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CHAPTER IX. 



1790. 



Controversy between Great Britain and Spain respecting the Norm- West Coasts of 

 America and the Navigation of the Pacific — The Owners of the Vessels seized 

 at Nootka apply for Redress to the British Government, which demands Satis- 

 faction for the alleged Outrages — Spain resists the Demand, and calls on France 

 for Aid, agreeably to the Family Compact — Proceedings in the National Assembly 

 of France on the Subject — Spain engages to indemnify the British for the 

 Property seized — Further Demands of Great Britain — Designs of Pitt against 

 Spanish America — Secret Mediation of France, through which the Dispute is 

 settled — Convention of October, 1790, called the Nootka Treaty — Proceedings 

 in Parliament, and Reflections on this Convention. 



The Columbia arrived at Macao from Nootka in December, 

 1789, bringing as passengers the officers and crew of the North- 

 West America, who communicated the news of the capture of that 

 vessel, and of the Argonaut and Princess Royal, by the Spaniards. 

 The owners immediately determined to apply to the British govern- 

 ment for redress ; and Meares was accordingly despatched to Lon- 

 don, where he arrived in April, 1790, provided with depositions, 

 and other documents, in substantiation of their claims. While he 

 was on his way, however, the circumstances on which his applica- 

 tion was to be founded had already become the subject of a serious 

 discussion between the courts of London and Madrid. 



On the 10th of February, 1790, the Spanish ambassador at 

 London presented to the British ministry a note, in which, after 

 communicating the fact of the seizure of a British vessel (the 

 Argonaut) at Nootka, he required, in the name of his government, 

 that the parties who had planned the expedition should be punished, 

 in order to deter other persons from making settlements on territo- 

 ries long occupied and frequented by the Spaniards ; and he at the 

 same time complained of the trade and fishery, by British subjects, 

 in the seas adjoining the Spanish American continent on the west, 

 as contrary to the rights of Spain, guarantied by Great Britain in 

 the treaty of Utrecht, and respected by all European nations. To 

 this the British ministers answered, on the 26th, that, although they 

 had not received exact information as to the facts stated by the 



