FALKLAND ISLANDS. 311 



" These rights, founded upon the original dis- 

 covery, and subsequent occupation of the said 

 islands, acquired an additional sanction from the 

 restoration by his Catholic majesty of the Bri- 

 tish settlement, in the year 177^ which, in the 

 preceding year, had been attacked and occupied 

 by a Spanish force, and which act of violence 

 had led to much angry discussion between the 

 governments of the two countries. 



"The withdrawal of his majesty's forces from 

 these islands in the year 1774, cannot be con- 

 sidered as invalidating his majesty's just rights. 

 That measure took place in pursuance of a 

 system of retrenchment, adopted, at that time, 

 by his Britannic majesty's government; but the 

 marks and signals of possession and property 

 were left upon the islands : when the governor 

 took his departure, the British flag remained 

 flying, and all those formalities were observed 

 which indicated the rights of ownership, as 

 well as an intention to resume the occupation 

 of the territory, at a more convenient season. 



" The undersigned, therefore, in execution of 

 the instructions of his court, formally protests 

 in the name of his Britannic majesty, against 



