to learn, although his Majesty ordered fuch representations to be made, as are ufual on the like occafions, between nations in a state of amity; which his Majefty did, not attributing these feizures to a perfidious and inimical defign, until the conduct of the court of Spain has been better explained by the prefent declaration.

The pretended violation of the Spanish territory may be reduced to four heads.

In the first place, it is faid, "That the dominions in America belonging to the court of Spain have been threatened ;" without specifying time, place, or circumftance.

Secondly, the memorial mentions, "That the Indians have been fet against the innocent inhabitants of Louisiana, who must have fallen victims to their fury, had not the Chactaws repented, and reveal. ed the confpiracy."-It is well known, that the Governor of New Orleans tried to feduce the Chactaws, and that he received with open arms thofe tribes which committed devastations in the English weftern fettlements. These tribes returned, but were not fet against the Spanish territory; it was never attempted, nor was fuch an idea ever entertained.

The declaration afferts, "That a formal representation was made to the court of London concerning thefe different grievances; and feeing the equivocal expreffions on the two preceding points, fuch remonftrances were particularly neceffary towards the strict obfervance of the good faith between two nations at peace."—It is not true that the least representation was ever made on either of the two preceding articles; to which the most ample and fatisfactory answers might have been given.

Thirdly, they pretend, "That the fovereignty of his Catholic Majefty, in the province of Darien, and on the coaft of St Blas, hath been ufurped, the government of Jamaica having appointed an Indian to the rank of General over these provinces."On this fubject, inftructions were dispatched, bearing date the 28th of April laft, as is usual between nations in friendship: no advices being received from Jamaica on this matter, fresh orders were fent for a full explanation; but in point of time no anfwer could yet be expected.

Fourthly, "That the territory in the bay of Honduras has been ufurped, acts of hoftility committed, the Spaniards imprisoned, and their houses plundered; as alfo that England had neglected to fulfil the ftipulated article relative to this coaft, agreeable to the 17th article of the treaty of Paris."-With regard to the English fubjects frequenting the Bay of Honduras, that matter had been regulated according to the aforefaid article, and finally adjusted with the court of Spain, in the year 1764. Since which period, no complaint having been made on either fide, this court is ftill ignorant whether the least cause ever exifted. Surely this cannot be included among the pretended grievances which the declaration fuppofes, as having been duly reprefented either to the English court, or to her ambaffador at

the court of Madrid.

Such are the motives alledged by the court of Spain in the name

cretly intended at that time, it would have been more confiftent with her dignity then to avow it, and range herself openly under the banners of France.

Instead of such a conduct, the court of Madrid, affecting impartiality, hath offered to mediate, but not to dictate the terms of peace, promifing to communicate to each court the conditions claimed by either, that fo they might be modified, explained, or rejected. When the proposals made by France were rejected, and the declaration made to Spain to ceafe her mediation, fince her endeavours did not fucceed, it was accompanied with affurances, that the friendship subfisting between the two nations fhould not be interrupted.

How far this is true, appears from the actual declaration, announcing hoftilities on the part of Spain, without venturing to state the nonacceptance of the terms as one of the causes of the war; but fhould it be otherwise infinuated, it will furnish his Majefty with an additional reason to complain of the injuftice and arrogance of fuch a pretenfion.

The previous caufes which the court of Spain hath thought proper to urge, are, the infults against her flag, and the violation of her territory.

As to the first, thefe are the terms of her memorial: "Prizes have been made; veffels have been fearched and plundered; many have been fired upon who were forced to defend themselves; the regifters and packets belonging to the court, and found on board his Catholic Majefty's packet-boats, have been opened, and torn to pieces."

All forts of American veffels have been received in the ports of Spain; they have been furnished with falfe documents, and luffered to carry Spanish colours; their privateers have plundered all nations without diftinction; and fuch has been the induftry of the Spanish ministry, in order to enhance the number of grievances, that these depredations were by them reprefented as injuries committed by Great Britain. These complaints, which do not exceed the number of twenty-four, feldom fpecify the author of the fuppofed infult; and those which did, were frequently ill founded, and in general frivolous. However, it is granted that the anfwers were amicable. The King thought it worthy of himself, not only to ufe every precaution neceffary to prevent diforders which might offend neutral powers, but alfo to ufe every effort to punish the authors, and repair the lofs of the fufferers. Such hath been his conduct at all times when posfible to discover and convict the guilty. Among the vaft operations, fuch as in the prefent war, it is not furprifing that fome irregularities have happened; but when fuch cafes were proved, reftitution was made, with ample damages, and all charges paid.

It has been advanced," That his Catholic Majefty formally declared to the court of London, ever fince France commenced hoftilities, that the court of Madrid would regulate her conduct by that of the court of Great Britain." Nevertheless thirteen English veffels have been feized, on what pretence, or by whofe order, we are ftill

to

to learn, although his Majefty ordered fuch reprefentations to be made, as are ufual on the like occafions, between nations in a state of amity; which his Majefty did, not attributing these feizures to a perfidious and inimical defign, until the conduct of the court of Spain has been better explained by the present declaration.

The pretended violation of the Spanish territory may be reduced to four heads.

In the first place, it is faid, "That the dominions in America belonging to the court of Spain have been threatened;" without fpecifying time, place, or circumftance.

Secondly, the memorial mentions, "That the Indians have been fet against the innocent inhabitants of Louifiana, who must have fallen victims to their fury, had not the Chactaws repented, and reveal. ed the confpiracy." It is well known, that the Governor of New Orleans tried to feduce the Chactaws, and that he received with open arms those tribes which committed devastations in the English weftern fettlements. These tribes returned, but were not set against the Spanish territory; it was never attempted, nor was fuch an idea ever entertained.

The declaration afferts, "That a formal representation was made to the court of London concerning thefe different grievances; and feeing the equivocal expreffions on the two preceding points, fuch remonftrances were particularly neceffary towards the ftrict obfervance of the good faith between two nations at peace."—It is not true that the least representation was ever made on either of the two preceding articles; to which the most ample and fatisfactory answers might have been given.

Thirdly, they pretend, "That the fovereignty of his Catholic Majefty, in the province of Darien, and on the coaft of St Blas, hath been ufurped, the government of Jamaica having appointed an Indian to the rank of General over these provinces."On this fubject, inftructions were difpatched, bearing date the 28th of April laft, as is ufual between nations in friendship: no advices being received from Jamaica on this matter, fresh orders were fent for a full explanation; but in point of time no answer could yet be expected.

Fourthly, "That the territory in the bay of Honduras has been ufurped, acts of hoftility committed, the Spaniards imprifoned, and their houses plundered; as alfo that England had neglected to fulfil the ftipulated article relative to this coaft, agreeable to the 17th article of the treaty of Paris."-With regard to the English subjects frequenting the Bay of Honduras, that matter had been regulated according to the aforefaid article, and finally adjusted with the court of Spain, in the year 1764. Since which period, no complaint having been made on either fide, this court is ftill ignorant whether the leaft caufe ever exifted. Surely this cannot be included among the pretended grievances which the declaration supposes, as having been duly reprefented either to the English court, or to her ambaffador at the court of Madrid.

Such are the motives alledged by the court of Spain in the name

of his Catholic Majesty, as a juftification, before God and the world, for commencing hoftilities against Great Britain. The King appeals to the actual state of affairs, being the fame as that which fubfifted fince the conclufion of the last treaty, as a full proof that no attempt was ever made on his part to infringe this treaty. He appeals to his uniform conduct ever fince this epoch, to furnish ftill ftronger proofs, that he hath endeavoured to preferve the fame with all the affiduity and care which the interefts of humanity and the happiness of his fubjects required. Ultimately, he appeals to the conduct of his enemies, and in particular to the aforefaid declaration from the court of Spain, as the last proof of the neceffity he is under to defend the rights of his crown and people, against a determined project to invade the fame; a project wherein the court of Spain at length openly joins, without the leaft reafon to colour fuch a proceeding.