TURKISH ARABIA. APPENDIX No. 1.-Page 1. CAPITULATIONS AND ARTICLES OF PEACE between Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire, as agreed upon, augmented, and altered at different periods, and finally confirmed by the Treaty of Peace concluded at the Dardanelles, in 1809*. SULTAN MEHEMED, MAY HE LIVE FOR EVER! "Let everything be observed in conformity to these Capitulations, and contrary thereto let nothing be done." The command, under the sublime and lofty Signet, which imparts sublimity to every place, and under the Imperial and noble Cypher, whose glory is renowned throughout all the world, by the Emperor and Conqueror of the earth, achieved with the assistance of the Omnipotent, and by the special grace of God, is this: We, who by Divine grace, assistance, will and benevolence, now are the King of Kings of the world, the Prince of Emperors and of every age, the Dispenser of Crowns to Monarchs, and the Champion Sultan Mehemed, Son of Sultan Ibrahim Chan, Son of Sultan Ahmed Chan, Son of Sultan Mahomet Chan, Son of Sultan Murad Chan, Son of Sultan Selim Chan, Son of Sultan Solyman Chan, Son of Sultan Selim Chan. The most glorious amongst the great Princes professing the faith of Jesus, and the most conspicuous amongst the Potentates of the nation of the Messiah, and the umpire of public differences that exist between Christian nations, clothed with the mantle of magnificence and majesty, Charles the Second, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland (whose end terminate in bliss!) having sent an Ambassador to the Sublime Porte in the time of our grandfather Sultan Murad (whose tomb be ever resplendent!), of glorious memory and full of divine mercy and pity, with professions of friendship, sincerity, devotion, partiality and benevolence, and demanding that His subjects might be at liberty to come and go into these parts, which permission was granted to them in the reign of the Monarch aforesaid, in addition to various other special commands, to the end that on coming and going, either by land or sea, in their way, passage and lodging, they might not experience any molestation or hinderance from any one. As published by the Levant Company, 1816. As such He represented, in the reign of our grandfather Sultan Mehemed Chan (whose tomb be ever resplendent !), to our just and overshadowing Porte, His cordial esteem, alliance, sincere friendship and partiality thereto. privilege, therefore, had been granted to the Kings and Sovereigns of France, Venice and Poland, who profess the most profound devotion for our most eminent throne, and to others between whom and the Sublime Porte there exists a sincere amity and good understanding, so was the same, through friendship, in like manner granted to the said King; and it was granted Him that His subjects and their interpreters might safely and securely come and trade in these our sacred Dominious. The Capitulations of sublime dignity and our noble commands having been, through friendship, thus granted to the Kings aforesaid, and the Queen of the above-mentioned Kingdoms having heretofore also sent a noble personage with presents to this victorious Porte, which is the refuge and retreat of the Kings of the world, the most exalted place, and the asylum of the Emperors of the universe (which gifts were graciously accepted, and She having earnestly implored the privilege in question, Her entreaties were acceded to, and these our high commands conceded to Her. 1. That the English nation and merchants, and all other merchants sailing under the English flag, with their ships and vessels, and merchandize of all descriptions, shall and may pass safely by sea, and go and come into our Dominions without any the least prejudice or molestation being given to their persons, property, or effects by any person whatsoever, but that they shall be left in the undisturbed enjoyment of their privileges, and be at liberty to attend to their affairs. 2. That if any of the English coming into our Dominions by land be molested or detained, such persons shall be instantly released without any further obstruction being given to them. 3. That English ships and vessels entering the ports and harbours of our Dominions shall and may at all times safely and securely abide and remain therein, and at their free will and pleasure depart therefrom, without any opposition or hinderance from any one. 4. That if it shall happen that any of their ships suffer by stress of weather, and not be provided with necessary stores and requisites, they shall be assisted by all who happen to be present, whether the crews of ourm Imperial ships or others, both by sea and land. 5. That being come into the ports and harbours of our Dominions, they shall and may be at liberty to purchase at their pleasure, with their own money, provisions and all other necessary articles, and to provide themselves with water without interruption or hinderance from any one. 6. That if any of their ships be wrecked upon any of the coasts of our Dominions, all Beys, Cadis, Governors, Commandants, and others our servants, who may be near or present, shall give them all help, protection and assistance, and restore to them whatsoever goods and effects may be driven ashore; and in the event of any plunder being committed, they shall make diligent search and inquiry to find out the property, which, when recovered, shall be wholly restored by them. 7. That the merchants, interpreters, brokers, and others, of the said nation shall and may, both by sea and land, come into our Dominions, and there trade with the most perfect security; and in coming and going, neither they nor their attendants shall receive any the least obstruction, molestation or injury, either in their persons or property, from the Beys, Cadis, Sea-captains, soldiers, and others our slaves. 8. That if an Englishman, either for his own debt, or as surety for another, shall abscond or become bankrupt, the debt shall be demanded from the real debtor only; and unless the creditor be in possession of some security given by another, such person shall not be arrested, nor the payment of such debt be demanded of him. 9. That in all transactions, matters, and business occurring between the English and merchants of the countries to them subject, their attendants, interpreters and brokers, and any other persons in our dominions, with regard to sales and purchases, credits, traffic or security, and all other legal matters, they shall be at liberty to repair to the Judge, and there make a hoget, or public authentic act, with witness, and register the suit, to the end that if in future any difference or dispute shall arise, they may both observe the said register and hoget; and when the suit shall be found conformable thereto, it shall be observed accordingly. Should no such hoget, however, have been obtained from the Judge, and false witnesses only are produced, their suit shall not be listened to, but justice be always administered according to the legal hoget. 10. That if any shall calumniate an Englishman, by asserting that he hath been injured by him, and producing false witnesses against him, our Judges shall not give ear unto them, but the cause shall be referred to his Ambassador in order to his deciding the same, and that he may always have recourse to his protection. 11. That if an Englishman, having committed an offence, shall make his escape, no other Englishman, not being security for him, shall, under such pretext, be taken or molested. 12. That if an Englishman, or subject of England, he found to be a slave in our States, and be demanded by the English Ambassador or Consul, due inquiry and examination shall be made into the causes thereof, and such person being found to be English shall be immediately released and delivered up to the Ambassador or Consul. 13. That all Englishmen and subjects of England, who shall dwell or reside in our Dominions, whether they be married or single, artisans or merchants, shall be exempt from all tribute. 14. That the English Ambassadors shall and may, at their pleasure, establish Consuls in the ports of Aleppo, Alexandria, Tripoli, Barbary, Tunis, Tripoli of Syria and Barbary, Scio, Smyrna and Egypt, and in like manner remove them, and appoint others in their stead, without any one opposing them. 15. That in all litigations occurring between the English, or subjects of England, and any other persons, the Judges shall not proceed to hear the cause without the presence of an Interpreter, or one of his deputies. 16. That if there happen any suit, or other difference or dispute, amongst the English themselves, the decision thereof shall be left to their own Ambassador or Consul, according to their custom, without the Judge or other Governors our slaves intermeddling therein. 17. That our ships and galleys, and all other vessels, which may fall in with any English ships in the seas of our Dominions shall not give them any molestation, nor detain them by demanding anything, but shall show good and mutual friendship the one to the otber without occasioning them any prejudice. 18. That all the Capitulations, privileges, and Articles granted to the French, Venetian, and other Princes, who are in amity with the Sublime Porte, having been in like manner, through favour, granted to the English, by virtue of our special command, the same shall be always observed according to the form and tenor thereof, so that no one in future do presume to violate the same, or act in contravention thereof. 19. That if the corsairs or galliots of the Levant shall be found to have taken any English vessels, or robbed or plundered them of their gods and effects, also if any one shall have forcibly taken anything from the English, all possible diligence and exertion shall be used and employed for the discovery of the property, and inflicting condign punishment on those who may have committed such depredations; and their ships, goods, and effects shall be restored to them without delay or intrigue. 20. That all our Beglerbeys, Imperial and private Captains, Governors, Commandants, and other Administrators, shall always strictly observe the tenor of these Imperial Capitulations, and respect the friendship and correspondence established on both sides, every one in particular taking special care not to let anything be done contrary thereto; and as long as the said Monarch shall continue to evince true and sincere friendship, by a strict observance of the Articles and conditions herein stipulated, these Articles and conditions of peace and friendship shall, in like manner, be observed and kept on our part. To the end, therefore, that no act might be committed in contravention. thereof, certain clear and distinct Capitulations were conceded in the reign of our late grandfather, of happy memory (whose tomb be ever resplendent!) Since which, in the time of our said grandfather, of happy memory, Sultan Ahmed (whose tomb be blessed!), James, King of England, sent an Ambassador with letters and presents (which were accepted), and requested that the friendship and good understanding which existed between Him and the Porte in the days of our grandfather, of happy memory, as also the stipulations and conditions of the august Capitulations, might be ratified and confirmed and certain Articles added thereto, which request being represented to the Imperial Throne, express commands were given that, in consideration of the existing friendship and good understanding, and in conformity to the Capitulations conceded to other Princes in amity with the Sublime Porte, the Articles and stipulations of the sacred Capitulations should be renewed and confirmed, and the tenor thereof be for ever observed; and amongst the Articles added to the Capitulations conceded by the command aforesaid, at the request of the said King, were the following: 21. That duties shall not be demanded or taken of the English, or the merchants sailing under the flag of that nation, on any piastres and sequins they may import into our sacred Dominions, or on those they may transport to any other place. 22. That our Peglerbeys, Judges, Defterdars, and Masters of the mint shall not interpose any hinderance or obstacle thereto, by demanding either dollars or sequins from them, under the pretence of having them recoined and exchanged into other money, nor shall give them any molestation or trouble whatever with regard thereto. 23. That the English nation, and all ships belonging to places subject thereto, shall and may buy, sell, and trade in our sacred Dominions, and (except arms, gunpowder, and other prohibited commodities) load and transport in their ships every kind of merchandize, at their own pleasure, without experiencing any the least obstacle or hinderance from any one; and their ships and vessels shall and may at all times safely and securely come, abide, and trade in the ports and harbours of our sacred Dominions, and with their own money buy provisions and take in water, without any hinderance or molestation from any one. 24. That if an Englishman, or other subject of that nation, shall be involved in any lawsuit or other affair connected with law, the Judge shall not hear nor decide thereon until the Ambassador, Consul, or Interpreter shall be present; and all suits exceeding the value of 4,000 aspers shall be heard at the Sublime Porte, and nowhere else. 25 That the Consuls appointed by the English Ambassador in our sacred Dominions, for the protection of their merchants, shall never, under any pretence, be imprisoned, nor their houses sealed up, nor themselves sent away; but all suits or differences in which they may be involved shall be represented to our Sublime Porte, where their Ambassadors will answer for them. 26. That in case any Englishman, or other person subject to that nation or navigating under its flag, should happen to die in our sacred Dominions, our fiscal and other officers shall not, upon pretence of its not being known to whom the property belongs, interpose any opposition or violence, by taking or seizing the effects that may be found at his death, but they shall be delivered up to such Englishman, whoever he may be, to whom the deceased may have left them by his will; and should he have died intestate, then the property shall be delivered up to the English Cousul, or his representative, who may be there present; and in case there be no Consul, or Consular representative, they shall be sequestered by the Judge, in order to his delivering up the whole thereof, whenever any ship shall be sent by the Ambassador to receive the same. 27. That all the privileges and other liberties already conceded, or hereafter to be conceded, to the English and other subjects of that nation |