or crews, and do prohibit all supplies and aid from being furnished to them, or any of them.

And I do declare and make known, that if any person from, or within the jurisdictional limits of the United States, shall afford any aid to any such vessel, contrary to the prohibition contained in this proclamation, either in repairing any such vessel, or in furnishing her, her officers or crew, with supplies of any kind, or in any manner whatsoever, or if any pilot shall assist in navigating any of the said armed vessels, unless it be for the purpose of carrying them, in the first instance, beyond the limits and jurisdiction of the United States, or unless it be in the case of a vessel forced by distress, or charged with public dispatches, as hereinafter provided for, such person or persons shall, on conviction, suffer all the pains and penalties by the laws vided for in such offences.

pro

And I do hereby enjoin and require all persons bearing office, civil or military, within or under the authority of the United States, and all others, citizens or inhabitants thereof, with vigilance and promptitude to exert their respective authorities, and to be aiding and assisting to the carrying this proclamation, and every part thereof, into full effect.

Provided, nevertheless, that if such vessels shall be forced into the harbours or waters of the United States by distress, by the dangers of the sea, or by the pursuit of an enemy, or shall enter them, charged with dispatches or business from their government, or shall be a public packet for the conveyance of letters and dispatches, the commanding of ficer, immediately reporting his vessel to the collector of the district, stating the object, or the causes of

entering the said harbours or waters, and conforming himself to the regulations in that case prescribed under authority of the laws, shall be allowed the benefit of such regulations respecting repairs, supplies, stay, intercourse, and departure, as shall be permitted under the same authority. In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same.

Given at the city of Washington,

the second day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven, and of the sovereignty and independence of the United States the thirty-first.

(Sealed) THOMAS Jefferson. By the President, JAMES MADDISON, Secretary of State.

No. 7.-Report, made in the Congress, Nov. 17, 1807, touching the Affair of the Chesapeake Frigate.

Mr Blount, from a Committee of the House of Representatives on a part of the President's message, reported this day on the subject of the attack on the Chesapeake. The report commences with an expression of sensibility at this outrage; states the receipt of information relative thereto from the state and navy departments; presents a general view of the circumstances, observing, that it might be said to have been incontestibly proved, that William Ware, John Strachan, and Dan. Martin, (three of the four persons taken out of the Chesapeake,) are citizens of the United States; but the committee add, that they conceive it unnecessary for them or the house to go into any inquiry on that part of the subject, as, in their opinion, whether the men taken from the Chesapeake were or were not citizens of the

United States, and whether the Che sapeake was or was not within the acknowledged limits of the United States at the time they were taken, the character of the act of taking them remains the same. -From the foregoing facts, it appears to your committee, that the outrage committed on the frigate Chesapeake has been stamped with circumstances of indignity and insult, of which there is scarcely to be found a parallel in the history of civilized nations, and requires only the sanction of the government, under colour of whose authority it was perpetrated, to make it just cause of, if not an irresistible call for, instant and severe retaliation. Whether it will receive that sanction, or be disavowed and declared an unauthorised act of a subordinate officer, remains to be determined by the answer which shall be given to the demand of explanation: that answer, now daily expected, will either sink the detestable act into piracy, or expand it to the magnitude of premeditated hostility against the sovereignty and independence of this nation; and, until its true character shall be fixed and known, your committee deem it expedient to decline expressing any opinion as to the measures proper to be adopted in retaliation to it. But the committee add, as other acts of aggression have been committed within our ports and waters, such as these mentioned in the President's message, the committee are of opinion, that it is expedient to provide more effectually for the protection of our ports and harbours; but, not being prepared to report specifically on that subject, they ask further indulgence of the house; and submit the following resolution :-Resolved, That the attack of the British ship of war Leopard on the United States frigate

Chesapeake, was a flagrant violation of the jurisdiction of the United States; and that the continuance of the British squadron (of which the Leopard was one) in their waters, after being notified by the proclamation of the President of the United States, ordering them to depart the same, was a further violation thereof.

No. 8.-Non-importation Act, passed 18th April, 1806.---Together with a Supplementary Act, passed about 10th Dec 1807.

Be it enacted, by the senate and house of representatives of the Uni ted States of America, in congress as sembled, that from and after the 15th of November next it shall not be law. ful to import into the United States, or the territories thereof, from any port or place situated in Great Britain or Ireland, or in any of the colonies or dependencies of Great Britain, any goods, wares, or merchandize, of the following descriptions, that is to say:

All articles of which leather is the material of chief value.-All articles of which silk is the material of chief value.---All articles of which hemp or flax is the material of chief value. ---All articles of which tin or brass is thematerial of chief value, tin in sheets excepted.---Woollen cloths whose invoice prices shall exceed 5s. sterling per square yard.---Window glass, and all other manufactures of glass.---Silver and plated wares.---Paper of every description.---Nails and pikes.--Hats.---Cloathing ready made.---Millinery of all kinds, and pictures and prints. Nor shall it be lawful to import into the United States, or the territories thereof, from any foreign port or place whatever, any of the above-mentioned goods, wares, or merchandize, being the growth, produce, or manufacture of Great Bri tain or Ireland, or any of the colo

nies or dependencies of Great Britain: provided, however, that no articles which shall within 14 months after the passing of this act be imported from any place beyond the Cape of Good Hope, on board any vessel cleared out before the passing of this act from any port within the United States or the territories thereof, for the said Cape of Good Hope, or any place beyond the same, shall be subject to the prohibition aforesaid.---Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that whenever any article or articles, the importation of which is prohibited by this act, shall, after the said 15th of Nov. next, be imported into the United States, or the territories thereof, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, or shall, after the said 15th Nov. next, be put on board any ship or vessel, boat, raft, or carriage, with intention of importing the same into the United States, or the territories thereof, all such articles, as well as all other articles on board the same ship or vessel, boat, raft, or carriage, belong ing to the owner of such prohibited articles, shall be forfeited, and the owner thereof shall moreover forfeit and pay treble the value of such articles.---Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, that if any article or articles, the importation of which is prohibited by this act, shall, after the said 15th of Nov. next, be put on board any ship or vessel, boat, raft, or carriage, with intention to import the same into the United States, or the territories thereof, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, and with the knowledge of the owner or master of such ship or vessel, boat, raft, or carriage, shall be forfeited, and the owner or master thereof shall moreover each forfeit and pay treble the value of such articles. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted

that if any article or articles, the importation of which is prohibited by this act, and which shall nevertheless be on board any ship or vessel, boat, raft, or carriage, arriving after the said 15th of Nov. next, in the United States, or the territories thereof, shall be omitted in the manifest, report, or entry of the master or the person having the charge or command of such ship or vessel, boat, raft, or carriage, or shall be omitted in the entry of the goods owned by the owner, or consigned to the consignee of such articles, or shall be imported or landed, or attempted to be imported or landed, without a permit, the same penalties, fines, and forfeitures shall be incurred, and may be recovered, as in the case of similar omission or omissions, landing importations, or attempting to land or import, in relation to articles liable to duties on their importation into the United States,.--Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, that every colleetor, naval officer, surveyor, or other officer of the customs, shall have the like power and authority to seize goods, wares, and merchandize imported contrary to the intent and meaning of this act, to keep the same in custody until it shall have been ascertained whether the same have been forfeited or not, and to enter any ship or vessel, dwelling-house, store, building, or other place, for the purpose of searching for and siezing any such goods, wares, or merchandize, which he or they now have by law in relation to goods, wares, and merchandize subject to duty and if any person or persons shall conceal or buy any goods, wares, and merchandize, knowing them to be liable to seizure by this act, such person or persons shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit and pay a sum double the amount of value of the goods

wares, and merchandize, so concealed or purchased.---Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, that the following addition shall be inserted to the oath or affirmation taken by the masters or persons having the charge or command of any ship or vessel arriving at any port of the United States, or the territories thereof, after the said 15th of Nov. next, viz. "I further swear (or affirm) that there is not, to the best of my knowledge or belief, on board (insert the denomination and name of the vessel) any goods, wares, and merchandize, the importation of which into the United States, or the territories thereof, is prohibited by law: And I do further swear (or affirm) that if I shall hereafter discover or know of any such goods, wares, and merchandize, on board the said vessel, or which shall have been imported in the same, I will immediately, and without delay, make due report thereof to the collector of the port of this district."---Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, that the following addition be inserted, after the said 15th of Nov. next, to the oath or affirmation taken by importers, consignees, or agents, at the time of entering goods imported into the United States, or the territories thereof, viz. "I also swear (or affirm) that there are not, to the best of my knowledge and belief, amongst the said goods, wares, and merchandize, imported or consigned as aforesaid, any goods, wares, or merchandize, the importation of which into the United States, or the territories thereof, is prohibited by law And I do further swear (or affirm) that if I shall hereafter discover any such goods, wares, or merchandize, among the said goods, wares, and merchandize, I will immediately, and without delay, report the same to the collector of this district." -Sec. 8. And be it further enacted,

that all penalties and forfeitures arising under this act may be sued for and recovered, and shall be distributed and accounted for in the manner prescribed by the act, entitled, "An Act to regulate the Collection of Du ties on Imports and Tonnage :" and such penalties and forfeitures may be examined, mitigated, or remitted, in like manner, and under the like conditions, regulations, and restrictions, as are prescribed, authorised, and directed by the act, entitled, " An Act to provide for mitigating or remitting the Forfeitures, Penalties, and Disa bilities, accruing in certain Cases therein mentioned."

Supplementary Act.

and

Sec. 1. Be it enacted, by the se nate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, that nothing in the act to which this is a supplement shall be so construed as to prohibit the importation of the following arti cles, that is to say :----Wrappers outside packages, in which goods, the importation of which is not prohibit ed, usually are and shall be wrapped or packed at the time of their impor tation.---2. Bags or sacks in which salt shall be imported.---3. Glass bottles or phials, in which drugs, medicines, or any other articles, the im portation of which is not prohi bited, shall be imported.---4. Print ed books, maps, and charts.----5. Watches, mathematical, astronomical, and surgical instruments.---6. Shalloons and woollen stuffs.---Sec. 2.And be it further enacted, that the arti cles of the following description shall be held and considered as being em braced by the description of articles, the importation of which is prohibit ed by the act to which this act is a supplement, that is to say ---All ar ticles manufactured entirely of silk

and wool, or of silk and flax, or of flax or wool ;---Floor cloths ;---Woollen cassimeres, carpets, carpeting and mats, whose invoice prices shall exceed five shillings sterling per square yard.---Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, that whenever a doubt shall arise whether any articles imported into the United States is embraced by the description of articles the importation of which is prohibited by the act to which this act is a supplement, the comptroller's decision thereon, approved by the secretary of the treasury, shall be final and conclusive, and be taken and held in every respect as the true construction of the act.---Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, that no articles which shall be imported from any place beyond the Cape of Good Hope, on board any vessel cleared out before the day of from any port within the United States, or the territories thereof, for the said Cape of Good Hope, or any place beyond the same, shall be subject to the prohibition enacted by the act to which this act is a supplement.

No. 9.-Act of Congress, laying the Embargo, passed Dec. 22, 1807.

ACT. Be it enacted, by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, that an embargo be, and hereby is laid on all ships and vessels in the ports and places within the limits or jurisdiction of the United States, cleared or not cleared, bound to any foreign port or place and that no clearance be furnished to any ship or vessel bound to such foreign port or place, except vessels under the immediate direction of the President of the United States; and that the President be authorised to give such instructions

to the officers of the revenue, and of the navy and revenue cutters of the United States, as shall appear best adapted for carrying the same into full effect. Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be considered to prevent the departure of any foreign ship or vessel, either in ballast, or with the goods, wares, and merchandize, on board of such foreign ship or vessel, when notified of this act.Sect. 2. And be it further enacted, That during the continuance of this act, no registered or sea-letter vessel, having on board goods, wares, and merchandize, shall be allowed to depart from one port of the United States to the other, within the same, unless the master, owner, consignee, or factor of such vessel, shall first give bond, with one or more sureties, to the collector of the district from which she is bound to depart, in a sum of double the value of the vessel and cargo, that the said goods, wares, and merchandize, shall be relanded in some port of the United States, dangers of the seas excepted; which bond, and also a certificate from the collector where the same may be relanded, shall, by the collectors respectively, be transmitted to the secretary of the treasury. All armed vessels possessing public commissions from any foreign powers, are not to be considered as liable to the embargo laid by this act,