APPENDIX. 157 



restraining the crews of the ships under his command in this respect ; 

 but if, at or after the restitution to be made, the Spanish commander 

 should make any protest against his Majesty's right to Port Egmont, 

 or Falkland's Islands, it is his Majesty's pleasure that the commander 

 of his ships should answer the same by a counter-protest, in proper 

 terms, of his Majesty's right to the whole of the said islands, and 

 against the right of his Catholic Majesty to any part of the same. 



" In case, from any accident or otherwise. Captain Stott should 

 not, on his arrival at Port Egmont, find any officer there on the part 

 of the King of Spain, your lordships will direct him (supposing he 

 should find it necessary to put any of his men on shore) to avoid 

 setting up any marks of possession, or letting his Majesty's colours 

 fly on shore, as it is for the King's honour that the possession should 

 be formally restored by an officer of his CathoHc Majesty ; and for 

 that reason it will be proper that the King's commanding officer 

 should keep a good look-out, and, upon perceiving the approach of 

 any vessel of his Catholic Majesty, should re-embark any of his men 

 who may at that time be on shore, that the possession may be indis- 

 putably vacant. ' 



" If it should happen that after the King's ships shall have 

 remained as late as all October, no Spanish officer should yet appear, 

 your lordships will direct Captain Stott, in such case, either to pro- 

 ceed himself, or send an officer to Soledad, to deliver his Catholic 

 Majesty's orders to the Spanish commander there, taking care not to 

 salute the fort as a Spanish garrison, and making a protest, in civil 

 terms, against that settlement of his Catholic Majesty's subjects in an 

 island belonging to his Majesty. 



" If, within a reasonable time after the delivery of the said order 

 to the Spanish commander, at Soledad, there stiU shall not an-ive at 

 Port Egmont any officer of his Catholic Majesty to make the restitu- 

 tion, it is the King's pleasure that the commanding officer of his 

 ships should then draw up a protest of the inexecution of his Catholic 

 Majesty's late declaration, and should take formal possession, in his 

 Majesty's name ; hoisting his Majesty's colours on shore ; and that, 

 leaving there the Hound sloop, and Florida store-ship (if the latter is 

 necessary), and sending a duplicate of his protest to the Spanish 

 officer at Soledad, he should proceed to England to lay before youf 

 lordships, for his Majesty's information, his report of the manner in 

 which he has executed his commissioii. 



