STATE PAPERS. 



G83 



Copies of three Decrees in favour of 

 the Commerce of Great Britain. 



1. In consequence of the urgent 

 instances of the minister of his Bri- 

 tannic majesty, the supreme cen- 

 tral and governing Junta of the 

 kingdom, and in the royal name of 

 his majesty, Ferdinand the Vllth. 

 commands, that in this Custom- 

 house, and in all the privileged Cus- 

 tom-houses of this province, English 

 goods shall be admitted without any 

 limitation or restriction, and that 

 the duty shall be paid for the same 

 at the rates only at which they were 

 charged before the war in 1804. 



By order of his majesty, this no- 

 tificationis made toyour excellency, 

 both for information and observ- 

 ance of the same. 



May God preserve you many 

 years. 



(Signed) Saavedra. 



Seville, Feb.^S, 1809. 



2. In order, that in the existing 

 circumstances, all impediments may 

 be as much as possible removed, 

 which interrupt the intercourse with 

 English ships, and induced by re- 

 peated applications of the minister 

 of his Britannic majesty, the same 

 supreme central and governing jun- 

 ta, &c. &c. have determined to per- 

 mit all English goods disembarked 

 in our ports, which may not be sold 

 in the country, to be re-exported on 

 the payment onl}' of two per cent, 

 and no further duties are, in such 

 case, to be required. 



By order of his majesty, this 

 notification is made, &c. &c. (ut 

 ante.) 



(Signed) Saavedra. 



3. The near alliance which sub- 



sists between this port and that of 

 London, and in consequence of the 

 assistance the latter has given us, 

 which deserves to be returned by 

 our warmest attachment, and most 

 profound respect, his majesty has 

 condescended to allow to the ships 

 of Great Britain to convey to the 

 ports of Spain the articles of bacal- 

 lao (dried cod fish) the same duties 

 being payable thereon which were 

 required before the war of 1779. 

 Such cargoes so received may be 

 sent to our settlements in South 

 America, in the national vessels. 



By order of his majesty, this 

 notification is made, &c. &c. (ttt 



ante.) 



(Signed) Saavedra. 



His royal highness the Prince 

 Regent has appointed gen. W. Car 

 Beresford field marshal and com- 

 mander in chief of the Portuguese 

 army. It appears from an extraor- 

 dinary Gazette, published at Seville 

 on the 1st inst. that the division of 

 Spanish troops commanded by the 

 duke of Alberquerque, was attacked 

 on the 22nd ult. In the position of 

 Consavigra, by a French force of 

 11,000 foot and 3,000 horse, which 

 attack was made with the enemy's 

 usual impetuosity, but completely 

 failed, owing to the uncommon in- 

 trepidity displayed by the Spanish 

 troops. The French were repulsed, 

 and defeated with the loss of up- 

 wards of 400 men. 



Field marshal Beresford has is- 

 sued the following 



General Orders : 



" His royal highness the Prince 

 Regent of Portugal having graci- 

 ously been pleased to entrust to 

 field marshal Beresford the com- 

 mand 



