Star.
London, England, 1805-02-18 00:00:00

STATA PAPER.

TO HIS EICILLINCY M. D'AIAUJO D'ARATIDO, Set.
Lifbon, Jan. as, 1805.

Did I not entertain for the Portuguete nation the
higheft relpea, I thould, perhaps, pat; over in fi
lence the indecent publication which has appeared in
the Supplement to the Gazette of Lifbon of this
day, of an article under the title of Manifefto of the
Prince of Peace, dated Madrid, the zoth of De-
cember, 1804. But anxious, Sir, as I am to vil-
las the good opinion of a loyal nation, which is
elleemed by mine, it is jolt that I !tumid proteft in
an official and ollenfible manner againft the infertion
of In bale a libel as that to which I allude, more
particularly, as the Gazette of Lifbon is the only
Journal circulated in Portugal ; as it is publifhed
under the fanaion, and ruble& to the controul, of
the Government; and as it is, of courfc, marked
with an official charaaer, which gives credit with
the public to every thing that appears in it.
- I repeat, Sir, that anxious of the good opinion of
this nation, I cannot he indifferent to the fentiment.
it entertains of mine ; and what would be its fenti-
ments if a public Minifter of his Britannic Majefty,
witneffing, under the charaaer of authenticity, the
publication of thole foul calumnies with which that
Manifefto teems. were by his (hence to admit, at haft
tacitly, the reality of the abominable crimes with
which his countrymen are reproached ? What would
be its fentiments if a Minifter of hie Majelly felt no
indignation at the horrible charge preferred againft
the Englifh, of (offering their prifoners of war to die
of hunger, or of compelling them to enter into their
fcrvice againft their own country ! Finally, it he
felt no inJignation to hear them denounced to all
Europe as objcas of univerfal detellation, with the
molt fhamefol and aggravating epithets, and at the
'Fame time degrading to the ancient and brave Spa-
nith nation (to excite whole ardour it was fuffieient
but to fhew an enemy) ; and injurious to the gene-
roils people againft whom they are direeted ? No,
Sir, we do not llarve our prifoners to death—we do
not force them to take up arms againft their coun-
try !—lf Spain mourns the fate of the unfortunate
perfens who periffied at a moment when 9 meafure
of precaution diaated the neceffity of detaining cer-
tain (hips of war belonging to that nation by the
Btinifh crnizers, do us, Sir, the jullice to believe,
that that furrow is as general and tincere in England;
and that the mourning we wear is at the bottom of
our hearts. No, Sir, our hands are not Rained with
innocent blood ! and we would readily flied fome of
our own to reftore to life the viaims of a cruel
chance, which we conftantly deplore I
Thefe, Sir, are the principal points on which I
have to vindicate the outraged honour of my nation,
while I wait for the inftruaions of his Majefty with
refpea to the exemplary punifhment which he is in-
titled to demand of the Portuguefe Government, on
the Editor or Printers who inferted in the Paid Ga-
zette, no doubt, without its knowledge, a libel to
prejudicial to the honour of its anguft ally. I have
the honour to be, with the confederation,
you; Excellency's, Stc. (Signed) *