The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-29 00:00:00

VICTORIA R.

' GREAT BRITAIN AND SPAIN..
A collection of documents on the " Affairs of Spain,
with a correspondence between Sir Henry
Bulwer and
the Duke of Sotomayor," has been laidbe'e
Parlia-
ment. It extends through OS folio pages, and is, for the
most part, of considerable interest; but we canonly
on
the present occasion find room for the following;_
VISCOUNT PALMERSTON TO MR. BULWER:
Foreign-office, April 20, 1848.
Sir,—l have received your dispatch of the 11th inst.
with its inclosures, and I have to instruct you to state
to the Duke of Sotomayor, that her Majesty's Govern-
ment entirely approve the step which you took in mak-
ing your communication of the 7th inst., and likewise of
your note of the 12th.
That her Majesty's Government, however, are not at
all eff,nded, either by the sending back of your com-
munication of the 7th of April, or by the angry tone and
language of the Duke of Sotomayor's note of the 10th,
however they may regret the existence of those feelings
in the minds of the Spanish Government, of which the
language of his Excellency's note and the return of
yours were proofs.
Her Majesty's Government, in making to the Govern-
ment of Spain the representations, and in giving the ad-
vice, which your communication conveyed, were inspired
by no sentiment but that of sincere friendship for Spain,
and of deep interest in the welfare of Queen Isabella.
They felt that in making that communication, they were
performing a duty and not taking any undue liberty;
and therefore, at all events, it is a satisfaction to her
Majesty's Government to reflect, that although their
counsel has been rejected and their communication has
been returned, the note has nevertheless been read and
the counsel has been tendered ; and that whatever
calamity may happen in Spain, her Msjesty's Govern-
ment stand acquitted of not having dune what they
could to prevent it.
With regard to the contents of the Duke of Soto-
mayor's note, her Majesty's Government have only to
observe, that if the ri ht of her Britannic Majesty to the
throne of the United Kingdom bud been disputed by a
pretending rival; if civil war had arisen out of such a
conflict of claims; if the British Government had only a
few years ago sent a special Envoy to Madrid to solicit
the assistance of Spain in order to place her Majesty on
her throne; if that assistance had been giver, both mo-
rally by treaty engagements, and physically by military
and naval forces; if the aid thus afforded by Spain had
contributed in so essential a degree to secure the Crown
to her Majesty, that it might with truth be said, that
without such aid her Majesty would not now have been
Queen of England; if, moreover, there still remained a
Pretender who asserted his right, and whose pr. tensions
were backed by a large party in the United Ktngd'm;
and if upon every symptom of danger from that Pre-
tender, and that party, the British Government was in
the habit of reminding Spain of the treaty engagements
which she had entered into; was also in the habit of
asserting that those engagements were still in force;
and was continually claiming the benefit of the alleged
existence of those engagements; if all those thiegs
existed, and if the Government of Spain had, in a mo
ment of general disturbance in Europe, warned the Bri-
tish Government of dangers by which, in their opinion,
the security of her Majesty's throne was menaced; I
think I may confidently affirm that under such circum-
stances any statesmen who might be Ministers of the
British Crown, instead of sending back the note in which
such representations were conveyed, and instead of re-
plyirg to it in discourteous terms, would have accepted
the communication in the same spirit of friendship in
which it was made; and whether they adopted or not the
advice which it contained, would at least have considered
it as a proof of the continued existence of that friendship
on the part of Spain, to which in such case would have
been owing the circumstance, that those Beiiish Minis-
ters had the honour of being advisers of the Crown, in-
stead of being proscribed exiles in a foreign land.
You will transmit to the Duke of Sotomayor a copy
of this dispatch.

I am, &c,
(Signed) PALMERSTON.
No. 61.--sin UENRY BULWER To VISCOUNT PAL-

NEIISTON.
(Received May 23.)
(Extract.) Madrid, May 17, 1848.
Sircr writing my dispatch of yebterday I have rectived
the note, copy and translation of which are herewith in-
cl.sed, with m‘ passports. I start to-morrow, the in-
stant, indeed, I can at all arrange my affairs.
(Translatior.)
_ _

Msdrid, May 17, 1848.
Sir,—Considerations of the highest importance im-
pose on me the painful duty of addressing myself to you,
with the object of communicating to you a determination
of the Government of her Majesty, adopted with as
much reluctance as it is proMpted by the purest feelings
of loyalty.
You are well aware how public opinion in this country
has pronounced itself through the press, and in every
possible way, against your person, with respect to recent
events. The efforts of the Government would not be
sufficient to restrain the deep resentment which the
worthy inhabitants of this city and its loyal garrison en-
tertain; and her Majesty's Government has serious ap-
prehensions for the safety of the person of the reion sen-
tative of Great Britain at Madrid, if, unfor;unately, the
scenes which twice have filled with tribulation this
pacific capital should be repeated.
Your conduct in the execution of your important mis-
sion, has been reprobated by pablic opinion in England,
censured by the British press, and condemned in the
British Parliament. her Catholic Alejesty's Govern-
ment cannot defend it when that of her Britannic Ma-
jesty has not dune so.
In this state of things, your remaining in Madrid is
considered in this country, doubtlessly without f unda-
t:on, us a proof of the weakness of the Government,
and
if this opinion should gain strengtb, it might occasion
some colt:4 which it 'is indispensable to avoid at any
cost.
For these reasons, which the loyalty of the British
people and of its Government cannot otherwise than ap-
preciate at their true value, her Majesty's Government
has resolved to put au end to all these fatal contingencies
by transmiting you your passports, ace requesting you,
within the term of forty-eight hours, or sooner it pos-
sible, to quit this capital, for circumstances are urgent.
and there would be much to lament if this took place
too late.

On fulfilling the painful duty of tusking so disagree-
able a communication toYou, I must declare to you with
all sincerity, that her Majesty's Government does not,
with this step, pretend to wound in the slightest degree
the dignity of the British Government nor of the
British nation, and, on the contrary, it considers it
proper to state to you, upon this occasion, that not only
it etas not conceive that your departure can be a motive
which may weaken the relations of good friendfhip anti
harmony which exist between Spain and England, an
intimacy which no one appreciates more than the
Spanish Government ; on the contrary, it conceives that
this step may greatly contribute to draw them still
closer, as the critical circumstance: of Europe, and as
the advantage of the two nations would indicate.
Iler Majesty's Government flatters itself that the Go-
vernment of her Britannic Majesty will do justice to
the loyalty of its intentions, partionlarly sshniths
made the proper explanation which would satisfy the
delicacy of the Cabinet of Sr. James.
I have, consequently, the honour of
enclosing
here-
with the proper passport for yours•lf em the persons
who may accompany yi.u, and the necessary license for
post-horses on the riEiici;
Duu, Ste
SOI:OMAYOR.
(Signed)
Inclosuie iu N. C 2.

SIR HENRY BULWER TO THE DITKE OF SOT NATOR.

M.drid, May 17, 1848.
Sir,—l have to acknowledge your Excellency's Com
munication, dated to-day. and I shall avail m) self Of
the plssporta transmitted to me at the earliest oppor-
tunity, informing you of the hour at which I do so.
in /egad to my personal security, I pace it ad" .13"