Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-16

By an order of the tribunal OF commerce
at Cadiz, to which he was, as as isnre
responsible, he was directed to raw Ms
sum into the kings treasury. john
Nc Dermot as agent for Hunter, one &
the English Bankrup's. nevertheless brat
suit against Nj. Meade Tor the same
$1,000 dollars-and upon failure to pay
them, and an allegation that he was r.
b.ut to leave Spain, Meade was, by d.
rection Of the same tribunal, sent to pr
son, where he has remained ever since.
The real secret of the transaction is
| simply this: Mr.. Meade held securi-
ties ol the Spanish government Tor mo-
ney due to him upon his former contracts
and il was in these securities, and not
out of the actual funds Of the estate OF
which he was the assignee, thai he made
the payment of The $4,000 dollars into the
royal treasury. But the treasurer had
acknowledged, by his official receipt, the
paymen. was equivalent to specie, aud
that he would be answerable for the a.
mount in specie, to the order Of the til
bunal of commerce.
McDermot as the agent of Hunter, Is
not willing to accept Spanish government
securities in lieu Of the $4,000 cash re.
naming in Meadc's hands as assignee Of
Glass, and the government OF Spain not
being able to pay its debt to Meade, they
keep him in prison to satisfy the Bri.
tieh agent Upon the whole therefore,it
is obvious that the Spanish authorities
detain Mr.. Meade on account ct the in
solyency OF their own public treasury,
AMI traasfer tohi responsibility which
properly belongs to the royal treasurer,
who is one of their own officers Cas-
lillian pride will not permit the Spanish
ministry to acknowledge the Paucity Of
their funds, and in the correspondence
with Mr. Erving, ctr minister at Ma
drid, they shuttle him of upon various
pretex,s, very disgracefal to the dignity
Of his catholic majesty.
Among the documents relating to Mr.,
Meade, we find the following which does
not appear to have the least connection
with the subject. How it got there we
know no,--but it is evidently asrray.-
We are glad by the way, to see it. De-
cause it marks spirit and iirmness In
our government tiat are highly conmen'
dable:
Mr.. IRVING TO Mr.. cEyALLos.
| .Nadrrd, Oct. rs, 1916.
| To his excellency Don Pedro CeyalIO,,
first Secretary OF State, &c.
sIR-By your excellency's note of
the 17rh inst. in reply TO mine Of Sept.
a6, respecting the proclamation blockade
OF General MoriIlo, and the raSages on
the American commerce which are COM
uniting under it, am tsld that his ma
iiesty has ordered that information shall
b. taken (se piia mtorme) Of the tribunal
of admiralty.
That General Morillo, has issued such
a proclamation as ] have described in my
note Of September Goth, is fact, Of uni
yersal nOtorieiy-yOur excellency has
had before you, long since. the CORES
pondenee between the American secre.
iary of state, and Mr.. Onis on the sub.
ject, and | have transmitted to you
copy of the letter Of Don Francisco Nor.
talvo, vice roy Of Santa Fe, to the Ame-
rIcan commissioner, Mr. Hughes, in
which the existence of the blockade is adj
mitted, aud in which the American 60
vernment is referred for redress to his ca
tholic majesty. 1t was therefore that,
by the orders OF my government, wrote
to you on the subject. With the fact
which l have above stated before YOU, I
am wholly at loss to imagine what
kind Of information the tribunal OF admi-
rally can afford, which may regulate the
decision Of his majesty on the subject.
The tribunal cannot deny the existence
r of the proclamation it cannot shew
: tina. the proclamation is legal-it cannot
deny that American vessels have been
taken under the proclamation, it can
not contest the ight Of the American &C..
. vernment to demand the restitution Of
: such vessels.
In fine, sir, it is my duty to assure
you, that any demur or delay in afording
the satisfaction demanded in case OF
this principal importance, cannot but BE-
very sen'ibly hlt BY the government OF
the United States.
: renew to you assurances OF the vs.
. ~ distinguished consideration with which
l am yours, &c.
e G. w. ERvING.