The renunciations in these Orders are a waiver only of certain parts of the Queen’s belligerent rights, and in no way diminish the state of war between England and Russia.  Notwithstanding these Orders, Russo-English partnerships are dissolved, contracts with the enemy invalid, and even though a free trade is permitted, an Englishman cannot draw a good bill on a Russian, and vice-versa.  All attempts to communicate with the enemy are still illegal.  The Queen has not altered her belligerent rights, she merely declares that she will not put them into motion; but that does not alter, nor can she of her own authority alter, any part of the International Law, which also is a part of our common law.  These, Orders, therefore, give no power to the enemy to sue or reside here, or to make a valid indorsement to any British subject.  Insurances will become legal on cargoes that by these Orders may be imported.

(From the Gazette of Tuesday.)

At the Court of Windsor, the 15th day of April, 1854, present the
Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

Whereas Her Majesty was graciously pleased, on the 28th day of March last, to issue her Royal declaration on the following terms—­

“Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, having been compelled to take up arms in support of an ally, is desirous of rendering the war as little onerous as possible to the Powers with whom she remains at peace.

“To preserve the commerce of neutrals from all unnecessary obstruction, Her Majesty is willing, for the present, to waive a part of the belligerent rites appertaining to her by the Law of Nations.

“It is impossible for Her Majesty to forego the exercise of her right of seizing articles contraband of war, and of preventing neutrals from bearing the enemy’s despatches, and she must maintain the right of a belligerent to prevent neutrals from breaking any effective blockade which may be established with an adequate force against the enemy’s forts, harbours, or coasts.

     “But Her Majesty will waive the right of seizing enemy’s
     property laden on board a neutral vessel, unless it be
     contraband of war.[215]

“It is not her Majesty’s intention to claim the confiscation of neutral property, not being contraband of war, found on board enemy’s ships;[216] and Her Majesty further declares that, being anxious to lessen as much as possible the evils of war, and to restrict its operations to the regularly organized forces of the country, it is not her present intention to issue letters of marque for the commissioning of privateers.”

Now it is this day ordered, by and with the advice of her Privy Council, that all vessels under a neutral or friendly flag, being neutral or friendly property, shall be permitted to import into any port or place in Her Majesty’s dominions all goods and merchandize whatsoever, to whomsoever the same may belong,[217] and to export from any port or place in her Majesty’s dominions to any port not blockaded, any cargo or goods, not being contraband of war, or not requiring a special permission, to whomsoever the same may belong.