CONTINENTAL SYSTEM; BERLIN DECREE.; ORDERS IN COUNCIL. The C. S. was the name given to Napoleon's plan for shutting England out from all connection with the continent of Europe, and thus compelling her at least to acknowledge the maritime law established at the peace of 'Utrecht. See NEUTRALITY. This system began with Napoleon's famous "Berlin decree" of Nov. 21, 1806, which declared the British islands in a state of blockade, and prohibited all commerce or correspondence with them; every Englishman found in a country occupied by French troops or by their allies was declared a prisoner of war; all merchandise belonging to an Englishman, lawful prize; and all trade in English goods entirely prohibited. No ship coming direct from England. or from a British colony, was allowed to enter any port; and any ship seeking by false declarations to evade the regulation, was confiscated with its cargo as if British property.
England was not long in making reprisals. By an "order in council," issued Jan. 7, 1807, all neutral vessels were prohibited from entering any port belonging to France or her allies, or under her control. Every neutral vessel violating this order was to be confiscated with its cargo. Still more oppressive for neutral commerce was a second order in council of Nov. 11, 1807, by which all harbors and places of France, and her allies in Europe and the colonies, as well as of every country with which England was at war, and from which the English flag was excluded, were placed under the same restrictions as if strictly blockaded. These orders were followed by reprisals on the
French side. By the Milan decree of Dec. 17, 1807, strengthened by a second of Jan. 11, 1808, from the Tuileries, any vessel, of whatever nation, that had been searched by an English ship, had submitted to be sent on a voyage to England, or paid any duty to the English government, was to be declared denationalized, and treated as English. In order the more effectually to annihilate English commerce, there appeared, Aug. 3, 1810, the tariff of Trianon for colonial goods; this was extended by a decree of 12th Sept., and on the 18th Oct. followed the decree of Fontainebleau, ordering the burning of all English goods; an order which was to be carried out with more or less modification in all countries connected with France.
The consequence of the C. S. was undoubtedly the springing up on the continent of many branches of manufacture to the prejudice of England; on the other hand, the price of foreign produce rose to an extraordinary height on the continent, enabling a few commercial men to make fortunes, but sensibly affecting the daily comfort of the middle classes. This violent interruption of human intercourse and sociability was an unnatural condition, which could not last long, and could only serve to strengthen the hatred of Europe against French tyranny. Accordingly, with the breaking up of Napoleon's power, the C. S. fell to the ground.