jurisdiction but that of
its own
From
Government.-
on board the
American Vessel, under the
temporary protection of the British Laws, the Offender.
his own
and of his
voluntarily free accord proceeded
on board a
Dr
Prussian ship of war, anchored, it is true,
in British Waters, but
herself beyond the control of its Laws and Regulations,
he was passed without coercion
the line to which the sway of British
jurisdiction
extended, and so
standing then
:
and there on
272
Prussian ground,
the Prussian Government,
represented by the Officer
commanding
its Vessel, at
once asserted its
claim to the deserter.
It asserted its prior claims
by seizing
and
retaining him for trial and punishment. -
I wish
to lay particular stress on the priority of this claim,
on which to a certain extent
now
the whole question turns,
as the case
thereby
quite a different bearing
If the
deserter, under a
lawful engagement
on board an American Vessel,