6o A. D. 1717. 



Englifli fliips which had logwood on board, feized on a Spanifli bark 

 at the faid Laguna, bound to Tabafco : yet the governor of San Fraii- 

 cifco de Campeachy, in vindication of the firft hoftiiities of the Spa 

 niards, complained of by Sir Thomas Lynch in 1672, took not the 

 leafl notice of thofe Englifh fliips having logwood, nor of our cutting 

 logwood, nor of our being for fome years fettled on the faid Laguna, 

 nor did he aflign any other realon for making thofe reprifals, but our 

 having taken the faid Spanifh bark. That the Englhh having been 

 in pofleffion of the Laguna de Terminos prior to the American trea- 

 ty of 1670 ; and the 7th article of that treaty running as follows : it 

 is agreed, that the king of Great Britain fliall have, hold, and always 

 poflefs, in full fovereignty and propriety, all the lands, countries, 

 iflands, colonies, and other places, be they what they will, lying and 

 fituate in the Weft-Indies, or in any part of America, which the faid 

 king of Great Britain, or his fubjeds, now hold and poflefs ; info- 

 much, that they neither can nor ought hereafter to be contcfted or 

 called in queftion for them upon any account, or under any pretence 

 whatfoever. That by the queen regent of Spain's cedula, in June 

 1672, declaring fuch to be pirates who fhould make invafion, or trade 

 without Ucence, in the ports of the Indies, it docs not appear, that 

 cutting of logwood was then efteemed an invafion. Yet, by virtue of 

 this cedula, it was at length carried to that height, that, if our fhips 

 had but any logwood onboard, they were confifcated without remedy, 

 although the faid cedula was inconfiftent with the American treaty, 

 and made ex pojl fado, after the ratification of that folemn treaty. 

 That although in 1680 the Spaniards violently diflodged our log- 

 wood-cutters from the faid ifland of Trift, and the Laguna de Ter- 

 minos, yet in 1682 our trade to and from thofe parts was greater 

 than ever. That, excepting two or tliree months after the aforefaid 

 affault in 1680, it is well known to the Spaniards, that we have been 

 ever fmce poUefled of thofe parts where we cut logwood. That a 

 claufe in the firft article of the treaty of commerce at Utrecht de- 

 termines this contcft relating to the cutting of logwood beyond all 

 poflibility of difpute for the future, viz. after the confirmation and ra- 

 tification of the American treaty of 1670. It follows: 

 ' Without any prejudice, however, to any liberty or power which the 

 fubjeds of Great Britain enjoyed before, either through right, fuf- 

 ferance, or indulgence. 



' If therefor this comprehenfive claufe, which relates only to the 

 Weft-Indies, confirms, lecures, and re-eftablifhes, thofe liberties, which 

 the fubjeds of Great Britain enjoyed in America before the treaty in 

 1670, it necefTarily follows, that they having then enjoyed the liberty 

 of cutting logwood without any interruption, as hath been fully prov- 

 ed, either through right, fufferance, or indulgence, they are again in- 



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