STATE PAPERS. 



61 



ttiost striking example of a scrupu- 

 lous and indulgent forbearance ; 

 the most strict limitation was given, 

 as to the extent and object of the 

 measures proposed ; and the execu- 

 tion of those orders was guarded 

 .with the strongest injunctions to 

 avoid, by every means consistent 

 ■with attainment of tiieir object, any 

 act of violence or hostility against 

 the dominions or subjects of his ca- 

 tholic majesty. The hostile prepa- 

 rations in the har];our of Ferrol 

 rendered it necessary, in the first 

 instance, thnt a reinforcement 

 should be added to the squadron 

 cruizing off that port ; and orders 

 ■were at the same time conveyed to 

 'the British admirals, to send intima- 

 tion to the Spanish Kovcrnment of 

 the instructions they had received, 

 and of their determination, in con- 

 sequence, to resist, under the pre. 

 sent circumstances, the sailing ci- 

 ther of the French or Spanish lieets, 

 if any attempt should be made by 

 either of them. — His majesty's plea- 

 sure was at the same time signified, 

 that they were not to detain, in the 

 first instance, any ship belonging to 

 his catholic majesty, sailing from a 

 port of Spain ; but (o require the 

 commander of such ship to return 

 directly to the port from whence 

 she came, and only, in the event of 

 his refusing to comply with such re- 

 quisition, to detain and send her to 

 (iibraltar, or to England. -r^Further 

 directions were given not to detain 

 any Spanish homeward-bound ships 

 of war, unless they should have 

 treasure on board, nor merchant 

 ships of that nation, however laden, 

 on any account whatsoever. That 

 in the prosecution of those measures 

 of precaution, many valuable lives 

 should have been sacrificed, is a 

 wbject of much regret to his ma- 



jesty, who laments it as an event 

 produced alone by an unhappy 

 concurrence of circumstances, but 

 which can in no degree ati'ect the 

 merits of the case. The question of 

 the just principle and due exercise 

 of his majesty's right, rests upon 

 every foundation of the laws of na- 

 ture and of nations, which enjoin 

 and justify the adoption of such, 

 measures as are requisite for defence 

 and the prevention of aggression. — ■ 

 it remains only further to observe, 

 that if any additional proof were 

 requisite of the wisdom and neces- 

 sity of precautionary measures, 

 that proof would be found even in 

 the declaration relied upon in the 

 manifesto of Spain, in which its go- 

 vernment now states itself to hate 

 contemplated, from the beginning of 

 the war, the necessity of making it- 

 self a party to it, in support of the 

 pretensions of France, expressly 

 declaring, that " Spain and IIol- 

 '' land. Mho treated conjointly with 

 " France at Amiens, and whose in- 

 " terests and political relations were 

 " so closely connected with her, 

 " must have with difficulty refrained 

 " from taking part against the in- 

 " juries and insults offered to their 

 " ally." — It will further appear, by 

 a reference to the dates and results 

 of the several representations made 

 by his majesty's charge d'affaires, at 

 the court of Spain, that the deten- 

 tion of the Spanish treasure-ships 

 never was in question during the 

 discussions which preceded his de- 

 parture from Madrid. That ground 

 of complaint, therefore, which has 

 since Tjecn so much relied upon, 

 formed no part of the motive of the 

 previous hostile character so strong- 

 ly manifested by the Spanish court 

 in their mode of treating the points 

 in discussion, nor (as vf ill appear in, 

 U r 3 th« 



