291] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1790. 
previous to their leaving Nootka 
Sound, had feen the Argonaut pro- 
ceed prize to San Blas, with her of- 
ficers and men prifoners; and that 
the Princefs Royal was foon to fol- 
low in the fame manner. 
The Wahhington, on joining the 
Columba in Port Cox, confirmed this 
intelligence of the Princefs Royal. 
To add to thefe outrages againft 
the Britifh, Don Martinez had 
thought fit todetain the Chinefe, and 
had compelled them to work in the 
mines which had juft been opened 
on the lands which the memorialitt 
had before purchafed. 
Tothis memorial Mr. Mears has 
added the depofitions of the officers 
and crew of the North-weft Ameri-_ 
ca, extracts from the journal of the 
Iphigenia, and other authentic do- 
cuments; which, added to the inter- 
nal evidence of the memorial itfelf, 
leaves no roomto doubt its authenti- 
city. 
Declaration of his Catholic Maje/ty, 
Fune 4, tranfmitted to all the Eu- 
ropean Courts. 
HE king being apprized ofthe 
particulars laid before his mi- 
nifters on the r6th‘of May, by Mr. 
Merry, his Britannic majefty’s m1- 
nifter, relative to the unexpected dif 
pute between this court and Great 
Britain, as to the vellels captured 
in Port St. Laurence, or Nootka 
Sound, on the coait of California, 
in the South Sea, has commanded the 
underfigned, his majefty’s fir fe- 
cretary of ftate, to anfwer to the faid 
minifter of England, that he had the 
honour to make known perionally, 
and in writing, to the faid minifter, 
uvon the 18th of the fame month, 
that his majefty at no time pretend- 
ed to any rights in any ports, feas, 
or places, other than what belongs. 
to his crown by the moft folemn trea 
ties, recognized by all nations, and 
more particularly with Great Bri- 
tain, by a right founded on particu- 
lar treaties, the uniform confent of 
both nations, and by an immemorial, 
regular, and ettablifhed pofiefion z 
that his majeity is ready to enter up- 
on every examination and difcufiion 
moft likely to terminate the difpute 
in an amicable way; and is willing 
to enter into immediate conference 
with the new ambafiador; and it juf- 
tice requires it, will certainly dif- 
approve of the condutt, and punith 
his fubjects if they have gone beyond 
their powers. This ofier and fatis- 
faction will, it is hoped, ferve as an 
example to the court of London to 
do as much on its part. 
As the two courts of London and 
Madrid have not yet received pro- 
per and authenticated-accounts and 
proofs of all that has reaily paffed in 
thefe diftant latitudes, a contradic- 
tion.in the developement of fatts 
has by this means been occafioned. 
Even at this moment the papers and 
minutes made up by the viceroy of 
New Spain “on this matter are not 
arrived. Polterior letters indeed ‘ay, 
that the Englith veffel; the Argonaut, 
had not been feized and confi‘cated, 
till lecally condemned; and tha¢ the 
fmall veficl called the Princefs Royal, 
which had afterwards arrived, was 
not feized or confifcated, but that, 
on the contrary, full reftitution was 
made by the viceroy, and an obli- 
gation only taken from thé captain 
to pay the price of the vefiel, uf the 
was declared a lawiul prize; and 
on the -precife fame terms he had 
liberated a Portuguefe veffel belong- 
ing to Macao,:and two American. 
veilels, 
more 
Thefe particulars will be . 
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i) 
