Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-08-07


security for his person TO any amount. &
he wonld add to this the security osthe notes
proposed but that he was determined to
undergo every personal suffering rattle /
than submit to augment the amount which
the Spanish government was already in
d bted to him by making the deposit reqai
red of him. seeing that he could not obtain
any sort of satisfaction, and saw no hopes of
payment of the immense sums already due
to him, as his majesty had in September
preceding. issued a royal order, declaring
all debts or obligations of the government,
or contracts made, prior to December,
1914, should he cons dered as belonging to
the public debt which was expressly
saying that those debts would never be
paid, as the evidences of the pu. lie debt
OF the govern ;1ent was at that moment sell
ling from so to so per cent. discount.
II was observed, that the royal order con-
tanned an exception of debts to foreigners.
ard that his debt was of that kind. To
this, Mr.. Meade replied, that it was true
this exception was made in the Gazette,
but it was deception, since his own claims
had been suspended, and in Seville, where
large sums were due to him for subsistence
to the Spanish army, the royal intendant
and treasurer, had in writing declared that
Mr.. Meade's claims zvere inciuded in the
decree, and that he must apply to the di-
rectors OF the public debt, though he had
explicitly proved himself to be native Of
the u. S. and had always maintained that
character.
The auditors reply was, that he had no.
thing to do with the justice or injustice of
IRE case, that his duty was to execute the
orders OF the king his master, and that
Mr.. Meade must go 10 prison, or pay down
the sum required into the royal treasury
lie was accordingly conducted to the cas-
tie OF ST. Catalina.
The Consulate was thus violated in
manner nprecedented-Mr Meade, how
ever, before he left his house, directed
Mr.. James Robinett to take charge of the
seas, and transact the business, which he
did TIL Mr.. Cathcart arrived, in short
time alter. aud Immediately presented the
following: [.4urora.
CONSULATE OF THE U. STATES.
James Leandcr Cathcart. Consul of HE
United States at Cadiz, to his En-
ceHeney tie Marquis dc CastiNdorius.
eaiitaiis general and commander in CHIT
Of me troviace Of .dndaiusia and gover-
SIR,
On my return to this city on the 18th
inst. learnt the most extraordinary infor-
nation that Mr.. Richard Meade, citi-
zen OF tho Unit d States, and pro-consul
thereof, IN my absence, should have been
required by II. M to pay a certain sum of
money, or TO give such security as should
be approved by the royal consulate Of this
city, tor the eventual payment thereof, &
in defect Of both, to have his person Sc
curcd-that the said consulate not appro-
wing OF the security of said Mr.. Meade,
your Excellency had ordered him to be
confined in the Castle OF st. Catalina where
he continues to be he'd, under charge Of a
military guard. 1t is not possible for me,
sir, to express my sarprize at this outrage,
after having seen by the most nndeniable
documents, presented to me by Mr..
Meade, that II. Z. M. had, by his own
royal sign manual, acknowledged the a.
mou9t IN question to be considered as de-
posted in the royal treasury, and that IN
der date of 18th Aug. last year. royal
orderto your eXcellency's predecessor was
communicated in the following words, to
wit -" His majesty HIS been pleased to
order by the royal decree, under his own
signature-that in the mean time, and un-
til the necessary funds shall be torthcom-
ing TO realize this d. post, it is his maies-
tvs desire, that the governor or Su6-deie-
gate OF the royal revenue at Cadiz, shall
suspend all further proceedings against
Mr.. Meade, and that the process be re-
turned to the Console, to be there recorded
and held in view for the execution of the
finai sentence that may issue upon an ap-
peal" 1t seems Incredible. that while
this alIAir should be depending under an
appeal before the supreme Consejo of the
war. that such an order as that now COM
planned Of, should have been issued in vir-
tue OF secret proceedings held in the de-
PARTNERS OF State, and that, without any
decision having been had uponthe subject
IN the Corscjo Sufrero, and that the pre-
text alledged by the person demanding
the money, which produced this order,
should be that Mr.. Meade was about run
ming away from this city; and that, there
fore, 1t became necessary to secure his
person. Your ExcelIcncy must see what
little foundation there can be for such an
assertion and even admitting it to be true,
1T must appear no less extra ordinary, that
a citizen of the United States should be ar
rested for tho paymcnt ola sum of money.
which his n1ajes;y himself acknowledges 70
have in his possession. The case is certain
ly one OF the most extraordinary that is TO
be found in the history Of Europe and I.
IN rny Official capacity, as consul for the
United States Of America, and acknow-
lodged As such by II. &. M. being esDcci-