156 APPENDIX. 



" You will endeavour, on all occasions, to inculcate the absurdity 

 of Spain having any apprehensions, from the state in wliich Port 

 Egmont was before its capture, or the force now sent out, of his 

 Majesty's intending to make use of it for the annoyance of their set- 

 tlements in the South Sea, than which nothing can be farther from 

 the King's inclination, who sincerely desires to preserve peace between 

 the two nations." 



The Earl of Rochford to the Lords of the Admiralty. 



" St. James's, 15th March 1771. 



" Your lordships having acquainted me that, in consequence of 

 his Majesty's pleasure, signified in my letter of 22d last, you had 

 ordered the Juno frigate, the Hound sloop, and Florida store-ship, 

 to be prepared to proceed to Falkland's Islands, I am commanded to 

 signify to your lordships his Majesty's pleasure, that you order the 

 commander of the said frigate, as soon as those ships are ready for 

 sea, to repair directly with them to Port Egmont, and presenting to 

 Don FeHpe Ruiz Puente, or any other Spanish officer he finds there, 

 the duplicates of his Catholic Majesty's orders sent herewith, to 

 receive, in proper fonn, the restitution of possession, and of the 

 artillery, stores, and effects, agreeably to the said orders, and to the 

 inventories signed by the Captains Farmer and Maltby (copies of 

 which are annexed), and that you direct him to take an exact account 

 of any deficiency which there may be of the things mentioned in the 

 said inventories, in order that the same may be made good by his 

 CathoUc Majesty ; giving a copy of the said account, signed by him- 

 self, to the Spanish officer, and desiring an acknowledgment under 

 his hand of the same .being a true account. 



" After the said restitution shall have been completed, it is the 

 King's pleasure that Captain Stott should return immediately to 

 England with the Juno frigate and the Florida store-ship, unless he 

 find it necessary to leave the latter behind ; and that the Hound 

 sloop should remain stationed in the harbour till his Majesty's further 

 orders. 



" Your lordships will cUrect Captain Stott to behave with the 

 greatest prudence and civility towards the Spanish commander and 

 the subjects of his Cathohc Majesty, carefully avoiding any thing 

 that might give occasion to disputes or animosity, and strictly 



