The Common Council of Alexandria, (Fowle v.) [DE- Murrer to Evidence.] 320 Fowler, (Littlepage v.) [LOCAL LAW.] 215 K. Mills v. The Bank of the United States, [PROMISSORY NOTE.] Miller v. M'Intire, [LOCAL LAW.] 431 441 0. Ortega, (The U. S. v.) [CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.] 467 Owing, (Taylor v.) [LOCAL LAW.] Otis v. Walter, [CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTE.] P. 226 192 Robertson, (Governeur v.) [ALIEN. LOCAL LAW.] 332 S. Shelby . Guy, [STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. PLEAD ING. LOCAL LAW.] 361 Smith, (U. S. Bank v.) [PROMISSORY NOTE. PLEAD ING.] 171 V. Van Zandt, (the U. S. p.) [SURETY. CONSTRUCTION Walter, (Otis v.) [CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTE.] 192 Wetzell v. Bussard, [STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.] 309 Williams . The Bank of the United States, [PRAC- 414 Williams, (Barnes v.) [PRACTICE.] 415 Winn, (Patterson v.) [LOCAL LAW.] 381 MEMORANDUM. In the case of Ogden v. Saunders, and the other causes involving the question of the validity of the State bankrupt or insolvent laws, (argued at February term, 1824, by Mr. Clay, Mr. D. B. Ogden, and Mr. Haines, for the validity, and by Mr. Webster and Mr. Wheaton, against it,) the Court directed a re-argument at the next term. REPORTS OF THE DECISIONS IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. FEBRUARY TERM, 1826. [PRIZE.] The MARIANNA FLORA. The Vice Consul of Portugal, Claimant. In Admiralty proceedings, amendments are made in the appellate Court, not only as to form, but as to matter of substance, as by the filing a new count to the libel; the parties being permitted, whenever public justice, and the substantial merits require it, to introduce new allegations and new proofs; non allegata allegare, et non probata probare. If the amendment is made in the Circuit Court, the cause is beard and adjudicated by that Court, and (upon appeal) by this Court on the new allegation; but if the amendment is allowed by this Court, the cause is remanded to the Circuit Court, with directions to permit the amendment to be made. An attack made upon a vessel of the United States, by an armed vessel, with the avowed intention of repelling the approach of the former, or of crippling or destroying her, upon a mistaken supposition that she was a piratical cruizer, and without a piratical or felonious intent, or for the purpose of wanton plunder, or malicious destruction of property, is not a piratical aggression under the act of the 3d of March, 1819, c. 75. Nor is an armed vessel, captured under such circumstances, liable to confiscation as for a hostile aggression, under the general law of nations. 1826. The Marian na Flora. The act extends to foreign vessels committing a piratical aggression ; and whatever responsibility the nation may incur towards foreign states, by executing its provisions, the tribunals of the United States are bound to carry them into effect. Pirates may be lawfully captured by the public or private ships of any nation, in peace or in war; for they are hostes humani generis. American ships offending against our own laws, may be seized upon the ocean, and foreign ships thus offending within our territorial jurisdiction, may be pursued and seized upon the ocean, and brought into our ports for adjudication. But, in such cases, the party seizes at his peril, and is liable to costs and damages if he fails to establish the forfeiture. Ships of war sailing under the authority of their government, in time of peace, have a right to approach other vessels at sea for the purpose of ascertaining their real characters, so far as the same can be done without the exercise of the right of visitation and search, which does not exist in time of peace. No vessel is bound to await the approach of armed ships under such circumstances; but such vessel cannot lawfully prevent their approach by the use of force, upon the mere suspicion of danger. Where an aggression was committed by a foreign armed merchant vessel, on a public armed ship of the United States, under these circumstances, and a combat ensued upon mutual misapprehension and mistake, the commander of the public ship was held exempt from costs and damages for subduing, seizing, and bringing into a port of this country for adjudication, the offending vessel. APPEAL from the Circuit Court of Massachu setts. The original libel filed in the District Court against the Portuguese ship Marianna Flora, and cargo, was for an alleged piratical aggression attempted or committed by the ship on the United States armed schooner Alligator, Lieutenant Stockton commander, against the act of Congress of the 3d of March, 1819, c. 75. entitled, "An act to protect the commerce of the United States, and punish the crime of piracy." a Which provides, (sec. 1.) that the President of the United States be authorized and requested to employ so many of the public |