The Sun. — London, England, 1823-04-15 00:00:00

. 'to Sir William Atotirt on the 13th instant, and requesting him to transmit to his Government. The object of this Note is, as your Excellency sees, to obtain the good offices of his Majesty's Government with Prance, for the Purpose of averting hostilities. Itls needless to repeat to your Excellency, how anxiously the King our 111 aster deprecates. a war between the two Powers, whose colisiOn mist tio deeply affect the general tranquillity of Europe ; or how confidently his Majesty infers from the desire for peace, so repeatedly expressed by his Most Christian Ma- Jesty's GovernMent, a disposition on their part to avail them seves of every op en i ng for adjustment and explanation with Spain. I have therefore received his Majesty's commands to direct you to request an audience of M. de Chateaubriand, so soon as this dispatch shall reach you ; to read to him M. de San Miguel's Note, and to inform hint that Mr. Jackson (who was the bearer of Sir William A'Court's last dispatches, and by whom this dispatch will be delivered to you), will wait at Paris, for the result of the deliberations of his Most Christian Majesty's CA billet upon M. de San Illiguel'a Note', in order to convey to Sir IVilliant A'Court your Excellency's report of that result. In your conversation with M. de Chateaubriand, your Et cellency it not to over -rate the value of the concessions, implied, rather than distinctly expressed, in the Note of M. de San Mi. guel; nor to represent it as completely satisfactory, and as leaving nothing to be desired :—but it is just and reasonable, at the same time, to consider the circumstances under which it wax written. of he C Ass uredly the more enlightened p ar t o f t h e G overnment, or riot ortes of Spain, duct' not believ e th e Sp an i s h Constitu ticable n of 11112 to be, in a ll its parts , usefully and p ermanent l y prac . But if th ere exist imperfection in the frame of the Go vernment of France, or of England respectively, should we con gent to reform those imperfections, on the DEAIAND of a FO. REIGN Power, and unikr the menace of a foreign war as the penalty of our refuXal ? , Even by the mode in which the demand was made by France, that part of the Spanish Government or Nation, which might be willin g to undertake those ameliorations of the present Consti neitution of Spain, without which it is alleged to be unsafe to her ghbours, It i has been placed in a situation of great difficulty. i s not plain that the same proposition completely changes its nature, aceord'in g to the manner in which it is brought forward? —ow one, which, if submitted through the regular channels , of dilomacy, might be matter of wholesome advice or amicable remonstrance; when addressed to a Nation aloud, and in the presence, As it were, °fall the world, becomes a taunt and a de- fiance 1 The publication of the dispatch to 111. Laganle, while, it was yet on its road to Madrid, is, I know, defended by the alleged necesaity of tranquillizing' the public mind at Paris. But if the public mind a t P ar i s required to be tranquillized, Your was not the public mind a t M a d rid liable to be inflamed ? Excellency will not understand-these observations to be made with any view of inculpating the proceedings of the French Government, with which, abstractedly, we have no concern. I would recap M. de Chateaubriand's attention to the situa- . tion in which the French Government has placed itself towards 'ittiln, by the manner in which her first alternative for war has beenpropounded—only for th e purpose of impressing upon the french Government the necessity of not omitting any fresh Portuni ty , h owever little op ture of th eir demands. promiling they may d eem i t , f oragam atating to S pain the grounda of their dissatisfaction and the naa The French Government desires to assure itself of the safety of the Royal Family of Spain, and of a disposition in the lead ing Member s of the Cortes, as well as of the Government, to turn to advantage any occasion that may occur, or that can be treated by a prudent and gradual course of measures, for the .. !emedy of tined efects of the Spanish Constitution :—a channel is now opto the I;'renclt Government for endeavouring to arrive at th ose assurances. A precipitate removal of the Royal k•wilily front Madrid would b e the instant and infallible con sequence of the march of a French army across the frontier. If the amendments on the Spanish Constitution arc absolutely ne colliery, and it is hopeless to bring about those amendntents otherwise than by arms • has the French Government chalked out to itself the (11161 W } r which a successful invasion is to be repeated mad e to lead to Me desired result : 1 The occupancy of Madrid, as experience sliews is not the dominion of Spain. The Ring and the Cortes will be ' established elsewhere, and what is then to follow but a continuance of civil and foreign war, spread. mg misery and devastation over the whole kingdom ? Thei considerations your Excellency will suggest. to 111on aieur de Ch ateaubriand, in a tone of perfect amity and good a'lll ; and with the assurance of the most entire persuasion, on the part of' his Majesty's Government, that the prosperity and the part of France are objects in which Great Britain has, andherself' the deepest concern.' It is seen and acknowledged here, and acknowledged with no feelings but those of congratulation aiatisfaction, that every year's continuance of peace to ,r.l Tice must • more and more her political institu- ' `.1 () ", and Promote those improvements in her interior condi oon and.resources, which assure to her the high rank that she Itliti.olda among Europeen nations. But in proportion as we feel i!_tt sentiment sincerely, we deprecate the fearful experiment of ~,wara in which there is so little to gain by success and at a ",r•avtl which appears to us AN imminent as unnecessary. de ishe itrirnediate object, however, of your' interview with 111. ehl mate auhriand, is to bring before him the overture from M. " S an a ligns.; to olfer his Majesty's :Minister at Madrid as a of conm iunication with the Spanish Government; and I , assure the French Government of the anxious desire of his 'LaJetitv to 4, '. promote, in that or any other way, the attain ' e ttt of such a settlement with Spain, as France may deem coesistent not only with her safety but her honour. n l st 'hi '..,disPatch will be delivered to your Excellency, I hope, u i - e„ u ngaY • so that you will have an opportunity of communi tji—g t° Al ' . de Chateaubriand the Spanish note, the clay before meeting of the Chambers. rI trust the new opening which it affords for discussion and rxesaiebille acc ommodation may be felt as some relief to the pi)tiiou.Government, under the difficulties of their present I am, &c. (Signed) GEORGE CANNING. . See Inclosure in No 15. !lir William No. 18. No. to Mr. Secretary Canning.-`.Received January 26. . ...( Extract.) Madrid, Jan. 15 % 1823. .4 a _,_ ° thilltt. of any material importance has occurred since Mr. ~,!son left Madrid. bring about he ar ty labouring hard at the present moment to e ., g about publication of a general aninesty. I shell do terY thin I 3Ure, b y gn my power to forward the 'adoption of this mea t° representing the favourable impression it will not fail produce throughout Europe. No 19 sir Chas Stuart to NIL secretary Ic9, (Extract.) Jan. 26. „ ' Paris, Jan. 23, 1823. take of Al. te Chateaubriand Yesterday. lie told me that the of San Lorenz o h 1 ti at. co mmunicate.. to t'lls which had been laid befor e th Co d nes h rth t a h t e h i e nS l t Tl M U C S; 'aspiiet the been with which M. de San Lorenzo had , ca!), respecting the situation of the two Governments; but ',„",111e, concilietory tone is assumed bv the agents of Spain, 7, 1 1 ti doe s net prevent the adoption of" principles the most in. conlaatible iv jth the trenquillity " 1 bY the of Europe, by the Government th e _ _ ~ tiegislature of that country • that at the moment to jorrettoirlitaarnllethe defects of their Conitit ' ution—their read . inns the Publicad en uu f r es to produce a change—and their wish for . t ztoet acti ve i n . h o ; a general amnesty, their societies are the le *bi bs, ~ I sir endeavours to organize revolt in France; hot to l e gat.. the enormity of the evils resulting from war is from t h e sunProred with the consequences which must result no means ofe,,-",„" intrigues which the French Ministers have ‘ l tlt questi or ,c,„" - I,.atille. during. the continuance qfpeace. With.: v ernme nt I,'"g,lne sincerit - of the effints of his Majesty's Go sible -:"" irklataln peace Y he is convinced that it is impos rllleritie7l:l3? Of the Frenclttle. to press the subject on the Spanish Government to lead to the result we desire. The language thei,, seivei r .linisters thews that they would be glad to avail "Y eh" °` how Publication of an aitntsty, accompanied by atl i .„ gel ever trifling, if brotight about BY THE the,„,_ D AITY o r .„ ''' W avoid 4. declar a ti on of war. ' HE XING OF SPAIN, which might ena bl e . Ate, Secret No. 20. "tarY Canning to Sir William A'Court. Xi. .. Foreign Office, Jan. 26, 1823. ai s • '"* -11 1r. j uk Peteh ei •, son arrived here on Tuesday night with that 1) Io the 12th of this month • anti on Friday that ii,barles St u art w " re-diapatched to Paris with instructions to Sir ntstitotlit, ,:aqtletiinfitoutnhdee::oodon o . l ifi L e s e zi of ll i l l i i tu m el a 's jes N ty ote fo o r f ;b e e 1 p 2;11 . to lAte lien 9 e r e w i: r ,`Yit France. A copy or pese instructions his 411%)ri,0, _ directed to transmit to you by Mr. Jackson, and 4 A t ra t i or they esult of his execution of them. Patch . ' 'Jacsons departure for Paris, I have received your (\ la of the 15th instant, and therewith dispatches from Sir Prea r " B tlntrt ''i • , eel/alio,. oi l ve uch appear soinewhatmore favourable to the „Is NI will Peace than any of the late renorts from Paris. . (live or 8 72 1 1,, receiv e by Mr. Jackson intelligence from Pans 14 th e le e( j iti oays' later date, and so much the more important s,. h . e im erre got . the French Chambers will have taken place „.trl . , wip b e tot is useless for me now to speculate on events, ":Ittye inform you,'when tibia dispatch reaches you, matter of ei, 4 hall r„ m ,,, t !`""' il it , •(! fen o ,_- Ore sit once proceed ta state the course which you , t .(ese e .,,,wt In either of the two possible alternatives i—ltit, of by, its ho'fnent of 'France 'having decided for war; or 2dly, . 841 4 . cPoaentecl to avail itself of the 'e a t , allge e p, i • . opening presented Pr, ankh (i note , and to make known through you to l a )ar ed , _.,,overnment, the conditions on which it may be `'sewlst Fi;p:ltndrew its army of obaervation. `.'/ kt 1 14 4ili c e't cpe, you have nothing to do but to profess ki ttiet QV a fixed determination to Maintain during the nripartial neutrality ; altrayif ready et the same time to listen to any call for the renewed interposition of his good offices ; if balanced success, or a reviving sense of com . mon danger and mutual interests, shall better incline the din . tending parties to accommodation. In the other case, you Will probably receive from Sir Charles Stuart a statement of the terms which the French Government deem indispensable, either for their honour or for their safety, in breaking up that system of precaution, the continuance of which operates as a bar to pacification : and the time will then be arrived, at which you can, without the suspicion of a dicta torial or an uncalled for interference, press earnestly upon M. San Miguel a frank afld friendly opinion, in support of such of those terms as appear to you to be not unreasonable. The am- nesty which, if issued in the King's name, would, as it appears from Sir Charles Stuart's dispatch of the 23d, be satisfactory to the French Government, it is unnecessary for me to instruct you to urge ; since you have informed me of your intention to urge it to the utmost of your power. Neither you nor the French Government have ever overrated the effect which such an act would be likely to produce throughout Europe. To liberate the person and family of the King not only from danger, but from the appearance of restraint—to give some thing like force and freewill to the actions of the executive power—to rescue the deliberations of the Cortes from the over awing influence of the clubs —are, next after the amnesty (which shoold perhaps precede them all, the alterations the mast desirable, and those whi c h wou ld g i ve t h e greatest con fidence to foreign nations. These and any other objects of the same sort and with the same tendency, WE are now, after the clear and practical proofs which WE have given of our i n di spos i t i on to cla im any thing AS or nrottr,. or to enforce any thing by nieuace for the amend. ment of the Spanish constitution, warranted to recommend with all the earnestness which is prompted by our tried friendship for the Spanish nation ' • by our experience of th e p ract i ce o f free Government ; and by our conviction of the sufferings and the perils which must be derived to Spain and to Europe froin I war. So lung as o voice might have been confounded - with those of other poweis, who took a different measure of their right of interference, or with that of France, whose exhortation wax ac companied with the denunciations of hostility, we abstained from advising; rather than incur the imputation of attempting to controul. But, now that the possibility of slch tnimicpr.wn tations is at an end, we cannot see the. obvious dangers into which the present course of Spanish affairs is leading a brave and gallant people and be silent, without abandoning the duty which is prescribed, no less by the obligations which interna tional laws upon friendly states, than by the peculiar ties which connect Great Britain with Spain. You will keep Sir Charles Stuart constantly informed of the course ofyour discussions with the Spanish Ministers. I am, &c. (Signed) GEORGE CANNING. No. 21. Mr. Secretary Canning to Sir William A'Court. Foreihrn O ffi ce, January 28, 1823. Sir—l inclose to you a copy of the official answer* from his Most Christian Majesty's Secretary of State to my note of the •10th instant, a copy of which I inclosed to you in my dispatch of the same date. This note was delivered to me yesterday by 31. de Marcellus. 1 cannot better explain to y ou th e opinions of his Majesty's Government upon it, than by inclosing to you a co py o f a dis patcht which I thi s day address to Sir Charles Stuart. I am, &c. (Signed) GEORGE CANNING.' No. 14 of the Vetona and Paris Papers. No. 15 of the Verona and Paris Papers. No. 22. Sir Charles Stuart to Mr. Secretary Canning.— Received January 30. _ _ ' (Extract.) Paris, Jan. 28. I received your dispatches of the 24th instant on Sunday evening. I immediately called upon M. de Chateaubriand, the purpose of communicating to his Excellency the Note of M. de San Miguel under date the 12th instant ; and on the following morning I went Over the reasoning contained in your letter; with a view of pointing out to the French Minister the necessity of not closing the door against an overture, which offal the only remaining chance of Maintaining the tranquillity of Europe. The French Minister told me, that the substance of M. de San Miguel's paper bad already been transmitted to him front Madrid; but that it had not been communicated to him suffi. ciently at length to show that M. de San Miguel merely de mends the dissolution of the Army of Observation, without holding out any hope whatever of a concession upon , points which menace the vital tranquillity of this country ; though he must be well aware that, in the pres e nt s i tuat i on of affairs, no French Minister would he bold enough to propose such 'a melt• sure, unless it should be justified by a corresponding conceit. .sion on the part of Spain. He added that, under these circumstances, the King is corn. pelted to assume a decisive tone in his discourse tO the tive bodies; and that in announcing the cessation of the dipla. matic relations between the two Governments, it is necessary to show that they cannot be re-established until th 9 origin of the mischief, with which the Spanish revolution menaces neigh. bnuring countries, has been removed, by assimilating their in stitutions to those of other limited monarchies, under an act ow TUE i.AnT OF TFIE Krwo of Spain declaring the con stitution to emanate from the Crown. We hoped the anxiety of my Government to maintain peace wouldinduce you to instruct Sir Wrn..A'Court to convey these sentiments to the knowledge of the Spanish Government, and to impress upon the Ministers the expediency of not refusing to admit the only measure of which it is possible, in the present situation, to take advantage, with a view to the attainment of that object. No. 23. • Sir Charles • Stuart to -31 r. Secretary Canning.—Received January 30th. , Pa, January . 20 1023. Sir,—.l inclose a p r int e d copy of the th speech which his Ma jesty the King of France pronounced from the throne, upon the assembly of the legislative bodies, this morning.._] have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) CHARLES STUART. The Right Hon. George Canning. No. 24. Sir Charles Stuart to Mr. Secretary Canning.—Received Feb..2d. (Extract.) • Paris,.January 30, 1823. • Having sent off a messenger on Tuesday, at the moment a printed copy of the speech from the Throne was put into my hands, I was unable to make any observations upon that sub. ject in my dispatch of the same day. Monsieur de Villele, whom I accidentally met on Tuesday evening, appeared surprised to find that I did not consid er th e language of the speech perfectly in unison with the tenour of his Excellency's former assurances.. lie said, that the violent alternative to which' die King refers is mentioned In a condi. tional sense. I could not avoid expressing my regret, that this public ma. nifestation of demands for such changes in the Spanish Consti. tution as the leaders in that country would hardly be persuaded to attempt, should. not • leave his Most Christian Majesty the means of receding from .the position in which he has been placed. Notwithstanding the strong evidence of preparations for hostilities, I find both this Minister and his Colleague, M. de Cbateaubriand, continue to answer 'the representation of the consequences which must result from a rupture, by assurances that they do not participate' in my uneasiness upon the subject., because they yet continue to entertain hopes•that war will not take place. Mr. Secretary Canning' to , Sir Charles Stuart, Foreign (Ace, Feb.. 3, 1823. Sir—On the same day on which your Excellency's Dispatches of the 28th, one of them enclosing the Speech of the King of France at the opening of the 'Chambers, .arrived here, 81. de Marcellus called uptin me for the purpose of communicating a copy of that document. In making this communication, M. de Marce ll us too k occa sion to decl are th e unabated desire of his Government for the preservation of peace ; to renew in a more precise and formal manner their request of his Majesty's good offices for that object; and to express their hopes that our intervention at Madrid might yet avert an extremity, which (it must be con.' (eased) the language of the French Speech, unaccompanied by such a commentary, might have.been understood to announce as unavoidable. Such an intimation from the French Ministry, at the moment when the decision of the King of France for war is the subject of general regret and alarm, places his Majesty's Government in a situation of great embarrassment ; an embarrassment which is the more sensibly felt by diem, on account of the ne. cessity of making some disclosure of opinion in the speech to be delivered from the throne , _ at the openin g o f t h e Session of' Pailiament. On the one hand, his Majesty's Government would not willingly . either risk the misfortune, or incur the re sponsibility, of closing, by any act of theirs, the door which . the French Government declare to be still open. On the other hand, the sense of the suspe ns i ve an d con d itional particle In the speech of the King of France, on which the possibilities of peace are supposed to hang, is so much obscured in, Me ambiguous character of the condition with which it is .connected, that it is very difficult to estimate its real value. It has become necessary on this occasion to reconsider ma- • turely the position in which his Majegy's Government stands towards that of France. 1 The answer which has uniformly been given by the British . Government to the questions put by France, as to the course which his Alajesty.would pursue in a . war between France and Spain- ' has been, that no opinion could be f ormed on that po i nt in the ignorance in which his Majesty's Government were as to the causes of complaint which France might have against Spain. Nothing has even yet been precisely stated to them on that sub ject. General danger from the nature of the present political institutions of Spain ;—danger to the King and Royal Family of Spain ; —attempts on the part of the Spanish Government to corrupt the minds of the French people, and to seduce the sol. diers of the Army of Observation :—these, coupled with the undeniable fact; of three or four occasional violations of the French territory, constituted the sum of grievances which have been alleged, at different times, against Spain by the French Government, up to the publication of the speech of the King of France. In charges such as these, especially when urged (as some of these were at Verona) only as the grounds of a a syltem of de. fens•ive preparation, his Majesty's Government saw nothing which rendered an accommodation hopeless. Spain on her side has, or professes to have, grievances to plead against France, of similar intermeddling with her people and her army. She alleges that France has encouraged dissaition and disaf fection at Madrid; and that she even, by fboney and other means, fomented and stimulated the tumult of the 7th of July. Such mutual recriminations appear to the British Govern, ment to furnish the elements of a discussion, in which some thing would be .to be explained on either side; anthill which reconciliation might at last result from mutualcompromise and =cession. In this state of things the mediation of Great Britain was of. fered; and, under these impressions, her goodofnces have been employed. The question s o f ar turned, princ ipally if not ex elusively, upon facts ; there was no declaration of principle ab solutely precluding negotiation. But as the nature of the present political institutions of Spain was put forward, as being of itself a source of danger to France, and, at the sante time, as sus. ceptible of modifications by the voluntary act of Spain herself, which would remove the apprehension of that danger, and con quently open the way to amicable discu ss i on o n o t h e r poi n t s ; the British Government endeavoured to learn from France what were the modifications in the Spanish Constitution which would give to France an assurance of safety and tranquillity ; and they have not hesitated to advise, *Madrid, an attempt to bring about sonic such modification.; °rat Least the declaration of *ills position to cons id er of Olean whiu the time should be more pro pitious for a change. There is no conclu s i ve reason to apprehend that,, if the in fluence of British Ceunsel had been left to its own operation (considering the weight of the authority under which it is offer. ed), it would have been offered in vain. Even after the com munication to the Spanish Government of the dispatches of the continental powers, the Spanish Minister • expressed distinctly and formally the wish of his Government for the good offices of Great Britain with France ; and we were not without hope of a favourable answer to the suggestions proposed through Lord Fitzroy Somerset, when w e received the Speech of the King of France. The principle put forward in that speech, as the basis of the French demands upon Spain, is liable to a double construction. If, as we are desirous of believing, the sentiment intended to be conveyed is no other, than that, in order to give stability to any modification of the present system in Spain, and to afford suf. ficient assurance to France to justify her in discontinuing her warlike preparations, the King of Spain must be party and freely consenting to any such modification ; and if your Ex cellency shall obtain from the French Minister an avowal that such is the intention of the speech, the British Government will be moat happy to continue at Madrid their amicable and ear. nest endeavours to ascertain the means, and to recommend the policy, of accommodation. But it would not be right to conceal from the French Minis ter, that a different construction is generally put upon th e p a . ragraph to which I ref er . I t i s construed as implying, that the free institutions of the Spanish people can ONLY be legitimately held front the the spantaneousgyt lithe Sovereign, first restored to his absolute power, and then divesting himself of such por. thin of that power as he may think proper to part with. The Spanish Nation could not be expected to subscribe to this principle ; nor could any British Stalermati - uphold or defend it. We can conscientiously recommend to Spain to modify her Constitution of 1812. The law of nations warrants the sug. gestion from one friendly power to another of counsels for the melioration of internal institutions, provided that suggestion he made in good faith, and not in a spirit of dictation; and pro vided it be not attempted to Le supported by force. But the British Government could not advise any people, in adopting changes however beneficial, to admit the principle on which (according to this latter construction) the speech of the King of France would be understood to precribe them. It is in. eked a principle which strati at , the root of the Britisii Con ti yut ion. The British Government .does not presuthe to hold out its own political' institutions as the only practical system of na tional happiness and freedom. It does not presume to question the freedom and happiness which France enjoys under institu. dons emanating from the will.of the Sovereign, and described as ottroyces from the Throne. But it could not countenance a pretension on the pare of Franca terrnake her example a rule for other nations ; and still less would it admit a peculiar right in France, to force that example specifically upon Spain, in virtue of the consanguinity of 'the reigning dynasties of those two kingdoms. This latter reason would, on the contrary, suggest recollections and considerations, which must obviously make it impossible for Great Britain to be the advocate of pre tensions founded upon it.—l am, &c. (Signed) GEORGE CANNING. The Right Hon. Sir Charles Stuart. Memorandum.—A copy of this dispatch was transmitted to Sir William A'Court on the 4th of February. I - No. 26. Sir William A'Court to Mr. Secretary Canning.—Received February 0. (Extract.) Madrid, January 21, 1823. Lord Fitzroy Somerset arrived 14st night. It has given me the greatest pleasure that a person so much versed in affairs, and so intimately acquainted with every thing and every body in this country, should see with his own eyes and report directly to his Majesty's Government the real state of things here. His arrival has been a very great relief to me. No. 27. Mr. Secretary Canning to Sir 'William A'Court. (Extract.) . Foreign Office, February 9, 1023. You will have learnt, by the ordinary mod es of intellig ence, the opening of Parliament, and t h e reception, in both h ouses, of that part of the King's speech which relates to the present position of France and Spain. What impression may be made on the French Government by this unequivocal disclosure of public opinion in England I cannot pretend to forsee; but it can hardly be other than such as if it were met at the same time with any reasonable facility on the part of Spain, which would afford to France a retreat without dishonour,—might lead to a reconsideration of their plans, and yet arrest the fatal hlow, which is to commence hostilities. • 1 trust, however, that the report which the Spanish Govern will not lead them into a rn f e a n i t se in s a ec n u y r r i e ty ce , i b v y e o in f d th u e ci s n e x pr t o h ce em edi too gs p ' lace their hoyes of ex trication from their difficulties in a war between this country and France. Neither the determination nor the means would be wanting to vindicate, in any case that might arise, either our honour or our interests. But this consideration does not affect the imme. diately impending conflict between Prance and Spain. It is to the prevention of the commencbment of the war that the anxiety of the British Gcrvernment is at this moment exclu. sively directed; and that it is desirous of directing the delibe. rations of the Spanish Government : and the way to defer the present execution of the project of invasion of Spain is, that Spain should furnish us with soitie proposition, such as we could submit to the French Goverstrocnt, with an earnest ap. peal to its policy, as well as to its justice. NO. 20. Lord Fitzroy Somerset to 31r. Secretary Canning.—Received February 10. (Extract.) Madrid, January 25 , 1823 • \l'ith the approbation of Six A'Court, I comm. nicated to ----, on the 22d instant, the nature of the com mission with which I was intrusted, expressing to him my hope that, i n a matter so mater i a ll y affecting the welfare of his country, I should have the benefit of his assistance and co. operation. 1-informed him that his Majesty's Government continued to adhere to the determination on which they had hitherto acted, of not interfering in the internal concerts of Spain: but that, deeply alive to the difficulties of her present situation, and most anxiously to prevent her rupture with France, they had thought proper to try the effect of a confidential communication which should make known to the leading charaeters in this country the sentiments of the Duke of IV ellington, who, as the friend and we ll- w i s h er of Spain, had consent e d to stat e his opinions on the necessity of some alteration in the existing Constitution. I, at the same time, begged him to bear in mind, and to im. press on those with whom I trusted he would communicate, that England demanded nothing of Spain t that she suggested nothing officially, and that her sole object in touching in any way upon so important a question, was the hope t h at it might lead to the adoption of a system which should put an end to civil dissentiona and lessen the probability of a war with France, I afterwards read to him th e D u k e of W e lli ngton ' s memo. random. was evidently a good deal startled at my corn. munication, for which he professed himself to be quite unpre. pared ;, and he at once declared his conviction, that he could not be instrumental in the attainment of the objects to which I had called hh: attention. He save the British Government firll Credit for the conduct they had pursued durin the Congress at Verona. Il e was deeply sensibl e o f the va lue of the Duke of Wellington's exer. lions on 114 t occasion, and of his constant solicitude to pro. . . bapl mess i m atte th pre e situation of leCUre of the t he lild ntry ePen , h d e en co e tl f , 'S n Pai et.d n is ' gris t e' from me the di ffi culty of prevailing upon any party to act upon the suggestions which were thrown out for their consideration in the Duke's memorandum. He acknowledged the defects of the Constitution, and ad., 'flitted the propriety o f t a ki ng i nto cons i deration the owe riliency of modify lu g ttlsereafter, when such a proceeding should not to be illegal. He felt equally with myself the - imminence of the danger to which the country was exposed, and that war was the inevitable consequence of a refusal to modify the,Con stitution. Such a measure being, however,- out of the ques. don, the Government had, in his opinion, nothing to do but to await the evil which they could not avert. Seeing that my reasoning made no impression upon —, and that his reluctance to become a party in proposing any. alteration in the present order of things was not, to be overcome, I refrained from pressing.him further on the subject: Having first, however, prevailed upon him, as an act of kindness to me and of duty to.his country, to mention to some of the Gen . - tleinen of the Cortes, in whom he could confide, the nature of the .commission with which 4 via. charged, and the reasons whichinduced the Duke of Wellington to think that the time was arrived when Spain should make an effort to effect such an alteration in her present system of Government as inighttend to put an end to . the disturbances of .whlclrshe ; the theatre, and to satisfy her Sovereign and his Attics:: I have found several of my old acquaintances, who are neither in the Cortes nor in any situation of responsibility, very ready to enter into conversation with me on , the difficulties by which Spain is now surrounded, and on the necessity of some niodifi cation .of the Constitution. Some, indeed, are clamorous for such an amendment, and for the interference of Great Britain ; but when asked how the first can be effected, or the latter made available to the exigencies of the mornenteithey ere unable to furnish any satisfectory - reply. No. 29. Sir Chas. Stuart to Mr. Secretary Canning.—Received F e b. 13. (Extract.) Paris, Feb. 10, 1823. After receiving . your dispatch of the-3d instant; I called, upon. 3E; de.Chatexubnand ; and held a long conve rsat i on with that Minister upon the subject to which it refers. *Without under rating the effect of his Majesty's good offices to Preserve peace, I leund.M. de Chateaubriand still exit-tritely prepassessettwith the notion, that Tile. TONE assumed in the speechof the King of France is well calculated. to induce the Spaniards -to give way ; and resolved, in spite of all I could say, to ground hopes of preventing war upon t he result, of that speech. When 1 questioned his Excellency respecting the interpreta:. don of which his Al eut Christian Majesty's speech to the Chain bers is suscceptible, he admitted that your account of the diffe rent constructions; which are put upon that discourse clearly. eit poses the doubts which have prevailed in theptiblic Mind upon that important question. Be said t hat. wlutteVer may be the interpretation' which is attached. to his s expres sions, by those - who are determined to consider all the measures recommended by this Court, to be proofs of-their desire to re.' establish an absolute government in Si*in, hie Ex ce ll ency ?incr can believe that the communications which have taken .place with the British Cabinet have been misunderstood to a degree which can authorize suet suppositions. :He does not hesitate to admit that " in order to give stability to any modifi cation of the present system in Spain; and to affind sufficient assurance to France to justify her discontinuing her warlike preparations, the King of Spain must b e a p arty , an d consent to such modification." Upon this principle, a change which shall result front a thoroegh understanding between his Oahe lie Majesty and the Cozies will he considered to afford some prospect of the modifications which are indispensable to the security of neighbouring states. The French Government will not only be satisfied with the opening which any act, (such as the establishment of a second Chamber) may offer, 'to complete, through the intervention of Great, Britain, the system which is. necessary fur the Constitutional Government of Spain; but, without waiting for any further proof, ate sincerity. of the Spanish Governm ent , t h ey w i ll consider any such act as' a ftbrding reasonable grounds for snspending their arMements - , and replacing the relations between the two coon_ tries upon the same footing usual in time of peace; though, since he cannot suppose that we consider mere fair assurances to be sufficient, we must not be eurprisedif preparatioo for war are, in - the mean time, carried on without intermissien. -M. de Chateaubriand.did not enter into any detail respecting the nature of the a ct s to w hi c h h e alluded ; but I understood' him to refer to the project of allowing the King the nomination of Counsellors of S ta t e , an d- g i v i ng them a deliberative potter, upon a similar principle with that of the American Senate ; 'to which might be added, a regulation fixing the amount of the qualification required, to render a candidate eligible to the se.. cond, or representative chamber. With a view to avoid the possibility of any misrepresentation, I have read to M. de Cliateanbriantt that part of this dispatch which states the expeCtations entertained by the French Go. vernment, and have ascertained that his ideas are correetly,re.. ported, The communication of the same extract to enables me to say, that it contains notions which, in the o.pi nion of thetgentleman,will be considered admissible In:Spam; and whiCh May afford sufficient ground's for further communi cations on the part of Sir William A'Court to the Spanish Go. verninent. - • A. Spanish Fputleman at Paris. :No. 30. Sir William A'Court to Mr. Secretary Can:ling.—Receive(' February 13, _ • - Madrid,lB23. Stn.-=The French Minister received two dispatches from 31. de Chateaubriand by the last courier, the one to.be com municated to 31. de San Miguel at the same time that he de manded his passports, the other to be read to him, as well to the King, previous to his d e p arture . The fret; which has-already been communicated, contains litt'e more then expressions of regret that theariswer of the-Spa nish Goverrntent.should have been so very unsathifitetory, leer ing no other alternative to the French Government than of re calling its legation. • The second goes more into d e t a il.' I t states t h at. . afte r the fruitless effOrts made by the representatives of the continental powers, as well as by Sir William. A'Court and 'Lord Fitz roy Somerset (the last of wham, it must be observed, had not left Paris ;even days, and was nor even arrived at Madrid, Wittig the French dispatch was written), to engage the Spanish Government to listen to the suggestions of reason and to adopt a lineof greateemoderation, no other course remains to the Go vernment of his Most Christian Majesty than that of recalling its Minister from Madrid ; that this is the only step left for the maintenance of peace; that the Dukeof Angouleine.is upon the point of pl ac i ng hi mse lf at the head of 100,000 men upon the from. tier ; and that it the King of Spain,released from his present thral dora, and placed at the head of his armyodiail be allowed to,advance to durbankaof - the Bidassoa, in order to treat with him, a firm and and durable peace may be established between the two countries ; the ancient intimate. eensw.viou between France. and Spain restored ; and the fleets, armies, and re sources of Franc e b e p l aced froth that moment entirely at the disposal of his Catholic Majesty : that. France does not pretend to dictate to. Spain the precise modifications she ought to adopt in her Constitution; but In order.not to expose herself to the charge of having intentiorially left her wishes unexplained, she declares that she witl net renew her relations of amity with this country, until a system be established with the consent of, and in concert with, the King, assur i ng a lik e t h e liberties of the nation and .the just privileges of the Monarch; and until a ge neral act of amnesty be passed in favour of every-individual persecuted for political offences from the promulgation of the Constitution in 1812, down to the present period. I write this from recollection ; but I am perfectly certain that, though I may nut have given .in every . instance ;be precise• words used, I have in no way varried from the Meaning. This paper has already been read by General La Garde to the, King; and he will probably communicate its contents to 31. San Ali,. guel in the course of the morning.. Irtsve the honour to be,&c. • (Signed) WILLIAM No. 31. • A Sir William A.Tourt to Mr. Secretary Canning.—Received February 17. , • (Extract.) Madrid, Feb. 4,1823. Mr. Jackson arrived this morning, bringing me several dis patches from Sir Charles Stuart, and amongst others a copy of his dispatch to you, Sir, of the 28th Ult., detailing his conversation with Al. de Chataubriand, after the Communize tion of Al. de San Miguel's note to me ofthe Itlth of January. I immediately proceeded to make known the contents of this dispatch to M. de San Miguel ; being extremely anxious to prevent the adoption of any violent measures, inconsequence of the arrival of King of France' s Speech to the Chambers, which reached Madrid last night. After 'I had read the- whole to M de San - Miguel (atid some parts of it, by his own desire, a second time,) he broke out into exclamation, against the general conduct of the French 'Go. verninent ; expressing.his conviction that a war was inevitable. Ile said, that Spain would never admit that the Constitution• emanated from the King, nor recognize any other soYetel.inty than that of the people; that a manifesto was preparing, in which his Majesty would speak his sentiments to Europe, apd that these se n ti ments would be foond in unison with the ;inns& which he had lately delivered to the Cortes that -Spain was prepared to repel force by force; and that France would find, that the war would be a much more serious undertaking than • she seemed at present to imagine it would be. ,‘ Ile requested me to leave him for an hour the copy of Sir' Charles Stuart's dispatch. I did not hesitate in complying with this request, upon the condition that it was - to ttotentiered as a strictly confidential communisetiOn.. t.: - Sir 'William A'Court to Air. Secretary Canning.._Received February 22. (Extract.) Madrid, February 7, 1023. Sir Charles Stuart has forwarded to me your diapxtch to hhn, • inclosing M. de San Miguel% note, and a cOpy of his dispotFit to you of the 30th ulthno. • *. I must await your further instructions, after the reetiptof Sir Charles Stuart's dispatch, announcing the manner in which this overture has been received - by France, before I can venture to advance any - further. By Sir Charles Stuart's account, -it appears that France has , neither quite accepted, nor quite deg dined, our interference; and M. de Chateaubriand's statement' of the conditions necessaryto the establishment of amicable re. lations between the two countries is so extremely vague, that should really be ata loss to inform this government, if called Upon to do so, what are the - precise concesaitins which would , ensure-the maintenace of peaie. • I shall, however, not lose sight of the amnesty, but press it by every argument in ray ppwer. I h ave some reason to be 4 ,lieve that-s uc h- a measure Will not be opp ose d b y any parry _ 'One object- is • alrertly gained, viz. that of the shutting upcf the Landaburian Society. If this be followed :up by a general amnesty, I shall not yet despair of arriving- at that first of ob-- jecte, the iireventiotety a cord:wool war. I had -written thus tar when I was interrupted. by the arrival • of M. San Miguel.' M. San Aliguel observed, that, with respect to modifications; there was neither a man nor a party in Spain (were the Ministry to be changed a hundred times) who would venture topropote their adoption' till the time point e d out b y the Constitution ; - and that, h a d any hopes been boil out to me of an otTosite • nature, I might depend upon it they never would be realized. M. San -.Miguel's - conversation was nevertheless less warlike than I bad found it a day or two ago. He would not, he said, consider all hope of negotiation at an end, but sill rely, for a successful issue from the present difficulties, aipon the friend ship and good ofllces of England. lie 'was.ennyieced that she might, and th at s h e wou ld , prevent a war. I told him that England had done, and would continue to do, every thing in her power to prevent matters from comingto such extremiti es; 'but mown w y opinion w that-war was in evitable if Spain vette really' determined to .a ' denit no modifies, tion in her present Comititutional systetri. Thia wpuld not pre- vent. our endeavouring tla avert such a- misfortune byevery means within our, re=tch, abort o f involving- ouiselves in the quarrel; but that f - ebuldius flatter him wi th any h ope t h at our efforts wdiddlie'sureessful, .unless we were enabled to hold out. .to France the Prospect of- some concession ou this part of this Country.. it long and desultory conversation followed,-- which it will be Unnecessary to repeat ; in the course of which, At. San Miguel, put very prominently forward Me evident acknowledgme n t of the intention to establish a priestaNEsrr I'RENCII INTEREST IN SPAIN, contained in certain passages of the King of France's Speech to the Chambers. • ' No. 33. - Sir Charles Stuart to Mr. Secretary Canning.---Received Feb. 23. (Extract.) . Paris, February 21, 1823. Monsieur de Chateaubriand said, that he had turned over the subject in his owninind, with a view to decide upon what terms it might be possible to meet the 'proposals ihey might receive ; and though he could not state the result of his reflec dons to be the expression of the sentiments of the French Go. vernment, yet he thought the subject might be taken into con. sideration, if the Spanish negotiators should engage at a future period to modify their Constitution ; and, in the meanwhile, prove their good faith, by restoring the King to his physical liberty, and allowing him to frequent the Sitios, - ;ind to go to watering places ; by a general amnesty ; by the establishment of laws to regulate TIIE Puass, and by a change of Ministry; but that the military preparations of the. French Government sitirr continue without intermission ; and that their armies will be reedy to take the field, if a change in the 'aspect of affitirs doeS not contribute to remove the pressure and irritatiou which pre v ail s on b ot h sides, before the season for active ope ation shall arrive. • No. 34. Sir William A•Court to Mr. Secretary Cannin 31arch 3. g.,:-Iteceived .- • • • (Extract.) . • Madrid, February 18, 1823. • • The debate up on the subject of the removal attic seat of government passed. off without any thing Weing elicited horn either party, which could give an opening for the discussion of I the possibility dun arrangement th ro u g h t h e good offices of Ennd. ' he Extraordinary Conti will close on the lilth instant, and the Ordinary Cones will assemble on the first day or3larch. The question of an amnesty, for all those who shall lay down their arms before the entry of a foreign force; was subsequently brought forward, and referred to ' a ConiMittee, extension of this limited amnesty, I an. assured, will be proposgf by the Committee, and it will be recOmmerideti that it should be made general. If this be done, and the propo01:•be adapted, it will be a very great point gained: •`' is, - There however, but little hope that any of tbOse further concessions will be made, which would ensure. an amicable dr: rangement of the differene,es that exist between this country `and France. tesides which, the putting forwriti by Fran ce o f so - extravagant a propo s iti on , as t h at the liing; 'restores to his hill and absolute power, shall himself grant a charter to the nation, has singularly increased:the difficulties - ache 4tiestion. The principle upon which this proposition is 'fourirred'lS:One to which' his evident the British Government can' never agree ; and consequently, if such he the sine (fee now of Frahce, our intervention fulls to the ground, .• • •N. 33. : • Sir William .I.'Court to ..Mr. Secretary Canning.--Iteeeived Alarchl. • (Extract.) • Madrid, Feb-180823. My hopes have been grieVously disappointed with 'respect to the amnesty ; which, I was confidently- assured, Would einbraes every political offence, and every political offender.- Diitneithei by the Committ ee nor i n t h e Con has the slightest 41Iusion been made - to so general a measu re , notwithstanding the hopes that Were held 'oat. The ainne s ty vo t e d i s noth i ng more than in act of pardon for any " factious" who may lay' down their arms before the Ist of April; without any retroapee , fi ve operation in f avour of those already in prison, or any allusion to those confined merely- for political Otiinioils,, It is 'a mere act of policy, and by no means an act ,of , grace ; nor can it be expected to produce that favourable effect in'F,ranee *Mich might hive been insured by a more general measure. A report was circulated a few days since, that the. King, with the concurrence of the Council of State, - had derermined:iipen a change of Alinistent. Prom the variety of quarters from whence this report reached me, - was inelined to believe itiat it was not without some foundation, and that his Majesty', in tention was to have request e d the Council of State to choose a new Ministry for htm, selected from their own body. Alarmed by the reports in circulation, the Ministers obtained fronjke Cortes tins morning the repealer the decree authorising the em- Ployinent of Councillors of State, with the excep t i on o f t h ose already employed. The repeal o f this decree, though it may not preVent a change of Ministeri4 , effectually puts an end to the administration which it was proposed to form. • No. 313, • Sir William A'Court to Mr. Secretary Canning.-11.ectv.ed March 3: • • • • (Bitract) Madrid,- February 19, 1833. Sir Charles Stuart's Secretary arrived last•night bringingilne your dispatch of the 9th inst.' Heal 4) brought nie an extinct of Sir Charles Stuart's dispatch to you, of the ,10th instanth'by which I learn, for the first time, the exact - coneekijun, Which Will satisfy France, anti engage her to put awend 'to - her artnik. h • menu. IVhat use 1 shall be able to utalewof these coutunim.- cations, 1 cannot yet foresee. , • The Cortes were,closed this morning in the lama form, afsq which the Ministers tendered their resig nations. P.S. The reSi gnat i ons are all accepted, exce* that of the Mi. nister of Eininee. The heads of .the several departments ateXo • act as Ministers till a new Administration be formed. .• • No. 10. • - No. 37.—Sir William A'Court to Mr. Secretary•Cannine4. Received March 3. • ,• • • (Eitract.) •• ' " Madrid, Feb, 20, His Catholic Mikiesty has been pleased to re4ppoint the sense Ministers ad interim. • I shall endeavour to see MOnsieur.de Sat; Miguel to.morroar; in mint° communicate to him'your dispatch of the lOth jut.; . and the propositions contained in Sir Charles Stuart's letter ,the 10th of February; but lam perfectly persuaded that all ink efforts will be vain. • N 38. o. • ."... Sir Chas. Stuartto Mr. Secretary Canning... -Received Marcht (Extract.)... Parts, March ti, 1823. ' I cannot help thinking that there is in the, language of the' Ministers a more pacific colour than I had observed within the last three weeks ; for both to• Myself,. and tq all those.with whom they converse; Monsieur de Villele and Monsieisr .did'e Chateaubriand exprecor their hopes of averting , a war, with 1: degree of confidence which induced me to observe to the later MtniXter, that the insisting upon a _direct negociation betweett-;:i othbesta c D" le ke te d s 'A u t e n c g es 7 . len li e is at exc a el B lr i ne ll y ix a h ns ir iv rin°* ered m , t a h Y at be al a tho . itre , ug/i 4lt'7 ; : this mode of settling the question had been strcsigly urged; lie -. ;could assure me die objects of the negociatipn are too sinpor.:: tent not to be sought for b y . the coneession, it necesmry t or this, or of any other mere point of fermi and that if '-the S. , mill tiovemnient will empower any negociator to 'treat,. re.. CI chttwAv.qf 11th:inert at Miteirhi, he shall be able to. look '. .... ward with confidence to the continuation of peace. - - ~,.... I cannot, however, participate in the hopes which the P'reneti„: t Cehinet found upon the intelligence they expect to receive tutor; ~ Madrid. I consider late events to be the prelude to war., .. ,:. ~ Nab. gift.--Sir Williain ite l L t . : i t v ‘t d ill mi t a O rac • i ki ihri r di . 3: 6lter Feb e riary uiry C o an o o mi cetr a. .— (Extract) M. San Migtiel called on me this morning, for the purpose of exchanging the ratifications of the articles respelling the ea ve trade. 'teeing gone through that ceremony, I informed Mal that 1 i