144] 
volous as these, that the court of 
Madrid began to project an offen- 
sive alliance with the king’s ene- 
mies ; a design which it now Pio; 
fesses.to have entertained from the 
moment when it separated itself 
from the common cause, but which 
was long after that period disguised 
under the most positive and explicit 
assurances of neutrality, 
' It is insinuated, that the good 
offices of his catholic majesty for 
bringing about a general pacifi-. 
cation, had been tendered to 
Great Britain, and had been re- 
fused. . What degree of impar- 
tiality could have been expected 
from such a mediation, the dispo- 
sitions which Spain now avows 
herself to have entertained at that 
period sufficiently shews ; his ma- 
Jesty exercised bis undoubted right 
of judging for himself and for bis 
people, how far a negotiation com- 
menced under such auspices was 
likely to contribute to the honour 
and interest of his dominions; and 
he now finds the propriety of his 
decision confirmed beyond a doubt, 
by the conduct and ayowals. of 
Spain. 
Itis next stated, that in the pro- 
secution of the war, in which 
Great Britain is engaged, her 
views seem uniformly to bave been 
directed to the annoyance of the 
Spanish possessions in America. 
In support of this accusation are 
adduced an expedition directed 
against St. Domingo, the conquest 
of the Dutch colony of Demerary, 
and the supposed etablishment of 
British commercial companies on 
the banks oi the Mississippi, formed 
with a view of bie Saleh to the 
South Sea. 
‘This latter point is one to which 
it is impossible to make @ specific 
ANNUAL REGISTER; 
1796. 
answer, because the British govern- 
ment has no knowledge. of any 
fact to which it can refer. Within 
the Spanish territory, the Spanish, 
government eertainly possess both 
the right and the power to prevent 
individuals from trading. Within 
the American territory, his ma- 
jesty’s subjects have by treaty a 
right to settle and to trade; and 
they have also an express right 
freely to navigate the Mississippi, 
by which the territories of Spain 
and of the United States are divided 
from each other. Unless, there- 
fore, itcan be shewn that the Bri- 
‘sh government has authorised any 
settlement on the Spanish territory, 
this complaint can afford no pre- 
tence for hostility against his ma- 
Jjesty. 
With regard to the expedition 
against St. Domingo, and to the 
conquest of Demerary, it is im- 
possible to refrain from remarking 
that however highly the rights of 
neutral nations ought to be respect- 
ed, and whatever delicacy his ma- 
jesty might be disposed to feel to- 
wards those of a power so lately his 
ally, and not yet become his enemy 
—it is a-new and hitherto un- 
heard of claim of neutrality, 
which is to be circumscribed by 
no bounds, either of time or place ; 
which extends equally beyond the 
date, and beyond the limits of 
possession, and isto attach not to 
the territories of a neutral power 
itself, but to whatever may once 
have belonged to it, and to what- 
ever may be situated in its neigh- 
bourbood, although in the pus- 
session of amactual enemy. 
The subject, however, of St. 
Domingo, deserves to be more par- 
ticularly adverted to, because the 
attempt on the part of Spain to 
cede 
