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neutral, it is settled, that where a person has his domicil, there is his country, whatever may be his country of birth or adoption.'

national char

In all cases, the master and crew are presumed Question of to possess the national character of the vessel to acter. which they are attached, during the time of their employment."

domicil.

A person who remains in a belligerent country As affected by for several years, paying taxes, etc., though his design at first was a mere temporary sojourn, loses his national character. 8

A neutral consul resident and trading in a belligerent country, is deemed a belligerent.*

The native character reverts at once, upon removal, and indeed as soon as one puts himself in itinera to his native country, animo revertendi.

trade.

A neutral merchant trading in the enemy's coun- As affected by try as a privileged trader, is deemed an enemy, but not if he be engaged in the ordinary and accustomed trade of neutral merchants.5

The domicil of a commercial partnership is regulated by that of the persons composing.

1 The Vigilantia, 1 Rob., 1; The Endraught, 1 Rob., 19; The Susan Christina, 1 Rob., 237; The Indian Chief, 3 Rob., 23; The President, 5 Rob., 277; The Neptunus, 6 Rob., 403; The Venus, 9 Cranch., 253; The Frances, 1 Gall., 614; Mc Connel vs. Hector, 3 Bos. and Pul., 113.

The Endraught, 1 Rob., 23; The Bernou, 1 Rob., 102; The Frederick, 5 Rob., 8; The Ann, 1 Dod., 221.

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The Indian Chief, 3 Rob., 22; The Josephine, 4 Rob., 25; The Citto, 3 Rob., 38; La Virginie, 5 Rob., 98; The St. Lawrence, 1 Gall., 457.

5

The Anna Catherina, 4 Rob., 119; The Rendsberg, 4 Rob., 139. The Viglantia, 1 Rob., 1, 14, 19; The Susa, 2 Rob., 255; The Indiana, 3 Rob., 44; The Portland, 3 Rob., 44; The Vriend

As affected by the ship's flag or pass.

If a neutral merchant continue in a house of trade in the enemy's country after knowledge of the war, he is regarded as an enemy.1

The character of the traffic alone, is sometimes sufficient proof of hostile character, as, if a neutral be engaged in the enemy's navigation, it impresses a hostile character upon all his vessels which have no distinct national character, as well as the one so employed.

The flag or pass under which a ship is sailed is deemed conclusive evidence of its national character, though in general, the national character of a vessel depends on the domicil of the owner; but the owner is bound by the flag or pass which he sees fit to make use of, and when it happens to operate against him, he is not at liberty to deny the character which he assumed for his benefit. Such flag or pass so assumed does not bind other parties as against the owner. They are at liberty to prove the spurious character of the credentials, and the sifting of the evidence upon the hearing, by prize courts, is frequently directed to removing the mask and exposing the true character of the vessel in question.8

schap, 4 Rob., 166; The Jonge Klassina, 5 Rob., 297; The Antonia Johanna, 1 Wheat., 159; The St. Jose Indiana, 2 Gall.,

268.

The Francis, 1 Gallis., 618, and S. C., 8 Cranch, 348; The Susa, 2 Rob., 251, 255.

2 The Vriendschap, 4 Rob., 166.

The Vigilantia, 1 Rob., 1, 19, 26; The Vrow Catherina, 5 Rob., 161; The Success, 1 Dod., 131; The Planter's Wench, 5 Rob., 22; The Magnus, 1 Rob., 31; The Fortuna, 1 Dod., 87; The Princessa, 2 Rob., 49; The Anna Catherina, 4 Rob., 107; The Commerce, 1 Wheat., 382.

dur- As affected by

transfer of ves

The sels during

The subject of the transfer of enemy's ships ing war, has already been fully considered. effect of uch transfer becomes very often an im- war. portant question at the hearing, and has frequently been discussed in prize courts. The student is referred to numerous additional authorities, illustrating the practice of the tribunals.'

fer of goods in

So, too, has already been considered, the effect And the transof a transfer of property in cargo, from an enemy to transitu. neutrals, while upon the voyage, or as it is called, in transitu. This is a fruitful question for discussion and the determination of prize courts upon the hearing; and the reader is here referred to many decisions upon the subject both by the courts of England and the United States.

affecting pro

It is sufficient after the consideration already Illegal trade as given to the subject of illegal trade, or that which prietary interbecomes illegal during war, to refer to the leading ests. decisions of the prize courts upon that subject, as

1 The Phanix, 5 Rob., 20; The Dree Gebroeders, 4 Rob., 232; Bentzon's Claim, 9 Cranch, 191; The Bernou, 1 Rob., 102; The Sechs Gedschmistem, 4 Rob., 100; The Argo, 1 Rob., 158; The Jenny, 4 Rob., 31; The Omnibus, 6 Rob., 71; The Minerva, 6 Rob., 396; The Packet de Bilboa, 1 Rob.,133; The Noyt Gedacht, 2 Rob., 137, note a.

The Danckebaar Africaan, 1 Rob., 107; The Hatstelda, 1 Rob., 114; The Vrow Margaretha, 1 Rob., 336; The Jan Frederick, 5 Rob., 128; The Carl Walter, 4 Rob., 207; The Sally, 3 Rob., 300, note a; The Atlas, 3 Rob., 299; The Anna Catherina, 4 Rob., 107; The Rendsburg, 4 Rob., 121; The Jan Frederick, 5 Rob., 128; The Aurora, 4 Rob., 218; The Merrimack, 8 Cranch 317; The Marianna, 6 Rob., 24; The St. Jose Indiano, 2 Gallis., 268, 1 Wheat., 208; The Venus, 8 Cranch, 253; The Frances, 1 Gall., 445, S. C., 8 Cranch, 344, 9 Cranch, 183; The Mary and Susan, 1 Wheat., 25; The Josephine, 4 Rob., 25.

The effect of violation of

contraband

affecting the important question to be determined at the hearing of proprietary interest.1

Allied to the subject of illegal trade, prize courts blockade; of are often required, at the hearing, to determine trade; trade upon the evidence, whether there has been a violaon enemy's tion or an attempted violation of a lawful blockher colonies; ade, an illegal traffic in contraband of war, a resist to search. ance to the right of search, an engagement in the .

coast, or with

and resistance

coasting or colonial trade of the enemy, or unneutral conduct of any character. These several subjects have been fully reviewed. Some further authorities are here referred to, as well as others relating to the principles adopted by prize courts as to the important question, of the binding character of the acts of the master of the vessel, under various circumstances upon the owner of the vessel or the cargo.

2 The Vigilantia, 1 Rob., 1, 14; The Hoop, 1 Rob., 196; Potts vs. Bell, 8 T. R., 548; The Rapid, 8 Cranch, 155; S. C., 1 Gall., 295; The Alexander, 8 Cranch, 169; S. C., 1 Gallis, 532; The Joseph, 8 Cranch, 451 S. C., 1 Gallis, 545; The Naiade, 4 Rob., 251; The Neptunus, 6 Rob., 403; The Danous, Rob., 255; The Ann, 1 Dod., 221; The Abby, 5 Rob., 251; The Mary, 1 Gallis., 620; S. C., 9 Cranch, 120; The Lord Wellington, 2 Gallis., 103; The Julia, 1 Gallis., 594; S. C., 8 Cranch, 181; The Aurora, 8 Cranch, 203; The Hiram, 8 Cranch, 444; S. C., 1 Wheat., 440; The Ariadne, 2 Wheat., 143; The Atlas, 3 Rob., 299; The Sally, 3 Rob., 300, and note a.

2 The Boedes Lust, 5 Rob., 233, 1 Wheat., 389, note, 1 Wheat., 507; app. note 3; The Vrow Judith, 1 Rob., 150; The Adonis, 5 Rob., 256; The Imina, 3 Rob., 167; The Mars, 6 Rob., 79; The Rosalie and Betty, 2 Rob., 343; The Alexander, 4 Rob., 93; The Elsebe, 5 Rob., 173; The Shepherdess, 5 Rob., 262; The Hiram, 1 Wheat., 440; The Dispatch, 3 Rob., 279; The Nereide, 9 Cranch, 388; The Fanny, 1 Dod., 443; The Vrow Judith, 1 Rob., 150; The St. Nicholas, 1 Wheat., 417; The Phaniz Ins. Co. vs. Pratt, 2 Binney, 308; Oswell vs. Vigne, 15 East.,

condemnation

When a sentence is pronounced in a prize court, The decree of upon a hearing in the first instance, whether it be and proceedof condemnation, or acquittal and restitution, it is, ings thereon. in all cases, an interlocutory decree, where any thing further remains to be done by the court, after deciding that the property is to be condemned or restored. And first, we will briefly review the subsequent proceedings upon an interlocutory decree of condemnation.

tors and joint

Condemnation being decreed, the next question Who are cap. for the prize court to determine is, who are the captors entitled to distribution.

We have already passed in review the settled principles upon which this question is to be decided by the court; in connection with captures made by commissioned or non-commissioned vessels-public, private or armed vessels-and as to joint-capture, and the principles upon which it is to be determined what is a joint-capture, and who are entitled to share in the distribution as joint-captors.

captors enti

tled to share in distribution.

When a clairu

of joint capture

to

be filed, and

how made and

It is not usual to file a claim of joint-capture be. fore the interlocutory decree of condemnation; but if it be delayed until after a decree of distribution, established. it is too late-unless it should happen that an ap peal has been taken from the decree, when, as matter of favor, it seems that a claim of joint-capture may be admitted.1

It is a settled rule of prize courts, that a claim of joint-capture must be made in the ordinary way, by a regular allegation of the facts and circum

70; The Neptunus, 1 Rob., 170; The Hoop, 1 Rob., 196; The Daankbaarheit, 1 Dod., 183.

1 Duckworth vs. Tucker, 2 Taunt., 7; The Stella del Norte, 5 Rob., 349; Home vs. Camden, 2 H. Bl., 533.

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