HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



19 



he necessp^iy that the ships which 

 conveyed them should be armed and 

 equipped for war. It was c ident, 

 upon the whole, that it was the fiili 

 intention of Spain to declare war as 

 soon as her treasure ships should ar- 

 rive, and her permitting French 

 troops, sailors, and artillery-men 

 to march through her territory, was 

 no slight indication of her hostility 

 to us. Under these circumstances 

 we entered on an incomplete hosti- 

 lity, when the right of full, com- 

 plete, and absolute hostility was 

 substantially in our hands. Spain, 

 it was said, suffered, but then it was 

 her own fault. Ifad she been capa- 

 ble of manly exertion in her own 



behalf, to free herself from French 

 thraldom, she would have met with 

 evej^ support and assistance from 

 us. But while she remained under 

 the vassalage and dictation of the 

 ruler of France, friendly even she 

 dare not be, neutral she cotild not 

 be, and hostile she must be at the 

 mandate of her ally, which made it 

 incumbent on his majesty's ministers 

 to guard against the hostility to 

 which this country, from necessity 

 or otherwise, must inevitably be 

 exposed. On the question being 

 put, at four o'clock in the morning, 

 the address was carried without a 

 division. 



C9 



CHAP. 



