exhibit, as well upon the high seas as in the ports, their
sea-letters and other documents described in the twenty-fifth
article, stating expressly that their effects are not of the
number of those which are prohibited as contraband; and not
having any contraband goods for an enemy's port, they may freely,
and without hindrance, pursue their voyage towards the port of an
enemy. Nevertheless, it shall not be required to examine the
papers of vessels convoyed by vessels of war, but credence shall
be given to the word of the officer who shall conduct the convoy.

ARTICLE XI.

If, by exhibiting the sea-letters and other documents described
more particularly in the twenty-fifth article of this treaty, the
other party shall discover there are any of those sorts of goods
which are declared prohibited and contraband, and that they are
consigned for a port under the obedience of his enemy, it shall
not be lawful to break up the hatches of such ship, nor to open
any chests, coffers, packs, casks, or other vessels found
therein, or to remove the smallest parcels of her goods, whether
the said vessel belongs to the subjects of their High
Mightinesses the States-General of the United Netherlands or to
the subjects or inhabitants of the said United States of America,
unless the lading be brought on shore, in presence of the
officers of the Court of Admiralty, and an inventory thereof
made; but there shall be no allowance to sell, exchange or
alienate the same until after that due and lawful process shall
have been had against such prohibited goods of contraband, and
the Court of Admiralty, by a sentence pronounced, shall have
confiscated the same, saving always as well the ship itself as
any other goods found therein, which are to be esteemed free, and
may not be detained on pretence of their being infected by the
prohibited goods, much less shall they be confiscated as lawful
prize: But, on the contrary, when, by the visitation at land, it
shall be found that there are no contraband goods in the vessel,
and it shall not appear by the papers that he who has taken and
carried in the vessel has been able to discover any there, he
ought to be condemned in all the charges, damages and interests
of them, which he shall have caused, both to the owners of