or Pass, a licence or writing obtained from a prince or governor, granting permission and a safe conduct to pass through his territories without molestation: Also a permission granted by any state to navigate in some particular sea, without hindrance or molestation from it. It contains the name of the vessel, and that of the master, together with her tonnage and the number of her crew, certifying that she belongs to the subjects of a particular state, and requiring all persons at peace with that state to suffer her to proceed on her-voyage without interruption.

The violation of safe-conducts or passports expressly granted by the king or by his ambassadors to the subjects of a foreign power in time of mutual war, or committing acts of hostility against such as are in amity, league, or truce with us, who are hereunder a general implied safe-conduct, are breaches of the public faith, without which there can be no intercourse or commerce between one nation and another; and such offences may, according to the writers upon the law of nations, be a proper ground of a national war. And it is enacted by the statute 31 Hen. VI. cap. 4. still in force, that if any of the king's subjects attempt to offend upon the sea, or in any part within the king's obedience, or against any stranger in amity, league, or truce, or under false-conduct, and especially by attacking his person, or spoiling him, or robbing him of his goods, the lord-chancellor, with any of the justices of either the king's bench or common-pleas, may cause full restitution and amends to be made to the party injured. Paquier says that passport was introduced for passe par-tout. Balzac mentions a very honourable passport given by an emperor to a philosopher in these terms: "If there be any one on land or sea hardy enough to molest Potamon, let him consider whether he be strong enough to wage war with Caesar."

PASSPORT is used likewise for a licence granted by a prince for the importing or exporting merchandizes, moveables, &c. without paying the duties. Merchants procure such passports for certain kinds of commodities; and they are always given to ambassadors and ministers for their baggage, equipage, &c.

PASSPORT is also a licence obtained for the importing or exporting of merchandizes deemed contraband, and declared such by tariff, &c. as gold, silver, precious stones, ammunition of war, horses, corn, wool, &c. upon paying duties.