10 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. [Jak. 



to improper purposes, but that a 

 love of country, the influence of 

 moral principles, and a respect 

 for the laws, are predominant 

 with them, is a sure pledge that 

 all the very flattering antici- 

 pations which have been formed 

 of the success of our institutions 

 will be realized. This example 

 has proved, that if our relations 

 with foreign powers are to be 

 changed, it must be done by the 

 constituted authorities, who alone 

 acting on a high responsibility, 

 are competent to the purpose, 

 and, until such change is thus 

 made, that our fellow-citizens 

 will respect the existing relations, 

 by a faithful adherence to the 

 laws which secure them. 



Believing that this enterprise, 

 though undertaken by persons, 

 some of whom may have held 

 commissions fioni some of the 

 Colonies, was unauthorized by, 

 and unknown to the Colonial 

 Governments, full confidence is 

 entertained that it will be dis- 

 claimed by them, and that effec- 

 tual measures will be taken to 

 prevent the abuse of their autho- 

 rity, in all cases, to the injury of 

 the United States. 



For these injuries, especially 

 those proceeding from Amelia 

 Island, Spain would be responsi- 

 ble, if it was not manifest that, 

 although committed in the latter 

 instance, through her territory, 

 she was utterly unable to prevent 

 them. Her territory, however, 

 ought not to be made instru- 

 mental, through her inability to 

 defend it, to purposes so injuri- 

 ous to the United States. To 

 a country over which she fails 

 to maintain her authority, and 

 which she permits to be converted 



to the annoyance of her neigh- 

 bours, her jurisdiction for the 

 time necessarily ceases to exist. 

 The territory of Spain will ne- 

 vertheless be respected, so far 

 as it may be done consist- 

 ently with the essential interests 

 and safety of the United States. 

 In expelling these adventurers 

 from these posts, it was not in- 

 tended to make any conquest 

 from Spain, or to injure in any 

 degree the cause of the Colonies. 

 Care will be taken that no part 

 of the territory contemplated by 

 the law of 1811 shall be occupied 

 by a foreign Government of any 

 kind, or that injuries of the nature 

 of those complained of shall be 

 repeated ; but this it is expected 

 will be provided for, with every 

 other interest, in a spirit of amity, 

 in the negotiation now depending 

 with the Government of Spain. 

 James Monroe. 

 Regalia of Scotland. — It is well 

 known, that, by the Act of 

 Union, it is specially provided 

 that the Crown, Sceptre, and 

 Sword of State, belonging to the 

 kingdom of Scotland, are ap- 

 pointed to remain and be pre- 

 served in that kingdom, and that 

 these royal symbols were care- 

 fully deposited in a strong chest, 

 in presence of the Officers of 

 State and other personages of 

 high dignity, as well as the Com- 

 missioners of the Earl Marechal, 

 who claimed, by ancient custom, 

 the custody thereof, and that the 

 chest was placed in a chamber in 

 the Castle of Edinburgh, called 

 the Crown-room, which was for- 

 mally and strongly secured. Ne- 

 vertheless, a strong report went 

 abroad, that, during the trouble- 

 some times of 1715 or 1718, or, 



as 



