284 SPANISH AMERICA, 



now Viscount Sidmouth, had succeeded as 

 Prime Minister. Plans of government to 

 be recommended to the inhabitants of Spa- 

 nish America, were then considered and ap- 

 proved ; military operations were sketched 

 out and arranged; and even preparations 

 were far advanced for the intended expedi- 

 tion ; but the preliminaries of the peace of 

 Amiens having in the interval been signed, 

 the measure was again delayed. 



The treaty of peace turned out, in effect, 

 to be merely a truce, or a suspension of 

 hostilities, and war was declared against 

 France in 1 803. The following year, when 

 Mr. Pitt became again Prime Minister, war 

 having been commenced with Spain, the 

 consideration of the South American ques- 

 tion was resumed ; and Lord Melville and Sir 

 Home Popham were employed in arranging 

 the details of the projected proceedings with 

 General Miranda. In consequence, however, 



