Advocate-General, with the Advocate of Her Majesty in Her Office of Admiralty, are forthwith to prepare the draft of a Commission, and present the same to Her Majesty at this Board, authorizing the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral to will and require the High Court of Admiralty of England, and the Lieutenant and Judge of the said Court, his Surrogate or Surrogates, as also the several Courts of Admiralty within Her Majesty’s dominions, which shall be duly commissionated to take cognizance of, and judicially proceed upon, all and all manner of captures, seizures, prizes, and reprisals of all ships, vessels, and goods, that are or shall be taken, and to hear and determine the same; and, according to the Courts of Admiralty and the Law of Nations, to adjudge and condemn all such ships, vessels, and goods, as shall belong to the Emperor of all the Russias or his subjects, or to any others inhabiting within any of his countries, territories, or dominions:  and they are likewise to prepare and lay before Her Majesty, at this Board, a Draft of such Instructions as may be proper to be sent to the said several Courts of Admiralty in Her Majesty’s dominions, possessions, and colonies, for their guidance herein.

From the Court at Buckingham Palace, this twenty-ninth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.

INDEX.

ADMIRALTY.  Droits of Admiralty, 6

AMBASSADORS, 85

ARMED NEUTRALITY, 92

AFFREIGHTMENT, 16

BILLS OF EXCHANGE. 
  Drawn during war, 14

BLOCKADES, 86
  By whom Proclaimed, 86
  Violation of, 87
  First Rule of, 87
  Second Rule, 87
  Third Rule, 89
  Simple Blockade, 88
  Blockade in Fact, 88
  Blockade with Notification, 88
  Maritime Blockade not violated by Land Carriage, 90

CONTRACTS. 
  With Enemy, void, 12
  Made before the war, 15

CARTEL, 20
  Principles of Cartel, 33

CARGOES. 
  Distinguished from Ships, 30

CONDEMNATION. 
  Preliminary Proceedings, 44

CAPTORS. 
  Answerable for Damages, 68
  When entitled to Freight, 74

CONVOYS, 91

CONTRABAND OF WAR, 76
  Provisions, when Contraband, 77
  Lord Stowell’s Opinion, 78
  Neutral Ships transporting Enemy’s Forces, 83
  Neutral Ships carrying Enemy’s Despatches, 84
  Penalty for Contraband Trade, 85
  Further Penalties, 85
  Return Voyage Free, 86
  Articles of Contraband, 101

DECLARATION OF WAR, 2
  Contents, 3
  The Late Declarations, 101
  When retroactive, 98

DEBTS. 
  Due to or from an Enemy, 7

DOMICILE. 
  Test of Nationality, 24
  Test of Domicile, 25
  In Eastern Countries, 27