1796.] END OF THE NOOTKA CONTROVERSY. 957 



in March, 1795, after which the place had been entirely evacuated 

 by both parties. This is the account given by Broughton in his 

 journal, which, however, affords no information as to the mode of 

 restitution thus settled. On the other hand, Belsham, an historian 

 who, notwithstanding the violence of his prejudices, cannot be sus- 

 pected of want of attachment to the honor or interests of his country, 

 and who possessed ample means of ascertaining the fact, writes, in 

 1805,* <•' It is nevertheless certain, from the most authentic subse- 

 quent information, that the Spanish flag flying at Nootka was never 

 struck, and that the territory has been virtually relinquished by 

 Great Britain." It indeed seems very improbable that the British 

 government, which had just concluded a treaty of alliance with 

 Spain, and had induced that power to declare war against France, 

 when Broughton was sent to the Pacific, should at the same time 

 have required the surrender of this territory, or that Spain should 

 have assented to it while she possessed the right, by the convention, 

 to indemnify the British claimants for all such losses of land or build- 

 ings, as they could prove to have been sustained by them, since the 

 month of April, 1789. It is more reasonable to suppose that the 

 Spaniards merely abandoned the place, the occupation of which was 

 useless and very expensive.f Since that period, no civilized nation 

 has ever attempted to form an establishment at Nootka Sound, nor 

 have the Spaniards occupied any spot on the Pacific coast of America 

 north of Port San Francisco. 



In July, 1796, Spain, having been unsuccessful in her hostile 

 operations against the French republic, was obliged to make peace 

 with that power ; and, in October following, she was likewise obliged 



* History of Great Britain, vol. viii. p. 337. 



t In the library of Congress, at Washington, is an interesting Spanish manuscript 

 presented by General Tornel, during his residence in the United States as minister 

 from Mexico, entitled "Instruccion reservada del Reyno de Nueva Espana que el 

 Exmo. Senor Virrey Conde de Revillagigedo did a su Sucesor el Exmo. Seiior Mar- 

 ques de Branciforte en el Ano de 1794 " — Secret Instructions respecting the Kingdom of 

 JVew Spain, given, in 1794, by the Viceroy, Count de Revillagigedo, to his Successor, the 

 Marquis de Branciforte. This work, which abounds in curious details relative to the 

 administration of affairs in Mexico, has been carefully examined with reference to the 

 objects of the present memoir. Nothing, however, has been collected from it, except 

 in confirmation of statements elsewhere made. The paragraphs from 703 to 713, in- 

 clusive, are devoted to the Marine Department of San Bias, to which, as already men- 

 tioned, the care of the Spanish colonies in California was committed. The count 

 recommends to his successor the maintenance of those colonies, as the best means of 

 preserving Mexico from foreign influences ; advising him, at the same time, however, 

 not to extend the establishments beyond the Strait of Fuca. With regard to Nootka, 

 it is merely stated, in paragraph 713, that orders had been sent to the commandant to 

 abandon the place, agreeably to a royal dictamen. 



33 



