24 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



'■ ought manifcsdy (according to thought proper to exercise it. Snp 



" these instructions) to have deter 

 '• mined him to wait at Madrid the 

 *■• arrival of an accredited minister, 

 '' authorised by his majesty to ar- 

 " range, with that court, ail points 



posing even that the armament at 

 Ferrol was not to be directed imme- 

 diately against us, but to reinforce 

 the Spanish settlements abroad, and 

 put them in a state of greater secu- 



*• of ditierence. And that we have rity against us ; yet, when we t'ore- 



'• therefore seen, with equal surprise saw that war with that country 



" and indign.nion, the final decision would be inevitable, it would have 



*• of his majesty's ministers, not only been unpardonable in our govern- 



"■ to adopt the inconsiderate rcsoln- ment if it had waited to let the war 



'^ tion taken by the king's repre- bL* commenced at such a disadvan- 



'' sentative, in wiiiidrawing himself tage. 



'* from J.ladrid, but also to treat Lord Ter.iple thonglit it r.nwor- 



'' with utter disregard the subse- thy of this country to pocket its 



'' quent offer from the Spanish mi- causes of war against Spain, till we 



'' nister at this court, to pursue the thought it convenient to produce 



■' jame discussion here : an offer them ; and thinking it an unjust and 



'' which, if accepted, might proba- unwarrantable proceeding to have 



'' bly have led to a satisfactory con- detained the Sjianish frigates at all, 



'' elusion «n matters upon which he esteemed it an aggravation, that 



'• t!tc two courts were so nearly a much greater force was not em- 



'' agreed. Tliat, while we have thus plojcd for that purpose, which 



'' thought it our duty to represent would have saved the Spanish admi- 



*' to his majesty the errors of his ral the necessity, for the prcserva- 



'' ministers, in the conduct of this tion of his honour, of a resistance, 



important transaction, and the the consequence of which was tho 



• fuuire consequences that have re- 

 '' suited from them, we beg leave to 

 *' repeat onrhuniblc assurance, that 

 " we are ready to support his ma- 



blowing up of 300 men, women, 

 and children. 



The advocate general (sir .Tohn 

 Nirholl) laid down three criteria to 

 *' jcsty, to the uimost, in every mea- determine tiie judgment of the house 

 *' sure necessary to assert the rights upon this siibject. ist. the sound 

 ''and vi',ni:c;ite the honour of his deductions of natural reason; 2ndly, 

 '' crown ; objects which can never the authority of the most eminent 

 '• be successfully pursued by neg- men ; and 3rdly, the most general 

 " ligent and undecided councils, nor practice observed by civilized na- 

 " attained bv the violation of en- tions, wlien placed in circumstances 

 '' gagcnicnts on which those with similar, on the propriety or impro- 

 *' whom we treat have rested their priety of which the house had to 

 ^' security." form an opinion. On the first 



The amendment being read from ground he justified the government, 

 the chair, upon the principle of self-defence; 



Lord Castlereagh, in reply, ob- on tliC second, upon the concurrent 

 , served, that as our governmcnr never opinions of all writers from Vattel 

 did any thing to give uptiie right of to .Martens, who laid it down, that 

 ftoing to war with Spain, the right if an injury be received, or injustice 

 remained with us, whenever wc done, and that explanation is de- 

 manded 



