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

every poihble AID might be given to their jucC-
trent IN pronouncing on the merits of the whole
OF the queition of the war with SPAIN He had
oniyto obferve further, that fome of the motions
a'ked for Observation-Disclosures heads, which
might be had under one; fome aiked for infor.
nation that he was apprehenfve could not he
granted, and Others for what might be claiicd
under fmaller heads. Ii, however, the motion
ihould fugget any other obtervations to his
mind, while under reading, he lhould again
ihortly trouble the Houfe.
The queition was now put on the fri mott
on, viz
1T. That there be laid before the Houfe CO.
pies or extracts of all dispatches or inRruaions
from his Majeity's Secretary of fate, refpeeting
the iuccours granted by Spain to France, in the
month of January, 1903, together with an ac-
count OF the diicuiiions with Spain refpetting
the fame.-Agreed to.
Cd. Copy or any extract of dfpatches from
MIR. frere concerning the remontrances of the
9th September, and of all explanations, and all
aniwers from Spain, refpetting the paiiage
through her territory OF troops or feamen, dur
ing the war with France.-Agreed to.
Sd. An account of all advances of money
made or agreed to be made by Spain to France
together with copies or extracts of the inltruc
tons of our Minifer relative to the Gme.-A-
greed to.
4th An account of explanations given in an
liver to Lord Hawkefbury's letter of the ON
Jan: 1904, relatlve to the pecuniary fuppy at
forded by SPAN to France.-Agreed to.
3th. An account, or copy, or extract, of any
convention or agreement, by which Great Bri-
tain might be engaged with re(pea to the neu
trality of Spain.
On the queiton being put on this motion.
Mr.. Pitt role" With reipea to that point,
SIR, 1t is of 10 much importance that take this
opportunity to draw the attention of the HouGs
to 1t, being periuaded that both this Houfe and
the hon. gentleman will deem it not an une0ep-
tial circunitance to that enlightened deIiberati-
on To which we all point, that / can fafelv aver.
that mott grois miiapprehention, or mifrepre.
ientation, has eXtenhvely obtained on this TO-
PIC. Inc hon. gentleman can, nevertheless,
IL ne chule, preis his motion. will attempt
no control as to that. Bat this I can tell him.
that when he has made his motion, and were
inc Houie TO agree to it, knowing what do.
very well know that there could not he :, far.
mai return made.-With refpect to any conyen-
tion at all, further take this opportunity to
idy' 'hat trange rs It may appear, and however
the term has been employed, and nfiRed on
upon one hand, adopted or not relifted ON the
other, there was no fuch convention, compact.
or agreement, DIS that obvioullv referred to bv
the hon. gentleman nay, nor any paper or do
cument whatever that by the mott TRAINED con-
itrucfion could be 70 denomnated. Very far
from mat, there was no fuch convention ever
thought OF by this country; for indeed fuch
convention would have been repugnant to all
juf policy.''
Mr.. Fox" Sir, think with the ripht hon
gentleman, that the motion now before YOU is
OF very great importance, mott 70, of the whole.
But as TO The exitenc of a convention, am ut
tery uniformed. do not, however, mean 70
lay, that the hatement which we have iuft heard.
is not accurate it is probable that there was no
convention. What | beg the Houfe to recollea
,s' that whether wrongly or deiignedly, Spain
mas limited on convention; and if from mad
Her'ehce' Mr.: trere never fat the minifter of
SPAN right, furey, Sir, it is an odd fort of in
adVertence. | believe the hon. gentleman is. or
was, member of this Houfe. / don't know.
though; for, probably l think of the ambafTa
dor, inftead OF the charge d'affaires. Howe
yer, Sir, would think any man not half 70 wife
as the members of this Houfe mutt be fuppo-
led to be, would have deprived the minifter of
SPAN o. the advantage of term which was
not correct, but yet which gave to Spain de-
cided advantage in difcuflion. If the term was
not correct, If there was no convention, WHY
did not Mr. Frere obviate the effects of his own
lnadVertency? Mr. Frcre might have lapfed
once, twice, thrice, into an inadvertent mode
- 'fNNN''' cN's Npuil lC always lmpOillDIe /!
at leait iliouId not have thought that he would
leave for ever in the pohef1ion of his antagoniA
term which, oftfelf, conferred on the reafon
lngs OF that antagonift their principal title to
the merit ofjuftnefs. IF man have A difpute
with me, and employ feveral times a particular
term, which has no appropriate connection
with the fubject in difpute, do leave him in
potieiiion of his term without explanation
No, certainly; refolve the difpute into its ma
tural elements.-So here, / would have thought
that Mr.. Frere, feeling the obvons i'll effects of
having inadvertently called this (whatever it isl
convention, would not have left the term in
the poiieibon of Mr.. CevaloS, of whole en-
ployment of it he had fuch irkfome illuftrati
ons. But whatever the document to which we
are now all of us underltood to allL4, with,
Sir, 10 fee it we will Judge of it when it is
before the Houfe"
Mr. Pitt" Whoever, Sir fhould ponefs e.
very information on this topic, would think
with me, that there is in reality no convention
at the lame time it would be perceived, that
"hat dId pats ON this fubject amounted TO the
point IN diipute. Spain has aferted the exit
renee or convention, an agreement of neutra-
MY, OF iuch and iuch terms not ftatement of
recognition of neutrality. At the other time
alluded to, a convention had not necenarily
taken place. There never was any recognition
OF neutrality There were the written condi-
tons, indeed, neceHary to the acquiefcence of
his Majefty, in the fyfem of forbearance. II