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^ 
 
A N 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 T O 
 
 f 
 
 THE PARLIAMENT AND PEOPLE 
 
 O F 
 
 H 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN, 
 
 ©N THE PAST AND PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS 
 
 BETWEEN 
 
 . SPAIN AND GREAT BRITAIN, 
 
 RESPECTING THEIR AMERICAN POSSESSIONS, 
 
 < . .;::-,jr- 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED J?OR J. DEBRETT, OPPOSITE BURHNGTON- 
 HQUSE, PICCADILLY. 
 
 
ADDRESS, &c. 
 
 T, 
 
 HE conqueft of Jamaica in i%5, oc- 
 cafioned a great emigration of Britiih ad- 
 venturers to that ifland, and from thence 
 to the Mofquito Shores, the country form- 
 ing the Bay of Campechey, and the Ea- 
 ftern parts ot Yucatan ; in each of which 
 they made confiderable fettlements, and 
 from thence carried on a great trade with 
 Jamaica in mahogany, logwood, other 
 wood, and tortoife-fhell, in exchange for 
 various neceflaries imported from that 
 ifland. 
 
 Thofe fettlements were made under 
 the direction and fan<5Hon of his maTeftv 
 Charles II. through his governors of 
 Jamaica, who, as occafion required, re- 
 
 B ported 
 
t 2 1 
 
 ported to his niajony and the privy- 
 council tiie progrefs they made, and at- 
 tainnrient of ilrength and ftabihty, under 
 the proclamations ifliied for their govern- 
 ment and fecurity. 
 
 Thus cflablifhed in poiiefTion of thofe 
 countries, rivers, adjeicent iflands, quays, 
 wood-trade, and liflieries, the Englifh 
 continued in full right to occupy the 
 fame when, in the year 1670, a treaty 
 was entered into between Spain and 
 Great-Britain for fettling peace in Ame- 
 rica ; by the 8th article of which it is 
 l\ipulated, that " The king of Great- 
 Britain fhall hold and enjoy all the lands, 
 countries, &c. he is now puflefTed of in 
 America/' And by article 15th it is de- 
 clared, that ** This treaty fliall no ways 
 derogate, from any preeminence, right, 
 or fovereignty which either king has on 
 the feas or frefli waters of America/' 
 By this treaty the rights, fovereignty, 
 and poflelTions of the Englilh, in and to 
 the epctenfive tra6t then poffefled by them 
 
 on 
 
 I 
 
L 3 1 
 
 on the Eaftern and Northern creeks and 
 fivers called Logwood Rivers on the 
 bay of Campechy, all the tracts ponefTed 
 on the bay of Honduras, or Eafl: fide of 
 Yucatan, and the Mofquito kingdom, 
 were deafly and fully confirmed. 
 
 In the year 1680, his Catholic Majefty 
 Charles II. by another treaty of peace 
 and friendihip, renewed and confirmed 
 that of 1^70, with his Britannic Majefly 
 Charles II. 
 
 The Tfeaty of Utrecht in 1713, fal- 
 lacioufly mentioned in the late Spanifh 
 manifefto, and feveral times fince by tha 
 Spanifh advocates in the daily papers, 
 as extending the territorial claims of the 
 crown of Spain in America, in truth, by 
 articles 8th and 15th, only confirms 
 equally the territorial rights of both 
 crowns in Americaj the fame as fettled 
 by the treaties of 1670 and 1680 ; that 
 is, navigation, commerce, and the pof- 
 f^flions of Great-Britain and Spain are 
 
 B a continued 
 
 1 
 
 n 
 
C 4 3 
 
 continued to each refpe6lively, as tliey 
 flood in the time of King Charles II. of 
 Spain, and King Charles II. of Greats 
 Britain, as above recited. 
 
 I 
 
 Thofe treaties had not the defired ef- 
 fect of fecuring peace : the Spanifh go- 
 vernment encouraged their fubje6ls and 
 the Spanifli guarda-coailas to make fre- 
 quent attacks on our fettlements at Cam- 
 pechy, by which much property and 
 many lives were loft ; and in 1688 the 
 fettlers there were reduced in number to 
 about 200. Thofe few, though ftrength- 
 cned by a confiderable battery and 
 block-houfes, and very expert in the ufe 
 of fire-arms, with which they were well 
 fupplied, were rendered weak, by the 
 natiure of their avocation of wood-cut- 
 ting, in the various diftri6ts which they 
 occupied, requiring them to be difperfed, 
 and not very quickly aflembled together 
 when alarmed by an approach of the 
 Spaniards. Thus haraffed in violation 
 of the treaties between the two crowns, 
 
 too 
 
*< 
 
 C 3 3 
 
 loo reinotely fitiiatcd from their faithful 
 friends the Mofquilo Indians, and not 
 fiifficluniiy fiipportcd by the government 
 of Jamaica, they were forced to withdraw 
 themfelves from Campcehey, and joined 
 the EngliQi fettlers on the Eailern parts 
 of Yucatan, under prote6lion of the 
 Mof(juito-men ; by wliich thofe vakiable 
 trails of coall and country evacuated by 
 them were loft to Great-Britain. The 
 Spaniards, encouraged by this fuccefs, 
 and finding the Englifh miniflry apjja- 
 rently ignorant of the vahie, and in- 
 attentive to the iofs recently fullained ; 
 regardlefs of the aforci'ald treaties, had 
 the temerity to attack at different times 
 the Englifli fettlements on Yucatan ; but 
 as often as this happened, though the 
 Britilh government paiFively fubmitted to 
 thofe infults, the Mofquito Indians join- 
 ed the bay-men in repelling the Dons, 
 and in recftabliflilng the Englifh fettlers 
 there. In 1751 tlie Spaniards, with a 
 view the more eafily to interrupt the 
 communication between the Englifli fet- 
 tlers 
 
 i 
 
z « n 
 
 iters arid the Mofiiuito Indians, bcgart ^ 
 fmall lettlement, and built a fort chiefly 
 of wood lined with l)ricks at Port Omoa< 
 a fine harbour for fliips, fitnated 68 
 leagues Weftward of Cape Honduras* 
 and Rationed a guarda-coalla there 
 mounting i6 carriage-guns, commanded 
 by John Jofeph de Pahuo, who, during 
 the peace, committed many violent, out- 
 rageous depredations on Englifh fliips 
 with impunity, though reprefentations 
 thereof were made by the fufFerers, and 
 alfo by R. Jones, Efq. then governor of 
 the Mofquito country, to the governor of 
 Jamaica, and to the Britifli minifters, who 
 either would not, or could not obtain 
 fatisfa6tion for thofe injuries. Elated by 
 this, and their fuccefs at Campechey, 
 and confidering all treaties with heretics 
 as mere empty forms, the Spaniards, 
 during peace 1 759, made a fudden pow-* 
 erful attack on the Britifh inhabitants 
 of Yucatan, who, unable quickly to ai^ 
 femble in fufficient number, or to pro- 
 cure the Mofquito Indians in time to re- 
 pel 
 
 1 
 
 

 C 7 n 
 
 pel them, were obliged to retire to their 
 certain and ufual alyhini the Mofquito 
 fhore, where they employed tliemfelves 
 in cutting mahogany and gathering far- 
 faparilla. They exported from thence 
 in one year 800,000 fupercifial feet of 
 mahogany, 200,000 lb. of farfaparilla, 
 and ■» 0,000 lb. of tortoife-ihells, befides 
 many other valuable commodities, alfo 
 produ6ls of the Mol'cjuito country. 
 
 A paufc here feems necefTary, to exa- 
 mine what treaties have been thus vio- 
 lated, and to determine whether the ar- 
 ticles in them, relative to the fecurity of 
 private property, be fufficiently clear and 
 decifive on that fubjedt ; and to ferve as 
 a criterion in a further detail of tranfac- 
 tions between Spain and Great Britain. 
 Treaty 1667, article 36, fays " If it fliall 
 ** happen hereafter that any difference 
 " fall out (which God forbid) between 
 " the king of Great Britain, and the king 
 ** of Spain, whereby the mutual com- 
 <* merce and good correfpondence may be 
 
 <* endangered 
 
 
C 8 -2 
 
 i 
 ii 
 
 U 
 
 ! 
 
 •• endangered, the refpective fubjc6ts and 
 ♦* people of each party, fliall have notice 
 « thereof given them in time, tliat is to fay, 
 " the fpace of fix months to tranfport 
 ** their merchandize and effecls, without 
 <* giving them in that time any moleftation 
 ** or trouble, or retaining or embarking 
 " their goods or perfons/' 
 
 Treaty of Navigation and Commerce of 
 November 1713, article 6th. ** The fub- 
 ** je6fs of each Ihall enjoy an entire, fecure, 
 ** and unmolefled ufe of the navigation 
 *' and commerce, as long as the peace 
 ** (hall continue. And it is further agreed, 
 *^ that according to the contents of the 
 ** 56th article of the treaty of 1667, after 
 ** the declaration of fuch rupture, the 
 « fpace of fix months fliall be allowed ta 
 ** the fubje6fs of each part}^ refiding in 
 •* the dominions of the other, in which 
 they lliall be permitted to withdraw 
 with their families, goods, wealth, 
 " merchandizes, effects, and fliips, and 
 ** to tranfport them, after having paid 
 ** the due and accuRomed impofts, either 
 . " by 
 
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 by fea or land, to whatfocver place they 
 pleafe ; as they fliall alfo be fuffcred to 
 fell and alienate their moveable and 
 immoveable goods, and freely and with- 
 out any dillurbanje, to carry away the 
 price of them ; nor iliall their goods, 
 wealth, merchandizes, or effects, much 
 lejs their pcrfons, be in the mean time, de^ 
 iained, or molejled, by any feiziire or 
 arrefl," 
 
 Article 7th. " And it is fm'ther agreed, 
 that all the lofles wliich the fubjedb of 
 either crown fliall duly prove, that 
 they have fuftained in the beginning 
 of the late war, (contrary to the tenor 
 of the 36th article of the above menti- 
 oned treaty) whether moveable or im- 
 moveable goods, (hall be reciprocally 
 made good, without any delay to them, 
 their lawful procurators, heirs, or thofe 
 to whom their caufe is entrufted ; and 
 reftitution (hall be made of thofe goods, 
 whether lands, ouildings, or inherit- 
 
 G *' ance. 
 
C lo 3 
 
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 i* 
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 ancc, or of what fort foever tliey are, 
 which remain and were confifcatcd ; and 
 the j nil; and lawful price of thofe goods 
 which cannot be recovered, (hall be paid. 
 And their majefties have articled and 
 agreed, that the faid payments, the 
 pretenfion being proved, fliall faithfully 
 be performed and made by their trea- 
 furers on each part." 
 
 ■i I 
 
 Mi 
 
 The Treaty of peace and friendfliip 
 concluded in July in the fame year, 1713, 
 at Utrecht, Article 18th, " But if thedif-.' 
 " putes which are compofed, fliouid at 
 *' any time be renewed between their 
 *' Royal Majefties, and break out into open 
 *' war, the fhips, merchandizes, and goods, 
 *' both moveable and immoveable, of the 
 ** fubje6ls on both fides, which fhall be 
 '* found to be and remain in the ports 
 " and dominions of the adverfe party, 
 " Iliall not be confifcatcd, or fuffer any 
 " damage, but the fpace of fix months 011 
 '* the one part and on the other, fliall be 
 " granted to the fubjects of each, in order 
 
 "to 
 
 I 
 
 ' 
 
 IM 
 
11 
 
 J 
 
 7 
 
 * 
 
 " to their felling the aforefald things, or 
 ** any other their effeds, or carrying away 
 " or tranfporting the fame from thence, 
 " wliltherfoever they pleafe, without any 
 " moleflation/' 
 
 The above articles were renewed and 
 confirmed, by the gth article of tlie trea- 
 ty concluded in the year 17^0. A reflec- 
 tion here naturally arlfes, liow little eife6l 
 treaties have had on the condu6t of Spain, 
 or in prevention of the many ravages 
 complained of. Thofe hoftilities of the 
 Spaniards againft the Britifli fubjecfs in 
 Honduras in the year ^y^^g, continued 
 there, and Spain did not declare war until 
 January i76'2, when the family compa6l 
 gave vigour to a jundtion with France, 
 This glorious war in 1763, gave Great 
 Britain power to didfate her own terms 
 of peace, notwithflanding which, the 
 ifland of Cuba was reitored to Spain; 
 the Floridas, of little importance, held ; 
 and in place of a fpirit of indignation at 
 the cruelties perpetrated in Campechey 
 
 C « and 
 
c t2 :i 
 
 and Honduras, demanding a derclidion 
 of thofe places, and falisfadtion for the 
 injuries fuftained there, our negotiators 
 overlooked tliofe infuUs, and meanly per- 
 mitted t^le feventcenth article to be foill- 
 ed into the treaty oi peace. 
 
 
 
 The fccond article of this treaty con- 
 firms all former treaties between Spain 
 and Great Britain ; conftquently, by re- 
 newing and confirming that of 16*70, the 
 eighth article of which fccures to Great 
 Britain all her porieflions at that time in 
 America, all the tra6ts at Yucatan and the 
 iflands adjacent, then occupied by the 
 Englifli, were thereby confirmed to the 
 crown of Great Britain. Yet by the 17th 
 article of the fame treaty, " his Britannic 
 *' Majelly fhall caufe to be demoliflied all 
 *' the fortifications which his fubjecls fhall 
 ** have ere6fed in the Bay of Honduras, 
 '* ami other places of the territory of Spo"\ 
 *' in that part of the zvorld." 
 
 " And his Catholic Majefty fliall not 
 " permit his Britannic Majefty's fubje6ts, 
 
 or 
 
c 13 n 
 
 -) 
 
 
 
 *« or their workmen, to be dlflurbcd or 
 " molelled under any pretence what- 
 *' ever, in the faid places, in their occii- 
 *' pation of cutting and carrying away 
 *' logwood ; and for tliis purpoip they 
 *' may build without hindrance, and oc- 
 " cupy without interruption, the houfes 
 " and magazines neccITary for them, for 
 " their families and eflecls. And liis 
 ** Catholic Majefly aflurcs to them by 
 " this article, the full enjoyment of thofe 
 *^ advantages and powers on the Spanidi 
 *' coafts and territories, as above tiipur 
 ^' la ted." 
 
 
 Thus, in the mode of exprcflion, by 
 joining ** The Bay of Honduras" with 
 " and other places of the territories of 
 " Spain j" the Spanifli negociators con- 
 found the one with the otlier. Be this 
 as it will, a conqueror fubmitting to the 
 ignominious terms of relinquifliing, or 
 rendering doubtful the right of fove- 
 reignty in that country, difarming, and 
 confiding the prefervation of the exift- 
 
 ence 
 
c: H 3 
 
 (i 
 
 I ■ i; M 
 
 ence of the Britilh inhabitants of it to an 
 enemy, was an extraordinary conduct, 
 big with evil confeqiiences, as inexplica- 
 ble as it was to confine the general right 
 they had always exercifed of cutting and 
 carrying away the mahogany, and all 
 forts of wood they defired, to the cut- 
 ting and carrying away logwood alone. 
 
 Tlie Britilh fubjccts, allured by his 
 Catholic Maiedy's eno;acremcnt to his 
 Britannic Majcdy in this Treaty for their 
 faiety, and the folemn aOurance given 
 there in to themfelves by the honour of the 
 crown of Spain being pledged for their 
 future fecurity, returned to their ancient 
 efiablifhments in the Bay of Honduras; 
 and, though left defencelefs, purfued with 
 avidity their ufual occupation, without 
 any apprehenfion of danger. Their in- 
 dudry made them profperous. They 
 ripened into a ftate of confiderable pofTef- 
 fions of property ; when in the year 
 1779, his Catholic Majelly's troops, and 
 other of his armed fubje6ls, in violation 
 
 
^3 
 
 of all the before mentioned treaties and 
 folemn afliirances, Icizecl upon, and made 
 prifoners of tliem all, but a few who ef- 
 caped, and robbed and plunderer^ them 
 of their whole property. Like the worft 
 of criminals, they were led in chains from 
 place to place, through the country of 
 Yucatan ; infulted, and at kill carried 
 and lodged in prifons at the Havannah ; 
 where they remained until July 178^2, 
 when I'uch of them as furvived, were al- 
 lowed to retire to Jamaica. Any indancc 
 of fo bafe a treachery as tliis, can only 
 be found in the annals of Spanifh per- 
 fidy. 
 
 After this, and former experience, It 
 might be enquired, what future fccurity 
 can Great Britain ever have to bind Spain, 
 iince treaties, conventions, the royal 
 word, and ftrongeil aflurances, have been 
 found of no effecl ? But that not being 
 the prefent obje6t, it is fit to proceed to 
 explain that thole fads have been efta- 
 bhlhed beyond a polFibility of doubt. 
 
 The 
 
t 16 3 
 
 TTielofs of private property i afcertained in 
 the moft proper and authentic manner, 
 amounting at the prelent time to confider- 
 ably a'^ove 100,000 1. The lofs of many 
 lives however, cannot be vahied. No de- 
 mands can be made to atone for the lofs 
 of thofe unfortunate perfons who periili- 
 cd through their being left defencelefs 
 vidtims to a mercilefs enemy. 
 
 ii :■ 
 
 :)-i| 
 
 However adonifliing it may appear, 
 true it is, that this atrocity, like all the 
 before mentioned delinquencies of Spain, 
 ■was permitted to pafs unpunifhed. Every 
 proper application polTible was made to 
 the Britifh Minifters, and through them 
 to the Court of Spain, prior to, and dur- 
 ing the negociation of the treaty of peace 
 in 1783 ; alio afterwards, and during the 
 twenty months pending Hate of the ever^' 
 memorable ivention of 1786 ; and fince 
 that time, for fatisfa6fion, and that the 
 lofles iliould be paid conformable to 
 treaty, but without efte6t. The law of 
 
 nations, 
 
t 17 1 
 
 nations, force of treaties, and folcmn 7'oyal 
 aJfuranceSf cannot at times be enlbrced, 
 and when fiich facrifices mull be made 
 of tiie caiife and property of many indi- 
 viduals to the policy of public national 
 good, there cannot be a doubt but that 
 thejuftice of Parliament will interpofe its 
 benign influence in fupport of tnofe ufeful 
 unfortunate people, by granting them a full 
 compenfation for all fuch of their lofles, 
 as can be repaired by pecuniary means. 
 
 We now look forward to the treaty of 
 1783, reftoring the Floridas to Spain, 
 and the Bahamas to Great Britain, and 
 farther circumfcribing the rights of cut- 
 ting logzvood. That is to fay, prior to 
 the treaty of 1762, we had the fove- 
 reignty of foil, and undefined rights. By 
 that treaty we were di farmed there, and 
 the right of cutting logwood was fixed 
 " in the Bay of Honduras, and other places 
 *' of the territory of Spain, in that part of the 
 " world," Our right of cutting is now by 
 ** treaty of 1783, confined to the coun- 
 
 D try 
 
c 18 :i 
 
 try in the Bay, fituated between tlic rivef 
 •* Wallis, and llio Hondo," comparatively 
 a fmall fpot, very iiiiall indeed, when com- 
 pared to our former nnhniited and im- 
 menfely extenfive poflelUons. The im- 
 bounded fields wherever the dying and 
 other woods were to be found, reduced 
 to the narrow limits above mentioned, 
 and prevented from making any fettle- 
 ment in the healthy fituations on th^ 
 iflands where fliips came to load. 
 
 The Spanifli trap was again fet, to 
 catch the credulous and enterprifmg 
 Englifh. " They may without interrup- 
 ** tion build therein houfes and maga- 
 *' zines necelTary for themfelves, their fa- 
 ** milies, and their efiecls : And bis Catho" 
 ** lie Majefty afjiircs to them the enjoyment of 
 " all that is exprcjfed in the prefent article ^ 
 *' provided that thefe ftipulatious fliall 
 ** not be confidered as derogating in any 
 ** wife from his rights of fovereignty." 
 Here again is the oblique claims of fove- 
 reignty renewed, without being clearly 
 
 defined 
 
C ^9 -2 
 
 er 
 
 11- 
 
 m- 
 
 m- 
 
 defined to ^vhat it applies. Notvvltli- 
 Itantling, as was obl'ei ved refpeiting the 
 treaty of 176*3, the lecond article of tliis 
 one having al fo renewed and confirmed 
 the treaties of i6'7o, and all others made 
 fince, by which thefe pofleHions were 
 clearly the riglit of Great Britain. As 
 tlic Spaniards prelled forward, we gava 
 way in all things. " The Englifli who 
 " may be dirperfed in any other parts, 
 " whether on the Spinii/Jj anii'uiciity or iu 
 " any of the illands whatfocver, depen- 
 *• dant on the aforefaid Spanifli conti- 
 ** nent, fliall retire within the difiri6t 
 " above defcribed, in the fpace of eigh- 
 " teen months. They fliall be permitted 
 ** to enjoy a free fifliery for their fubfill- 
 ** ence on the coafls of the difirii^t agreed 
 ** on, or iflands oppofite thereto, but 
 '* not to make any eftahljjhment on the ijlands,'* 
 That all fortifications fhall be demoliihed, 
 and the Britifli fubjecls fliall not ere(5t 
 any there. 
 
 »» 
 
 The ambiguity, carefully introduced 
 
 Pa to 
 
C "-0 3 
 
 to fcrvc their f\ituro purposes, by the 
 Spaniih ncgociators, and without oppo- 
 fitioii admittocl, is remarkahlo, in the 
 Spanipj contifwnfy — the iJJiuuls dcpcndijnt on 
 the Spiifiijb amlim ut. A fpirilcd upright 
 Britifh niinillcr would have admitted of 
 no fuch cxj)renions, hut would liavc iii- 
 fifled upon a clear expl anal ion and mode 
 of exprellion. 
 
 What a wonderful infatuation, that af- 
 ter all that has happened, and no jirof- 
 pe6l from the pall bafe conduc'-i of mini- 
 llers of any hope of fuj)nort or repara- 
 tion of future injuries, that adventurers 
 fliould Hill be found to enga^re again in 
 the precarious undertaking of a rc-efta- 
 blilhment on the Bay oi' Honduras ! Such 
 however wv.s their attachment to their 
 ancient puileilions, which they thought 
 they had a jull: right to, that they re- 
 turned, but under very great precautions, 
 leaving their families and property on 
 the Mofquito Shore, from whence they 
 could have occafional fupplies, and to 
 
 which 
 
 i 
 
 'i 
 
 i 
 
 
which, by kcopiiip; conflaiit \\mr on the 
 molions of the Spaiiiards, they could, in 
 cafe of alarm, fiiddcnly retire in their 
 fmall craft, kept always ready for that 
 ptirpofe. 
 
 ,s 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 The Spaniards, under thefe circiun- 
 Ilances, ieeing they had no chance of 
 robbing th- m again oi great pro[.erty, 
 meditated means to get tlu'n^ more into 
 their power, that by frequent repetitions 
 of robbing and dedroying, which long ex- 
 perience had taught them might be done 
 with imptmity, they might exterminate 
 the remaining bay-men, and put a total 
 flop to that important branch ot Britilh 
 commerce. 
 
 The only poITible means to attahi this 
 grand obje(!:t, was to difunite them fiom 
 their guardians, the Mofquito Indians, 
 and deprive them of their fecure afy- 
 lum, the Mofquito Shore. In attempt- 
 ing this, force of arms could be of no 
 life, for The Mofquito kingdom had ever 
 
 been 
 
w 
 
 m 
 
 **• 
 
 'ii( 
 
 ii'l 
 
 !' "■ 
 
 been found invulnerable, and their attachment 
 to Great Britain for an hundred and Jifty 
 years paft, inviolate. 
 
 Collet intrigue was then recurred to. 
 What powerful machinations, magnetic 
 bulfes, corrupt or other means were ufed, 
 is left for others to develope. The great, 
 the invaluable MoAiuito kingdom, whofe 
 kings, William, Jcrcrny, Peter» Edward, 
 prince, and George, with all their tribes, 
 gloried in declaring themfelves Britifh 
 fubje61;s, bafely and traiteroufly fell a fa- 
 ci iPice 1 
 
 That facred union cultivated by king 
 Charles II. James II. William and Mary, 
 queen Ann, George I. George II. and 
 his prefent majedy, until the prefent ad- 
 jniniiiration took place, was broken. 
 
 The facred ties of unalterable friend- 
 fliip torn afmidcr, and the Britifh natu- 
 ral born fubje6fs forced to abandon their 
 ^fiate§ and property to a great amount 
 \ upon 
 
 I 
 
 '4 
 
C =3 1 
 
 npoii the Mofquito Shore. The loflTeS 
 fuiiained hy individuals perhaps may not 
 much exceed ioo,oocl. which can eafily 
 be fupplied by parliament for their relief, 
 it being an a6l of jullice they are mod 
 indubitably juftly intitled to, much iri 
 preference to the Florida and other fvif- 
 ferers, who are partly already compen- 
 fated. But what reparation can be made 
 to the dignity of the crown for the lofs 
 of the rights of fovereignty in and over 
 that kingdom, the moll important of all 
 the Britilh fettlcments? or to this na- 
 tion, for the infinite advantasjes and be- 
 nefits that would have abundantly flowed 
 from its cultivation, which arenovv given 
 up? and with them the wood trade, 
 which by this diabolical dam?ied convention 
 of 1786, is deprived of all prote6lion, 
 and the families and effe61s forced from 
 the Mofquito Country to the Bay of Hon- 
 duras, now 
 
 placed 
 
 any hoftagcf 
 
 or prifoners, without a poiTibility of efcape 
 -from the ferocity of the cruel Spanifli 
 
 Americans, 
 
 
ft 
 
 C 24 3 ' 
 
 Artieficans, whenever a fignal fliall b® 
 made for their total extirpation. 
 
 CONVENTION, 17S6, 
 
 To fettle, by a new convention, the 
 points which might one day or other 
 be produ6live of fuch inconveniencies, 
 as the experience of former times has 
 very often Ihewn*/' 
 
 c< 
 
 «c 
 
 tc 
 
 iC 
 
 €C 
 
 1.^ 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 « 
 
 u 
 
 Art. I. *' His Britannick majefty's 
 " fiibje6ls, and the other colonifts, fliall 
 evacuate the count; y of the Mofquito's, 
 as zvell as the continent in general^ and 
 *' ijlands adjacent/' If it was merely meant 
 here to evacuate the country of the Mof- 
 *' quitos alone, and the iflands adjacent 
 ** to the Mofquito Shore, there was no 
 occafion for the words as zvell as the conti" 
 nent ingeneral, and the ijlands adjacent. I fliall 
 only obferve further on this point, that 
 the duke of Leeds and the chancellor of the 
 
 
 * A kingdom given up, and upwards of ioo,oooI, 
 of private property to prevent inconveniencies. 
 
 exchequer. 
 
C 25 •} 
 
 exchequer, Mr. Pitt, can beft explain what 
 theyrneant,and their reafons for admitting 
 of words of Inch latitude as to compre- 
 hend the continent of America and the 
 Weft Indi^ iflands. The meaning of the 
 Spanifli minifter will be dirclofcd in fu- 
 ture conventions. The iflands adjacent 
 to the Mofquito Shore, are corn iflands, 
 pearle quays, and a great number of 
 fmall ones called quays, fituate between 
 the fouthern boundary of the Mofquito 
 Country and Cape Gratio's Adios. Our 
 minifters have not difcriminated between 
 thofe and the iflands of St, Andera and 
 Catalina, or Old Providence, taken from 
 the Spaniards by flr Henry Morgan *, and 
 ever flnce poflefled by Britifli fubje6is, 
 till a few months ago, when a Spanifli 
 man of war appeared, the captain of which 
 ordered them oft' in pain of confifcation 
 of their effe6ls and imprifonment of their^ 
 perfons. As w^ell Aight they take Jamaica 
 as thefe two conquered iflands. 
 
 * Soon after the taking of Jamaica. 
 
 By 
 
Y 
 
 IMli 
 
 I': 
 
 I V' 
 
 t 26 3 
 
 By the fecond article, his Catholic Ma- 
 jcRy extends tlie limits in the Bay of 
 Honduras from the river Wallis to the 
 river Sibun, which is about twelve or 
 thirteen Englifh nautic miles, and from 
 the fea to its fource, being a fmall part 
 of what the inhabitants conftantly occu- 
 pied prior to the treaty 1783, and from 
 which all the logwood worth having, 
 and the greatefl: part of the mahogany, 
 was already taken. The Britifh fettlers 
 having cut the wood even loo miles be- 
 yond the upper boundary, of which the 
 minifters were informed by the Englifh who 
 had long refided there, and alfo by a map 
 for their ufe, by a bay- man, afterwards 
 piiblilhed in Feuruary 1787, by Mr» 
 the king's geographer. 
 
 Art. III. " Although no other advan- 
 tages have hitherto been in quejlion," 
 his majefty, to obligfi the king of Great 
 << Britain, will grant liberty to cut all 
 <* other woods." TIua fully proves that 
 our minifters, regardlefs of the hum- 
 ble petitions and memorials reprefenting 
 
 the 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 ^ 
 
 i 
 
C' 27 1 
 
 the mlfery and hardfhips of the logwood 
 cutters, did not propofe any thing lor 
 their comfort, or prefervation of their 
 exiflence, not even the riglit to plant 
 corn, yams, potatoes, &c. which they 
 had done pr; >c to this time. Without 
 being aiked, the king gives leave to cut 
 all other woods belides thofe for dying, 
 not excepting mahogany, a privilege the 
 bay-men had always exercifed, even fmce 
 1763, believing, though logwood was 
 mentioned, all inferior, and other woods 
 were comprehended. And leave to ga- 
 tVicr " all the fruits, or produce of the earth, 
 '* purely yiatural and uncultivated :" by this 
 pretended benefit to preclude them from 
 raifmg any garden-duffs, bread corn, or 
 any thing for their fubfiflance, fmce 
 which they have not been allowed to do, 
 and are thereby greatly diftrefTed, and 
 fometimes in danger of Harving. 
 
 Art. IV. PermifTion to occupy the 
 fmall ifland of Cafma, and St. George's 
 Key, the coafts oppofite being unhealthy, 
 
 E a but 
 
C 28 3 
 
 but no fortification, or zvork of defence to 
 be ere6lcd, nor any body oF-troops poded 
 there. Thefe are iinall and inconfiderable 
 to the iflands formerly occupied. 
 
 ' Art. V. Liberty of refitting m^';rZw// 
 J}.nps m the fouthern triangles. And " // 
 *'Jball not he permitted to Jlation any Jhips 
 " ofxvar there." The preclulion of fliips 
 of war renders it impolFible to have that 
 chance of any fupport or efcape from 
 Spanifh barbarity. 
 
 Art. VI. Leave to fifli on the coafl 
 alFigned them, but no leave fpecified to 
 dry their nets, which of courfe immedi- 
 ately rot. Whenever their nets are dif- 
 covered drying on fliore, they are feized 
 and burnt. A remedy for this evil (liould 
 have been provided, had the miniflers 
 thought the complaints of thofe diftrefled 
 people worth their notice. 
 
 Art. VIL " The refiridions in the 
 ** treaty of 1783, for the entire preferv- 
 
 " ation 
 
 nin 
 
I ^9 '2 
 
 *' ation of the rights oF the Spanlfli fo- 
 ** vereignty over the country ; in which 
 " is granted to the Enghfli only the />/*/- 
 " vilege of making ufe of the wood of the dif" 
 " ferent kinds, the fruits, and other produce, 
 ** in their natural Jtate, are heiJ con- 
 " firmed." Here is a clear acknovvle<2:e- 
 ment on the part of the Spanilh miniiter, 
 that the meaning of the right of cutting, 
 loading, and carrying away logzvwd in tlie 
 17th article of treaty in i76'3, and in. 
 6th article 1783, was as iinderllood, both 
 by the Spaniards themfelves and the 
 logwood- cutters, the right they always 
 pra6lifed of taking all the woods they 
 wanted, and as above in this convention 
 of 1786, the privilege of making ufe of 
 the wood of the different kinds, of courfe the 
 favour in article 3d, " To oblige the king 
 " of Great-Britain liberty is granted of cut^ 
 *' ting all other woods not excepting maho-' 
 " g^fiy" is ridiculous ; — and the guarda- 
 coaftas in juftice anfwerable for the Eng- 
 lifh Ihips that were feized with maho- 
 gany on board. This, and the above 
 
 recital 
 
 I 
 
C 30 3 
 
 recital from the 7th article of the treaty 
 of 1783, " of the privilege of making ufe of 
 •* the fruits of the earth, and other produce, in 
 " their natural Jlate," fliews the ignorance 
 and inattention of the Englifli minifters, 
 there being no Inch words in the treaty 
 of 1783. The bay -men always planted 
 finall fpots, while they were cutting, in 
 potatoe. , yams, and various other pulfe 
 of quick growth, without which they 
 could not have fublifted, in very remote 
 iituations of very long and ditficult ac- 
 cefs, at certain feafons of the year. 
 
 As to the reftrid^ions for the preferv- 
 ation of the Spanifh fovereignty above 
 alluded to, in treaty 1783 it Hands as 
 before dated. The 2d article of that one 
 confirms and renews the treaty of 1767, 
 and all fmce, by which Great- Britain 
 was confirmed in the right of fovereignty 
 to Campechy and Honduras — and in ar- 
 ticle 6th is the only reftri6fions, that the 
 ftipulations refpedting cutting of log- 
 
 WLOOd 
 
 fir 
 
t 3' : 
 
 wood " fiiall not be confidcred as dero- 
 ** gating from bis rights of fovcreignty," 
 
 By the concUifive part of this 7th ar- 
 ticle, the unhappy logwood-cutters ara 
 to have no " fyHem of government, mili- 
 tary or civil, further than fuch regula- 
 tions as their Britannic and Catholic Ma- 
 jellies may eftablifli for maintaining; 
 peace and good order among their ref- 
 pe(5five fubje6ls/' — To pleafe both at 
 tlie lame time may be foimd a difficult 
 talk. 
 
 It is impofllble to view this conventioa 
 in the light I have been confidering it, 
 without indignation, and yet it has never 
 been the fubje^l of ferious difaiflion in 
 parliament, two noble lords having only 
 flightly blamed the abandonment of our 
 Mofquito allies, but the facrifice of our 
 right to a whole kingdom, and of a valu- 
 able and long-cherifhed trade with the 
 natives, far beyond that of Nootka, any 
 more than the facrifice and abandonment 
 of our own fubjeds and their properties 
 
 has 
 
 i 
 
C 33 1 
 
 Tias never been confuretl. \Vc barely re- 
 linquiibed vvliat liad never been difputed 
 or claimed by Spain, and without the flia- 
 dow of a reciprocal donation. We gave 
 lip thj whole continent, and all the 
 illands adjacent thereto. The Spaniards 
 have not indeed as yet laid claim to Ja-^ 
 maica under that grant, but they have 
 feized upon Old Providence and St. An- 
 dera, wliich as before observed, were con- 
 quered foon after Jamaica was, and has 
 continued in our pofleirion ever fince, un- 
 til a few montlis ago, that the Spaniards 
 drove our people away, of ^vhich our go- 
 vernment has not taken the leafl: notice. 
 
 To purfue this fubjciSl tbrough all its 
 parts, a convention, abounding with no- 
 thing but infamy, difgrace, and injury to 
 this country, is painful. And, yet there 
 is no quitting it, without again adverting 
 to that moft allonifhing circumllance, in 
 article 3d, " That no advantages en behalf 
 " of Great Bnlain have been in queftion, 
 except that of cutting zvood for dying,'' fet- 
 
 ting 
 
 ■li'ii; 
 
C 33 1 
 
 ting afidc former delinquencies, r.o de- 
 hiand of ihe j(^ 130,000 due for the robbery 
 of the mhabitants of Honduras, in 177^, 
 committed prior to any other hodilities or 
 war elfe where, between the two nations 1 
 No fatisfatStion for. the depredation and 
 murder of thofc who then peridied 
 through cruel treatment and imprifon- 
 ment ! No reparation for the private pro- 
 perty, of which our natural born fubjedls 
 are deprived, by being forced from the 
 Mofquito kingdom 1 
 
 - No Condition to preferve the exiftence 
 of our fellow fubje6ts in Honduras, left 
 defencelefs, without comfort or protec- 
 tion, reduced like the brutes of the foreft 
 to live on the natural produce of the earth, 
 find to be like them, hunted down and 
 deftroyed when the ferocity or avarice of 
 their enemies require it ! 
 
 No tender feeling excited towards our 
 
 af!e6lionate friends and adopted fellow 
 
 fubje6ls, the brave, generous, and humane 
 
 Indian inhabitants of the Mofquito king- 
 
 F dom, 
 
C 34 1 
 
 dom, in return for one hundred and fif-> 
 ty years inviolatcd friendihip and attach* 
 ment. 
 
 tt 
 
 cc 
 
 Struck \Vith horror at the barbarity of 
 thofe betrayers of their country '^s honour 
 and intereil, facrificmg its dearefl friends, 
 and moft faithful allies, Article 14th, 
 •• His Catholic Majefty, prompted folely by 
 ** motives of humanity , promifes to the king 
 of England, that he will not exercifc 
 any a6t of fever ity again ft the Mof- 
 " quitos inhabiting in part the countries 
 ** to be evacuated by virtue of the pre- 
 " fent convention, on account of the 
 " connedlions which may have fubfifted 
 «« between the faid Indians and the Eng- 
 « lifh ; and his Britannic Majefty on his 
 ** part, will prohibit his fubje6ls from 
 " furnifhing arms or warlike ftores to the 
 •* Indians in general, fituated upon the 
 *« frontiers of the Spanifh poflelfions" *. 
 
 * The Sambala Indians hav6 retained their country, bccn< 
 at continual war with the Spaniards, and keep up the 
 Englilh language ever fince the Scotch quitted their fet- 
 tlement on that part of Darian, 1 •. 
 
 To 
 
c: S5 n 
 
 To defcrlbc the feelings, expreflions, 
 find confiidt of pafllons, excited in the 
 Molcjuito's, by information of the con- 
 vert i ion, and appearance of commifllon- 
 ers on each lide to fee executed this 
 dreadful leparation, requires the aid of 
 an abler pen, 
 
 MiniQerial orders for evacuation, need 
 not have extended to ufe the means of 
 fedudlion, by attempts to conciliate them 
 to meafiires intended for their dellruc- 
 tion. 
 
 The difficulty to bring fome of the prin- 
 cipal Indians into the prefence of Spanilh 
 commiffaries, attempts fhocking to relate, 
 to prevail on them to give hands, when 
 ready to burft, to die with anguifti, indig- 
 nation, and repugnance; to get them 
 prevailed on to tafte or drink any thing 
 until the fame was firft tailed and drank 
 of by the Englilh, was impolTible. The 
 diflradlion of mind exprefled in the high 
 fwoln features, attitudes, and impatience, 
 
 F 2 would 
 
^:S! 
 
 t 36 3 
 
 would be an afFccling fubjedl for the beft 
 pencil to depi6t, or pen to delineate. * 
 
 It would be curious, but it is beyond 
 my power of inveftigation to explain or 
 account for the moiivc of mirrifters, in 
 dixmembering the Eiirifli empire, and 
 degrading our national chara6ler in the 
 eyes and eftimation of all Europe. Con- 
 fcious how imbtcile and pufillanimous 
 they mull appear, they qiiU the ufual 
 mode of redrefs, act the bravos ; blufler 
 and call the nation to arms. Having 
 m^de a formidable equipment, in place 
 pf ufmg thofe arms to refent indignities, 
 
 * The introcludion of four companies of the Irlfh 
 "brigades, confining of 100 ."itn each, iii ine Spaniflx 
 f-irvice, to remain ai Black River, where Spaniards 
 could not with fafety continue, to fpeak EngUQi 
 tic the Indians and endeavour to reconcile them to thc 
 change, was political on their pirt. But permitting fuch 
 brave men to be in foreign, that might be importantly 
 fimployed in our own Icrvice, refledls mm hen the pplicy 
 of Great Britain. 
 
 and 
 
 •-»■ 
 
t 37 -2 
 
 I 
 
 and re(\ore lol\ honour, by a deadly 
 llroke, afierting in the words of the 
 great lord Chatham upon a fimilar occa- 
 fion, that " This was time for humUing the 
 " -whole hoiife of Bourbon ;" ** and ihat if 
 <* this opportunity was let flip, it rnight 
 " never be recovered/' Recourfe was had 
 after all, to mean procrallinating negoti- 
 ation. Confcioufly dreading nothing fo 
 much as war. The Spanifli minifter by 
 experience knew their trim, and how to 
 avail himfelf of it. In courfe of this bu- 
 fmefs, it was natural to expedl from our 
 negotiators Tome notice of the reprefenta- 
 tions of general Matthews, and the me- 
 morials and petitions of the many plant- 
 ers and merchants of Jamaica rnd Grena- 
 da, to obtain numbers of negroes lured 
 from them by Spanifh emiflaries, under 
 edi6fs, and prote6ted openly againft the 
 claims of their owners, lent in his Majef- 
 ty's Ihips to Trinidada, Carraccas, and 
 Cuba, to apply for tliem ; fome attention 
 to the before mentioned lofles in Hondu- 
 4iiras, and on the Mofia[uito Shore ; fome- 
 
 thing 
 
m 
 
 m 
 
 C s8 3 
 
 thing to relieve the logwood cutters from 
 the late hardfliips impofed by the laft con- 
 vention, as well as fatisfa6lion for the af- 
 fair at Nootka Sound, and fecurity to 
 our whale fifhery. The fequel fhews that 
 our minifters, while Great Britain has 
 any thing to give away, can refufe no- 
 thing to their friends the Spaniards. 
 That the Dons may pradlice any cruelty 
 or depredation on the Englifh with cer- 
 tainty of Britifh abfolution. To thi 
 end is the preamble of the prefent con- 
 vention. " Their Britannic and Catho- 
 •' lie Majefties being defirous of termi- 
 *'' nating, by a fpeedy and folid agree- 
 " ment, the differences which have lately 
 *' arifen between the two Crowns, have judg- 
 •* ed that the beft way of attaining this 
 ** falutary obje6l, would be that of an 
 •'amicable arrangement; wlich. Jetting 
 *« ajide all retrojpedtlve difcujfwn of the 
 •* rights and pretenfions of the two parties, 
 *\Jhouldjix their reJpeStlve fituations for the 
 '* future on a bajis conformable to their true 
 " interefts** In other words, that is to 
 fay, abfolve us from the paft, obliterate 
 
 aU 
 
 II 
 
 f lii; 
 
I S9 1 
 
 all your demands, and we will fix hoW^ 
 things may fuit our future intereft. This 
 is a new mode of fettling a long account^ 
 fo as to prevent any balance appearing. 
 The minifters aflume the debt, and be- 
 come anfwerable to the injured Britilh 
 fubjedls, in all the cafes before mentioned. 
 I fuppofe, except in that of Mr. Mears, 
 who by article lirft and fecond, may ex- 
 pert compenfation, fuch as the logwood 
 ciitters hope fort after being robbed and im" 
 prifoned. Pofhbly the convention of 1786, 
 and this one, being all on one fide, may 
 be thought better worth notice than the 
 more equitable violated treaties, prior to 
 the year 17^3. 
 
 Article third is mere love and friend* 
 lliip united. " That their fubjedls Ihall 
 not be difturbed or molelled, either in 
 navigating or carrying on their fiiheries 
 in the Pacific Ocean, or in the South 
 Seas, or in landing on the coafts of thefe 
 feas, in places not already occupied for 
 purpofe jf carrying on their commerce with 
 the natives of the country^ or of making fettle^ 
 
 ments 
 
'ill 
 
 i 
 I 
 
 *&'.: 
 
 M I 
 
 Kl 
 
 C 40 3 
 
 ments there, fubjedl nevertlielefs to tlid 
 refl:ri6lions, article fixth, That no fettle* 
 ments Jhall be made hereajter by the Juhjedts 
 of either i on the eqfiern or xveflern coafls of 
 South America, or ijlands adjacent, fouib 
 vf thofe parts occupied by Spam ; provided 
 the faid fubje6ts fhall retain the Hberty 
 of landing on the coafts and iflands fp 
 (it )'''^d, for the purpofes of their fifhery, 
 and c redling thereon huts, and other 
 temporary buildings, ferving only for 
 thefe purpofes. And not as above con- 
 ditioned in article third, for the purpofe of 
 tarrying on their commerce with the natives 
 vf the country, or of making fettlements ; in do* 
 ing xvhich they Jhall not he difiurhed or mo* 
 lefled. Thefe contradi(51ions are left for 
 the difculFion of politicians ; the third 
 admits of commerce and fettlement ; the 
 fixth retrains both. ■■y.'w.. . t 
 
 Had our minifters procured ample at- 
 tenement for all infults, and immediate 
 reparation of all damages, two points re- 
 mained to be fettled, fo as to admit of no 
 doubt in future. 
 - . The 
 
C 41 3 
 
 The firfl: was Great Britain's claim to 
 ian exclufive right to Nootka Sound, and 
 its trade *. This is given up by article 
 fifth, allowing the Spaniards not only an 
 equal participation thereof, but the like 
 privilege in any fettlement the Englifh 
 fhall make there, or northward of the 
 horthermoft fettlement made by Spain, 
 God Ixnows whete, on the north weft 
 coaft of North America. Former sfood 
 offices muft make them perfectly agree 
 together. The fecond great point was 
 our right (if qiieftioned) to continue as 
 v^e have hitherto enjoyed, a free and un- 
 interrupted fiihery in the Pacific Ocean, 
 tLxid South Seas, and perfedl freedom of 
 intercourfe with the inhabitants of the 
 circumjacent coafts, where Spaniards do 
 not refide. * 
 
 * Our minifters, in this negociatibn, have not appa- 
 rently adverted to a circumftance, that our trading ports 
 and people are eftabliihed from Canada, and alfo from 
 Hudfon's Bay, and occupy the whole country from the 
 fources of the rivers Pafquin and Arabafka, weft and 
 fbuth-weft, and north- weft of, and near Nootka Sound, 
 
 G 
 
 This 
 
v\ 
 
 )i 1 1 
 
 c; 4^ ] 
 
 This is alfo given up by article fourtlty 
 rcflricling the Englilh from navigating 
 nearer than thirty-fix miles '* from any 
 ** part of the coafts occupied by Spain/' 
 The food on which whales feed, cuttle 
 and other fmall fifli, never abound in con- 
 fiderable quantities but near the land as 
 they live on fmaller fifh and animakulas 
 found only near the fhores, confequent- 
 ly but very few whales are met with 
 thirty-fix miles, or more, from land, 'u\ 
 the Atlantic, or other oceans. When 
 whales are harpooned, they generally ap- 
 proach, rat i.r than recede from the coall, 
 and are commonly fpeared near to it. 
 The whale fiOiery under this reflridlion 
 is of no importance. Befides, it is im- 
 poflible for the fifhers to afcertain anc^ 
 comply with the diftance prefcribed, very 
 flat land not being difcoverable at a 
 greater diftance than two or three leagues, 
 nor even high land in hazy weather or 
 fogs. Neither is it poflible for them ta 
 afcertaiii, on fuch vaft coafls, the parti- 
 cular diftridts occupied by the Spaniards 
 from thofe pofleffed by the native Indians, 
 ' * ^- without 
 
t 43 n 
 
 without approaching them, excepting ia 
 places of great notoriety particularly de- 
 Icribed on the common maps. 
 
 Not content with thofe and the former 
 facrifices, our miniilers, by article fix, have 
 fuffered the Spaniards, who have ever 
 fmce the time of Columbus been explor- 
 ing, and fecuring exclufively, all valuable 
 places they could find and conquer, after 
 fatisfying themfelves with as much ter- 
 ritory as they can poflibly fupport and 
 retain, ta preclude Great Britain from 
 the common rights enjoyed at this day 
 by every other power in Europe, of mak- 
 ing folid eftablifhments and permanent 
 fettlements in South America, by means 
 of alliances, purchafe, or otherways, from 
 the free independent inhabitants of fhat 
 continent. Debarred of approaching with- 
 in thirty-fix miles of the immenfe coafts, 
 is it pofTible to know or difcover what 
 extenfion of fettlement the Spaniards may 
 hereafter make ; what equivalent is or 
 can be made for this national diflionour ? 
 The main obje6l of the treaty of Utrecht 
 
 G 3 was. 
 
t u 1 
 
 T 
 
 
 was, that Great Britain and Spain fliould 
 retain their poflefllons in America, and 
 prevent the French having more footr 
 ing there. The French, and all other na- 
 tions, are now left in pofleflion of the 
 right to fettle in South America; and 
 Great Britain, after being ftripped of 
 Campeachy, Honduras, and the Mof- 
 quito kingdom, and all the very vahiable 
 parts of the eaftern coaft of North Ame- 
 rica, is reduced to this peculiar predica-* 
 ment, \vith a navy equipt that, well di-? 
 re6ted, would have obtained fubftantial 
 juftice, and refloration of all that has 
 been fo ignominioufly, and without any 
 conceivable caufe, or equivalent, been r€}-" 
 linquillied to the Spaniards. ., ^ .. 
 
 >rii•^^i; i.,» 
 
 How this riffht of fettlement came to 
 be involved with our demand of Nootka, 
 and our freedom of navigation and fiftir 
 ery, is not explained. It is an important 
 right, that, confillent with the honour of 
 the crown, intereft and dignity of the na- 
 tion, cannot be alienated from the prefent 
 or future kings and generations. 
 
 U 
 
C 45 3 
 
 It is a right that has been exercifed, 
 as appears by the charters and letters 
 patent granted fince the earliell times by 
 our fovereigns, " to difcover, and take 
 •* poirelfion, of any countries in South 
 ?* America which were inhabited by hea- 
 ^* then nations, for the enlargement of 
 '* commerce, and the propagation of re- 
 ** ligion/' ' ' ^ 
 
 > It feems beneath the prefent minif- 
 ter to look back to the letters patent 
 granted by queen Elizabeth, James I. 
 and others ; or to benefit by the ani- 
 mated condu6l in the reign of the for- 
 mer. Recourfe to the hiftory of the 
 fettlements in America can be of no ufe 
 to thofe who are ufing their utmoft en- 
 deavours to get rid of thofe few we pof- 
 lefs. To fo far contrail their condu6l 
 with that of otliers, it may be proper to 
 obferve, that no regard whatever was 
 ever had by any European nation to the 
 idle romantic claim of Spain under the 
 JPope's grant, or their own flill more ri-* 
 
 diculou^ 
 
■"5' ', 
 
 C 4« 3 
 
 diculous declarations, maps of their ozvn 
 making iwenly-fevai years agOt or other 
 ridiculous pretences of Ibvcreignty, over 
 more than they a6lually occupied. Every 
 nation fo difpoled, fettled as their hu- 
 mour inclined them, where alliance could 
 be made, and purchafe from the iVee na- 
 tive Indians in South America. Hence 
 arofe the fettlements made by the Portu- 
 guefe, French, Dutch, Danes, Nether- 
 landers, difregarding the Spanifli ideas of 
 exclufive light to land they dared not to 
 invade or approach, pr undefined exclu- 
 five navigation. ;:; 
 
 hi 
 
 
 mi 
 
 li! 
 
 f It 
 
 To fay they arc mailers of the greateft 
 part of South America which is inha- 
 bited by the unconquered natives, would 
 be as falfe, even if our minifters admitted 
 of it, as to fay that the provinces occu- 
 pied by the French, Portuguefe, Dutch, 
 or other nations, belonged to Spain. 
 The infinuations in the manifefto, and 
 the other vague claims of exclufive navi- 
 gation and rights, are falfe, and not the 
 
 lefs 
 
 ft 
 
C 47 ■} 
 
 iefs fo if our pufillanimous miniftcrs were 
 to injure and didionoiir their country by 
 an acquiefcence to it. Even in inflancea 
 of prior but not continued poiTeilion, tlia 
 claim ceafes. Inftance the Bahamas, firll 
 difcovered by Columbus, and taken pof- 
 feirion of by him, with all j^ofTible form 
 for his Catholic Majeily, being afterward.-i 
 quitted to enjoy more fertile iilands, re- 
 mained unnoticed by others, tiU 16S7, 
 when an Englifh captain, Selc, was dri- 
 ven by ftorm there, and gave his name 
 to it. On a fecond voyage he was again 
 driven among thofe iflands, and called 
 the one he anchored at, being the fame 
 that Columbus difcovered, Providence, 
 tvi.ich name it has ever lince retained. 
 Charles II. took formal polTedion of it 
 afterwards, but negle6ling the fettle- 
 ment, it became a harbour for diforderly 
 people, when, in 1718, government fent 
 » captain Woods Rogers to diflodge them, 
 and ere6l a battery, and the Englifli have 
 ever fmce held it* 
 
 The 
 
't Ut 
 
 § 
 
 1,1 
 
 'M i 
 
 • 
 
 The Spaniards claimed the Bay df 
 Mexico — the French, notwithllanding,- 
 fettled in Louifiana in i6'9(), when, i'lif- 
 pe6ling their intention, the former, in 
 two Ihips with 150 foldiers, got into the 
 inouth of the river MilhUippi before 
 them, and erecSled a fmall battery to dif- 
 pute the paflage ; the French ^ in three 
 men of war and a ketch, conformable to 
 the king's orders, entered, and made 
 good their footing. The Englilh letters 
 j>atent included all the eadern coaft of 
 North America ; yet Cape Breton, rot 
 being occupied, the French took po 
 
 fion thereof. , - 
 
 '. ' • " ' ' ■ . 
 
 All the Caribbean Iflands and Bermu- 
 das were difcovered and named by the 
 Spaniards, yet they now rightfully be- 
 k)ng to the different nations that fettled 
 them, excepting thofe of the Engiifli 
 given up by the convention of 1786, but 
 not yet taken pofleflion of by the Spa- 
 niards, r ' . ■ , 
 
 
 The 
 
C 49 3 
 
 The Dons have been very indulgent 
 to their tVienils, the duke of Leeds and 
 Mr. Pitt — they have not yet required 
 Canada, &c. which is evidently included 
 in " the continent in generaU cind adjacent 
 " ijlands." Happy would it be tor Great 
 Britain it' they had it, and the Mofquito 
 liingdom and Honduras were reftored in 
 lieu thereof. 
 
 From the foregoing circumflances, and 
 many others that might be mentioned, 
 the prefent convention will evidently 
 prove to be a fli ^rt truce, and this nation 
 be obliged to engage in a war. As thefe 
 fubjed^s are to be brought foon before 
 parliament, they are dropped at prefent. 
 
 ^ Y 
 
 ZETES. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
\:[ 
 
 
 %^ 
 
 ;i. 
 
 
 J* 
 
 ili 
 
 ; ■•/i>^ 
 
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