found in Amsterdam. 
 
 “ As to Mr. C. F. Koch y ot Emden, I only know 
 him from having sent under his name the above 
 mentioned 1 583 hides to Amsterdam, upon the 
 recommendation of a Hamburgh house , and he 
 appears to be very clever in the neutralization busi- 
 ness. Yet with regard to this point , you will choose 
 yourself such a person as shall appear to you best 
 disposed , and most able carefully to discharge that 
 trust. 
 
101 
 
 To Mr. Jean Bedat , Merchant of Bilboa , at Paris t 
 
 “ SIR, “ Rochfort, 21i/ Floreal, f May ) ISth An. 1805. 
 
 “ I inform you, my friend, that I have just re- 
 ceived a letter from the Minister of the Interior , 
 dated Turin y 4th Floreal inst. by which he permits 
 you to dispatch by neutral shipping from the ports 
 of Rochfort and Char ante surSt. Eprick , the quan- 
 tity of 51300 measures of corn; be pleased to 
 tell me the use you mean to make of the permis- 
 sion *, and whether you mean to export this corn. 
 It is worth at present from 1 1 to 12 francs per — . 
 
 (Signed) “ Francis Hebre.” 
 
 Extract of a letter from Mr. Jean Bedat , to C. F. 
 
 Koch , Emden. 
 
 “ SIR, 
 
 “ It is very possible that I may undertake some 
 affairs in this country, and in that case I shall 
 have occasion to send to your city in transito for 
 Spain , the purchases I may make. Be so kind 
 as to let me know in answer, if I can depend up- 
 on your house for the neutralization I shall have 
 
 * These permissions are obtained by a douceur to the minis - 
 ter, and may be either used by the possessor, or disposed of 
 by him to a third person, according as it suits him. 
 
m 
 
 occasion for, on the account of circumstances, 
 Messrs. Willink and D' Ar ripe have engaged me 
 to write to you, and under their auspices for this 
 purpose ! &c. 
 
 “ DON JEAN BEDAT, 
 
 AMSTERDAM, 
 
 “ DEAR SIR AND FRIEND, “ Bilboa, the 2d May, 1805. 
 
 t£ In pursuance of what I told you in my last 
 letter, of the 2oth of last month, transmitted to 
 you by favour of Messrs. Boucherot and Co. of 
 Paris, I now hand to you the promised memoran- 
 dum of the grain, and other articles, which are 
 best suited for this place, together with their 
 prices, to serve for your government. The prin- 
 cipal articles are sugars , cocoa , Caracas, and 
 guayaguil , (but no maranon, because the impor- 
 tation thereof is prohibited) fine cinnamon , some 
 clove , and pimento. The consumption of the two 
 last articles is not considerable, and you may spe- 
 culate therein only in case they are very cheap. 
 Of the other articles of cotton, the introduction 
 whereof you know is rather a delicate matter, 
 large parcels must not be undertaken ; they must 
 also be introduced slily, in the manner stated in 
 iny said memorandum, or in any other way which 
 you may contrive, still better adapted to the case. 
 
108 
 
 These goods, and almost all the articles, you 
 know, sell better in spring than in winter; no 
 time should therefore be lost, on account of the 
 season being already far advanced. In case of 
 need, and for greater security’s sake, the prohi- 
 bited articles might come as transit goods bv way 
 of Bayonne, consigned to Messrs. Bertrand and 
 Lesca. 
 
 “ It will be advisable that you introduce your- 
 self in Emden to some respectable house, well 
 versed in the neutralization business, and which 
 knozvs how to put the documents in good order ; 
 because you know this is a delicate point , and must 
 be managed with great care. I am ready to pass 
 the letters and orders zvhich may be required bet- 
 ter to cloak the business ' ’ 
 
 The next point to which the attention of 
 the reader should be directed, is the Dutch 
 North Sea Fisheries, which, in the midst 
 of a maritime war , flourish and expand with 
 as great security and vigour as in the bosom 
 of the profoundest maritime peace. The fisheries 
 the writer alludes to, are those of which the pro- 
 ducts form a most valuable article of their export 
 trade , and not the fish caught in their open vessels. 
 
104 - 
 
 close in with their own shores, and which are sold 
 at daily market, for the consumption of the inhabi- 
 tants. It would be as inhuman to forbid the fair 
 exercise of the one, which supplies the poor with 
 food and employ, as it is weak and impolitic to 
 endure the former, which serves but to enable 
 the Dutch to pay their tribute to their Gallic mas- 
 ter, and thus perpetuate their own bondage, and 
 protract the war. 
 
 There were, during the last summer, from 
 one hundred to one hundred and fifty Dutch fish- 
 ing vessels out at sea, covered by false papers, 
 and neutral colours, of which the value taken on 
 an average, their nets, salt, tons, &c. included, 
 was not less than two thousand pounds sterling 
 each 3 and the profits of which, taken one with 
 another, clear from all deductions, may fairly be 
 estimated at one thousand pounds stei'ling t each 
 vessel, per season I Thus, for a tribute of about 
 three thousand pounds sterling per annum , paid 
 to the different neutralizers, one hundred and 
 fifty vessels, navigated by two thousand mariners 
 and fishermen , ploughed the ocean to and from 
 the ports of Holland in full security. A capital 
 of three hundred thousand pounds is kept in circu- 
 lation, and yields the country a nett profit of fifty 
 per cent, per annum ! 
 
105 
 
 In consequence of accurate and authentic infor- 
 mation on this subject, Thomas Riches , Esq. com- 
 mander of his Majesty’s revenue cutter the Hunter, 
 sent r in for adjudicature the gaffelschap Paulina 
 and Helena , Simon Stapel , master, sailing under 
 Prussian colours , and as the property of Jean Vet- 
 ter. Captain Riches was not more certain of his 
 being himself an Englishman, and his vessel Eng- 
 lish, than he was certain that Simon Stapel was a 
 Dutchman , his vessel Dutch , and that he resided 
 at Middelharnes. Thus, as the scope of his infor- 
 mation extended to nearly all the neutralized 
 Dutch fishing vessels. Captain Riches flattered 
 himself, that by lopping off one of the most 
 certain sources of wealth from the foe, he would 
 advance his own fortune and the welfare of his 
 country. 
 
 The Master, Simon Stapel , was examined before 
 the prize commissioners at Yarmouth, on the 4th 
 and 5th of September last. At every word he 
 foreswore himself, and so round and compact was 
 the volume of his perjury, that when the case 
 was heard, the Right Honourable Sir William 
 Scott restored the vessel and condemned the cap- 
 tor in his own expences : but the judge could not 
 do otherwise , whatever his opinion as a man might 
 have been. For a most complete elucidation of 
 
 P 
 
106 
 
 this transaction, see the following documents, (A) 
 (B) (C) (D). 
 
 No'fugelman could be more expert in his 
 movements at the word of command, than was 
 Simon Stapel in his replies to the questions put 
 by the interpreter from our interrogatories, as his 
 deposition sufficiently manifests He knew what 
 would be asked, and he had answers ready pre- 
 pared. The agents for Captain Riches applied 
 for permission to put particular questions to Simon 
 Stapel , and for which he would have been found 
 totally unprepared , and inevitable condemnation 
 must have ensued ; but that indulgence could not 
 be granted. The consequence was the restitu- 
 tion of the vessel and cargo , with a hundred 
 pounds loss to the captors. 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Simulated Deed of Sale of the Paulina and 
 
 Helena. 
 
 No. ]. (A). 
 
 “ I the undersigned Amtman do give notite 
 and declare by these presents, that on the day 
 hereafter to be mentioned, before the court of 
 justice confided to my direction, and on the part 
 
107 
 
 of the persons whose names will follow, the fol- 
 lowing sale and purchase contract was registered 
 ad protocollum. 
 
 “ Done in Emden, at the court of justice for 
 Up and Wolthusen, the 30th Jan. 1804. 
 
 “ Appeared personally before this court, 
 
 “ 1st, Ulrich Wilhelm Bertram for himself, and 
 in the name of his associate in trade, Otto Christian 
 Swart, under their firm of Swart and Bertram , 
 both respectable merchants , burghers, and inhabi- 
 tants of this town, Emden , as sellers, on the one 
 part, and Jean Vetter, respectable merchant, bur- 
 gher, and inhabitant of this town, Emden, on the 
 other*, both deponents being personally known 
 to us, and as real subjects of his majesty the king 
 of Prussia. 
 
 “ Declaring the same to have concluded with 
 each other the sale and purchase of a gaffelship, 
 called the Paulina and Helena, burthen 28 lasts, 
 in the manner, and on the following conditions, 
 viz. — 
 
 “ The first named deponent, Ulrich Wilhem 
 Bertram, in q. q. sells, cedes, and transports to the 
 second named deponent Jean Vetter, to take place 
 
 * Jean Vetter is a Dutchman in Holland , a Prussian at 
 Emden, 
 
108 
 
 from this moment, the full right of property over 
 the gafFelship de Paulina and Helena , belonging 
 to his house of commerce , burthen about twenty- 
 eight lasts, with all the instruments and appur- 
 tenances appertaining or belonging to the same, 
 so as it is at present lying in the harbour of this 
 place, for the sum of ten thousand two hundred 
 and fifty guilders, Dutch currency, payable at the 
 signing of this deed, in true and lawful money. 
 
 “ And the purchaser Jean Vetter, for the before- 
 mentioned current sum, stipulated as above, at 
 10250 guilders, Dutch money, accepts the pur- 
 chase on his own account and risk of the before- 
 mentioned ship, cum annexis, to take place from 
 this moment ; also the seller, Ulrich Wilhelm Ber- 
 tram, herewith gives receipt, and confesses to 
 have received the purchase-money, 10250 f. 
 Dutch currency, in true and lawful money, and 
 according to law, making his commercial estab- 
 lishment or firm responsible that the before-men- 
 tioned vessel can sail in all waters and harbours, 
 as free from debts and not liable to any foreign 
 demand whatever.” 
 
 ‘‘ And the deponents have resolved not to avail 
 themselves of any evasions of the law, to the 
 prejudice of this transaction, done in good faith 
 and truth, and thereupon have signed this deed 
 
109 
 
 in presence of the undersigned persons of the 
 court, after that the same had been read unto them. 
 
 <£ Actum ut supra. 
 
 (Is signed) 
 
 ‘ c U. W. Bertram, 
 
 <f Projirma, Swart & Bertram. 
 
 “ Jean Vetter. 
 
 tc In f idem. 
 
 “ D. L. Bluhm , Amtman. 
 “ W. I. Fathers , clerk. 
 
 “ As witnesseth my own signature, and the an- 
 nexed seal of my office. 
 
 “ Done as above, 
 
 L. s * ) Injidem. 
 
 (Signed) “ Bluhm, Amtman.” 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Simulated Act of Property and Non-simulation. 
 
 “ I the undersigned Amtman, by these 
 presents do declare and give notice, that before 
 the court of justice confided to my direction, up- 
 on the hereafter to be mentioned day, the follow- 
 
110 
 
 mg sworn declaration was registered ad proto 
 collum. 
 
 “ Done in Emden , at the court of justice for 
 iTpand Wolthusen, the 30th January, 1084. 
 
 “ Appears personally before this court. 
 
 “Jean Vetter, a respectable merchant, citi- 
 zen , and inhabitant of this town, Emden , person- 
 ally, and as being a real subject of his majesty 
 the king of Prussia, well known to us. 
 
 “ The deponent, after having had laid before him 
 the king's ordinance * of the Q6th October , 1799, 
 concerning the direction of the administration and 
 taking of oaths , upon his own corporal oath de- 
 clares, that the, according to the contract of this 
 day’s date, purchased gajflelship, named the Paulina 
 and Helena , burthen about 28 lasts, to be navi- 
 gated by the subject of his Prussian majesty, 
 named Simon St ape l, solely and alone appertained to 
 him the deponent ; that the purchase of this vessel, 
 and the payment of the money its price, in good 
 faith and truth, and in nozcise pro forma or ficti- 
 tiously , has been performed, and that no one per- 
 
 * This is certainly the highest pitch neutralizing audacity 
 can soar to ! They own that false deeds are made, but flagi- 
 tiously refer to the king’s royal ordinance against such crimes, 
 to cover the crime itself which they are about to commit. 
 
Ill 
 
 son or persons whatsoever , subject or subjects of 
 any of the present belligerent powers or states , nor 
 any factor or commissioner for him or them, have 
 or shall have, during the time that the vessel will 
 be in his possession, any right or title whatsoever 
 to the same, or to any part or share thereof.” 
 
 “ The foregoing declaration has the deponent , 
 the same having been read unto him, according to 
 his religious system, (mare mennonitico) and upon 
 his corporal oath certified and confirmed ; and 
 also signeth his name as followeth. 
 
 “ Actum ut supra. 
 
 (Is signed) 
 
 " Jean Vetter. 
 
 In Jidem. 
 
 “ D. L. Bluhm, Amtman. 
 
 “ W. J. Fathers, clerk. 
 
 “ As witnesseth my own signature, and the an- 
 nexed seal of the office. 
 
 “ Done as above. 
 
 In jidem. 
 
 (j7s^< (Signed,) 
 
 “ Bluhm, Amtman.” 
 
112 
 
 (B). 
 
 Extracts of the Deposition taken at Yarmouth , 
 4 th and 5th September, 1805, signed and sworn 
 to by Simon Stapel. 
 
 “ 1st, To the first interrogatory this deponent 
 saith, that he was born at Middelharnes , in the 
 province of Holland j that he has lived for these 
 seven years last past at Detznm, where he now 
 lives , and hath lived from the month of April, 
 1795 ; that he is now a subject to the King of 
 Prussia. 
 
 “ 2d, That he did not pay any thing for his ad- 
 mission, the same having been paid by Jean Vet- 
 ter merchant, of Emden, the owner of the ship of 
 which the deponent is master. 
 
 £ ‘ 3d, That he is a married man; and his wife 
 and family reside at Detznm . 
 
 “ 4th, That he was master of the ship or vessel 
 
 taken ; that he was appointed to 
 
 the command thereof by Jean Vetter; that be 
 took possession of her at Emden River in the 
 month of February, 1804, which was delivered to 
 him by the said Jean Vetter; that his fixed place of 
 residence is at Detzum , where he hath lived up- 
 wards of ten years last past. 
 
 “ 5th, That the number of mariners was eleven j 
 that he believes ten of them were of Prussia, and 
 
113 
 
 the other of Denmark ; that they came on board 
 at Grietzyl; that they were all shipped and hired 
 by the order of this deponent, in the month of 
 March last, at Emden. 
 
 tc 6th, That he hath known the said vessel 
 about a year and a half; that he first saw her at 
 Grietzyl, in or about the month of February, 1804; 
 that he does not know where she was built, but 
 believes in some port of Holland . 
 
 “ 7th, That the name of the ship is the Paulina 
 and Helena ; that the said ship was upon a fishing 
 voyage, and did not sail to any port or place 
 during her voyage before she was taken ; that her 
 last voyage began at Grietzyl, and was to have 
 ended there; that the said ship hath always since 
 he has known her been employed as a fishing 
 vessel, and delivered all the Jish she hath caught 
 at Grietzyl; that she sailed from Grietzyl , her 
 last clearing port, the third day of July last; that 
 since the said deponent hath known the said ship, 
 she hath been under the direction of the said 
 Jean Vetter with respect to her employment. 
 
 “ 9th, To the next interrogatory this deponent 
 saith, that Jean Vetter was the owner of the ship 
 or vessel concerning which he is now examined, 
 at the time she was taken; that he knows the said 
 Jean Vetter was the owner of the said ship at that 
 time, from his having appointed this deponent to 
 
 Q 
 
m 
 
 the command of the said ship, and always given 
 him his instructions respecting her employment, 
 and having been present when the said Jean 
 Vetter bought the said ship of Messrs. Swart and 
 Bertram, of Emden ; that the said Jean Vetter has 
 not any wife ; that he is a subject to the King of 
 Prussia. 
 
 “ 27th, To the twenty-seventh interrogatory the 
 deponent saith, that all the passports, sea briefs, 
 charter-party, bills of sale, invoices, and papers, 
 which were found on board the said ship, were 
 and are, as he believes, entirely true and fair , 
 and none of them false and colourable; that he 
 doth not know of any matter or circumstance to 
 affect their credit. 
 
 “ 30th, That the said ship was sold and trans- 
 ferred by Messrs. Swart and Bertram , merchants, 
 of Emden, to Jean Vetter, in the month ot January, 
 1804, at Emden, for the sum of ten thousand two 
 hundred and forty gilders, which teas paid and 
 satisfied , and was a fair and true equivalent; that 
 he believes in his conscience that such sale and 
 transfer have been truly made, and not for the pur- 
 pose of covering or concealing the real property j 
 that he hath no knowledge of any other sale or 
 transfer of the said ship; that he verily believes 
 that if the said ship shall be restored, she will be- 
 long to the said Jean Vetter, and to no other person ; 
 that he doth not know or believe that there is any 
 
115 
 
 private agreement for the return of the ship to her 
 former owners at the conclusion of the war, or at 
 any other period. 
 
 “ 32d, To the thirty-second interrogatory this 
 deponent saith, that he hath in his ansxvers to the 
 several foregoing interrogatories set forth thexohole 
 zvhich he knows or believes , according to the best 
 of his knowledge and belief, regarding the real 
 and true property and destination of the said ship 
 and her fish, concerning which he is now examin- 
 ed, at the time of the capture. 
 
 (Signed) “ Simon Stapel.” 
 
 <( 
 
 Sworn before us, 
 
 “ T. R. Reynolds, 
 “ Robt. Cory, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 “ By the interpretation of me, 
 
 “ Thomas Watson, Interpreter. 
 
 “ In the presence of me, 
 
 k Wm. Steward, Not. Pub. Actuary.” 
 
116 
 
 A SIMULATED ACT OF PROPERTY. 
 
 “ I, the undersigned Amtman, do by these pre- 
 sents declare and give notice, that, before the 
 court of justice confided to my direction, upon 
 the hereafter to be mentioned day, the following 
 deposition was registered ad protocollum. 
 
 <( Done in Emden, at the Court of Justice 
 for Up and Wolthusen, the 9th Feb. 
 1804. 
 
 “ Appears personally before this court, 
 
 “ Jean Vetter, a respectable merchant , bur- 
 gher and inhabitant of this town, Emden, person- 
 ally and as a real Prussian subject well known to 
 us, this deponent, declaring upon oath, that he has 
 for his own and sole account destined the gaffelship 
 de Paulina and Helena, navigated by skipper 
 Simon Stapel, to set sail for the fishery, and 
 afterwards to sell the fish in any port where, ac- 
 cording to the prospects or opinion of the skipper, 
 good account can be made of the same. 
 
 “ It being necessary, for this purpose, that salt, 
 nets, and other instruments for the fishery, as also 
 provisions for the ship’s company of this the depo- 
 nent’s vessel, be taken on board, so the deponent 
 declares solemnly, that those utensils, and the 
 
117 
 
 fish which they may happen to catch, will be his 
 own and sole property , and continue so until the 
 former be used and the latter sold; and that in 
 nowise whatever shall any alteration or transpor- 
 tation of the property take place, direct or indi- 
 rect ; that also, should the vessel be captured or de- 
 tained, and subsequently released, that always 
 the before mentioned utensils, and the fish which 
 may then have been catched, so well at the time of 
 the capture as at that of the restitution , will be - 
 long solely to him the deponent ; and that 
 not any of the belligerent powers, or any of their 
 subjects or inhabitants, factors or commissioners, 
 or any other person whatsoever beside himself the 
 deponent, subject of his Majesty the King of Prus- 
 sia, hath or shall have, either at the departure of the 
 vessel, or at the capture which may take place of the 
 same and its cargo, or at the restitution thereof, or 
 at any other time whatsoever, direct or indirect, 
 any share, right, title, or interest, in the before- 
 named utensils and fish, before the same shall have 
 become disposed of for the own sole and absolute 
 account of the deponent, and according to the 
 manner before said. 
 
 “ The foregoing declaration has the deponent, 
 the same having been read unto him* persisted in 
 as being truth , without any deceit or double 
 meaning whatsoever; and thereupon, according to 
 his religious system, confirmed the same, mare 
 
118 
 
 mennonitico, by his corporal oath, and signing 
 with his own hand writing the deed. 
 
 “ Actum ut supra. 
 
 (Is signed) 
 
 <e Jean Vetter. 
 
 “ In jidem 
 
 “D. L. Bluhm ,Amtman. 
 
 “ W. J. Folkers, Clerk. 
 
 “ As witnesseth my own signature , and the 
 seal of my office hereunto annexed. 
 
 “ Done as above, 
 
 “ In Jidem , 
 
 “ D. L. Bluhm, 
 
 “ Amttnan.” 
 
 We now give the burgher-brief, solemnly at- 
 tested as a truth, to serve the purposes of fraud 
 and deceit. If this evil be not remedied, and 
 effectually too, this country cannot hope to escape 
 the fetters so many engines are at work to forge 
 for her. 
 
 FICTITIOUS BURGHER BRIEF. 
 
 “ It is hereby certified and declared by the 
 royal Amtgericht at Emden, according to truth, 
 that the possessor and exhibiter of the present. 
 
119 
 
 Simon St ape l, hath for many years been an in - 
 habitant qf Ditzum , with his household and pro- 
 perty , being domiciled there, and thus is a real 
 and true royal Prussian subject. 
 
 “ Signed Emden, in the royal Prussian 
 Amtgericht, 1 Sth May , 1803. 
 
 “ Bluhm,” 
 
 Sic. Sc. Sc. 
 
 (C). 
 
 Extract of a Letter written at Yarmouth , addressed 
 
 to relative to the Paulina 
 
 and Helena, Simon Stapel, Master , detained by 
 his Majesty's Revenue Cutter Hunter , Thomas 
 Riches , Esq. Commander , dated 
 
 “ September Sth, 1805 . 
 
 “ The case of the Paidina and Maria , Simon 
 Stapel , master , is of the same fraudulent kind with 
 the preceding ones. Swart and Bertram sold 
 the vessel to Jean Vetter: Jean Vetter makes 
 Simon Stapel master, gives him a power of attor- 
 ney, and sends him out to fish, with the liberty 
 of disposing of his fish at the best markets. All 
 the documents are here in good order : the master 
 
m 
 
 has sworn in conformity to them. Thus, accord- 
 ing to the papers and examinations* of the mas- 
 ter, there certainly appears no justifiable grounds 
 for detention. Of whom Swart and Bertram 
 bought the vessel does not appear. This case, 
 stripped of its disguise , is as follows : 
 
 <c The Paulina and Maria belongs to a Mr. 
 Kolfif, of Middelharnes, who has several other 
 vessels out at sea in the same way. In Vink's 
 letter, No. 34, dated 25th October, 1803, these 
 vessels are mentioned, though not by name. At 
 the latter end of 1803, or beginning of 1804, I 
 saw Simon Stapel at Vetters lodgings, in Emden, 
 with several other Dutch skippers. He was then 
 in Emden for the sake of getting himself and 
 vessel Prussianized. 
 
 “ Understanding that a great many Dutch 
 fishing vessels , of the largest size, were about to be 
 sent to sea, and under neutral colours , I sent in 
 April last a Dutch fisherman to Holland and Zea- 
 land, to fetch me a list of them. He returned in 
 
 bringing me, in his own hand writing, a 
 
 catalogue of of which large 
 
 number Simon Stapel stood the first, and was the 
 first captured. He lives at Middelharnes, has a 
 family there, and of course his attestation of resi- 
 dence is z fictitious document . 
 
 * See the master’s examinations, page 112 (B). 
 
121 
 
 ** Of Jean Vetter , the pretended owner, being a 
 neutralizer , and one who lends out his name for 
 others to trade on, we have proof positive; and 
 also that Swart and Bertram have done , and con- 
 stantly do the same, and in the following Dutch , 
 French , and Flemish vessels, now navigating under 
 the Prussian flag , viz. the E — 1 — t, W — k — m — d, 
 V — g — 1 — t, H — g, J — C — , S — h — , H — mn, 
 E — m, T — G — , and the Minerxm. 
 
 “ In all these cases, as well as Baumgaar ten’s, 
 the burgher-briefs, documents, and correspon- 
 dencies, are exactly of the same kind and torm 
 as those of the Paulina and Helena , or the Juffrow 
 Mindel. Added to this powerful mass of evi- 
 dence, we have also a living witness , who acted 
 under cover of false names with Baumgaar ten. 
 Swart , and Bertram, in those fraudulent sales. On 
 such a solid foundation, surely the Court of Admi- 
 ralty might make a stand, on the plea of general 
 fraud in every part of the transaction. 
 
 « After having thus fully and fairly stated the 
 characters and occupations of Baumgaarten, Jean 
 Vetter, Swart, and Bertram, it remains to be de- 
 cided whether such vessels may be detained with- 
 out dread of incurring costs and damages, or must 
 be released to enjoy in full security the fruits of 
 their knavery and fraud ?” 
 
 R 
 
m 
 
 (D). 
 
 'Extract from a Letter to a Navy Agent. 
 * PAULINA AND HELENA. 
 
 u Yarmouth, \4ith September, If! 05. 
 
 « Relative to the Paulina and Helena , if things 
 were as they appear to be, she had never been 
 captured by Captain Riches; and as things 
 are not so, I must still endeavour to strip off the 
 
 mask from this case, that may 
 
 behold it as it iss after which, if 
 
 opinion remains unshaken, I consent 
 
 to her being restored. 
 
 « By referring to my copy-book, I perceive that 
 
 when I wrote to that Mr. 
 
 Vink's letter, No. 34, dated 25th October, 1803, 
 mentioned the vessels neutralized by Vetter, 
 though not by name, I did not state the fact so 
 favourably to the captor’s interest as it really 
 stands. Most part of that letter relates to Jean 
 Vetter as a neutralizer. He was then in Holland, 
 and was looking after these very fishing vessels to 
 neutralize.” 
 
 Extracts from Vink's Letter to Schroder , No. 34. 
 
 “ In Zealand I know of no other place where 
 “ fsh hoekers sail from but from Zierick Zee, 
 
123 
 
 w and those are mostly lost. The place where 
 
 Jean Vetter means must be Middelharnes , 
 “ which is a great fishing village, situated at 
 “ the entrance of our sea-gat, opposite to the 
 e< fortress of Helvoet-sluis ; but the vessels which 
 <c navigate there are not hoekers, but gaffeiaars , 
 * e such as these have certainly been in your 
 <e place. I shall be active in this affair, and will 
 u write to you more fully next post. I think I 
 <c know a channel through which I can get to the 
 " bottom of it.” 
 
 <c Mr. Vetter' s family is poor: — fortune he had 
 none. He had but just ceased to be a servant to 
 Vollenhoven, of Rotterdam, and was becoming a 
 neutralizer ; but, as to his buying of vessels, every 
 man, woman, and child, would treat the idea 
 with derision. And surely, when this evidence of 
 Jean Vetter's being about to neutralize gaffeiaars 
 belonging to Middelharnes, in the autumn of 1 803, 
 is compared with the evidence I am going to 
 
 state, I think the will then be 
 
 able to penetrate through the mist of art and 
 fraud which envelopes this case, and allow that 
 we have specific evidence to reach it. 
 
 <{ l found, last spring, a Dutch fisherman, who 
 gave me the information contained in the papers 
 marked A, No. 1 , 2,3. The two gaffeiaars de- 
 scribed in A, No. 2, belong to Mr. Lamhertus 
 
124 
 
 Kolff, and are neutralised by Jean Vetter . The 
 masters of those two vessels have -private orders , 
 that if they should be carried into England and 
 condemned , not to quit them, but to buy them in 
 again at any price, not exceeding eight hundred 
 pounds sterling each. 
 
 “ Having received positive assurance from Hoi-, 
 land, that sixty or seventy of the largest Dutch 
 fishing vessels were about to be sent to sea from 
 Holland and Zealand , under neutral colours , and 
 most of them worth two thousand pounds sterling 
 each and upwards , I sent a fisherman over to Hol- 
 land and Zealand, to get what information he 
 could. He returned in about two months' time, 
 and furnished me with the information contained 
 in the papers marked B, No. 1 and 2, written by 
 his own hand. 
 
 " You will there see that Simon Stapel’s gaffe- 
 laar is described as belonging to Middelharnes , 
 and sails in Vetter's name ; that Simon Stapel re- 
 sides there, with his wife and family , and at that 
 very time fve other gaffeiaars were at sea, and 
 daily expected in at Helvoetsluis . 
 
 “ His Majesty’s Advocate observes, that * the 
 strong feature of the case is, that the vessel, evet 
 since her purchase in 1804, has sailed to and from 
 Grietzyl It is a strong point by paper evidence, 
 but that paper evidence is deceptive. 
 
1 <25 
 
 “ Grietzyl is a small village port, but with a 
 tolerable harbour, situated upon an arm of the 
 Dollart Zee, about seven or eight miles distant 
 by land from Emden, but four or five times as far 
 by sea. It has neither trade, manufactures, or 
 jishery . Its sole articles for exportation (fictitious 
 documents excepted) are the oats, &c. which grow 
 on the adjacent fields. 
 
 “ To transport the fish caught by so many large 
 fishing vessels as Jean Vetter pretends to oivn from 
 Grietzyl to Emden by sea or land, would be te- 
 dious, troublesome, and expensive. The inhabi 
 tants of the adjacent parishes are mostly of the 
 reformed religion, and there is of course no con- 
 sumption for fish beyond what the small and open 
 boats belonging to the place can supply: whereas 
 from Emden there is a passage open by the Eems 
 into Minister, where the inhabitants are all ca- 
 tholics, and where those who can afford it indulge 
 on fast days to feast on salt fish. Why then, 
 were those many vessels really Mr. Vetter's pro- 
 perty, should he not prefer the chief port of the 
 province, and in which he resides , and where his 
 property would remain under his own eye, and 
 whence his fish could be transported every tide 
 to provinces where consumption might be found, 
 to a petty and obscure place, without warehouses 
 to store his salt, nets, or fish, any inland naviga- 
 
tion to convey it away, or inhabitants to con- 
 sume it? 
 
 46 The reason why it is so pretended is — that at 
 Grietzy l fictitious papers can he procured at a much 
 cheaper rate than in Emden. 
 
 “ You will excuse the length to which this 
 subject carries me. The North Sea fishery is one 
 of the greatest sources of national wealth that the 
 Dutch possess, and the fate of that fishery depends 
 in a great measure on the decision of this case; 
 for, if this be given free, few, if any, more will be 
 captured. Thus I have endeavoured to throw all 
 the light I possibly could upon that importanf 
 subject.” 
 
 On his next cruize Captain Riches fell in with 
 and captured another of the Dutch fishing vessels* 
 called the Martha and Maria> Arent Stapel, mas- 
 ter, which he also sent into Yarmouth for adjudi- 
 cation. Arent ran his race of perjury with equal 
 impudence and audacity as his brother Simon 
 had done before him. When his performance 
 was ended, he laid violent hands upon his burgher- 
 brief and copy, which lay upon the Commis- 
 sioners’ table, and bore them off in spite of all 
 
127 
 
 remonstrance. The Commissioners attached a 
 narrative of that circumstance to his deposition, 
 (See document BB.) As there was no chance of 
 condemnation, or even of obtaining a decree of 
 costs, this vessel was restored without coming 
 before the court, on payment of the captor\ ex- 
 pences ; nor would even those expences have been 
 paid by the enemy owner, but because of the sei- 
 zure of the papers above alluded to: and thus the 
 second of the captured vessels returned to Hol- 
 land. 
 
 (BB). 
 
 EXTRACTED FROM THE REGISTRY OF 
 his majesty’s high court OF ADMIRALTY 
 
 OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Extracts of Depositions sworn to by Arent Stapel, at 
 Yarmouthy Q8th and 30th days of September , 
 1805. 
 
 1st, Arent Stapel } of Neuhamrich in Prussia.-*— 
 “ That he was born at MiddelharneSy in the pro-* 
 vince of Holland; that he has lived for the last 
 seven years at Blankenisse 3 Hamburgh , and Neu * 
 hamrich ; that he now resides there , and hath lived 
 there about two years and a quarter; that he is 
 
128 
 
 now a subject of the king of Prussia ; that he 
 paid for his admission, one hundred and fifty 
 gilders Dutch ; that he is a married man , and 
 his wife and family reside at Neuhamrich. 
 
 t( 4th, That he was master of the ship or vessel 
 taken ; that he was appointed to the command 
 thereof by Jean Vetter ; that he took possession 
 of her in Emden river, in the .month of January, 
 1804, which was delivered to him by the said Jean 
 Vetter , who lives at Emden ; that this deponent’s 
 fixed place of residence is at Neuhamrich , where 
 he hath lived for about two years and a quarter 
 with his wife and family. 
 
 “ 5th, That the number of mariners was 
 twelve ; that he believes all of them were of Prus- 
 sia ; and that they came on board at Emden, and 
 were all shipped and hired there by this deponent 
 in the month of March last. 
 
 “ 6th, That he hath known the said ship about 
 ten years; that he, first saw her at Gluckstadt, in 
 Denmark, in or abctut the year 1795; that he 
 doth not know where she zvas buiit > but believes 
 she was built in some port of Holland. 
 
 “ 7th, That the name of the said ship is the 
 Martha and Maria ; that she sailed from Grietzyl , 
 her last clearing port, on the 11th day of July 
 last ; that the said ship hath ever since January, 
 1804, been under the direction of the said Jean 
 Vetter , with respect to her employment in trade. 
 
m 
 
 “ 9th, To the ninth interrogatory this deponent 
 saith, that the said Jean Vetter was the owner of 
 the ship or vessel concerning which he is now ex- 
 amined, at the time she was taken ; that he knew 
 the said Jean Vetter was the owner of the said 
 ship at that time, from his having bought her, and 
 having employed this deponent to go master of 
 her, and this deponent having always sent him 
 the produce of the said ship when sold in any other 
 place than Emden ,* that the said Jean Vetter hath 
 a wife* ; that he is a subject of the King of 
 Prussia. 
 
 “ 16th, To the sixteenth interrogatory the de- 
 ponent saith, that all the papers, &c. &c. &c. have 
 been delivered up — except that he kept in his 
 pocket, and did not deliver up till he came under 
 examination, his burgher-brief and copy thereof, 
 conceiving that they belong solely to him, and 
 were merely for the protection of his person , and 
 fearing that they might not be returned to him , 
 and supposing that those who came on board the 
 said ship were not in the king’s service. 
 
 “ 27th, See article 27th of Simon Stapel’s ex- 
 amination. 
 
 “ 30th, That he doth not know by whom, or 
 to whom, or how often, or at what time or place, 
 or for what sum or consideration, the said ship 
 
 * See No. 9 of Simon Stapel's examination. 
 
 S 
 
130 
 
 hath been sold or transferred, or any thing re- 
 specting any sale or transfer thereof, otherwise 
 than that he hath heard the said Jean Vetter say 
 that he had bought the said ship j that he verily 
 believes that if the said ship shall be restored, she 
 will belong to the said Jean Vetter , and to no other 
 person j, that he hath no knowledge of any agree- 
 ment for the return of the ship to her former 
 owners at the conclusion of the war, or at any 
 other given period. 
 
 “ 32d, To the thirty-second interrogatory this 
 deponent saith, that he hath in his answers to the 
 several foregoing interrogatories set forth the whole 
 which he knoxvs or believes, according to the best 
 of his knowledge and belief, regarding the real and 
 true property and destination of the said ship and 
 cargo, concerning which he is examined at the 
 time of the capture. 
 
 “ Arent Stapel- 
 
 <f Sworn before us, 
 
 “ Dover Colby, ? 
 “ R. Cory, Junior,) 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 “ By the interpretation of 
 
 “ Thomas Watson. 
 
 “ In the presence of 
 
 “ James Sayers, 
 
 “ Not. Pub.. Actuary . 
 
131 
 
 « W t do hfereby certify, that after the abbve- 
 mentioned Arent Stapel had subscribed the above 
 depositions, and sworn to the truth thereof, he 
 took from the table his burgher-brief and copy, 
 mentioned in his answers to the sixteenth inter- 
 rogatory to have been delivered up to us, and put 
 them in his pocket, and we could not prevail up- 
 on him to deliver them up again to be transmitted 
 unto the Court with his ship’s papers, but he 
 took the same away with him. 
 
 (f 
 
 a 
 
 Dover Colby, 
 R. Cory, Junior, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 { Thomas Watson, Interpreter. 
 Jas- Sayers, Not. Pub. Actuary.” 
 
 “ Great Yarmouth , 21 th September , 1805. 
 
 “ Papers of the Gaffelschip Martha and Maria, 
 Skipper Arent St ape l, detained by the 
 Hunter Cutter. 
 
 “ Bill of sale, date Emden> 31st January, 1804, 
 from J. B. Hermes to Jean Vetter ; — burthen 
 of the vessel 25 lasts; price,/ 5240; — done be- 
 fore D. L. Bluhm, Amtman ; — with a certificate 
 of property annexed, of the same date, and before 
 the same Amtman. 
 
 “ Procuration, or power of attorney, date Em - 
 
132 
 
 den y 9th February, 1804, by which Jean Vetter 
 authorizes the Captain, A. Stapel, to fish on his 
 account, and sell the fish at any port or place 
 which may appear the most advantageous j com- 
 prising also a declaration of the vessel, and fish so 
 caught, &c. &c. belonging to Jean Vetter. 
 
 “ Agreement between Jean Vetter and A. 
 Stapel. The latter’s wages to be / 45 per 
 month, and five per cent, on the gross value of 
 the fish caught. Date Emden, 7th February, 
 1804. Done before Klose, Justitie Commis- 
 saris. 
 
 “ Sea pass. Date Aurichy 1 4th Feb. 1805. 
 
 “ Certificate of property . Same date, 
 
 <c Muster-roll. Date Emdeny 20th March, 1 805, 
 
 per month. 
 
 Mate, Abram Weinholzer, - of Bremen -/36 
 
 Cook, Leendert Kroeger, Leer - -f 32 
 
 Seaman, Leendert Smir, - - - - Leer - - -f 24 
 
 Frans Bleeker, r - Vechte - — - 
 
 JJermanus Heyman, - - Oldenburg — 
 
 Leendert Bingum, - - - Leer - - — 
 
 Kriene Rayestein, Borkum - — 
 
 Cornelius Kristoffie, - - Vechte - — 
 
 Claas Borsum, Borkum - — 
 
 Arien Stock, Blankenese — 
 
 Boy, - - Simon Moller, - - - - Leer - - c 16 
 
 Bastian Castelcyn, Borkum - c 14 
 
 Peter Burgum, - Leer - - c 12 
 
133 
 
 “ Certificate from Frierk H. Janssen , receiver 
 of the port duties at Grietzyl , the 27th April, 
 1805, of the vessel’s being destined to sail from 
 that port on a fishing voyage. Attested by J. 
 C • Brune , Actuary of the Grietzyl and Pursum 
 Court of Justice. 
 
 The simulated deed of sale mentioned in this 
 list of papers, passed between J. B. Hermes and 
 Jean Vetter, was made for the same purpose 
 as that between Swart & Bertram and Jean 
 Vetter, namely, to cover the hostile origin, and 
 send the vessel out to sea upon neutral documents 
 passed between subjects of the same neutral state. 
 For these services those persons were certainly 
 paid by Mr. Vetter , who did not fail to charge it 
 to his Dutch employers. 
 
 The certificate and clearance from Grietzyl , 
 signed by Messrs. Fuerk H. Jansen, attested 
 by J. C. Brune, are also simulated documents, 
 surreptitiously issued by those persons for the 
 purpose of concealing the departure of the vessel 
 from a Dutch port. 
 
 But to return— Captain Riches went again to 
 sea. He fell in with the hoy Hers telling, bound 
 
134 
 
 from Riga to Schiedam. He put an officer and 
 some men on board of her. The crew rose upon 
 them, and most undoubtedly, so near were they 
 to their port of destination, that had not Captain 
 Riches seen the false fres made by the prize 
 master, those people had been carried into Holland. 
 On that same cruize Captain Riches captured 
 a third fishing vessel, called the Sara Cornelia , 
 Cornells Sloot, master. On board of that 
 vessel he put his second officer, Mr. Charles 
 Browiiy and two seamen. Captain Riches returned 
 to port, but the Sara Cornelia appeared not. He 
 waited fourteen days — still she came not. He 
 put again to sea, still keeping on board his cutter 
 the four men he had prudently taken as hostages 
 from the vessel, for the safety of his own people. 
 Three of those men did not deny that they were 
 Dutchmen; that they lived in Middelharnes ; that 
 the owner’s name was Kolff; that the captain 
 and crew dwelt there ; and that all their fishing 
 voyages began at and ended in Holland. From 
 the character of the captain, they felt convinced 
 the Sara Cornelia ivas carried into Holland. They 
 had wives and children, who were bewailing the 
 lot of their husbands and fathers. Captain 
 Riches was too humane to make the unfortunate 
 suffer for the guilty. He found a Dutch fishing 
 boat, on board which he put the three Dutchmen , 
 and sent them with joyful hearts back to their 
 
135 
 
 country, their owner, and their families, with the 
 following letter in Dutch : 
 
 “ DE HEER LAMBERT KOLFF, 
 
 MIDDELHARNES, 
 
 Aan boord van zyne Britanische Majesteit’s 
 revenue cutter Hunter, 8 th October , 
 1805. 
 
 Boven gemeld schip ’t welk ik d* eer heb te 
 beveelen.heeft circa 14 dagen geleeden genoomen 
 UEd schip Sara Cornelia , gevoerd door Cornells 
 Sloot. aan boord derzelve heb ik als Prysmeester 
 meedegegeeven een myner onder officieren ge- 
 naamd Charles Brown 
 
 , _ . i John Boom , and 
 
 and 2 matroosen J 
 
 l Samuel Woodard 
 
 daar dit schip nooit in Yarmouth gearriveerd 
 is, zoo moet ik veronderstellen dat d’Equipage 
 myne manschappen overrompeld hebben & als 
 krygsgevangenen a costi binnegebragt. Ik zoude 
 zeekerlyk tot weerwraak de vier manschappen, 
 die ik uit UEd schip genoomen heb, na de gevan- 
 genis zenden, doch de menschlykheid & mee- 
 delyden verbied zulks. Ik zende dus terug. 
 Jacob Breman, 
 
 Gerrit Breman, & 
 
 Paul us Ruygenberg, 
 doch houde aan boort 
 Jan Kal. 
 
 “ Tot UEd informatie dient : dat zoodra ik 
 
136 
 
 myne manschappen terug heb, ik deeze in retour 
 zal zenden, doch in geval UEd hieraan niet vol- 
 doet, dan blyft den ongelukkigen gevangen tot 
 het einde des oorlogs. 
 
 “ UEd brieven zullen my ge worden geaddres- 
 seerd Y armouth. 
 
 (geteekend) “ Thomas Riches.” 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 “ MR. LAMBERTUS KOLFF, 
 
 MIDDELHARNES. 
 
 e< At sea, on board his Britannic Majesty's revenue 
 cutter Hunter, 8 Lh October, 1805. 
 
 “ SIR, 
 
 “ The above-mentioned vessel, which I have 
 the honour to command, captured about fourteen 
 days since your vessel Sara Cornelia, Cornells 
 Sloot master, and I placed on board of the same 
 one of my officers — 
 
 Charles Brown, as Prize-master ; 
 
 John Boom, . . > 
 
 Samuel Woodward, j, Seamen '’ 
 and as this vessel has never arrived at Yarmouth, 
 I am led to suppose that the crew rose on my 
 people, overpowered, and carried them into your 
 port. I should most certainly have sent the four 
 seamen to prison, as a just retaliation, but that 
 
137 
 
 humanity and compassion forbid it. Thus I now 
 send back to you 
 
 Jacob Breman, 
 
 Gerrit Breman, and 
 Paulus Ruygenberg; 
 but keep on board 
 Jan Kalle. 
 
 “ This serves then for your information, that as- 
 soon as I receive my people back, I shall send this 
 man in return. But, in case you do not comply 
 with my request, there will then remain no alterr 
 native for me, but the melancholy necessity of 
 sending my hostage to prison, and there to remain 
 till the end of the war. 
 
 “ Address your letter to me at Yarmouth. 
 
 (Signed) “ Thomas Riches.” 
 
 Copy of an Affidavit made by 
 
 relative to the Dutch Fishing Vessels navigating 
 under false Prussian Papers , procured by Jean 
 Vetter, of Emden. 
 
 <c IN THE HIGH COURT OF ADMIRALTY OF 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 “ Appeared personally ....... of ... . 
 
 in the province of Holland, mariner, and by the 
 interpretation of in the Dutch 
 
 T 
 
138 
 
 language, who was first sworn duly to interpret, 
 made oath that he is a native of Holland, and has 
 all his life been employed in the Dutch fishing 
 trade, and is therefore well acquainted with the 
 manner in which such trade is carried on in time 
 of war, and hath himself obtained a Papenburg 
 burgher-brief m order to appear as a neutral. 
 And he farther made oath, that the paper writing 
 hereunto annexed, marked with the letter A, con- 
 tains the names ai d places of abode of sundry 
 masters of Dutch fishing vessels, with whom the 
 deponent is well acquainted, and well knows that 
 their respective vessels are employed in the fishing 
 trade of Holland, though navigating under neutral 
 flags, and covered as neutral property, as he has 
 heard the said masters repeatedly declare, and 
 which he therefore verily believes to be true. 
 
 “ Sworn before me, (Signed) 
 
 “ N. Parsons, 
 
 “ Surrogate , (Witness) 
 
 Paper A. A List of Vessels belonging to Mid- 
 delharnes, navigating on the Name of Jean 
 Vetter, Emden. 
 
 « 
 
 No. 1. A gaffelschip. Arend Staples, mas- 
 ter ; is married ; has 
 — children; lives at 
 Middelharnes. 
 
 ) 
 
 $ 
 
 V) 
 
139 
 
 ” No. 2. A gaffelschip. Simon Stapel, mas- 
 ter, belongs to 
 Mr. Adrianus 
 Kolff, of Middel- J 
 harness lives at ^ 
 the corner of the ^ 
 Visser' s Dike ; is * 
 married, has — 
 children . . . 
 
 u No. 3. Do. Jeroem Langebroek s — 
 
 lives on the East Dike , 
 Middelharnes. Be- 
 longs to Lambertus 
 Hoff, of Middelhar- 
 nes. The master is 
 married, and has — 
 children. 
 
 “ No. 4. Do. Martinas Haver staffs 
 
 lives in the East Dike , 
 at Middelharnes: is 
 married, and has — 
 children. 
 
 “ No. 5. Do. Cornelis Sloot*; lives 
 
 on the East Dike at 
 
 * For the history of the rescue of this man’s vessel see the 
 affidavit, p. 142, and the letters, p. 1 35, 1 36. He is reported to 
 the writer as a tall, swarthy, raw-boned fellow. For his 
 cowardice and avarice in selling as prisoners the men whom 
 he had treacherously mastered, it is hoped, should any officer 
 
140 
 
 Middelharnes : is mar- 
 ried : has four children. 
 Belongs to Lambertus 
 
 Kolff. 
 
 “ No. Q. A gaffelschip* Pieter Van der Tol ; lives 
 
 on the East Dike , is 
 married, has three chil- 
 dren. Belongs to Mr. 
 Lambertus Kolff. 
 
 <c No. 7. Do. J V — D — M ; 
 
 lives in the Voor-straat 
 Middelharnes j — has 
 been married, but his 
 wife is dead ; has one 
 son, who is also a skip- 
 per. The vessel belongs 
 probably to the father 
 and son. 
 
 “ No. 8. Do. T V— D— M ; 
 
 lives in the Voor-straat , 
 is married, has one 
 child. Vessel belongs 
 to father and son. 
 
 “ No. 9* Do. Teunis Sloot : lives in the 
 
 Voor-straat. Half the 
 
 of his Majesty’s vessels fall in with him at sea, that they will 
 send him into port. 
 
1-41 
 
 vessel belongs to Van 
 der Tol. Is married — 
 no children. 
 
 <e The following Dutch fishing vessels , navigat- 
 ing under the Prussian flag , under false papers, 
 in the name of Jean Vetter of Emden } belong to 
 the village of Zwartewaal : 
 
 “ No. 14. Gaffelschip. Idles Van der Roef: lives 
 
 at Zwartewaal, and is 
 married. 
 
 “ No. 15. Do. Jan Van der Roef: lives at 
 
 Zwartewaal , and is mar- 
 ried. 
 
 “ No. 16. Do. Isaac Smit : lives at Zwar- 
 
 tewaal , and is married. 
 
 “ No. 23. Schip. Frans Moolendyk (real name 
 
 Hendrik Paauiv) - Navigat- 
 ed last war under the Danish 
 flag. Followed the fishery 
 in the North Sea. Was 
 employed by the Batavian 
 Government to watch the 
 English Fleets oflF the Texel, 
 and to communicate the re- 
 sult of his observations. 
 
142 
 
 (F). 
 
 “Jan Kalle, of Rotterdam , in Holland, Fish- 
 erman, voluntarily maketh oath and saith, that 
 about six weeks ago he belonged to a fishing ves- 
 sel, Cornelis Shot, master, which was captured by 
 his Britannic Majesty’s cutter the Hunter, in the 
 service of the revenue of customs, Thomas Riches , 
 commander ; and that this deponent, with three 
 other men and a boy, were taken from on board 
 the said fishing vessel on board the said cutter : 
 and this deponent was brought to Yarmouth : 
 and this deponent further maketh oath, that he 
 was born at Altona, and ever since he was eleven 
 years of age hath lived at Middelharnes , and other 
 places in Holland ; that he now lives at Rotter - 
 dam, and hath lived there for four years last past; 
 that for the two i/ears before he lived at Rotterdam 
 he lived at Middelharnes ; that for the last six 
 years he has belonged to fishing vessels sailing to 
 and from Middelharnes ; that for the last two 
 years he has belonged to the said fishing vessel of 
 which the said Cornelis Sloot was master; that he 
 Jcnoivs th o, fixed residence of the said Cornelis Shot 
 is on the East Dike at Middelharnes ; that this de- 
 ponent knows that the said fishing vessel, and also 
 two other fishing vessels , of one of which Arend 
 Stapel is master, and of the other Simon Stapel is 
 master, have for the six years last past sailed 
 
143 
 
 to and from , and delivered the fish they caught at 
 Middelharnes ; and that the said vessels , of which 
 Arend Stapel and Cornelis Sloot are masters , are 
 to this deponent's belief, and in the general opi- 
 nion of the inhabitants of Middelharnes , the pro- 
 perty of Lambert Kolff, of Middelharnes ,* and that 
 the said vessel, of which the said Simon Stapel is 
 master, is to this deponent’s belief, and in the 
 general opinion of the inhabitants of Middelharnes , 
 the property of Adrianus Koljf j and that the 
 fixed residence of the said Simon Stapel is on the 
 Vissei's Dike , at Middelharnes , and of the said 
 Arend Stapel is at Middelharnes , opposite to the 
 residence of the said Simon Stapel ; and that the 
 said Simon Stapel and Arend Stapel are brothers 
 and this deponent further saith, that the said three 
 fishing vessels have, as long as he hath known 
 them, been employed in the fishing trade of Hol- 
 land, and have been navigated under the Prussian 
 flag, as neutral property. 
 
 f( The mark of 
 X 
 
 Jan Kalle. 
 
 « The above-named Jan Kalle was on the thirty- 
 first day of October, one thousand eight hundred 
 and five, at Great Yarmouth, in the county of 
 Norfolk, in England, sworn to the truth of the 
 above-written affidavit before me, by the interpre- 
 tation of Gideon Coustos, in the Dutch language, 
 upon his corporal oath before me taken, and the 
 
144 
 
 said Jan Kalle put his mark in my presence to the 
 said affidavit. 
 
 “ Sam. Bell, a Master Extraor- 
 dinary in Chancery, and a Com- 
 missioner of the Courts of King’s 
 Bench, Common Pleas, and 
 Exchequer. 
 
 The above affidavit was sworn to by the above- 
 named Jan Kalle, and he put his mark thereto in 
 my presence, the same having been first literally 
 and deliberately translated to him out of the Eng- 
 lish language into the Dutch language, which he 
 perfectly understood. By me 
 
 “ G. Coustos, Sworn Interpreter.” 
 
 The Hunter returned to port, and then Captain 
 Riches learnt at Yarmouth that the Sara Cornelia 
 was arrived in Middelharnes ; that Cornel is 
 Sloot had basely sold the prisoners captured un- 
 der the Prussian flag to the Dutch government , 
 and received twenty-five ducats as his reward ; 
 and that Mr. Charles Brown and the two seamen 
 were prisoners at Rotterdam. The last of the 
 hostages, alarmed for his own safety, and execrat- 
 ing the treachery and avarice of Sloot, then vo- 
 luntarily confessed that a great number of Dutch 
 fishing vessels were navigating under neutral co- 
 lours, of which the owners, masters, and crews 
 
145 
 
 resided at Middelharnes and its vicinity. His de- 
 position is marked (F). 
 
 Trusting to the effects of his letter to the owner 
 of the Sara Cornelia , Captain Riches still forbore 
 to send the unfortunate hostage to prison, though 
 he knew his own officer and people were con- 
 fined. But Captain Riches fought by the side of 
 that departed hero, the pride of England and ter- 
 ror of the foe, at the dangerous attack on Boulogne. 
 He was exposed to the thickest of the fire, and 
 was noticed and applauded by the gallant Nel- 
 son. Such a man could not be cruel j and in a few 
 days, in consequence of his letter to Mr. Koljf, 
 he had the pleasure of seeing his officer and 
 people returned, and to set the hostage free whom 
 he had kept on board the Hunter ; and thus ended 
 this affair. 
 
 About that period the Hoop, Rysstlberg , 
 Master, was captured by the Censor , and the 
 master ran through the interrogatories as a neutral, 
 without hesitation ; but the mate , when called 
 upon, refused to perjure himself, and swore ex- 
 actly contrary to what the master had sworn. The 
 master, finding his mate inflexible, cancelled all 
 that he had sworn, and his second course of swear- 
 ing was interlined between the tale of falsehood, 
 and is thus registered in the archives of the court 
 
 U 
 
146 
 
 Such%e the wrongs Great Britain endures by 
 the practice of neutralization as a traffic ! Such 
 are the mysteries of this unholy act! Not any 
 of the rules of our High Court of Admiralty are at 
 *31 adapted to combat this most tremendous evil ; 
 too many of them have a directly contrary ope- 
 ration. Those rules have long survived their uti- 
 lity. The profession of a neutralizer is of recent 
 origin, but of giant growth. It has been fostered 
 and matured by statesmen and philosophers, 
 and the commercial laws of different neutral 
 powers have evidently been modelled so as to 
 screen its progress, and favour its operation *. In 
 our High Court of Admiralty, it is an invariable 
 rule, that where a ship’s papers are in proper or- 
 der, and the masters, mates, and other persons 
 
 “V 
 
 examined, swear in complete conformity to those 
 papers, and to our standing interrogatories, 
 the court is bound to restore. The characters of 
 
 * In Europe, certificates of neutral property are almost ifw 
 variably required to be publicly sworn to, before the magis- 
 trates in open court. In America, even in the most suspici* 
 ous cases, where cargoes of enormous value are making their 
 transit from the enemies * colonies to the mother country , the cer- 
 tificate of neutrality i% or is pretended to be, attested before 
 a private notaiy ! W\ y it is so arranged, requires no com- 
 ment. There are without doubt si*;h gentlemen as Post 
 Fiscal Bluhm,ov Klose , or Mutlesheim, ofEmden, to bo found 
 iu America. 
 
147 
 
 the persons mentioned in those papers as parties 
 in the sales, or owners of the vessels, or of the ma- 
 gistrate by whom such papers were granted, do 
 not become in any way objects for investigation 
 or deliberation: the question, most unhappily 
 for this country, is not — are the papers fair and 
 genuine ? but — are the papers in due order ? 
 The result is, that the neutralizers have nothing to 
 do but to take the papers out in proper form, 
 and find masters who will swear to them. 
 The writer could now if he pleased, and he 
 very shortly will, publish a catalogue of three 
 
 HUNDRED SAIL of NEUTRALIZED ENEMIES* 
 
 vessels, to whom belonging and by whom neutra « 
 lized , of which every document is “ in good 
 order f and of which, every material proof of 
 neutral property is false and simulated! 
 Were any of those three hundred sail of hostile 
 vessels brought into port for adjudication, and the 
 masters, mates, &c. examined upon our standing 
 interrogatories, the result would be, that the 
 persons examined, swearing in conformity with the 
 ship's'' papers and our standing interrogato- 
 ries, the ships would be restored to our enemies, 
 and not unlikely the British captors be pu- 
 nished with costs and damages. Neutralization is 
 a most bitter curse to our naval might, and our na* 
 tional prosperity. Those disinterested advocates 
 who derive a revenue of princely magnitude from 
 
143 
 
 its existence, rave with Stentorian voice against 
 any alteration in our practice in prize causes. 
 Just so, and from such motive , exclaimed the 
 silversmith of the temple of Ephesus, when the 
 worship of molten images was menaced by the 
 preaching of the gospel! 
 
 There is a work privately circulated in Hol- 
 land, called “ Vraagen en Antwoordeii” i. e. 
 “Questions and Answers ,” being our standing 
 interrogatories, with the answers the master 
 ought to give in support of his simulated papers ! 
 On board of a vessel sent into Harwich a few 
 months since, a similar paper was found, with the 
 necessary answer placed opposite to each ques- 
 tion. No captor is allowed to he present , or any 
 person for him, when the examinations are taken. 
 It would not be just to suffer the Captor , or any 
 person for him, to interfere in the course of the 
 examination ; but during a process so event- 
 ful to him, he ought in justice to be permitted 
 to be present, in person or by proxy, to see that 
 the interrogatories, such as they are, are fairly 
 and distinctly put to the person examined, and 
 that no advice or innuendo whatever be introduced 
 to enable the person examined to avoid the spi- 
 rit and force of the same. Had Captain Riches, 
 or any person for him, been but permitted to 
 have asked Simo?i Stapel , master of the Paulina 
 
149 
 
 and Helena — “ Is not your real owner s name 
 Kolff ? Does he not reside at Middelharnes ? 
 Do you not reside on the Visser's Dike , Middel- 
 harnes? the Paulina and Helena would have been 
 condemned as a good and lawful prize, instead of 
 the ^ClOO expences entailed on the Captor, by 
 the decision of that cause. These evils are im- 
 portant, and call for reformation. 
 
 Most of the Dutch and French ship-owners are 
 skilful proctors. They knowhow to appreciate the 
 immense advantages secured to them by our 
 standing interrogatories, and can calcu- 
 late to a fraction the chance they have of success — 
 seldom dubious if their Master-Mariners will 
 but swear ! Thence, at the present hour, the 
 question is not, is the master a sober religious 
 man , and a skilful mariner? but, “is he 
 
 UP TO A THING OR TWO? WILL HE SWEAR V* 
 
 If he be willing, but has not been initiated in all 
 the MYSTERIES of NEUTRALIZATION, he is put 
 in training, and taught to rehearse our standing 
 interrogatories, till he knows every question 
 by rote, and has every answ r er ready to meet every 
 question put to him. In this manner the masters, 
 mates, &c. are drilled and disciplined in the exer- 
 cise of perj ury, so that when a real examination 
 takes place at our out-ports, without one faltering 
 accent, one blush upon their cheeks, they deli- 
 
150 
 
 RERATELY FORSWEAR THEMSELVES at every 
 sentence, and so utterly incompetent are the existing 
 rules of our High Court of Admiralty to meet the 
 existing eviU that with the most complete convic- 
 tion that the claims of the asserted neutral are un- 
 just, the court frequently finds itself obliged to 
 restore, and sometimes with costs and damages 
 against the captor ! ! ! 
 
 It happened during the last war, that those no- 
 torious neutralizers Jan Luitjes Ruyl and 
 Pie persberg, o/Emden, had vessel after vessel 
 brought before the High Court of Admiralty, and 
 condemned ; some on account of the employment 
 of the vessels, others on account of the gross fraud 
 and perjury appearing on the original evidence. In 
 others, the masters , when examined upon oath, 
 explained the truth of the transaction, and falsi - 
 fed the documents which appeared to have 
 been obtained on the oath of Messrs. 
 Jan Luitjes Ruyl atid Son ! On one of those 
 occasions it was observed, “ that if eleven cases 
 WERE BAD it should HAVE NO EFFECT UpOU the 
 twelfth In abstract theory nothing could be 
 more equitable than such a sentiment ; but was 
 it consistent with sound policy or with justice 
 under these circumstances ? It it had been so- 
 lemnly decreed. “ that as Messrs. Jan Luitjes 
 Ruyl and Son were clearly and completely 
 
1<51 
 
 proved guilty of perjury in prostituting 
 their neutral characters \n covering, under a 
 neutral mask, the ships and commerce of our 
 enemies, they should no more be heard in 
 future claims for any property found navigating 
 in their name ” — in that case they would have 
 ceased to neutralize, for no one would have em- 
 ployed them, and by such, if by no other means, 
 the traffic of neutralizing might be destroyed . To 
 siffer suck rampant perjuries to pass unpunish- 
 ed, by trying every case on its oxen merits , is to per- 
 petuate the curse entailed by this practice , and 
 
 CONSIGN OUR MARITIME SUPERIORITY TO A PRE- 
 
 mature end. The confiscation of that particular 
 property, comparatively speaking, is not any pu+ 
 nishment , for in most cases it is insured against 
 all risks, and the risk of condemnation is 
 ef course included. 
 
 In European courts of Judicature (and probably 
 in all others) a person once convicted of wilful 
 and corrupt perjury ,is deemed unfit to be believed, 
 and his evidence is rejected. By the practice of 
 eur Prize Courts, an asserted neutral, though 
 blackened with the foulest perjuries, though the 
 archives of those very courts are loaded with in- 
 numerable proofs of his crimes-— yet is he per- 
 mitted again and again to lift his guilty head — to 
 plead his guilty cause— and triumph over justice 
 
152 
 
 and decorum ! Let us now for a moment turn to 
 the situation of the Captor. If the commander of 
 a fling’s ship is guilty of injustice or oppression 
 towards a neutral — if he exceeds his authority, 
 and violates the rights of. that neutral, he is 
 liable to be brought to a Court Martial, to be de- 
 graded from his rank, mulct of all his pay, and to 
 be for ever dismissed his Majesty’s service. If 
 the commander of a private ship of war be 
 proved guilty of vexatious and oppressive con- 
 duct towards neutral flags, he is liable to be dis- 
 qualified to command ; that is, he is deprived 
 of that belligerent character under zvhich he 
 offended , without any possibility of resuming it 3 
 and his owners are further liable to the forfeiture 
 of their bonds and their letters of marque. Here 
 then is a remedy which the neutral possesses 
 against injustice or oppression of the most rigid 
 and effective kind — terrible in its operation, 
 and easily obtained ; while the captor possesses 
 no such advantages over those who have by the 
 venal prostitution of their names, forfeited their 
 claim to a neutral character. From this cause it 
 is, that “ with the exception of only a very 
 
 SMALL PORTION OF THK COASTING TRADE OF 
 OUR ENEMIES, NOT A MERCANTILE SAIL OF 
 ANY DESCRIPTION NOW ENTERS OR CLEARS 
 
 from any of their ports (i. e. the ports of 
 our enemies ) in any part of the globe , but under 
 
153 
 
 neutral flags* ” The tremendous evil complained 
 of in the above sentence would never have existed, 
 but for the total want of reciprocity in punish- 
 ments. Few, if any, condemnations take place of 
 property captured under neutral flags, but where 
 perjury is apparent ,• and if, after one condemna- 
 tion on the ground of wilful and corrupt perjury 
 on the part of the asserted neutral , the doors of the 
 court were to be shut against him, the profes- 
 sion of a neutralizer would be annihilated, and 
 the enemy beaten out of this covert, would be 
 forced by their necessities to expose themselves to 
 the hazards of war under their own colours. 
 
 After having so fully, and by such a variety of 
 incontestible evidence, proved the existence of neu- 
 tralization as a traffic , a few words may be per- 
 mitted as to a remedy, at least as far as relates to 
 European neutralizers, and one might perhaps be 
 effectually found in the following very simple 
 process. 
 
 I. Let the High Court of Admiralty refuse 
 credit to any document offered as proof of neutral 
 property , which shall bear the signature of any 
 magistrate or officer detected in having wilfully 
 and corruptly violated the duties of neutrality. 
 
 * 
 
 War in Disguise, 1st. edit, page 69. 
 
 X 
 
154 
 
 IT. Accredit no documents of property for vessels 
 or cargoes, of which the affidavits shall not have 
 been administered in open court , and in the pre- 
 sence of the British consul or resident , who shall 
 countersign the same, declaring that he saw the 
 oaths, duly administered . 
 
 III. Accredit not any acts of naturalization in 
 the Danish, Prussian, Oldenberg, Friesland, 
 Varel, or Paapenburg dominions or districts, but 
 what shall bear the attestation of the minister of 
 the parish (in addition to that of the Amtmanor 
 civil-magistrate) in which the person naturalized 
 is said to reside, zvith the date of his frst settle- 
 ment there, and the place of his preceding resi- 
 dence. 
 
 Such are the remedies the writer presumes to 
 submit for consideration. May they be rejected 
 to make way for others more suitable, and the ap- 
 plication take place without delay. To say that 
 the country is in a state more awfully dangerous 
 than ever it was before, is not to say that we 
 ought to indulge in despondency. The resources 
 of this empire are inexhaustible, and confusion 
 must await every effort to destroy us, if we are 
 but true to ourselves ; that is, if we bring forth 
 all our resources, all our talent, all our physical 
 power, to oppose the designs of the foe. The first, 
 
155 
 
 the greatest, and most disgraceful of all domestic 
 evil, exists in the base conduct of too many of our 
 merchants, who, dead to all feelings of patriotism 
 or honour, carry on a sordid commerce with our 
 enemies — and when the property of those enemies 
 chance to be captured, they traitorously step in 
 between the captor and the prize, and cheat our 
 warriors of their rights ! Once again, the writer 
 most earnestly invokes the serious attention of 
 the country at large to this melancholy and 
 dishonourable truth. Let it be remembered that 
 it was the boundless rapacity, cupidity, and 
 treachery of the Dutch merchants , which reduced 
 Holland to the dreadful state of degradation she 
 now exhibits. Similar causes must produce si- 
 milar effects. Besides, very many of those Dutch- 
 men, whose insatiate avarice entailed ruin and 
 disgrace on their native country — are now deni- 
 zens in this, and busily at work to reduce us to 
 the same condition ! Mr. Jefferson, in his speech 
 to the congress, accuses our own merchants of 
 carrying on trade with the enemies of the coun- 
 try ! The fact may be true*— it is to be feared it 
 j s — but are we for the purpose of indulging the 
 dishonest traffic of a few knavish speculators, to 
 endure such a stigma ? It would be unjust to de- 
 mand satisfaction for injuries sustained by fo- 
 reign neutralizers, if such criminals of our 
 own growth remain unpunished. 
 
156 
 
 To conclude : by reasserting our long neglected 
 maritime rights, we should cut off at one 
 blow all the foreign, coasting, and colonial com- 
 merce of our enemies ; we should render the 
 threats of invasion ridiculous, and by a single 
 effort leave Bonaparte to sigh in vain for ships , 
 colonies y and commerce The latest posterity 
 would be benefited by the deed ; yet its principal 
 lustre would be, that it would leave the real neu- 
 tral, in the possession of his legitimate rights on 
 the ocean, of which he must suffer the deprivation, 
 
 while, THREE THOUSAND SAIL OF FRENCH, 
 
 Dutch, and Spanish shipping are carrying on 
 their own trade , under neutral colours. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 C. Willi l'ING^\ 
 
 ireec.