Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-02-07

IL ~ iftatl announced That the ktnI Will Visit
Scotland year, and that he will afterwards ID D.
cecd TO his Hanoycran Doniniuns.
On Thursday 18th November, Francis Jeffrey, |
Esq. was by the unanimous vote OF the Nations, re-.
elected Lord Rector of the University Of Glasgow !o
the ensuing YEAR
Recent letters f,om Malta, announce the de
srnc ton OF the runisan feet OH Tuns, in gale IL
Wind when, il is said, all hands ON boar, psrisheJ
amounting to two thousand persons.
SiXty-hvc miners, were suddenly buried on the
<sui November, IN the mines of Rancie, near Folk
by the falling in Of the earth above Fo t,nately
however, after digging for 10 hours, they were ali
| got OCT umhurt.
Letters received from China and Batavia, To the
%f'n JnY state that no less than seventeen thou
SUM ot me inhabitants had been carried OF by the
cholera mor,us. The rice crop had failed, and i'm
consequence, the government had prohibited all ex-
| po, iaton. TN fow M.
CLAIMS UNDER THE SPANISH TREATY
Having seen extracts ofletters published in
the Eastern papers, protesting to give an ac-
count OF points decided by the Board of Com
missoners, (now in session in this city,) for
deciding ON claims against Spain, under the
tate treaty, which extracts We're generally CO.
pied into other prints, we addressed note to
the Secretary of the Board requesting from
hlm such Information as should afford lust
view otthe business before the Board. That
information is contained in the following o.
bi'6lugre reply from 1r. Watkins, which can
moi an to be highly interesting to all who feel
any the least interest in this subject:
wAsHISeroN, 2GrA JAN. 1929.
.'ieSsrs. Gales s, .Seaton:
Gentemen: In reply to your note of this
morning, asking information concerning GER
tam reports of decisions, which have been
pnbhshed IN several papers, made by the
Commission for the adjustment of Claims nm
der the late treaty with Spain, communicate
To you with great pleasure, a brief 'abstract,
tinr the lahorious duties ofny Office will not
afford me leisure to do rnore) of all that has
oeen done from which, you may Yourselves
Judge, how far these reports of their proceed
| ngs are to be trusted
In constituting the treaty, the Board have
settled this general proposition, and no oiher-
| That, to entltlc the claimant To- have his me-
mortal receioed for examination, he must set
iorth case, the facts of which, ii granted to
De true, would have given him Il lust claim
against Spain, if this treaty had not been
made.
In applying thls general rul-, the Board
nave decided, that tee present government oc
| SPAN, one of the contracting parties in this
| treaty,ls not responsible for seizures made lv
the trench, in that part of the Spanish terrific
ry which, at the time of the seizure. was in
the occupation fthe French army, France
beng then at war with Spain. They have
therefore, rejected all claims OF this descrip
I Sla-
bastians, Bhboa, &C.
They have also decided, that the mere cir
cumstance OF carrying within the Spanish
territory, as prize ofwar, American property
captured by the French, on the high seas,
Goes not, 81 ilSej constitute lust claim a
Salnst SPAN. All memorials, therefore rep
rescntin5 naked case of this kind. have. been
rejected. But if any act is affirmed of the
government or agents of Spain, which can in
any manner connect Spain with the transac-
ton, or even show that she had knowledge of
its existence, while the property was in the
possession OF the captors, and within her ter
rltory, then such memorials are received.
| Another consequence of this general propo-
sition IS, that the condemnation of American
property captured by the French and carried
INTO the Spanish territory, and condemned
While there by Courts established in French
territory, does not ofitseif form a inst ground
OF claim against Spain. And again. that iniu
ries suffered by American citizens, whilst en-
gagged IN violating the municipal laws Of Spain.
within her acknowledged limits, or while no.
VerIng on hsr coasts for tllat purpose, do not
constitute lust claim against Spaio.
In asccrtalning the amount of claims, the
Board have also decided-that alleged losses.
which are not the direct and necessary ,.onse'
qience of the original wrong, ought not TO be
allowed; and they have rejected all claims
Tor supposed and Hypothetical injuries
winch are denominated claims for consequent
M 5lnageS, to distinguish them from claims
for direct and Immediate injuries.
They have further decided not to rec eve
any claims for injuries to the property of
American citizens whether vessrs or cargoes, !
which has been purposrly and falsely docu-
me"ted by them, as the property ofthe citizens
or subjects of some other power. The opera
! ton Of fins rIip ilxy q,
! American citizens who claim for losses sustain
! cd while trading in the character OF Swedish
subjects, and under iho protection of the
Swedish flag.
The question, whether claims for breach Of
contract made by an American citizen with
the Spanish government are, or are not, in
Guided within the treaty, is yet before the
Board, undecided. Arguments have been
filed on both sides Of the question, and Com
mssloners have had them under examination :;
put no opinion has yet been expressed or
animated, further than TO signify TO the couH-
sci for claimants that certain points had
not been satisfactorily argued by them,
and that further time would be allowed them
| 10 furnish additional arguments upon such
! point.
foh will readily perceive the difficulty of
giving detailed account of the decisions in
each particular case, since the number of me-
MORALS already examined exceeds five hnn-
dred, and their separate history would occupy
more time than can spare, and more room
than yon could assign to the subject without
belng OF any correspondent utility to- the
public.
| You are at liberty to make any use of this
communication which you may think proper.
am, &c. Il. WATKINS.
AT meeting Of the Republican members of
both houses Of the legislature of the state of
New York, now in session. held at the ST.