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a memorial to the Britifh miniftry, 
fetting forth, that tiough the crown 
of Spain had an indubitabie right to 
the continent, iflands, harbours, 
and coatts of that part of the world, 
founded on treatiesand immemorial 
polleflion, yet as the viceroy of Mex- 
ico had releafed the veflels that were 
detained, the king looked upon the 
_affair as concluded, without enter- 
ing into any difputes or difcufions 
on the’ undoubted rights of Spain; 
and, defiring to give a proof of his 
friendfhip for Great Britain, he 
fhould: reft fatisfied if fhe ordered 
that her fubjects, in future, refpected 
thofe rights. _ 
1 wAs af Spain, in this anfwer, had 
Jaid claim to the empire of that 
ocean, though fhe only fpoke of 
what belonged to her by treaties, 
-and as if it had heen fo grievous an 
Offence to terminate this affair by 
reftitation of the only vefiel which 
was then known to have been taken, 
it excited fuch clameurand agitation 
in the parliament of England, that 
the molt vigorous preparations for 
war have been commenced; and, 
thofe powers. difinclined to peace 
charge Spain with defigns contrary 
to her known principles of honour 
“and probity, as well as to the tran- 
guillity of Europe, which the Spa- 
nifh monarch and his minifers have 
always had in view. 
_ While England was employed in 
geaking the greateft armaments and 
preparations, that court made an- 
dwer to the Spanifh ambaflador (up- 
on the 5th of May) that the atts of 
violence committed againft the Bri- 
tith flag “rendered it neceflary for 
the fovereign to charge his minifter 
at Madrid, to renew. the remon- 
frances (being the anfwer of Eng- 
Jand already mentioned) and to re- 
quire that fatisfaftion, which his 
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majefty thought he had an indifputa- 
ble right to demand.” 
To this was added a declaration 
not to enter formally into the matter 
until a fatisfa@tory anfwer was ob- 
tained; “ and at the ‘ame time the 
memorial of Spain fhould not in- 
clude in it the queftion of right;” 
which formed a moft effential part 
of the difcuffion. 
The Britifh adminiftration offer, 
in the fame anfwer, to take'the mot 
effectual and pacific meafures, that 
the Eneglifh fubjects fhall not act 
“ againit the juft and acknowledged 
rights of Spain, but that they can- 
not at prefent accede to the preten- 
fions of abfolute fovereignty, com- 
merce and navigation, which ap- 
peared to be the principal object of 
the memorials of the ambafiador; 
and that the king of England confi- 
ders it as a duty incumbent’ upon 
him to proteé his fubje&s in the 
njoyment of the right cf continu- 
ing taetr fithery in the Paciic Ocean.” 
If this pretenfion is found to tre 
pafs upon the ancient boundaries 
laid down in the reign of king Charles 
Ii, and guaranteed by England in 
the treaty of Utrecht, as Spat 
believes, it appears that that court 
will have good reafon for difputive 
and oppofing this claira; and itis io 
be hoped that the equity of the Bri- 
tith adminiftration wiil fulpend and 
reftrict it accordingly. i 
In confequence of the foregoing 
anfwer, the charge d’affaires fromthe 
court of London at Madrid infifted, 
ina memorial of the 16th of May, 
on reftitution of the veli2l detained 
at Nootka, and the property there- 
in contained ;. of an indemnification 
for the Joffes fuftained, and on are- 
paration proportioned to the injury 
done to the Englith fubjects trading 
under the Britith fag, and that they 
\ have 
