undergo, their own immediate revifion.

The public, in general, were ready enough in affigning this conduct to the fame caufe, to which the original of it had been attributed in the proteft; and could not otherwife pretend to account for the tamenefs with which the majority of the H. of C. put up with the prefent indignity, fo different from that haughty fpirt which had diftinguished it upon former occafions. At any rate, it was very unpopular, and caufed much difcuffion upon the question, as to the propriety or confiftency of a popular affembly, the reprefentative of a free people, conducting its deliberations with the filence and fecrecy of a court of inquifition. Nor did it in any degree anfwer the only purpose that was avowed for it, which was to prevent the debates and the fpeeches of particular gentlemen from being laid before the public, mangled and disfigured in the news-papers and other periodical works, which had been for fome time practifed; but which immediately after was carried to a degree of licentioufness before unheard of. We must obferve, that the H. of C. relaxed much from the stiffness of their order before the end of the feffion. The Lords were inflexible.

The continued debates upon matters of great importance, which had fo remarkably diftinguished, and fo fully taken up, the fmall part that had already elapfed of this bufy feffion, did not however prevent the moft liberal fupplies from being granted for the fupport of the expected war. The vigour and unanimity fhewn upon this occafion, fo contrary to the opinions

which might have been founded upon many preceding circumftances, could not fail of furprizing all Europe, and muft undoubtedly have had a very confiderable effect upon the ultimate conduct of those who were disposed to become our enemies.

So early as the 29th of November, 40,000 men were voted for the fea-fervice; extenfive grants were immediately after paffed for the ordinary and fupport of the navy; the land forces for homefervice were augmented from 17,666 men, which was the last year's eftablifhment, to 23,432 effective men; a new battalion was alfo added to the ordnance, and a small addition made to the pay of a confiderable body of the fubaltern officers belonging to that corps. All was voted nemine contradicente. A noble perfon, warm in oppofition, diftinguished himself by his zeal in forwarding the fupplies. He quoted, with great fpirit, fome lines from Prior on the occafion :

gency; that it would be time enough to provide for the expences of a war, when the event was certain; in which cafe, every one would readily concur in fuch meafures as fhould enable government to carry it on with the greatest vigour. They infifted that though a war fhould be inevitable, the money in hand, without the aid of the fhilling in the pound, would be more than fufficient for the fupplies voted; and even for any fervice which could happen within the year. That they would not be too late, even if things were otherwise, in voting the fums after christmas; that many country gentlemen had gone out of town in full affurance that the land-tax fhould remain as it flood, on the faith of a strong minifterial intimation, if not a direct promife.

To this it was replied, that the appearances of a war were very great; that both France and Spain were making fuch preparations as were fufficiently alarming, and had marched large bodies of troops to their fea coafts; that the tax would fall only upon the landed gentlemen; and a promise was given, that if a rupture did not take place, the additional fhilling should be taken off in the enfuing feffion.

The debate naturally digreffed from this fubject, to the general conduct and state of public affairs, with respect to a war. As it was not difficult to forefee that this would have been the confequence, and as the state of the navy had been a fruitful fource of complaint and difcuffion from the opening of the feffion, the first lord of the admiralty, whofe ill ftate of health had hitherto prevented his attendance, appeared upon this occafion.

5

A very favourable account of the condition of the navy was given; two admirals of great knowledge, merit and experience feem'd to differ fomewhat as to facts; and much cenfured the plans of adminiftration with regard to the navy. About the fame time it was obferved that quite a different reprefentation of our naval ftrength was given in the Houfe of Lords by the friends of the miniftry. To put an end to thefe difagreeable difcuffions, the question was repeatedly called for, and being at length put, the motion was rejected by a majority of 78, the numbers for it being 121, againft 199, who oppofed the poftponing of the grant of the additional fhilling.

It was obfervable in this day's debate, that the language of the miniftry in respect to the two great objects of peace and war, was totally changed from that which had been held at the beginning of the feffion. The negociation, and the tranquil intentions of Spain, were now no longer heard of, and war feemed to be confidered as the expected, and probable final refort. In reality, the negociation was at an end, and the conduct obferved by the court of Spain in the carrying of it on, fo far as it has appeared to the public, feems in a great measure to have corroborated the opinion of her defigns, which had been formed and repeatedly urged by the oppofition.

Sept. 10.

Something lefs than a fortnight before the arrival of our people from Falkland's Ifland, a letter was received at Lord Weymouth's office (who was then fecretary of flate for the fouthern department) from Mr, Harris our minifter at Madrid, with information that a fhip had

arrived

arrived from Buenos Ayres, which brought an account of the intended expedition, its force, and the time that was fixed for its failing. About the fame time, Prince Maferano, the Spanish ambaffador, acquainted his lordship, that he had good reafons to believe the Governor of Buenos Ayres had taken upon him to make use of force, in difpoffefling our people from Port Egmont; and that he was directed to make this communication, to prevent the bad confequences that might arife from its coming through other hands; at the fame time expreffing his wifhes, that whatever the event at Port Egmont might be, in confequence of a step taken by the governor, with out any particular inftruction from his Catholic Majefty, it might not be productive of measures at this court dangerous to the good underftanding between the two crowns.

To this it was replied by Lord Weymouth, that if force had been made use of, it was difficult to fee how the fatal confequences could be avoided, by any thing that was left in their power to do; that the inftructions to our officers at Port Egmont were of the most pacific nature; they had indeed orders, if the fubjects of any other power attempted to make a fettlement there, to warn them from it; but were directed not to ufe any force, and to refer the difcuffion of right to their respective fovereigns: that fo hoftile a return, fo oppofite to thofe inftructions, and fo contrary to the friendly and pacific profeffions of both courts, could not fail of exciting the greatest surprize and concern in his Majefty's breaft; but that ftill the circumftance of M. Buccarelli's having acted with out orders, left an opening which

might prevent the bringing mattersto extremities; he therefore asked the ambaffador if he had orders to difavow the conduct of the governor? to which he replied in the negative, and that he could give no answer to the question till he had received inftructions from home; he however at the fame time, expreffed himself in the most conciliating terms, and deprecated all refolutions and measures, which upon this account, might involve the two crowns in a war.

Lord Weymouth, upon a fecond conference with the ambaffador, demanded in his Majefty's name, as the fpecific condition of preferving the harmony between the courts, a difavowal of the proceedings at Port Egmont, and that the affairs of that fettlement fhould be

immediately restored to the precife ftate in which they were previous to that act. He at the fame time fent inftructions to Mr. Harris, to inform M. de Grimaldi, the Spanish minifler of state, of what had paffed here, and of the propofed fatisfaction, which could alone put it in his Majesty's power to

fufpend thofe preparations, which under the prefent circumftances, his honour could not permit him to poftpone.

M. Grimaldi expreffed himself in very vague terms concerning the expedition, and its fuccefs; he faid, that we had reason to forefee fuch an event would happen, as their difapprobation of our eftablithment at Falkland's Islands was notorious, and that it had often been a fubject of difcuffion; that he was however very forry it had taken place; and that a veffel had been fent from the Groyne, upon the firft notice of the defign, to

prevent

prevent it; which had, however, unfortunately arrived too late. That he could not blame the conduct of M. Buccarelli, as it was founded upon the laws of America. That they were fo very defirous of peace; had fo little to get, and fo much to lose by a war, that nothing but the last extremity could reduce them to fo violent a meafure; that all his Catholic Majetty wished for, was to act confiftently with his own honour, and the welfare of his people; and that fo far as our demand was compatible with thofe two points, there was no doubt of its being agreed to,

Upon a fubfequent meeting with Mr. Harris, the minister informed him, that his Catholic Majefty was determined to do every thing in his power to terminate this affair in an amicable manner; that therefore he admitted our demand; and that he affented to it, in every point confiftent with his honour, which, as well as ours, was to be confidered. That however, as this matter could only be determined in London, the different ideas which had been fuggefted upon that head, had been tranfmitted to prince Maserano; and that as they only differed from our requifition in the terms, and not eilentially, it was trusted that fome one of them would be adopted; and that nothing could have induced them to condefcend fo far, but the great defire of maintaining the harmony between the two crowns.

Prince Maferano, in confequence of these inftructions, propofed a convention to Lord Weymouth, which he said he had full powers to execute, and in which he was to difavow any particular orders given to M. Buccarelli, upon this occafion, at the fame time that he was

to acknowledge, that he had acted agreeably to his general inftructions, and to his oath, as Governor. That he would further ftipulate the reftitution of Falkland's Islands, without injury to his Catholic Majefty's right to them; and he expected that his Majetty would difavow Captain Hunt's menace, which, he faid, gave occafion to the steps taken by the Governor of Buenos Ayres.

To this it was answered, that when the King's moderation condefcended to demand of the Court of Madrid, the smallest reparation for the injury received that he could poffibly accept, his Majefty thought there was nothing left for difcuffion, except the mode of carrying the difavowal and reftitution, required, into execution: that his Majefty adheres invariably to his first demand; and that without entering into the unfurmountable objections to the matter of this propofed convention, the manner alone is totally inadmiffible; for his Majefty cannot accept, under a convention, that fatisfaction to which he has fo juft a title, without entering into any engagements in order to procure it. That the idea of his Majefty's becoming a contracting party upon this occafion, is entirely foreign to the cafe; for having received an injury, and demanded the most moderate reparation of that injury his honour will permit him to accept; that reparation lofes its value, if it is to be conditional, and to be obtained by any ftipulation whatfoever on the part of his Majesty.

Upon this anfwer, his Excellency told Lord Weymouth, that he had no power to proceed in this affair, except by convention, and that he muft fend to Madrid for farther inftructions.

ftructions. His lordship in the mean time fent an exprefs to Mr. Harris, to lay before the Spanish minifter, the unexpected obftacles that had arofe in this business, and after stating the matter fairly, to demand a communication of his Catholic Majefty's anfwer.

Mr. Grimaldi, ftill held very pacific language; it was however feveral days before Mr. Harris could obtain an anfwer, which was at length a favourable one, intimating that the King had sent inftructions to Prince Maferano, by which he was empowered to treat again upon this affair; and that the King was not only difpofed to give every reasonable fatisfaction for the fuppofed infult; but was alfo ready to come into any method regarding the manner of giving the fatisfaction, that fhould appear moft eligible to his Britannic Majefty expecting however at the fame time, that as he went fuch lengths to fave his honour, his own fhould alfo be confidered, fo far as it did not interfere with the fatisfaction that was to be offered; that the affair fhould be now ultimately and decifively terminated, without leaving behind it any traces, which might hereafter interrupt the harmony of the two courts; and that there should be a reciprocal and authentic affurance of the whole being thoroughly accommodated.

This was faid to be the purport of the inftructions fent to Prince Maserano; and nothing could appear to be more fatisfactory, or conclufive. The answer was given by M. Grimaldi, on the 7th of November, and was received here on the 19th, and was the laft tranfaction, with which the public are acquainted, that paffed between

Mr. Harris and the Spanish minister relative to this fubject.

It appears that the terms propofed, and the conduct obferved by Prince Maferano, did not at all accord with the pacific profeffions, and conciliatory fentiments, which were adopted at Madrid; fo that in four days after the arrival of this exprefs, Lord Weymouth acquainted Mr. Harris, that the ambaffador's language did not look like accommodation, and advised him to find fome fecure means of giving notice of it to the Governor of Gibraltar, and to the English conful at Cadiz. This was more explicitly confirmed in a letter of the 28th of the fame month, in which his lordship feems to confider a rupture, as a matter almost inevitable, and gives feveral inftructions founded upon that principle. This was the laft let

ter wrote by Lord Dec. 15th

Weymouth upon this fubject to Madrid; his refignation took place about a fortnight after, when he was fucceeded by the Earl of Rochford, and the Earl of Sandwich appointed to the Northern department, in his room.

As it feemed difficult to account for Lord Weymouth's refignation, it accordingly excited fome furprize at the time. The popular caufe affigned for it was, that he had acted with a degree of fpirit and firmness in the course of this bufinefs, which it was not thought neceffary to fupport, and from which he could not retract with propriety. This however feems to have been ill founded, as we find by the immediate conduct of his fucceffor, that all hopes of the continuance of peace were totally at an end; upon which the politicians conjectured, that judging war in

evitable,