424 PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. [D 



As if Spain, in this answer, had laid claim to the empire of that 

 ocean, though she only spoke of what belonged to her by treaties, and as 

 if it had been so grievous an offence to terminate this affair by restitution 

 of the only vessel which was then known to have been taken, it excited 

 such clamor and agitation in the Parliament of England, that the most 

 vigorous preparations for war have been commenced; and those powers 

 disinclined to peace charge Spain with designs contrary to her known 

 principles of honor and probity, as well as to the tranquillity of Europe, 

 which the Spanish monarch and his ministers have always had in view. 



While England was employed in making the greatest armaments and 

 preparations, that court made answer to the Spanish ambassador, (upon 

 the 5th of May,) that the acts of violence committed against the British 

 flag " rendered it necessary for the sovereign to charge his minister at 

 Madrid to renew the remonstrances, (being the answer of England 

 already mentioned,) and to require that satisfaction which his majesty 

 thought he had an indisputable right to demand." 



To this was added a declaration not to enter formally into the matter 

 until a satisfactory answer was obtained ; " and at the same time the 

 memorial of Spain should not include in it the question of right; " which 

 formed a most essential part of the discussion. 



The British administration offer, in the same answer, to take the 

 most effectual and pacific measures, that the English subjects shall not 

 act " against the just and acknowledged rights of Spain, but that they 

 cannot at present accede to the pretensions of absolute sovereignty, com- 

 merce, and navigation, which appeared to be the principal object of the 

 memorials of the ambassador ; and that the king of England considers it 

 as a duty incumbent upon him to protect his subjects in the enjoyment of 

 the right of continuing their fishery in the Pacific Ocean." 



If this pretension is found to trespass upon the ancient boundaries 

 laid down in the reign of King Charles II., and guarantied by England 

 in the treaty of Utrecht, as Spain believes, it appears that that court will 

 have good reason for disputing and opposing this claim ; and it is to be 

 hoped that the equity of the British administration will suspend and 

 restrict it accordingly. 



In consequence of the foregoing answer, the charge d'affaires from the 

 court of London at Madrid insisted, in a memorial of the 16th of May, 

 on restitution of the vessel detained at Nootka, and the property therein 

 contained ; on an indemnification for the losses sustained, and on a repa- 

 ration proportioned to the injury done to the English subjects trading 

 under the British flag, and that they have an indisputable right to the 

 enjoyment of a free and uninterrupted navigation, commerce, and fishery; 

 and to the possession of such establishments as they should form with the 

 consent of the natives of the country, not previously occupied by any of 

 the European nations. 



An explicit and prompt answer was desired upon this head, in such 

 ferms as might tend to calm the anxieties, and to maintain the friendship, 

 subsisting between the two courts. 



The charge d'affaires having observed that a suspension of the 

 Spanish armaments would contribute to tranquillity, upon the terms to 

 be communicated by the British administration, an answer was made by 

 the Spanish administration, that the king was sincerely inclined to disarm 

 upon the principles of reciprocity, and proportioned to the circumstances 



