li!0 



ANNUAL REGISTER, ISOJ. 



CilAP. XI. 



Ajfairs of Europe. — Rcfrospcct. — Sitiiaf>o?> of Spam. — Diploma/ic JJ'airs. 

 — Artifices of France to embroil Spuin and England. — Correspondence 

 heticeeii the English Ambassador and the Prince of Peace. — licco?nes per' 

 sonal^ and concludes. — Further Discussionn. — Understanding bctu:ccn the 

 Courts of London and Madrid, as to the Treaties between the latter Power 

 and France. — Infraction thereof b>/ Spain. — 'Spanish firmaments. — Re- 

 monstrances of the English .hnbassador prove fruitless. — War declared. — 

 Action "with Four Spanish Frigates,— Fatal Catastrophe. — Pwmarhs and 

 Conclusion. 



IT was our c^uty, in the course of 

 our last volume, to iioiice the 

 breaking out oi" (he war with Spain. 

 This circumstance, which took plac-e 

 Utthc latter end of the year 1804, 

 however proper to be recorded as an 

 historical qvent, and as strictly 

 coming within the limits of the 

 work, yet, as the circunistaiices 

 which led to it had not then been 

 made public, or had undergone par- 

 liamentary investigation, we were 

 necessitated to lea\e our narrative 

 unfinished and incomplete. 



Our readers will have observed, 

 that the subject of the rupture be- 

 tween Great Britain and Spain early 

 engaged a eonsidenahle portioii of 

 .the time and attention of the im- 

 jjerial senate. Ministers were called 

 upon, under all the vcight of their 

 ojfi,cial responsibility, toaccount for 

 the flames of war having spread into 

 still wider conflagration, involving 

 iu them, aud their balefuj conse- 

 qncnces, a vast proportioii of the in- 

 habitants of both worlds. 



In order to substantiate t^ieir 

 claim to a wise and measured policvj 



in having so acted as to preclude 

 iurthor negociation, and render 

 hostilities inevitable between this 

 country and Spain, government 

 caused to be laid before both houses 

 of parliament, an ample body of ma- 

 terials, on which to form ajudgment. 

 A careful examination of the docu- 

 ments so produced, and a reference 

 to the debates which they gave rise 

 to, have enable us to lay before the 

 public the following statement, 

 •which, v.G trust, will be found at 

 once full, correct, and impartial. 



It w ill be recollected that, at the 

 commencement of the war, which 

 now rages with so much violence in 

 every quarter of the globe, but 

 which originated with France and 

 England, the British government 

 made a distinct proposition, that the 

 neutrality of Holland and of Spain 

 should be admitted on both sides, 

 and be strictly observed during the 

 continuance of hostilities between 

 the only two poMers w ho were then 

 at variance. A measure certainly 

 dictated b)' a wise and liberal policy, 

 and which would, had it been con- 

 ceded 



