Calhoun ex rel. Fitzimmons v. Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania

1 Binn. 293 | Pa. | 1808

Tilghman C. J.

This cause arises on a policy of insurance on the cargo of the brig John, Richard Barker master, at and from Charleston, South Carolina, to Cadiz, for 15,000 dollars, premium 15 per cent. At the foot of the policy is the following agreement: “ This insurance is declared to be made on sugars, “ not discharged from on board the above vessel at Charleston, “ where she brought them from Havanna, warranted by as- ■“ sured to be American property, to be proved, if required, in. “ this city, and not elsewhere.” The vessel was taken on her voyage by a British squadron blockading Cadiz, sent to Gibraltar, and condemned, together with the cargo, for breach of the blockade of Cadiz.

The cause was tried at Nisi Prius before Judge Smith last July, when a verdict was found for the plaintiffs for 20,267 dollars and 60 cents, subject to the opinion of this Court, on the three following points.

1. Whether the decree of the court of Vice Admiralty at Gibraltar, is or is not conclusive evidence of the facts set forth in it; and if conclusive, whether it discharges the underwriters.

2. Whether the conduct of Captain Barker in the Bay of Cadiz, in relation to the blockade, did or did not amount to a breach of the warranty in the policy.

3. Whether the Captain’s conduct amounted to barratry. With liberty to move for a new trial, on the ground of the verdict being against law and evidence. Under this liberty a motion for a new trial has been made.

It will be necessary to state the material facts which were given in evidence. On the 8th June 1800 the brig sailed from Charleston, where the blockade of Cadiz was not then known; nor does it appear that the Captain knew of it until he received notice in the Bay of Cadiz, in the manner which I shall hereafter mention. On the morning of the 15th or 16th July, steering for Cadiz, and not many leagues distant from the shore, Captain Barker descried two large ships, one of which fired a gun at him; he stood on his course with all sails set. In about an hour he was overtaken by the Hector, one of the squadron forming the blockade of Cadiz under Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton; he then received notice not to enter Cadiz, which was blockaded, and was taken out of his vessel, and carried on board the Hector, with his papers and letters. The same day he was carried on board the Admiral’s ship; the mate and four hands were taken out of the brig, and an officer and eight men put into her, with orders to detain her and stay with the fleet. The Captain was detained as a prisoner on board the brig; and thus things remained until the' 27th July, when he was carried on board the Admiral’s ship. The Admiral said to him, “We have thoughts of setting you at liberty: “ in that case what course will you steer? or what port will you “ go to?” The Captain answered,' “ In case I receive no new “ order, of in case I receive no new instructions;” for in that respect the Captain’s protest and his answer, when examined on interrogatories in the Court of Admiralty, differ: “ I shall fol- “ low my old ones.” The Admiral replied, “ that will be, I “ suppose, for Cadiz>•” to which the Captain answered, “ cer- “ tainly, unless I have new orders.” Whereupon the Admiral said, “ that is sufficient; I shall send you to Gibraltar for adjudication.” Here again the examination of the Captain differs something from his protest: in the former it is thus expressed: “ The Captain said that in case he got no new instructions, he “ should proceed by his old ones, and go to Cadiz;" and the Admiral then told him, he must send him into Gibraltar for adjudication.

On the 26th July 1800, an indorsement, as follows, was made on some of Captain Barker’s papers: “ Warned not to “ enter Cadiz, or St. Lucar, as they are blockaded; but has “ permission to go to any other port.” But it does not appear that the papers were ever returned to Captain Barker after they were taken from him on the 16th July, or that he ever saw them again, till they were exhibited by the captors in the Court of Admiralty at Gibraltar. Christopher Bennet, the mate of the brig, declared on his examination, that after they had been in possession of the Hector about ten days, the papers were offered to the master, and the command of his vessel, which he refused, because he thought the captors had unjustifiably detained him, and removed four men from the brig, on board the Hector and Incendiary.

On the 26th August 1800, the judge of the Court of Vice Admiralty at Gibraltar pronounced his decree of condemnation. After declaring the said brig to have been cleared out for Cadiz, a port actually blockaded, and that the master persisted in his intention of entering, after warning from the blockading force not to do so, in direct breach and violation of the blockade thereby notified, he pronounced the said brig and her cargo, and the master’s private adventure, by virtue thereof or otherwise subject to confiscation, and condemned the same as good and lawful prize.

Upon the first question, whether the decree of the Court of Vice Admiralty is conclusive, I shall give an opinion founded on the special circumstances of this case, without entering into the general question of the conclusiveness of the sentences of foreign Courts of Admiralty. It is now well understood, that a warranty of American property, “ to be proved if required in “ the city of Philadelphia and not elsewhere,” is to be so construed, that in case' any dispute arises whether the property was American, and as such entitled to protection, or whether in the circumstances under which it stood at the time it was captured, it was tp be considered as the property of an enemy, such dispute is to be decided by proof in the city of Philadelphia. A warranty of American property is a contract not only that it was American property at the time it was shipped, but that it should not lose that character by any act or omission of the insured or his agents, during the voyage. Now a question has arisen, whether the property has not lost its American character, by an attempt to break a blockade. It is a question springing out of the warranty. By what proof then is it to be decided? The answer is plain: by proof satisfactory to a court and jury in this city, and not elsewhere; not by the opinion of any foreign court, which it was the very object of this warranty to exclude. In this case, therefore, the decree of the Court of Vice Admiralty at Gibraltar, cannot be received as conclusive evidence that the property was not American.

2. But was the conduct of Captain Barker in the Bay of Cadiz, such as to throw off the American character, and forfeit the protection due to American property? Did he act in violation of the law of nations, or of the treaty between the United States and Great BritainP It is unnecessary to speak particularly of the Law of Nations, because the treaty is in exact conformity to it. One of the passages in the 18th article of the treaty, is as follows: “ Whereas it frequently happens that “ vessels sail for a port or place belonging to an enemy, with- “ out knowing that the same is either besieged, blockaded, or “ invested, it is agreed that every vessel so circumstanced, may be turned away from such port or place, but she shall • ‘ not be detained, nor her cargo, if not contraband, be confis- “ cated, unless after notice she shall again attempt to enter.” The case supposed in the treaty is the very case we are deciding; the case of a vessel which sailed from Charleston without knowledge of the blockade of Cadiz; and how was she treated? She was not turned atvay, according to the treaty, but detained, in express violation of it. Did she attempt to enter again after notice? By no means. A conversation took place between Captain Barker, and the Commander of the British squadron, in which the former made use of an expression, which, to make the most of it, was but equivocal; and this is set up for an obstinate, determined, resolution to break the blockade. It may be questioned whether any words would be a breach of the treaty, since an attempt implies an action. But granting, for argument’s sake, that under a liberal construetion, dear and positive declaration of an intention to enter a blockaded port, might amount to a breach of the treaty, J think the evidence in this case falls ’far short of the proof of snch decided intention. I am far from being satisfied that it was Captain Barker's intention to attempt to enter Cadiz, unless he received permission to do so from Sir Richard Bickerton. When he said to the Captain, “ we have some thoughts of “ setting you at liberty, in that case, what course will you “ steer?” the Captain might have supposed, that the Admiral meant liberty to go ivhere he pleased; and understanding him so, the other words, “ unless I receive new orders, or new' ‘ instructions,” might intend orders or instructions from the Admiral: for the Captain could have no reason to suppose, that just at that moment he should receive orders or instructions from his owners. According to the evidence, the Admiral appears to have put this question with a view of taking advantage of the answer; and the conversation, taken altogether, is too slight and too obscure, to warrant the strong conclusion drawn from it, that the Captain was determined to break the blockade. I cannot say that his conduct amounted to a breach of the warranty in the policy.

3. The opinion which I have given, renders it unnecessary to say any thing on the third point.

Upon the whole of the case my opinion is that sufficient cause for a new trial has not been shewn, and that judgment be entered for the plaintiff.

Yeates J.

I feel it unnecessary to decide in the present instance, how far the decree of a foreign Court of Admiralty is conclusive, on abstract principles, as between the insurer and insured. It is sufficient to observe that the plaintiff’s counsel fully admit, that .a sentence of condemnation in a course of proceedings in rem binds the property, and that where it has been condemned as enemy's property, or as prize, or when in the case of a warranty of neutrality the decree is founded on a xoant of neutralpapers, or on mixed premises of law and fact,by proceedings according to the law of nations, it is conclusive evidence, not merely in suits between the identical parties in the foreign court, but as to collateral purposes, between other parties. The principle of these concessions has been recognised by this court in other cases.

I shall consider this cause more in the light of a special contract, than under general principles. The insurance was declared to be made on sugar, which was brought in the brig John from Havanna to Charleston, and not discharged there; warranted by the assured to be American property, so to be proved, if required, in this city and not elsewhere.

What is the true meaning of this clause ? What was the understanding of the contracting parties, when they inserted it in the policy ?

By the decision in Geyer v. Aguilar (7 T. JR. 681.) it is settled, that the legal import of a warranty of American property extends beyond an engagement that it is American; and that it asserts the ship shall be navigated so that the insurer shall derive the full benefit of her neutrality. The risk is thereby lessened, and the premium is proportioned thereto. The insured are bound that the ship shall possess all the necessary; documents required by the particular laws of the country, against whose hostility the insurance was made. It follows from hence, as a necessary consequence, that the master of the ship shall not only possess competent nautical skill, but shall so conduct himself as not to forfeit his neutral character, which would increase the risk of the underwriters.

We can well remember the period when such special agreements came to be inserted in our policies, and the cause of the insertion. Strong instances occurred of grossly partial and unjust condemnations in the Courts of Admiralty of the several belligerent powers; and the courts here having adopted the English doctrine that the sentences of such foreign courts were conclusive, as to the points which they professed to decide, it was judged necessary to introduce words similar to the present into the policies. The direct object of such clauses, general in their nature, was to guard against the unworthy conduct of foreign tribunals; and the construction thereof should be coextensive with the evils intended to be remedied thereby.

It is a settled rule, (New York Cases in Error 13.) that the injured, in order to comply with his warranty, must not only maintain the property to be neutral, but so conduct himself towards the belligerent parties, as not to forfeit.his neutrality; he must pursue the conduct and preserve the character of a neutral. These were matters incumbent on the assured to prove, if required, “ in this city, and not elsewhere,” in case of loss by any of the perils expressed in the policy. They are the necespredominant features of the American character, considered as a neutral nation. But if the decree of the Court of Vice Admiralty at Gibraltar was conclusive evidence of the facts set £ortli in it, and discharged the underwriters, it would be idle in the plaintiffs to offer any proof upon the subject; and the clause would be thereby rendered a dead letter, wholly nugatory and useless. I cannot bring my mind to accede to such a construction, and fully assent to the opinion expressed by Judge Washington in 1801 in Galbraith and Grade, that under such a warranty the assured is at liberty, notwithstanding the sentence of a foreign tribunal, to vindicate the truth of his warranty with all its necessary incidents. If it has not this effect, the clause appears wholly useless, and can serve no purpose whatever.

Under the express agreement then of the contracting parties, I deem myself authorized to examine the evidence upon which a decree of condemnation has been pronounced. It is admitted by all the writers on the civil law, that no commerce or intercourse whatsoever is to be allowed to a neutral with a blockaded port; ( Vattel lib. 3. c. 7. s. 11/.) but Grotius adds this limitation, if surrender or peace be expected. (Grot, de jure bel. et pac. lib. 3. c. 1. s. 5.) This limitation however, has been condemned as neither agreeable to reason nor to the conventional law of nations. (Bynker. quasi, jur. pub. lib. 1. c. 11. 2Brozujds Civ. Laxo 214.) The besieging or even blockading force, says Vattel, has a right to hinder any one from entering, and to treat as an enemy whoever attempts to enter the place, or carry any thing to the besieged without his leave; for he opposes the enterprise, and may contribute to the miscarriage of it, and thus cause the party to fall into all the evils of an unsuccessful war. The ship attempting to break a blockade is liable to confiscation; its cargo may be so also, although not contraband, if the owners of that cargo were conusant of the blockade, before they sent or shipped it; although they might attempt to throw the blame on the carrier master, if such an attempt was provéd to be founded in artifice: but if they were really ignorant of the fact, the master is not their agent to bind them by his contract, or his misconduct. (2 Broxords Civ. Laxo 318.) By the general law of nations therefore, with which the treaty between Great Britain and the United States accords, there must be an actual attempt made to enter the blockaded port; and there must either be a formal notification of the existence of the blockade, or it must be apparent de facto. (1 Rob. 78. 128. 131. Am. Ed.) And though Americans are not exempted from the common effect of the notification of a blockade, existing in Europe, yet lying at so great a distance, the rule obtaining in Europe is'reasonably said not to be rigidly applicable to them. (1 Rob. 282.)

Without citing civilians, it is perfectly clear that a treaty made between two nations abrogates and annuls the general law of nations as between the contracting parties, and ought to be held sacred and inviolable. The plaintiff’s counsel rely much on the 18th article of the treaty of commerce concluded between the United States and Great Britain on the 19th November 1794. The defendants contend that this treaty is in confirmation of the law of nations, and introduces no new principle. Be it so. It will however be admitted, that it pointedly ascertains that no vessel sailing to the port of an enemy, unknowing of the blockade, shall be detained, nor her cargo, if not contraband, be 'confiscated, unless after notice she shall again attempt to enter.

In the case ofthe brig Columbia (1 Rob. 132.) Sir Wm. Scott declared himself clearly of opinion that sailing with the intention of evading a blockade, was beginning to execute that intention, and was an overt act constituting the offence, and from that moment the blockade was fraudulently invaded. He thought the ceremony of turning away the vessel unnecessary, when the merchant or his agents had acquired notice in fact, even during the voyage, of an existing blockade. The question, came before the court for correction of errors in the state of New York (1 Caines Cases in Error 11.) in 1801, between Vos$ and Graves and the United Insurance Company, upon a policy underwritten on the same brig Columbia, wherein a contrary decision took place. The Court of Errors there expressed surprise that the moral law, which arraigns intention, should be adopted in the law of nations with a greater látitude than in our municipal system, for the benefit of belligerents, and to the prejudice of neutrals. “ In intention, say the court, there is noth- “ ing certain and permanent; it is controlled by every reflec- “ tion; is changed, dropped, and renewed, by the occurrences of every hour; by the constant vicissitude's to which the agent is “ subject. The enterprise on a nearer view appals, the locus “ peenitentia is embraced.” “The rule, .that sailing with a desti- ’“ nation to a blockaded port, is a breach of blockade, is undefi- “ liable in relation to distance, between the port of departure and “ that of destination, and will produce great uncertainty and vex- “ ation.” The same principle was adopted in the Supreme Court of New Tork in Liotardagainst Graves in 1805. (3 Caines 236. 240.) And it cannot be denied, that the system of reasoning in these two last cases, is strong and almost irresistible, while we-hold the treaty in view.

But without expressing any decided opinion, whether the mere intention of the neutral master shall constitute a breach of blockade per se, we may be allowed to inquire what evidence there is of such intention, in the present instance. We have the same evidence before us, on which sentence of condemnation was pronounced on the vessel and cargo, at Gibraltar. The vessel sailed from Charleston to Cadiz, on the voyage insured, on the 8th June 1800, duly documented, and both brig and cargo, were the property of American citizens. At the time of her sailing, it was not known at Charleston, that Cadiz was in a state of blockade; and Captain Barker has sworn, that neither he, nor his crew, knew of the blockade, until he was seized by the British ship of war, Hector, on the 16th July 1800, as he was steering for Cadiz, and within six hours sail of that port. He further declares in his affidavit, that if he had received orders from the British Admiral not to go to Cadiz, he would not have offered to proceed to that port. No counter proof was offered as to these facts: and if the Captain knew of the blockade antecedent to his seizure, it would have been folly in the extreme in him, to have directed his course to Cadiz, surrounded as he was by the squadron of Admiral Bickerton. When the seizure was made, the mate and four of the crew were removed on board the Hector, a prizemaster and eight men were put on board the brig, and Captain Barker was detained as a prisoner on board his own vessel until the 27th July., when he was sent on board the Stviftsure, the Admiral’s ship. During this interval, let Barker's intentions be what they yrould, he could not, in his dearth of hands, overpowered as he was by the prizemaster and his party, have attempted to enter Cadiz, even if the British squadron was not in sight. The short conversation which he had with the Admiral on the 27th July, does not necessarily lead to the conclusion, that he intended to violate the blockade. But this was deemed sufficient by the Admiral, to send him into Gibraltar for adjudica- ’ tion; and on this, the sentence of condemnation must have been founded; “ because the master persisted in his intention to “ enter the blockaded port of Cadiz, after notification.” The effect which this interview has on my mind, is precisely the same as that produced on the minds of the jurors, who found the special verdict on the 12th July 1806, “that .Captain ’■'■Barker's intention was to go to Cadiz, unless he received “ new orders from Admiral Bickerton to the contrary; and if “ the Admiral had given new orders to Captain Barker, not to “ proceed to Cadiz, he would not have gone there, in breach “ of such orders.” We have the authority of Sir William Scott for asserting, that if there had been any thing insidious in the manner of this interview, he should have thought it his duty to protect the neutral from suffering loss or inconvenience, under It. (1 Rob. 70.) And upon another occasion lately, he has declared that hasty expressions, in a moment of surprise, are not to be taken advantage of rigidly. (5 Rob. 258.) It is true that the indorsements made on the brig’s American register, sea letters, and Mediterranean pass, in these words, “ Warned not to enter “ Cadiz or St. Lucar, as they are blockaded, but has permis- “ sion to go to any other port. Swiftsure off Cadiz, 26th July “ 1800, B. M. Hallowed,” serve at first sight to create suspicions, as to the truth and correctness of Captain Barker's account of the transaction, with respect to not being warned: but when we consider that the papers of the brig were carried on board the Admiral’s ship, on her first seizure, and were ever afterwards out of possession of the master, and that the British officer, who lodged them with the Registrar of the Vice Admiralty Court, swore that they were in the same plight as when they were taken from the brig, our suspicions on this score vanish and we are led to believe, that the master had never been apprised of those indorsements.

The answers of Christopher Bennet, the mate, corroborate the account of the Captain, and state in particular, that the blockade of Cadiz was not known at Charleston, when the brig left that harbour, and was wholly unknown to him until the time of her arrest; and further, that they received no warning not to enter Cadiz. His oath is, however, inexplicable in one part by me. He says, without naming the day, that the papers and command of the brig were offered to the Captain, but that refused to take the same, on account of the siezure and detention of the brig. How could he have obtained a knowledge of this fact, unless at second hand? Immediately on the seizure he was put with four seamen on board the Hector, and the Captain continued a prisoner in his own vessel, under the direction of the prizemaster and eight men, until he was sent on board the Admiral’s ship: of course they must have been separated, until they met each other again in Gibraltar.

On the one hand I cannot impute barratry to captain Barker r, whereby the underwriters would be rendered chargeable. I can discover no fraud or criminal conduct in him, which are indispensably necessary according to the settled doctrine of this court in that offence. 2 Dali. 131. It will not be supposed that a tenacious adherence to the supposed interests of his owners, would merit reprehension. On the other hand, I cannot believe that his conduct in the bay of Cadiz, in relation to the blockade, so far as has appeared in evidence, amounted to a breach of the warranty in the policy.

The plaintiffs then, bona fide American citizens, had property on board to the amount of the sum insured. The brig, duly documented, unojfendingly sailed to the port insured. She was arrested within six or seven leagues of Cadiz by a boat from one of the British ships of war, detained for eleven days against; the letter and spirit of the treaty, stripped of part of her seamen, and her master and crew were incapacitated by a superior force from proceeding to the destined port, or any other place. Judging on the evidence before us, I cannot discover any intention in the master to violate the blockade, after notification; and much less, in the language of the treaty, after notice, any attempt again to enter the blockaded port. I cannot therefore concur in the legality of the condemnation of the brig and cargo, believing as I now do, that neither the owners, shippers, master, or crew, have in ought offended against the treaty or the law of nations.

Within these few days we have been furnished by newspapers- with the opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States, delivered by Marshall Chief Justice, in the case of Fitzimmons plaintiff in error, against the Newport Insurance Company, on a special verdict upon a policy on the brig John for the present voyage, but which is silent as to the place of proof of the property insured being American; which made the case not nearly so strong as the present. The Court there declared that the facts disclosed did not amount to an attempt again to enter the port of Cadiz; and therefore did not amount under the treaty between Great Britain and the United States, to a breach of the blockade of Cadiz. The sentence of the Court of Vice Admiralty in Gibraltar, consequently, was not considered as falsifying the warranty that the brig was American property, or as disabling the assured from recovering against the underwriters in that action, and the testimony in the case shewed that the blockade was not broken.

Upon the whole, as this has been a loss by capture, within' one of the perils expressed in the policy, I am of opinion that the motion for a new trial be overruled, and I concur that judgment be entered for the plaintiffs on the verdict.

Smith J.

'I was of opinion on the trial that the plaintiff should recover, and have seen no cause since to think otherwise; at the same time I have been prevented by indisposition from reducing my reasons to writing. The assured was entitled to shew the truth of the case, under the special clause; and it does not appear that the conduct of the Captain amounted to .a breach of blockade. Some act is necessary to constitute such a breach. I give no opinion on the question of barratry, which may come before us hereafter.

Brackenridge J.

The points, in the order I shall take them, are 1st. Whether the conduct of the captain in the bay of Cadiz, in relation to the blockade, did or did not amount to a breach of the warranty in the policy.

The warranty in the policy is in substance, that the property insured was neutral; and the first question that arises will be, whether this shall be construed as warranting against a breach of a blockade. There would seem to be no doubt but that it shall be construed as a warranty that the property belongs to a neutral nation; that it is protected by documents that evince this neutrality; and that it shall remain the property of that nation, and be protected by documents evincing that neutrality, during the voyage insured. But whether breaking a blockade, which incurs a forfeiture, is within the warranty, is not self-evident. For at common law, the distinction is well known between what incurs the like forfeiture, though not the like act. As in the case of assisting a felon to escape, the forfeiture is the same with that of the principal felony. So capture is the penalty of a neutral breaking a blockade, which is the same as that of an enemy made a prize. But it is an offence of which a neutral may be guilty, and subjects to confiscation, not because it is in fact taking part in the war, but because the law of nations or particular treaties prohibit it in a neutral. Grotius (/. 3. c. 1. s. 5.) puts it on this ground: ut is quijudici imminenti reum manifestiun eximit: atque eo nomine licebit in eum statuere quod delicto convenit; quare intra eum modum etiam spoliari poterit. It is founded on the idea, doubtless, that it is giving assistance, and is constructively a taking part. But it is distinguished from an act of direct hostility, and is not resented as a cause of war with the nation to whom the violator of the blockade belongs; nor does the nation resent the capture as a cause of war, the blockade having been broken. It is the affair of the owner of the property ; and the forfeiture which he incurs is the penalty of the transgression; and the matter terminates in this. Nevertheless it seems to be spoken of by the writers of the law of nations as a departure from neutrality, and in the language of the writers on the law of insurance, it seems to be considered as included under a warranty of neutrality. “ This warranty,” says Marshall, (361.) “ must not only be true at the time when the poli- “ cy is effected, but the insured should take care that he do not, “ by any act or omission on his part, forfeit his neutrality. Such “ forfeiture is a breach of the warranty. A ship may forfeit her “ neutrality by any act done or attempted against the law of “ nations.” Here we find a forfeiture of neutrality, and a breach of the warranty of neutrality, spoken of as effected by the like acts against the rights of belligerents.

The next question that will then arise under this point will be, has there been a forfeiture of neutrality, or in other words, a breach of the warranty in the policy; that is, has there been a breach of the blockadeby the conduct of the Captain in the bay of Cadiz?

Our treaty of 1795 with England takes the matter out of the law of nations, with regard to this, if in any respect different; •and confines us to the words of the treaty with respect to what shall be a breach of blockade. “Again attempt to énter” supposes an attempt to enter before she had been turned away from such port or place, and before she could be liable to be detained. In this case it does not appear that the vessel in question had been turned away before she was detained. The seizure was before turning away. The Captain was taken onboard the captor, together with all his papers and letters, and detained on the 16th July from nine to eleven o’clock, and was then ordered on board the ship; during which, a prizemaster and some people were put on board his vessel to take charge of her. He was afterwards taken to the admiral, who ordered him to be detained, and that his mate and four of his crew should be taken out of the ship, and an officer, with eight men and a boy, put on board in lieu thereof, with direction to remain with the fleet. In this situation, as a prisoner in his own ship, he was detained until the 27th July, when he was again ordered on board the admiral’s ship. The admiral then and there addressed him, saying, “ We have some thoughts of setting you at liberty. In that case “ what course will you steer? or what port will you proceed for? “ In case I receive no new instructions, I shall follow my old “ ones.” The admiral then said, “ I suppose that will be for Cadiz.” To which the Captain replied, “ certainly, unless I “ receive new orders.” The captain by his protest declares that these words “ new instructions, new orders,” meant instructions or orders from the admiral. But it may be that they were intended and ought to be referred to owners; that it was as much as to say, in case of being set at liberty, I must steer for or proceed to Cadiz, for such are my instructions, such my orders; unless you could change my instructions or the orders of my owners,, I must obey them. Taking this to be the meaning of the Captain’s language, and supposing it not equivocal, but to contain an express declaration of intention to proceed to Cadiz in case pf being set at liberty, yet it is but a declaration of intention to enter that port, and it could only be by being set at liberty, that he could be in the capacity to do the act, that is, to make the attempt to enter. The declaration manifested an intention; but it remains to this hour but evidence of an intention, not suffered to grow into an act. Intention to enter is short of an attempt to enter. The law is full of this discrimination between the intention and the act. Although a declaration of an intention to commit an offence, may be a ground of binding to good behaviour, yet it cannot be considered as constituting an offence. It would seem to me therefore by analogy to the principles of the common law, that the offence in this case was not complete,, and that there was not an absolute breach of the blockade. This is talcing up the matter on the principle of strict construction; but suc^ ls ^le principle of all laws which establish an offence, that they be construed strictly. It is a principle of reason and humanity, and not peculiar to our own common law, but that of all nations. Where a forfeiture is claimed, it behoves the claimant to shew the forfeiture completely made out of which he would take the advantage. It might have been but matter of form in this case to have restored the Captain his mate, and four mariners and boy to the ship, setting them at liberty; but it was necessarv to be done in order to constitute a free agency, and to put the captured in a capacity to put about the ship, and again attempt to enter. This might have been form, but it was necessary to go through it. The admiral would seem to have been over hasty in seizing the vessel in the first instance, and in the last, deficient in that astutia which a spoiler under the forms of law ought to have, or which the enforcer of the penal code ought to exercise, in order to avail himself of the summum jus.

This construction of the words “ attempt to enter,” is supported by that of the Supreme Court of the United States, in the case aiFitzimmons against the Newport Insurance Company according to a report of it which I have seen published; and it is some evidence of the justness of my construction, that I had not any knowledge of that report when I prepared the foregoing on this point. Different minds without communication thinking the same thing, furnishes a proof in favour of the deduction.

2. A second point in this case, to which the verdict is subject, is, whether the decree of the Court of Vice Admiralty at Gibraltar, is or is not conclusive evidence of the facts set forth in it; and if conclusive, whetherit discharges the underwriters.

The judgment of a foreign municipal court is not conclusive in England. An acquittal in a foreign court is a bar in a criminal prosecution; (Bul.N. P. 245.) but a judgment in a civil action is examinable. The issue of nul tiel record goes to the jury, because there is no way of bringing the record into court; and the seal of a foreign court must be proved by testimony. The judgment is examinable, because when the court is called upon to enforce the judgment, it claims a right to examine the ground of it. Doug. 1.2 H. Black. 410. Peak Ev. 70. The sic volo would be a better reason; for why shall the lex loci govern the contract, and not the forum of the place- determine the controversy which prises out of it ?

But if the judgment of a foreign municipal court, even between the .same parties, where there has been an actual contestaMo litis, shall not be held conclusive, why shall the judgment of a foreign maritime court form an exception, and conclude? It is true, the domestic court in a case of insurance is i)0t called upon to enforce the judgment of the foreign court: but it is called upon to enforce that which depends upon it, and is drawn from it. We must therefore look to some other source for the reason of the exception, and to some other source than reasons drawn from the effect of judgments of domestic courts of a peculiar jurisdiction. For reasoning from that source fails, when we consider that the community has the framing her own jurisprudence, and the constituting her own courts, with'' powers and limitations as to all matters within herself; and she-has it in her power to consider the judgment of one court or another, conclusive or examinable, as she pleases. It is true we may argue, that as in our domestic courts of peculiar jurisdiction we hold a judgment conclusive, so we ought to hold the judgment of a foreign court of peculiar jurisdiction, conclusive. But it will not follow: for the same reasons of policy which may lead to protect our domestic judgments, and give them a conclusive effect, may not hold in the case of a judgment of a foreign court.

Different results on the same question in the foreign prize court and collaterally in the domestic court, is an argument from inconvenience. But the same thing is suffered in other cases. It must not only be on the same question, but between the same parties, that a verdict or judgment in the common law court at home, can be even given in evidence, much less be conclusive; therefore there may be different results on the same question, in the same court, as it affects strangers, parties, or privies. All the world are parties to the sentences of these courts of peculiar jurisdiction, say judges and some commentators. But that in reality is not the case; nor is it the ground of the policy. “ The ground is the peculiar jurisdiction of the “ courts, independently of other considerations; and not inre- “ spect to any distinction of persons, stranger, party, or privy.” Harg. Law Tracts 457. But I have nothing to do with this; I am only shewing that the inconsistency of contrary results on the same question, even in the same court, is an inconvenience which the law, for the sake of justice, cannot but endure.

If we consider the judgment of a foreign court as conclusive, 'it must be because the community under which that court is constituted, demands it of us; or because our own convenience renders it expedient. If the community demands it of us, it must be in virtue of a treaty, or under some law of nation^. Treaty in the present case is out of the question: for there is no such provision in any treaty we have with foreign powers; nor’have I ever met with, or heard of such a provision in any treaty. Is it a law of nations? If so, where is it laid down? With what writer found? The French disclaim it. “As between “ the insurer and insured they enter into the justice of the con- “ demnation of a prize court.” (1 Emerig. 45 8.) The English nation alone gives it countenance. The ideas of one nation cannot make a law of nations. But it may be said, the reason of it, the necessary policy, makes it alaw. But what reason? what policy? How are nations interested in carrying the judgment of a prize court farther than to protect the thing sold? On the score of convenience to ourselves, provided it breaks no relation with a foreign nation, what is it to the home government how the judgment of a foreign court is considered, as to its effect in a matter of meurn and tuicm between citizens of the home government, unless to let in an examination of the prize court sentence, in order that the justice or injustice of it may appear, and be known to the public?

But it is alleged that the English common law courts have adopted it as a principle to a farther extent; and thence it has become common law, that the sentence of a foreign prize court shall conclude, not only in rein, but in a matter where the effect of the judgment shall come collaterally and incidentally in question; that the judgment of the foreign prize court being placed on the same footing with that of the domestic prize, court, and the common law being our law, we are pinned down, and cannot bring in question the justice of the jqdgmc-nt of the foreign prize court. If this is so, I do not see that it can be done, even by consent. A wager would not be sustained in the English courts, which would bring in question the justice of the judgment of a court of a peculiar jurisdiction, nor would it be suffered in any action where the judgment came collaterally and incidentally in question. If so, and the judgment of a foreign prize court is put on the same footing with that of the domestic prize court, and it is adopted, as a principle of the common law, that the judgment of a foreign court is conclusive to all intents and purposes whatsoever, and its judgments are protected with such sacredness and respect, as not to be touched as to their effect, even collaterally and incidentally, ho understanding of the parties, no stipulation, can enable the court to go into a traverse of the grounds of a foreign judgment, so as to examine the justice of it. No help therefore can be derived from the stipulation in this case, “ warranted American “ property, and to be proved here.” But I deny that it is a principle of the common law, that the effect of the judgment shall be carried farther than to protect the thing sold. What evidence have we of it? What case before the date of our charter, or even before our revolution, where a decision has taken place precisely on this point, with a reference to common law writers, or to year books, or to books of entries, or reports? For I would require something of this nature before the decision of a Judge, even an hundred years back, or two hundred, would pass with me as conclusive, unless the reason of the case was with him, and I could clearly see that even if the thing was not so, it ought to be so. In the case of Hughes and Cornelius, which is the leading case on this point, there is no case cited, no authority from whence it might be seen what was the extent of the doctrine. It is put on the foot of reason and general policy. Now if reason and general policy carried it farther than to protect the thing sold, how can the courts vary the policy when carried farther, and let in an examination by consent? The reason given in Hughes and Cornelius is, that if we do not pay respect to the sentence of the court of a foreign nation, the foreign nation will not respect the sentence of our prize court. The extent of the decision must be tested by the reason of it; and if the decision extends to the case of the insurer and insured, the reason must. The argument will then be, that the courts of a foreign nation will not respect a sentence of our courts, unless we consider the adjudication.as conclusive on the contract of insurance. In that case we must not put it in the power of parties, by their stipulations, to involve us in this dilemma. No: the stipulation would be contrary to good 'policy, and could not be endured; for though it might shew the understanding of the parties, yet it would be an understanding which could not be carried into effect. Who ever doubted the understanding of the parties in the contract of insurance, could it have been left to the juries at all times on that point? That of itself would prove that the examination of a sentence, broke no relation with foreign powers, and must be a matter of indifference to tlierrb provided it is not suffered to affect the sale of the property which has been transferred under a sentence of their courts. The point in Hughes and Cornelius respected only the property which had passed under a sale of the prize court, and nothing farther was determined in that case; but the generality of the reason given, has been assigned in subsequent cases as a ground to carry it farther, and it has been always argued as at this day, that because a court of peculiar jurisdiction, the sentence of a foreign prize court should be put on the same footing with a judgment, decree, certificate, or sentence, of our own courts of that description: not distinguishing between the necessity, convenience, or policy, in the one case, which may not exist in the other. I have traced the history of this conclusiveness of the sentence of a foreign prize court from the first dicta which seemed to look that way, to the latest decisions; and have seen from what misconception and misapplication the doctrine has arrived at its present growth, and how much the English courts are embarrassed with it; which embarrassment lies not in our way, because the decisions which fetter them, beginning with Bernardi and Motteux, have been since our revolutionary period. But even if they were before, and fell upon us as they do upon them, I would think it competent to look into the grounds on which the first decisions went, and restrain them to just limits. If from misconception or misapplication a doctrine gets a footing, there can be nothing in the way of setting it right, but that of property having passed under it, or the inconvenience of unsettling adjudications. It not being real estate that is here to be affected, but matter of personal property recoverable or not recoverable in a personal action, it can only be the last consideration that can be in the way of overruling an erroneous principle in this case, even supposing that it had got a footing in the jurisprudence of this country.

The adjudications of foreign prize courts are supposed to be founded on the law of nations, and to be conducted with equity. But this presumption, even in the opinion of the English courts themselves, with regard to the French courts, has totally failed; and they have proved this by granting salvage on the recapture of neutral property from the French, considering capture and condemnation as the same thing. (2 Rob. 246.)

These United States say of the English captures, de te fábula: this being the case, what reasons of policy can. lead to counte*nancing the adjudications of either, or to respect the sentence further than as falling on the thing captured and sold? On the contrary, good policy would seem to require that an examination of the grounds of the sentence should be let in collaterally or incidentally, as it would afford an occasion to ascertain the robberies that take place under the forms of justice.

I see therefore nothing on the ground of national interest or policy, to exclude the parties to a contract of insurance, from a re-examination of the cause of condemnation, according to the understanding of the contract, implied in the undertaking, or expressed in the stipulation. But it is made a point:

3. Whether the condemnation was not owing to the gross misconduct of the Captain: and whether it was not such as to discharge the underwriters.

This depends upon the expression of the Captain in answer to the admiral, who had said “ We have thoughts of setting “ you at liberty: in that case, what will you do?” It is impossible to say now, how the thoughts of the admiral might have settled down, and into what resolved themselves; whether to set at liberty, or retain the capture. It is certain that if the admiral had really any thoughts of setting at liberty, this declaration of the captured was calculated to prevent it. It is very probable it did prevent a restitution. But as the capture was complete before, a prizemaster on board, and as there was a detaining contrary to treaty, and a right of abandonment arisen, the question comes to this, — whetherthedeclaraiionof the Captain made subsequently, and calculated to prevent restitution, would relieve the underwriters from the loss, before complete. It would seem to me that it would be too much to say, that the declaration of the Captain, unequivocal as we are willing to suppose it, did prevent restitution; and unless I could say that it did, I do not see that I can avoid deciding for the insured in this case.

But let it be taken that the meaning of the Captain was a plain declaration, that unless he got new instructions, new orders, from his owners, a.thing impossible, he would as soon as at liberty steer for Cadiz; and that this prevented the restitution of the capture, and did in fact amount to the same thing as if in the first instance he had attempted to enter after being turned away, and by this means had broken the blockade. The final question in this case will arise, was it barratry in the Captain? For though the on the of the assured, of the property being neutral, may be considered as warranting against all "that divests the neutral character, and so against the breach of a blockade; yet it must consist with the warranty on the part of the insurer, viz. against the barratry of the Captain; and if the neutral character is divested by an act of barratry in him, the insurers are liable. It will then be a question whether the breach of the blockade in this case will be barratry, as alleged, by the declaration of the Captain to the admiral of his intention to break it; supposing it under all circumstances to be a breach of the blockade. It is a criminal act, a violation of the treaty. It is not stated to be with the knowledge or consent of the insured. But the Captain may have thought it for their benefit, to run the risk of attempting to enter; and it is not a part of the point submitted, that he had any interest in it. The case then is this: A crime, the cause of the loss, committed without the consent of the insured, without interest to the Captain, and which he may have ill-judgingly thought, or, to put the case stronger, did think, for the benefit of the owners.

“ It appeared to msays Lord Mansfield, “ that the natui-e “ of barratry had not been judicially considered, or defined in “ England with accuracy. It is not easy to collect from a gen- “ eral verdict, or from notes taken at Nisi Prius, what was the “ true ground of decision.”

After considering the comxnon law cases of Knight and Cambridge, Stamma and Brown, and Elton and Brogden, lie observes, “ that these cases do not afford any precise definition of “ what barratry is; therefore I wished the cause to stand over “ to be argued by one counsel on a side; I'have in the meantime “ considered of it, and consulted with men conversant in mer- “ candle affairs, and I am now very clear." (Cowp. 153.) He defines it to mean cheat, fraud, cozening, or trick. The fraus, dolus aut deceptio, had been given as the definition before; and I cannot find any thing more explicit hei*e. So that in fact however clear to him, he has left it as dark to me as he found it. But if he means that, in application to the case before him, he was clear, I agree that he might be so.

Parke (94.) defines it “ any act of the master or of the “ mariners, which is of a criminal nature, or which is grossly “ negligent, tending to their own benefit, to the prejudice “ of the owners of the ship, without their consent or privi<c ty.” If the words “ tending to their own benefit” were Struck out of this definition, I should be willing to adopt it. For though some indulgence of self-interest may occasion this' erassanegligentia, or lead to this conduct, and usually appears in the case, yet without this ingredient, I take it there may be barratry. At least it is not necessary for the insured to shew it. The law will infer it from the criminal act, or the gross negligence.

In Knight and Cambridge, says Lord Mansfield (Cowp. 183.) “ the neglect of the Captain in not doing his duty was adjudg- “ ed barratry; for it was his duty to pay the port duties, before u the ship went out of port, and' he being guilty of neglect “ in not discharging them, it was adjudged to amount to “ barratry.”

“ With us,” says Marshall (445.) u no fault of the master or “ mariners amounts to barratry, unless it proceeds from an in- “ tention to defraud the owners of the ship.” In his note at this place he cites an authority: non omnis ñauará culpa est bar-r at aria; sod solum tunc ea diciiur epuando comittitur cum preeexistenii ejus machinationc, et dolo proeordinato ad casum. There is nothing here of intention to defraud. It is only of intention to do the act; that is, it must be tuilfiul. The first case which he gives to illustrate his definition (7 T. R. 505.) was that of a deviation; but fraud was negatived by the verdict of the jury; and therefore barratry could not be inferred. But in Moss and Byrom (6 T. R. 379.) Lord Kenyon, speaking of the deviation by the Captain, lays it down that “ it was contrary “ to his duty, and to the prejudice of his owners, because they “ stipulated by the charter-party that the ship should sail di- “ rectly to Liverpool, and therefore they were liable to the “ freighters for any damage that might happen in consequence “ of that deviation.” In this case the Captain had no interest for himself; but what is more, was acting, as he thought, for the benefit of the owners; but by Lawrence J. “ though the “ Captain might conceive that what he did was for the benefit “ of his owners, yet if he acted contrary to his duty to them, it “ was barratry.”

We are furnished by the counsel for the plaintiff with a case i^fielf’s Gazette of the 6 th March 1807 containing a report of áüecision in the Court of King’s Bench of the 27th November 1806, Earl v. Rowcroft, which recognises this doctrine; and though but a newspaper report, yet I incline to think it Genuine, and extract it here as it stands in the Gazette.^*

Applying the doctrine of this case to that before us, it would seem to be immaterial what the Captain thought in his declaration, or whether he thought at all. It was wilful, and intended benefit to himself or owner: it was mischievous; and taking it to be the cause of the loss, it was barratry. So that quacunque via the insurers are liable.

New trial refused, and Judgment for Plaintiff.

* Since reported in 8 East 126.

Case Details

Case Name: Calhoun ex rel. Fitzimmons v. Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania

Court Name: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Date Published: Mar 26, 1808

Citation: 1 Binn. 293

Court Abbreviation: Pa.