THE OR, PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF NATURE, Applied to the Conduct and Affairs OF NATIONS AND SOVEREIGNS. Emmerin FROM THE FRENCH OF MONSIEUR DE VATTEL. Nihil eft enim illi principi Deo qui omnem hunc mundum regit, quod quidem in A NEW EDITION, Revised, corrected, and enriched with many valuable Notes never before tranflated LONDON: PRINTED FOR G. G. AND J. ROBINSON, PATERNOSTER-ROW. Int 2210.15 HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY 1875, March 22, Walker Bequest. HARVARD MAR 14 1972 ADVERTISEMENT. IN N undertaking this new edition of Monfieur De. Vattel's treatise, it was not my intention to give what might strictly be called a new tranflation. To add the author's valuable notes from the pofthumous edition printed at Neuchatel in 1773, to correct fome errors I had obferved in the former verfion,— and occafionally to amend the language where doubtful or obscure, — were the utmost limits of my original plan. As I proceeded, however, my alterations became more numerous: but whether they will be acknowledged as amendments, it must reft with the reader to determine. Even if his decifion fhould be more favourable than I have any reafon to expect, I lay no claim to praise for my humble efforts, but shall esteem myself very fortunate if I escape the severity of cenfure for prefenting the work to the public in a state still fo far fhort of perfection. Conscious of its defects, I declare with great fincerity . Veniam pro laude peto, laudatus abunde, LONDON, May i, 1797. THE EDITOR. T HE Law of Nations, though fo noble and important a fubject, has not hitherto been treated of with all the care it deferves. The greater part of mankind have therefore only a vague, a very incomplete, and often even a falfe notion of it. The generality of writers, and even celebrated authors, almoft exclufively confine the name of the Law of Nations to certain maxims and cuftoms which have been adopted by different nations, and which the mutual confent of the parties has alone rendered obligatory on them. This is confining within very narrow bounds a law fo extenfive in its own nature, and in which the whole human race are fo intimately concerned; it is at the fame time a degradation of that law, in confequence of a misconception of its real origin. There certainly exifts a natural law of nations, fince the obligations of the law of nature are no less binding on states, on men united in political fociety, than on individuals. But, to acquire an exact knowledge of that law, it is not fufficient to know what the law of nature prescribes to the individuals of the human race. The application of a rule to various fubjects can no otherwise be made than in a manner agreeable to the nature of each fubject. Hence it follows that the natural law of nations is a particular fcience, confifting in a juft and rational application of the law of nature to the affairs and conduct of ntions or fovereigns. All thofe treatifes, therefore, in which the law of nations is blended and confounded with the ordinary law of nature, are incapable of conveying a diftinct idea or a fubftantial knowledge of the facred law of nations. * The Romans often confounded the law of nations with the law of nature, giving the name of "tle law "of nations" (Jus Gentium) to the law of naure, as a being |