LETTER TO SIR A. COCHRANE. 297 



quence would fall upon him ; and I further 

 told him, that I considered his reception of 

 me at Caraccas as that of an enemy rather 

 than of a friend, while at the same time I 

 had brought him information of hostilities 

 having ceased between Great Britain and 

 Spain ; and that his conduct towards the 

 French was that of a friend, while he knew 

 that Spain was at war with France. He 

 replied, that Spain was not at war with 

 France; to which 1 again replied, what 

 could he consider as war, if the captivity of 

 two of her kings, and taking possession of 

 Madrid, were not to be so considered ? He 

 only replied, that he knew nothing of it 

 from the Spanish government ; and that what 

 your despatches informed him of, he did not 

 consider official." 



It will be seen from this letter, that, at 

 the period to which it refers, a strong feel- 

 ing of attachment to the legitimate monarch 



