Star.
London, England, 1818-10-12 00:00:00

HAMBURGH MAIL.

HAMBURGO, OCTOBtIi. 1.
We have received the following document, the im-
portance of which renders it worthy of public atten-
tion. .It is the Note lately presented by the Spanish
Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Ambassador Ple-
nipotentiary of the (inked States of America, and
which contains the Protest against the occupation of
a part of the territory of Florida : -
NOTE.

Sta—ln the department tonhded to me, disagreeable aeedunts
continue to be received concerning the nature and circumstances
of the late events in Florida, and the hostile proceedings of the
American General Jackson, and the troops under his command,
le the territory of those Provinces which belong to his Majesty.
Besidea the facts to which I invited the attention of your Excel-
lency in my Notes of the'eath of July, and of the 6th and 11th
of this month, I have now before me the copy of a Capitulation
which it appears followed the hostilities committed by that Ge-
nera/ against the fortress of Pensacola, and in consequence of
which the Spanish garrison has been conveyed to the Ilavannah.
In my preceding Notes I had-the honour to inform your Excel-
lency, that notwithstanding the muticular character of violence
which seemed to mark the actions and operations of General
Jackson since his first entrance into the Ploridas, his Majesty,
although led to consider these proceedings as the arbitrary acts
of the said General, was convinced that the Government of the
United States would no longer delay to disapprove them, as
soon as they came within its knowledge, and that proper orders
would immedbte'y be given, not pmly or the evacuation of the
territory invaded, bat abo for the separation of the damage oc-
casioned, and for the restoration of the property taken, which
belonged as well to his Majesty and Spanish subjects, as also to
strangers who livid then under the protection of his li!ajesty's
Government. It could not be presumed, without offi•nee to
the integrity of the American Government, that there world be
any delay in giving satisfaction to a friendly Power, and to all
civilized Nations, this testimony of respect for those principles
on which the maintenance of social order depends. It was whh
profound of lictioa that his Majesty learnt from the subsequent'
reports of his Minister at Washington, that as the first excesses
of Genoa! Jackson had not been disapproved, he had not hesi-
tated to continua his acts of violence, and desolated with fire
end sword every thing upon the Spanish territory, where he met
with the resistance which a sense of honour prescribed to some
small garrisons which were attacked in the midst of peace by a
numerous body of troops. In general, the territory of his Ma.
jetty was attacked in the most eel:eking meaner; the fortresses
and depots of asses have been taken by force, the garrisons made
prisoners, and then sent out of the Provinces where his Majesty
bad ordered them to serve; nay, subjects of Powers in friend.
ship with his Majesty have been executed upon Spanish ground,
and this act of barbarity cloaked with judicial forms which in
that situation and in those circumstances can only be considered
as a refinement of cruelty. It cannot be doubted but these ex-
cesses are known to the Government of Washington; emelt does
not yet appear that orders are given to put an end to them. oe
tofgive to the Spanish Government the only satisfaction which
they admit of. In this situation, his Majesty considers it to be
due to his own dignity, and that of the people whom he governs,
to order me, at the same time that Jagoin most solemnly profeet
against all that has been done by General Jackson from the day
that he set hit foot on the territory of Florida, to add further,
that your Excellency will he pleased to inform your Govern.
mcnt, that the King is of opidion " that front the nature of the
s mid injuries and really hostile proceedings, the course of the ne-
gotiations pending between the two Powers is, and must re-
main interrupted and broken off, till the Government of the
United States has marked the conduct of General Jackson in a
manner suitable to its honour, and which it seems can be no
other than to disapprove of the.excesses committed, to give or-
ders to place things on the same footing as they were in before
the invasion, and to inflict an appropriate punishment on the
author of se many disorders."
It is extremely disagreeable to his Majesty to be compelled to
this declaration, which is a more necessary consequence of the
nature of the affair than an act of his Royal will, whose wishes
and endeavours have always been directed to making an equitable
arrangement of the matters in debate between the two Govern-
ments ; but the whole impartial world will equally recognize, in
the present state of things, the impropriety that must ensue, if
negotiations, which suppose a state of perfect political fr.erutsiiii,
were to be continued, at a time when such great insults hate
been offered without provocation. The occupation of the larger
and better part of klorida, in 1810, by the United States, who
deprived his Majesty, during his captivity, of a country of
which he was in peaceable pose.esion, under pretences which, if
they had bees even well-founded, ought never to have been en-
forced by violence; and the late improper attack on Amelia
teland, were facts of the same nature and tendency, equally un-
just in their principle, and equally protested against on the part
of Spain but as they were less offensive in their kind, and un-
der the circumstances, his Majesty believed, at the same time,
that he gave ptoofs of his moderation ; that he might wait for
smisfaction on these points, till the definitive arrangement of the
points in dispute, which it was expected would soon take place.
, The same is not the case in the present instance: the American
has no claim, either founded or unfounded, to the territory
which General Jackson has attacked; no real or pretended re-
veled= of the inhabitants could serve u a pretext; no previous
attack by robbers, which was alledged as a reason for the un-
just seizure of Amelia laland. The Spanish 'fag was flying on
the fortresses of San Marco and Pensacola, when they were
attacked; and to complete the measure of insult, that has been
taken by violence which his Majesty lied offered in the pending
etegociations to cede to the United States in an honourable manner,
so that it seems to have been preferred to seize it by violence n-'
;her than to arqnire It from the generous friendship of the King.
These extr.eirdinary circumstances have induced his Majesty
to take the resolution, that it is incompatible with the dignity
of his exalted character to continue the negotiations till an affair
has been settled and terminated in a suitable manner, which
takes the precedence of all other points in dispute between the
two Governments, and which, front its importance, is calculated
essentially to change in their whole extent the political relations
between the two countries.
At the same time, to give a proof of the peaceable and mode-
rate sentiments which characterized the conduct of the Spanish
Government, I must acquaint your Excellency, that his Ma-
jetty. in charging 113 e to communicate to his Minister at Wash-
, legton the declared rupture of the negotiations, has likewise
commanded me to inform him, that, if the Government of the
United State, had given, or should give, the only satisfaction
which the circumstances admit of, and which his Majesty may
expect from the justice and probity of that Government, he may,
in that caw, continue the negotiations kgain, without applying to
. Lis Majesty for new orders to authorise him to continue them.
Ir making to your Excellency this communication, I cannot
omit to state to you how painful it has been to me that this un-
expected obstacle should occur just at the time when I flattered
myself with the hope of seeing the political relations, and the
most perfect harmony bevereen the two Governments, re-esta-
blished upon solid and durable foundations.
I renew to your Excellency the assurance of any distinguished
respect, and pray to GOD to preserve your Excellency many
years—Your Excellency :s most devoted servant,
Madrid, August TO, 1818- PIZARRO.
To dia Diimixr,, of the Lk, e 4 wtates from his Cetbolic 414icsty.