DECREE of the Conseil d’Etat, concerning enslaved people, ships and goods of the enemy that pass through or run aground on the coasts of the French Colonies

THE KING has been informed that three nègres and one négresse, enslaved people from the English Island of Antigue, having escaped to Guadeloupe, difficulties arose over the question to whom the proceeds from the sale of the said nègres should belong. The Juge of the Amirauté merely gave an opinion that the said proceeds should be deposited in the treasury of the Domaine d’Occident. On the appeal brought before the Conseil Supérieur of Guadeloupe by the Director of the said Domaine against the opinion of the said Juge, the said Conseil Supérieur issued a Decree on 7 January last by which it declared that the proceeds from the said enslaved people belonged to His Majesty, the nègres enslaved by the enemies of the State who pass into the French Colonies indeed being due to belong to His Majesty alone, as was done in previous wars, and as is done with respect to the ships and goods of the enemy that run aground on the coasts under His Majesty’s rule, since He alone can, in that case, exercise the right of war, which cannot be shared with anyone.