it would be confidered here as offenfive to the dignity of the King, that farther mention fhould be made of fuch an idea; and that it is likewife understood here, that France at no time has a right to meddle in fuch difcuffions between G. Britain and Spain. I am now to acquaint your Excellency, that M. de Buffy did not come to me till laft Thursday morning, when, after delivering to me the fame memorial which Mr Stanley had received from the Duc de Choifeul, and tranfmitted to me, he alfo gave me two fupplemental memorials of a most extraordinary nature: copies whereof 1 fend your Excellency inclofed, together with a copy of my letter to that minifter, returning the two faid memorials [xxiii. 574. &c.], as totally inadmillible. With regard to the memorial relative to the difputes between England and Spain, that piece will best speak its own enormity, and the extreme offenfiveness of the matter which it contains; at the fame time my letter, by order of the King, to M. de Buffy, fending back the faid memorial, will fufficiently convey to your Excellency the just sensations which fuch a paper has excited here in the breaft of every one to whom it was imparted. It is the King's pleasure, therefore, that your Excellency fhould immediately communicate to M. Wall the above-mentioned memorial, together with my letter to M. de Buffy returning the fame; and in cafe the Spanish minifter fhall avow that this ftrange piece has really been authorised by the court of Madrid, your Excellency will remonftrate, with energy and armnefs, the unexampled irregularity of fuch a proceeding on the part of Spain, not only ftill in amity with G. Britain, (though difcuffions of difficulty unluckily engage the two courts), but whole intercourse has hitherto professed itself to be friendly, and whofe declared aims have al along feemed to point to an amicable adjustment of the long-fubfifting difputes relating to the coafts of Hondu ras, &c. by fome equitable regulation of the enjoyment of the privilege of cutting logwood by the fubjects of G. Britain. You will further exprefs with the utmost feriousness to M. Wall, that nothing can equal the King's furprise and regret at a tranfaction fo unprecedented, except his Majefty's fteady purpose, and immoveable determination, not to be diverted, by any confiderations, from that even tenor of conduct towards Spain, which his juft and conftant care of his people dictates, and which his royal wisdom and magnanimity have hitherto pursued. On the one hand, then, his Majesty will by no means add facilities for the fatisfaction of that court, in confideration of any intimation, on the part of a hoftile power, of union of councils, or of present or future conjunctions; nor, on the other hand, will his Majesty's equity and moderation ceafe to difpofe his royal mind to the fame reasonable terms of accommodation with Spain, with regard to fuch objects, and in fuch manner, as the King, excited by inclination, and determined by system, has, through the courie of this negotiation, invariably declared himself ready to embrace. As to the three points mentioned in this memorial: First, Concerning the reftitut on of prizes made against the flag of Spain, or fuppofed to have been taken in violation of the territory of that kingdom, it fuffices to fay, that the courts here inftituted to take cognisance of all matters of fuch a nature, are always open to the parties who think fit to seek redress in due course of justice; and it is fuperfluous to obferve, that the ministers of his Moft Chriftian Majefty are not a tribunal, to which G. Britain allows an appeal. Next, As to the ftale and inadmissible pretenfions of the Bifcayans and Guifpufcoans to fish at Newfoundland, on which important point your Excellency is alrea dy fo fully inftructed, you will again on this occafion let M. Wall clearly underftand, That this is a matter held facred; and that no conceffion on the part of his Majefty, fo deftructive to this true and capital interest of G. Britain, will be yielded to Spain, however abetted and fupported: And it is ftill hoped, that prudence, as well as juftice, will induce that court no longer to expect, as the price of an union which it is at least as much her intereft as ours to maintain inviolate, a facrifice which can never be thought of. Thirdly, With regard to difputes relative to the logwood-coafts, the King will ftill receive with pleafure, agreeable to his Majefty's repeated declarations to the court of Spain, any juft overtures on the part of his Catholic Majefty, (provided they be not conveyed through the channel of France, by whofe intervention the King will never treat of thefe difputes), for amicably adjusting the fame, and for removing March 1762. Papers relative to the rupture with Spain. removing effectually every fource of reafeable complaint or difpute on this head, by terminating to mutual fatisfaction all things relating thereto by a candid and equitable regulation. After the above memorial of France, and the intimation therein, little fhort of a declaration of war in reverfion, and that not at a distance, held out in terrorem on the part of France and Spain, M. Wall cannot wonder that your Excellency is ordered by his Majefty, as you hereby are, to defire again, in this con. juncture, a proper explanation with regard to the naval armaments that have been fo long preparing in the various ports of Spain: And his Excellency cannot but himself be fenfible, how ftrongly the King is called upon, in the order of things, and from the indifpenfable motives of what he owes to his crown and people, to expect that the court of Madrid will come to fome explicit and categorical eclairciffement with regard to the deftination of her fleets, as well as with respect to her difpofitions to maintain and cultivate friendship and good correfpondence with G. Britain: And this mea. fure is become the more highly neceffary, as the emiflaries and partifans of France here are not a little active in endeavouring to infufe, particularly into people's minds in the city, for purposes too obvious to mention, that a rupture with Spain, in conjunction with France, is approaching. Although in the course of this inftruction to your Excellency, I could not, with fuch an infolent memorial from France before me, but proceed on the fuppofition, that, infidious as this court is, the could not dare to commit in fuch a manner the name of his Catholic Majefty, without being authorised thereto; I must not, however, conceal from your Excellency, that it is thought poflible here, that the court of France, though not wholly unauthorised, may, with her ufual artifice in negotiation, have put much exaggeration into this matter; and in cafe, upon entering into remonftrance on this affair, you fhall perceive a difpofition in M. Wall to explain away and difavow the authorisation of Spain to this offenfive tranfaction of France, and to come to categorical and fatisfactory declarations relatively to the final intentions of Spain, your Excellency will, with readiness, and your ufual addrefs, adapt yourself to fo defireable a circum 115 ftance, and will open to the court of Ma E. Bristol to Mr Pitt, Aug. 31. Received The Spanish minifter told me, the Most Chriftian King having early intimated his defire here, that his Catholic Majesty fhould guaranty the intended peace between the courts of London and Verfailles, in order to render that peace more permanent; the King of Spain had thought proper to agree to that propofal's being made by France to England, as well as to confent to France's exprefs offer of endeavouring to accommodate the difputes fubfifting between England and Spain, at the fame time he was trying to put an end to a war which had lasted fo long between the British and French crowns: But he affirmed to me, that the intention of the court of Madrid in affenting to that propofal, was totally void of any defign to retard the peace, and abfolutely free from the leaft intention of giving offence to his Majefty, though it appeared that step had been productive of different effects; that, as to England's declaring, the never would add facilities towards accommodating her differences with another fovereign, in confideration of any intimation from a power at war, or the threatenings of an enemy, the Catholic King could not but applaud thofe fentiments in his Majesty, which he felt fo ftrongly within himfelf; adding, it was certain the court of London was at liberty to reject any propofals coming from the French miniftry, yet that could not in any way influence the King of Spain's communicating whatever measures he thought conducive to his interefts, to the Moft Chriftian King, his Catholic Majesty's friend, ally, and near relation. M. Wall pursued his discourse, by acquainting me with France's having fpontaneously offered to the Catholic King (in cafe the difputes of G. Britain and Spain fhould, at any time hereafter, oc R 2 cafion H casion a rupture between our two courts) to unite her forces with thofe of Spain, to prevent the English incroachments in America upon his Catholic Majefty's ter ritory: An offer which the Spanish monarch had received with that cordiality which was due to a friend, who was determined even to involve herself in a fresh war, in order to defend Spain. Gen. Wall then asked me, Whether it was poffible to be imagined in England, the Catholic King was feeking to provoke us; efpecially at a time that the court of London was in the most flourishing and moft exalted fituation it had ever known, Occafioned by the greateft feries of profperities that any fingle nation had ever net with? And he affured me, the Caholic King, both before and at present, efteemed as well as valued the frequent profeflions I had made, by command from my court, of his Majefty's defire to adjuft our mutual differences amicably; but he perceived, the terms on which thofe difputes were fought to be accommodated, Occafioned the difficulty. made at the expence and on the account of K. Henry VII. the uninterrupted poffeffion of that ifland, by the fettlements of the fubjects of England ever fince the faid epoch to this hour, has also been demon'ftrated. From heads of his discourse given by Gen. Wall to E. Bristol in writing. Both courts [of Madrid and Versailles] thought, that France could not take a frep that thewed better faith towards England, [than the presenting of the memorial relating to the difputes between Spain and G. Britain]; and there is no doubt but fo it appears. What proceeding more noble can one enemy hold with another than France does to England, in faying, To conclude a peace with England, I yield up this and that: however, at the fame time I am refolved to make this facrifice, I cannot but fay, I wish to fecure a peace for many years, and therefore fhould be glad that England would settle with Spain their fubjects of difagreement together, because otherwife they may again intangle me in a fresh war? Yet England finds reafon for remon ftrating against the conduct of Spain hereupon; expreffing, that, at a time the is living in good harmony with Spain, and has declared her defire of terminating her long differences by fome amicable adjuftment, Spain makes ufe of England's enemy as the channel of her grievances. It is repeated in anfwer, That Spain only confented that France fhould take this ftep, in as much as it appeared not only inoffenfive, but, on the contrary, to come more from an honeft and fincere friend than an enemy. The last time I faw M. Wall, I received exactly the fame anfwer which had been given me the first time; That Spain was furprifed G. Britain fhould take umbrage at any naval preparations the was, or had been making fince the accellion of his prefent Catholic Majefty; for, including both the fhips of the line, as well as the frigates, the whole number did not in all exceed twenty; which M. Wall aflured ane were, by feveral, fewer than thole which had been equipped during the reign of the late King Ferdinand. His Excellency told me, that with regard to their deftination, fome were frequently going backwards and forwards between this kingdom and Naples; others were intended to convoy the homeward or outward bound flotas, aflogues, or registerhips; and the remaining ones were to ferve as a check upon the Barbary corfairs, and to defend their coafts, or maller vefiels, from intuits. And in reiation to the third question, his Catholic Majefty's difpofition and profeflions had inva-gainst an offenfive method, which happenriably been the fame, and were ever meant to cement and cultivate the friendfhip fo happily fubfifting between our zwo courts. From heads of his difcourfe given by E. Briflel to Gen. Woll in writing. As to the fecond article claimed by Spain, The firft difcovery of the ifland of Newfoundland having been proved to have been How many proofs has not Spain already given, of her aiming to obtain a redrets of her grievances, without pretending it otherwife than in a friendly manner? Six years ago, the Spanish governors being ordered to oppofe the intrufion of foreigners upon the American coafts, an expedition was made to dislodge the Englih from new etablishments; and the court of London having reclaimed a ed exactly at the time he was coming to a rupture with France; from whence it might have been inferred, that Spain, in feizing that conjunéture, fought to fraiten England, (then lefs powerful, and not fo fure of her happy fuccefles as at prefent), the Catholic King commanded, in order to take away all kind of miftruft from England, that thofe orders thould be March 1762. Papers relative to the rupture with Spain. be fuperfeded; and even to restore to the Faglich whatever effects might have been taken from them; and his British Maists offered to fettle thefe points in a Hendly manner. During thefe fame fix years, we have not difcontinued to folicit, without advancing one day more than the other and during that time (who would believe it?) the English have increased their incroached establishments upon that Taree articles of grievances were ftat1.With regard to the injuries a int the neutrality in this war, which Bone, and about which there is no maeral stumbling-block; after other things, As faid, That England can never look pon the minifters of the Moft Chriftian Ang as a tribunal to which it will couent to carry an appeal; and it cannot be imagined to what purpose. Who ever thought of fuch an irregularity? Concerning the liberty of the Bifcayans and Guipufcoans to fifli for bacallao, an ablolute negative is given to that right, though it is fo well proved. And with respect to evacuating the establishments, it is only fered upon terms inadmiffible with the Catholic King's decorum, That before oing it, he thould aflure to the English te logwood. Hard proceeding, certain, for one to confefs, that he is gone into the houfe of another to take away his jewels; and to fay, "I will go out again, Lut firit you thall engage to give me what I went to take." And ftill harder, when fet in oppofition with the bacallao; for the Spaniards want that for their food, as the England want the logwood for their fabricks: yet the English would by force take away the logwood, and hincer by force the Spaniards from taking away the bacallao. One would think that the English themselves ought with reluctrace to produce fuch a pretenfion. E. Brift to Mr Pitt, Sept. 14. Rec. G. 5. [the day Mr Pitt refigned.] Gen. Wall has acquainted ine, that M. Manto, Governor at Sanroque, had, in confequence the orders tranfmitted to him, been at Tariffa; where (after examining into the nduct of the inhabitants at that place, and reproved those who connived at the proceedings which occafioned fuch repeatcomplaints from me, concerning the egal protection granted to, the French usboats under the cannon of that port) te had taken fuch meafures, as would put nefectual ftop to any farther, remon tances on that fubject. - The Spanish 117 minifter added, That the Catholic King had at no time been more intent on cultivating a good correspondence with his Majeity, than at prefent. [xxiii. 545.] E. Bristol to Mr Pitt, Sept. 21. Rec. Oct. 16. A meffenger arrived at St Ildefonfo laft week, with the news of the fafe arrival of the flota in the bay of Cadiz. I have been affured that this court is difappointed, fince there is little above 330,000 1. brought from America upon the Catholic King's account; which fum, confidering it is the produce of the royal revenue for two years, in the Weft Indies, is not confiderable, and shows the great mitmanagement that reigns amongit the affeffors and collectors in those parts. E. Bristol to Mr Pitt, Sept. 28. Rec. Oct. 20. M. Wall has acquainted me, that by the frethefl intelligence he has been able to procure from America, he has been told, the English fettlers upon the Logwood-coaft had chiefly been fortifying themselves at Rio Tinto, where they had caft up confiderable intrenchments, and had placed feveral pieces of cannon upon the ramparts. His Excellency added, as that establishment, together with thole near the river Wallis and the Laguna Azul, were indifputably of a very recent date, he did not conceive what difficulty G. Britain could alledge for avoiding to evacuate fuch avowed ufurpations, if the court of London was really fincere in the profeffions which had been fo repeatedly made to Spain, of its intention to cause all fettlements, contrary to the territorial jurifdiction of his Catholic Majefty, to be abandoned. Gen. Wall has earnestly defired my giving the ftrongeft affurances at home, that, if orders were in for recalling thofe Briti!h subjects, who are now at Rio Tinto, and directing them to withdraw their cannon from that place, the King of Spain promifed, in the ampleft manner, that no kind of disturbance Thould be given to any of the logwoodcutters, in whatioever parts they were, either on the coafts of Compeachy or of Honduras; but that they fhould be permitted to carry on their trade unmolefted, until an agreement could be made, and a convention fettled, between their Britannic and Catholic Majefties, for the final adjustment of this long depending bufinefs, to the mutual fatisfaction of our two fovereigns. Gen. Wall has ever acted in too ingenuous a manner, for me to fufpect the leaft duplicity in his conduct; and the preling infances he made me, on on this occafion, to endeavour to reprefent the equity as well as expediency of fuch orders being tranfmitted with regard to Rio Tinto, leave me no room to doubt, that this court only withes for fuch a step, either to treat upon that apparent equality of its differences with England, or to put a stop to the repeated intimations conveyed from Verfailles, That it would be unbecoming the dignity of the King of Spain to enter into any negotiation with another power, who avowedly with held from his Catholic Majefty feveral illegal fettlements in his territories: although the French ministers, in order to render an accommodation between England and Spain utterly impracticable, recommend to this court the neceffity of infifting, that every Englishman whatever fhould withdraw from each part of the Logwood-coafts, before any overtures are made for the regulation of our commerce with Spain; yet M. Wall faid, that the Catholic King could not give a flronger proof of his defire fincerely to put an end to our difputes, by fome amicable regulation, than exacting only the relinquish ing that establishment on Rio Tinto, which, while it filenced the clamours of our enemies, would alfo facilitate this court's coming to a speedy adjustment with England; for all that was requested from us was, to make known to the world our own good faith, at the fame time that it would ferve as a falvo to the Spaniards pundonor [point of honour], for entering into a negotiation, after having fo often infifted on the evacuation of the Catholic King's dominions in the Weft Indies. The Earl of Egremont to E. Bristol, 08. 28. moft, fecret. In opening my correfpondence with your Excellency, it gives ne great pleasure to be able to inform you, that your letter of the 14th paft, wherein you mention, "That M. Wall has acquainted you, that the Catholic King had, at no time, been more intent on cultivating a good correspondence with his Majefty, than at present," having been laid before the King, his Majesty received, with particular fatisfaction, fuch an authentic declaration of the good intentions of his Catholic Majesty. The confirmation of the fame good difpofitions in the court of Spain, manifefted by M. Wall's expretting their readiness to come to a speedy adjustment with England, upon our evacuating the moft recent fettlements on the coaft of Honduas, only to ferve as a falvo to the Spaniards pundoner, was confidered, by his M fty, as a happy prefage of a speedy amicable conclufion of all disputes fub ing between the two crowns. It is judged highly expedient for King's fervice, that the court of S fhould, in the prefent moment, be ap fed of the fentiments of that of G. Brit I am therefore to acquaint your Ex lency, that his Majesty continues to h nothing more at heart, than to culti the moft cordial friendship with his tholic Majefty; trufting, however, find this difpofition reciprocal on the of Spain. Thefe being the King's fentiments, Majefty cannot imagine that the cour Spain fhould think it unreasonable, to fire a communication of the treaty knowledged to have been lately com ded between the courts of Madrid Verfailles, or of fuch articles thereo can, by particular and explicit enga ments, immediately relate to the in ests of G. Britain, or, in a more gen and diftant view of affairs, be any conftrued to affect the fame in the pre conjuncture, before he enters into fart negotiation on the points depending tween the two crowns. For though King, from his confidence in the repe ed affurances of friendfhip from his tholic Majefty, is unwilling to fupp that a treaty concluded by him, contain any thing to the prejudice of Britain; yet as the court of France affected to give out, that Spain was the point of entering into the war; wh language has been induftriously propa ted, and generally with fuccefs, in m courts of Europe; his Majefty theref thinks, that the honour of his crown. the interefts of his people, equally call an explanation with regard to this alre dy too much credited report, before can, confiftent with his own digni proceed in any negotiation with Spa nor can any fair or candid difcution the rights or differences of the two com take place upon a juft and equitable for ing, fhould Spain, while fhe is fully formed of the extent of all his Majeft alliances and connections, maintain fufpicious and unfriendly referve, wi regard to a treaty recently concluded b tween her and his Majesty's declared a inveterate enemy; by whom it is open and induftrionfly allerted, througho Europe, that the purport thereof is hoft to G. Britain, |