PRIZE

Anything captured by a belligerent using the right Of war: in common language, only ships thus captured, with the property taken in them, are so called. Prizestthen in war are condemned by the proper judicature in the courts of the captors: such condemnation is held to divest the title of the proprietor and confer a new ownership.In order to give jurisdiction to a court of prize, il is deemed nece ary, by the law of nations, that the property captured should lie in po e ion of the captors in the'r own potts, those of an ally, or of a neutral; but no be^igcrent |)owcr has a right to capture in the ports of a neutral country, or within ■ marine league of her shores; nor does a capture made then render the adjudication valid. Subject to capture are hostile property, I. <•., the property of persons domiciled in a hostile country, and neutral property contraband of war. Sc^Contraband. PRO* A, [s. 1003]