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the American Flag,
that as Bains such he was liable to the penalties of the Prussian "Law wherever he might come within it's reach; -
that the man was taken prisoner while on board a Prussian Man of War, therefore Prussian jurisdiction and on Prussian ground, where it sought to assert its power;
who was fully entitled that consequently no offence against British Laws could have been committed, as the offender was not at the time of his imprisonment under British rule (though he had previously enjoyed its temporary protection);
that therefore the Commander of the Elbe could not be called upon and be expected to receive judgement at the hands of a British functionary in a case which thenceforth solely concerned him and his own Government, and on the merits of which, moreover, the Colonial Court, to judge from its own established precedents at least, was not competent to decide; -
that finally British Authority having never been interfered with, no breach of international law was committed, and that lastly therefore the only charge which you inform me the Government have to advance against the Commander of the Elbe was