PRELIMINARY ESSAY. 



31 



officers* in Cuba to carry into execution the treaty 

 engagements of the Spanish crown for the suppression 

 of the slave-trade, and to enforce the laws promulga- 

 ted by the crown of Spain in execution of those 

 engagements, the British government must deem 

 itself obliged to take the matter into its own hands, 

 and to have recourse to such measures in relation to 

 it as may appear to her majesty's government best 

 calculated to accomplish the purpose in view. 5 ' 1 



These threatenings were replied to by the Marquis 



de Miraflores on the part of Spain, in a firm tone. 



On the 19th of August, he wrote to Lord Howden: — 



• 



"If by any unfortunate combination of circum- 

 stances, or perhaps in consequence of an inconsider- 

 ate zeal, or from any motive whatsoever, an undue 

 interference on the part of the commanders of the new 

 naval forces in matters of maritime or internal jurisdic- 

 tion of the island of Cuba, were to give rise to some 

 conflict with the authorities of that island ; if in this or 

 any way, a new element of disturbance were added to 

 the numerous ones, which, in spite of the government 

 of the .United States, are fostered against that island 

 by American pirates, in combination with some dis- 

 loyal natives of Cuba, her majesty's government 

 declares at once, that after repulsing with all the 



1 Published dispatches. 



