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the British Laws in refusing to comply with the subsequent demand of the Local Authorities to surrender the captive to have him tried in a British Court?.
As or regards the first question, the fact admits of no doubt, and on this the commander has taken care to convince himself conclusively, that the man was a deserter from His Prussian Majesty's Service. - This act of desertion stamps him a criminal in the eyes of the Prussian Law, and as such makes him amenable to it, where and whenever he may come within its reach, no matter at what time, place or under what circumstances.
According to a well-established international law however, and which, I think, is now universally admitted, a ship of war is considered to form part and portion of the territory of the nation, to which she belongs, whether at sea or in port, at home or abroad, acknowledging on board