Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-05-02


that the king would authorize some per-
son to ask explanations at Washington,
was all thatthe Spanish government had
chosen to communicate to me, The
count assured me ofthe personal anxiety
Of the minister TO arrange every thing
satisfactorily between the two countries ;
that his hopes were strong of being able
TO effect il; that this business of the re-
turned note was embarrassing, and if
went away in consequence of its not be-
ing received, that what he believed to be
the wish Of the United States and of his
government, and almost all other pow
crs, might be frustrated. Matters were
in bad state at present, and this would
make them worse. To this answered,
b in general terms, that matters must be-
come worse before they became better /;
that the government of the United States
had every disposition to be friendly with
Spain, and had evinced it in variety of
modes; for myself l had personally
every wish to be the instrument of pro-
noting good will between the two ma
tons. He said this government had a
different impression.-l was very sorry
for it; unfortunately the conduct of the
Spanish government had compelled me
to speak with plainness and openness
which was disagreeable, as they were
not accustomed to it. In the course of a
long conversation, it occurred to me that
this dispute about the note might be
made useful, as l found the Spanish
government anxious to avoid receiving
1t; and, contrary to my expectations,
DESTROYS that | should remain here. /
believed it practicable to accelerate
their movements in our affairs, without
yielding the point in dispute. With
this belief stated to count Bulgary,
that, if the duke of San Fernando would
officially say to me at once, that general
Wives was going Immediately to the
United States, with ample authority to
arrange the business of the convention,
and that it was the particular wish of his
malesty's government that the letter of
the 18th should be withheld; and that
all matters relating to the convention
should be discussed in Washington, not
outstanding had positive instructions
to demonstrate ON the subject of the.
grants, and the conduct of Spain in re-
lation to them, would take the RESPONSE
bility of retaining the obnoxious paper
in my hands, until compelled by events
to deliver it, or until / should receive
further advices from the President.
The duke must understand that this was
done with perfect understanding that
I insisted upon the right returning the
paper, and should exercise that right,
whenever ! deemed it necessary. The
count left me with the expectation of
making this arrangement. A few days
afterwards we had another interview he
told me that the duke would write to tell
me of the appointment of general Wives,
and of the intention of sending him i'm
mediately to Washington; that he would
have full powers, sc. but that the duke
thought he could not advert particularly
to the remonstrance, or the correspon-
dence in relation to it, without comment
ing uponit,. and this he desired to avoid.
/ answered, that could not tell how
should act until saw the dukes note
If l found in it a sufficient justification
for OBTAINING the remonstrance, would
do so, and would look at it with view to
find that justification. The duke knew,
from me, that / was instructed to re-
monstrate earnestly on the subject ofthe
grants, and might judge, from my man
ner Of performing that duty, of the SEN
timents of the American government
A week elapsed after this last CONVEX
sation, without my hearing from the
Secretary of State. l called on the
Russian charge d'affaires to say, that |
was surprised at this delay, and that |
should certainly return the remonstrance,
If did not hear from the duke in a few
days. He saw the Secretary of State in
consequence of this visit, who assured !
him that his personal indisposition had
prevented him from sending me the in
tended note. On the 18th December, |
received the dukes note; a copy of
which is mclosed, marked No. l; you
will see that it is not what ! had reason !
to expect. He does not request sus-
pension of any correspondence, or say
that it is thc'wish of the Spanish govern
ment that every thing should be left to
the negotiation OF general Wives. He
merely states, that, in his view, to con-
tinue discussion here, would be super
Auous, and likely to embarrass the direct
negotiation. Perhaps, considering their
peculiar mode of doing business, had
no right to calculate upon any thing
more. Nevertheless, l am not at all
satisfied with it; and had ], consulted my