Star.
London, England, 1805-02-13 00:00:00

no eons. Munkadon made, no explanation authorized.
no intelligence given to the Spanifh Court of the cb-
jed, views and difpofitions of our Court. What was
here to be concluded, but that Minifters believed that
Spar.ilh neutrality was intimately conflated with the
ditlates of policy, hut had left the whole matter
wholly to chance, which every man of common fenfe
law to be full of difficulty and embarraffment ? Not
only do five months elapfe without any remonftrance
or explanation, bpt this filence is obferved at a time
when the hope of fuccefsfol negotiation was by far
the molt natural. Spain did not attempt to conceal
her real fituation. She difclnfed the demands which
France was making, and if we were unable to yield
het affiftance, Rue had at !call a right to look for our
advice for the eftablifhment of her future relations
with this Country. But what rendered the conciud
of Minifters the mare inexcufable was' that though
they knew as far back as the t zth of September, and
were again affured on the sath of the fame month,
that a Subfidiary Treaty was aloofly negotiating,
they did not make even oae effort to prevent fuch an
arrangement from taking place. Under all theft cir-
cumftances Spain was now attempted to be calum-
niated for commuting the Treaty, by which a contin-
gent was to be given for a fubfidiary agreement.—
Much ftrefs was alfo laid on calculations that the
amount of the fubfidy was greater than the amount
which by the Treaty of Ildefonfo they had agreed to
furnith to France. This, however, was nothing to the
purpofe. It *as very material, fo far as refpated
France and Spain, though not this country and Spain.
The queltion was, had or had not Spain reafon to
fuppole that the commutation as the contingent for o
fum of money would be more agreeable to this coun-
try ? and (he had not at on the idea that the change
would he defirable. Spain wok the method of reliev-
ing herfelf frotn her enthairaffments which appeared
the molt unexceptionable ; and if Minifters here,
who were apprifed of the Rep the was about to take,
difapproved of it, why did they not remonftrate on
the fubjed. But it was clear, from the language of
Lord Hawkeffiury, that he did not confider the com-
mutation as in the leap objedionable. In one of his
difpatchec he inftruas Mr. Frere. that if on inquiry
he finds that the Court of Spain had determined on
giving the contingent, immediately to demand his
palfport and quit Kidd:: but that if he thould find
a propofition for a commutation treaty, he (broad
take nu Reps on the occafion, but report to his
Court. Was this not a decifive proof in what light
Minilters viewed the commutation treaty? But now
Spain was traduced for fubfidifing France. The
Honourable and Learned Gentleman had allowed,
that ever fince the family compact there was always
a (lender profped of the continuance of peace with
Spain, while hoffilities exulted between this country
and France. He had even mentioned that the Ad-
miniftration of 1778 had been cenfured for not fore-
teeing and providing againft fuels an event. He
thanked Gon, that (boner or later the fentiments of
oppofition had full jußice done, and he was happy
that the oppofition of 18oshad left future oppnfitions
an example by which to form an tail:nate on this tub-
jed. He certainly thought that the Adminiftra-
tion of 1778 was very fhort-lighted not to provide
againft the probability of a rupture with Spain. But
how much more thort-lighted and culpable were Mi-
nifters now, when the great difference in the Rate
of Spain was confidered ? Formerly the controul ex.
ercifed was the controul of the Government of France
over the Government of Spain, but was not a con-
troul arifing from the wilbes of the people or the ap-
prehenfion of a French army taking Madrid. Now,
it was tite apprebenlion of being over-run by the
Fre.„-h troops. that rendered every ad of the Spa-
nifh Court abfolutely dependent. Formerly, there
might have been a prefumption of a holtile mind.
—Now there was not tlse haft room for fuch a fufpi-
cion. It was ridiculous to think of Spain wilting
now to (hare in the conqueßs of France, or the glo-
ries of her chief. The events which had lately hap-
pened in turope, mull, he hoped, have cured the info-
nor States of this mad ambition. But as Minifters
molt have Confect the probability of a rupture, as
they were apprifed of the arrangement of Spain to
ward off this calamity by a fubfidy to France, the
quellion arofe out of the extent of this pecuniary fa-
erifice. Now it was faying nothing to fay that its
amount was larger than the amount of the contin-
gent, becanfe Spain, being forced to have recourfe to
this expedient, could not prevent this relish from
taking place. It was well known, that the perfnn
commuting a contingent for a fum of money, was,
to a certain degree. at the mercy of him by whom
the commutation is to be received. This was precife-
ly the fituation of Spain, but Spaia could net in jultice
be blamed for a circuniftance necelfarily arifing out
of her dependent (hoodoo. The Hon. Gentleman,
after again expreffing his indignation againft the idea
of keeping back grounds of offence, went on to com-
ment on the agreement of the :Bth of January, and
confirmed by another letter of the 18th of February,
by which the payment of the fubfidy to France was
acquiefeed in as a temporary expedient. It was true
that Mr. Frere thought proper to deny that there was
any agreement, and though it is pofitively referred
to in M. Cevallos's letters, he fags his only reafon for
not protefting againft its exiflence was, that no part
of his conversation countenanced the idea. But
Purely, this was a curious realists, t:sut Mr. Frere, be.
caufe he found M. Cevallos labouring under an error,
would take no trouble in correding the millake.—
M. Cevallos continues to believe in the exigence of
the agreement. M. Anduaga exprefsly mentions its
exigence to Lord Hawkefbory, and his Lordfhip ne-
ver drops a hint of there being no fuch arrange-
ment. Was it fair, he alked, betwixt men 'that fuch
an agreement fhoull have been underdood to be
in existence for a number of months. that the Spa-
nifh Court thould have uniformly aged on it, and
that when it tidied our Minillers it *add be de-
nied. M. Cevallos, in his letters, aliens the exit!.
ence of the agreement, knd explains the two condi-
tions on which it is to continue in force. As to
the Pale of prizes in the Spanifh ports, there were
no difference of opinion. The other refpeding or-
moments was alfo acceded to, though certainly M.
Cevallos contends, and not without great reafon, that
.the armaments should refer to fuch as were meant to
fuccour France,or to ad hoßilely againft this country.
Here the Honourable Member argued on the Rate
of the enemy's preparations, which never could have
excited ferious apprehenfions. The armaments at
Ferrol were quite inconfiderable. They never ex-
ceeded three fail of the line, only half manned. 'They