APPENDIX. 



153 



of the transaction, as it took place beween the parties, given in certain 

 documents and historical works. 



Although the reservation referred to cannot be deemed to possess 

 any substantial weight, inasmuch as no notice whatever is taken of it 

 in the British counter-declaration, which was exchanged against it ; 

 and although the evidence adduced from unauthentic historical publi- 

 cations cannot be regarded as entitled to any weight whatever with a 

 view to a just decision upon a point of international rights ; yet as 

 the allegations above-mentioned involve an imputation against the 

 good faith of Great Britain, to which his Majesty's Government cannot 

 but feel sensibly alive, the undersigned has been honoured with the 

 King's commands to cause the official correspondence with the court 

 of Madrid, at the period alluded to, to be carefully inspected, in order 

 that the circumstances which really took place upon the occasion 

 might be accurately ascertained. 



Tha't inspection has accordingly been made, and the undersigned 

 has the honour to communicate to M, Moreno the following extracts, 

 which contain all the material information that can be gathered from 

 that correspondence relative to the transaction in question - — 



The Eael of Rochford to James Harris, Esq. 



" St. James's, 25th January 1771. 

 *' I enclose to you a copy of the declaration signed on 1 uesday 

 last by Prince Masserano, with that of my acceptance of it in his 

 Majesty's name." 



Spanish Declaration, 



Sa Majeste Britannique s'etant plainte de la violence qui avoit 

 ete commise le 10 Juin de I'annee 1770, a File communement appe- 

 lee la Grande Maloiiine, et par les Anglais dite Falkland, en obligeant 

 par la force le Commandant, et les sujets de sa Majeste Britannique, 

 a evacuer le port par eux appele Egmont, demarche ofFensante a 

 I'honneur de sa Couronne, le Prince de Masseran, Ambassadeur Extra- 

 ordinaire de sa Majeste Catholique, a recu ordre de declarer, et 

 declare, que sa Majeste Catholique, considerant I'amour dont elle est 

 animee pour la paix, et pour le maintien de la bonne harmonic avec 

 sa Majeste Britannique, et refiechissant que cet evenement pourroil 

 I'interrompre, a vu avec deplaisir cette expedition capable de la trou- 

 bler ; et dans la persuasion ou elle est de la reciprocite de ses senti- 



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