Continental

(-tin-ěn'tal.) [Same der iv.] (Amer. Hist.) A soldier of the American army of Independence.- C. CONGRESS, that which a embled during the revolutionary war, being composed of delegates from the Confederated American Colonies.- C. POWERS. (Europ. Hist.) Those powers whose territories are situated on the continent of Europe; as distinguished from the Insular Power, i. e., Great Britain.- C. SYSTEM, a term given to a scheme of policy devised by Napoleon I. to exclude Great Britain from all intercourse with the European continent, to prevent the importation of British manufactures and products, and thus compel the English govt. to make peace upon the terms prescribed by him. This began by the Decree of Berlin, 1806, and was met, in the following year, by the counter policy of the English Orders in Council, which latter inaugurated a system of reprisals. [s. 223]