The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-26


the 18th OF February, in which he declares that
| all further forbearance on the part of England
| mutt depend upon the cetiation of all naval ar
| maments, and prohibition of the fale of pr-
| zes in their ports and unefs thefe points were
agreed to without modification, he had orders
to leave Madrid. On the fecond of theGe points
| satisfactory anfwer was given, and orders ifIu-
ed accordingly on the firft reference was
| made to former declarations. To the Queition
about difcloGng the treaty with France no IA
tlStaetory anfwer was ever given.-As however
no naval preparations appeared to be proceed
ing at that period i'll the port. of Spain, the mat
ter was allowed to remain there for time.
In the month of July, one thoufand eight
hundred and four, the government of Spain
gave aliurances of faithful and fettled neutrali-
ty, and diiavowed any orders to arm in their
ports; yet, in the fubfequent month, when
thefe afiurances were recent, aud confident
reliance repofed in them, the Britifh charge
d affairs received advice from the admiral com
handing his Maiefty's fhips off the port of Fer
rol, that achievements of folders and faors
| had arrived through Spain for the French fleets
| at Iouon and Ferrol. On this intelligence two
notes were prefented to the Spaniih minifter,
| but no antwer was received to either of them.
Towards the end of the month of September in
formation was received in London from the Bri-
tiih admiral tationed off Ferrol, that orders had
actually been given by the court of Madrid for
ar'ning, without lofs OF time, at that port, four
hPs of the line, two frigates, and other fmaer
veilels; that (accordng to his iutegence,) f.
milar orders had been given at Carthagena and
Cadiz, and particularly that three frt rate lhips
ofthe linewere directed to fail from the laG men
toned port; and as an additional proof of hof.
| tile intentions, that orders have been given to
| arm the packets as in time of war.
Hereupon there appeared direct and une-
| quivocal violation of the terms on which the
continuance of Peace had been acquiefced in {:
previous notice having been given TO the Span
lih government, that fate OF war would bethe
immediate confequence of fuch meafurc, his
maiefty on this event food almof pledged to
| an Infant commencement of hoitties the
king, however, preferred prefevering adher-
ence of the fyfem of moderation 70 congenial
to his diipohtion he refolved to leave fill an
opening for accommodation if Spain, fhould be
It'll allowed the liberty to adopt the courfe pre-
fcribed by JUN fenfe of her own interens and
fecurity.-1t is here worthy of remark, that the
groundeis and ungrateful imputations thrown
out againf his majefty's conduct by the Span
ith mnifefo, are built upon the foundation of
his forbearance alone. Had his Maiefy exer-
cited, without referve, his iuft rights of war,
the representation 70 fafely afierted, and 70 in
fdouny dwelt upon, could not have been even
fated under any colourabIe pretext the in
diligence, therefore, which pofponed the a6u-
al fate of war, was not only miireprefented, but
transformed into ground of complaint, becaufe
the forbearance extended to the agsreflors, was
not carried to dangerous and inadmifible ex-
IRENE. In confequence of the intelligence a.
bove ftated, directions were fent to his Maief-
tvs minifter at Madrid, to make reprelcntati-
ons and remonftrances to the Spanfh court, to
demand explanations relative to the exiting con-
| IL, c.,
all, to Unfit that the naval ornaments in their
ports, hould be placed on the fame footing as
| they were previous to the commencement of
| hoftiiities between Great Britain and France I:
and he was further directed, explicitly to fate
| to the Spanih government, that his maiefty felt
duty impofed upon him, of taking, without
delay, every meafure of precaution and par
ticuiarly, of giving orders to his admiral off the
port of Fefrol to prevent any of the SpaniGi
ihips ofwar falling from that port, or any adj
dtional fhips of war from entering it.
No fubftantial redrefs, no satisfactory expla-
nation, was afforded in confequence ofthefe re-
peatei approximations Whit, under the CO.
yer of his Majefy's forbearance, the enemy had
| received comfortable remttances of treafure,
together with the facility procuring other fup-
plies.
Every circumstance of the general conduct OF
| Spain was peculiarly calculated to excite the
vigilant attention OF the Brltilh Government
the removal ofSpanfh fhips out of their docks
to make room for the accommodation of the men
of war of France-the march of French troops
and fcamen through the Spanilh Territory
the equipment of naval ornaments at Ferrol-
the confederation that the junction of this ar
mamcnt with the French already in that har-
bour, would create a decided fuperiority OF
numbers over his majefy's fquadron cruiing
off that port-the additional naval exertions,
and the confequent increafe of expence which
this conduct of Spain necefiarily impofed up
on Great Britain. All thefe together required
thofe precautions, both of representation and
| action, to which his MajeRy had immediate re-
courfe. While official notice was given of his
Majefty's intention to adopt thofe necelIary mea-
flres, the Spaniih Government was at the fame
time allured, that his Majefy till felt an earneft
defire to maintain good understanding with
Spain but that the continuance of fuch fate
of things NUT be fubje6t to the condition of alb.
flaming, on their part, from all hottie prepa-
ration, and on making, without helitation or
reierve, that full and explicit difclofure of the
nature and extent of the fulfilling engagements
with France, which had hitherto been 70 fire.
quently and 70 fruitlefsly demanded.
The precautions adopted by his Mljeay were fucll
only be deemed indifpenfaby necefIary guard a
gsnlt the augmentation by Spain Of her Of ma
val preparation during the difeuoH, and againn the
poble consequences Of the fate arrival of the expect