Continent, and the re-establishment of those who now so ill requite it. The wisdom of Sir William à Court will easily discern, that it is not for the Spanish Government to be the first in making proposals to that of France, and that it cannot make any in reference to the letter of the Duke d'Angouleme. Only a Mediator, such as His Britannick Majesty, can induce the French Government to desist from violent and irritating pretensions, and confine its demands within bounds compatible with the dignity of His Catholick Majesty, the integrity and Independence of the Monarchy, and the honour and liberty of the Spaniards. Within these necessary limits, neither the King nor the Nation will refuse those prudent and useful means which are capable of affording a solid Peace, that shall be honourable to both Parties, under the guarantee of the Mediating Power; for, without such guarantee, neither would the Peace have sufficient security for Spain, nor be attended with the proper stability. His Majesty has also desired the Undersigned to recommend very particularly to Sir William à Court, the urgency required by this matter, and the necessity there is now, more than ever, for him to resume his functions near the King, who cannot persuade himself that he has received orders from His Britannick Majesty to the contrary, when that Monarch has manifested his sentiments in so satisfactory a manner, respecting the Communication from the intrusive Regency of Madrid. 1 28 „zstrol(5)—Sir William à Court to Señor Yandiola.... 1 i and Gibraltar, August 27th, 1823. THE Undersigned has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the two Notes of His Excellency, M. Yandiola, the one announcing to him his nomination to the post of Minister for Foreign Affairs; ad interim, the other enclosing the Correspondence between His Catholick Majesty and His Royal Highness the Duke d'Angouleme, and requesting him to repair to Cadiz, with the view of affording the mediation of Great Britain in any Negociations which may take place between the Spanish Government and the French Authorities now assembled at Port St. Mary's rest all >The British Government has given too many proofs of its anxious. desire to contribute, by every means in its power, to bring the present War to some fair and honourable conclusion, to render necessary any further assurances upon that head. But His Excellency M. Yandiola, must be aware that no Mediation can be undertaken with any prospect of success, unless a consent to such Mediation be previously obtained from both Parties, and more particularly where no conditions are spe cified as the basis of Negociation France, as well as Spain, must be SPAIN AND GREAT BRITAIN. willing to admit the friendly intervention of Great Britain, before that With respect to M. de Pando's Note of the 20th July, to which His Excellency has been pleased to refer, the Undersigned did not feel himself authorized to reply to it, without being previously apprized of the sentiments of his Government. He despatched a Copy of it to England by a special Messenger from San Lucar, but he has as yet received no answer to the Communication. The Undersigned is happy to avail himself, &c. WILLIAM à COURT. (6.)-Sir William à Court to Señor Yandiola. " Gibraltar, 31st August, 1823. ...IN continuation of what the Undersigned had the honour of communicating to His Excellency, M. Yandiola, &c. by the last opportunity, he has now to inform him, that he addressed a Note to His Royal Highness the Duke d'Angouleme, on the 27th inst. stating to him the nature of the Appeal made to the British Government by order of His Catholick Majesty, and expressing a hope that His Royal Highness might be induced to avail himself of such an opening for Negociation, and make the Undersigned the Channel for conveying such propositions to the Spanish Authorities, as might justify him in urging their acceptance in the name of the Government he had the honour to represent, or to point out any other way in which British intervention might be successfully employed to prevent the further effusion of blood, and to bring about the establishment of such an order of things as might not disappoint the just expectations of the Spanish Nation." The Undersigned further offered to proceed immediately into the Bay of Cadiz, in a British Frigate, for the purpose of facilitating a Negociation, should His Royal Highness be inclined to admit the proposal of British intervention. His Royal Highness, in his Answer, expressed an anxious desire to see Peace re-established between France and Spain, but stated that, being unauthorized to pronounce upon the question of Foreign intervention, he could do no more than transmit the proposal to the King, his Uncle, and promised to communicate to the Undersigned the decision that might be taken, with as little delay as possible. The Undersigned, on his side, has lost no time in forwarding this Correspondence, as well as that of M. Yandiola, to the Government of His Britannick Majesty, and he cannot but flatter himself that some 3 S thing satisfactory may result from the explanations which will naturally take place between the British and French Governments, and that some means, may be found of reconciling conflicting interests, and of putting an end to a War, which affords but little prospect of glory or advantage to either Party. The Undersigned, however, must be allowed to express his regret, that the Spanish Government has not thought proper to explain more clearly the conditions it would consider as admissible. A frank declaration upon this point would considerably facilitate a Negociation.. The Undersigned, &c. CORRESPONDENCE between the Duke d'Angouleme and the King of Spain.-August and September, 1823. (1.)-The Duke d'Angouleme to the King of Spain. De mon Quartier Général du Port de Santa Maria, MONSIEUR MOn Frere et COUSIN, le 17 Août, 1823 "L'ESPAGNE est délivrée du joug Révolutionnaire; quelques Villes fortifiées servent seules de refuge aux hommes compromis. Le Roi, mon Oncle et Seigneur, avait pensé (et les évènemens n'ont rien changé à son sentiment) que votre Majesté, rendue à la liberté, et usant de clémence, trouverait bon d'accorder une Amnistie nécessaire après tant de troubles, et de donner à ses Peuples, par la convocation des a ciennes Cortès du Royaume, des garanties d'ordre, de justice, et de bonne Administration. Tout ce que la France pourrait faire, ainsi que ses Alliés et l'Europe entière, serait fait pour consolider cet acte de votre sagesse. Je ne crains pas de m'en porter garant. J'ai cru devoir rappeler à votre Majesté, et par elle à tous ceux qui peuvent prévenir encore les maux qui les menacent, les dispositions du Roi, mon Onde et Seigneur. Si d'ici à cinq jours, il ne m'est parvenu aucune réponse satisfaisante, et si votre Majesté est encore à cet époque privée de s liberté, j'aurais recours à la force pour la lui rendre ; ceux qui 'écoute raient leurs passions de préférence à l'intérêt de leur Pays, répondront seuls du sang qui sera versé. Je suis, avec le plus profond respect, Monsieur mon, Frère et Cosin, de votre Majesté le très-affectionné Frère, Cousin, et Serviteur, LOUIS ANTOINE A Monsieur mon Frère et Cousin le Roi d'Espagne. (2.)-The King of Spain to the Duke d'Angouleme.—(Translation.) SIR, MY BROTHER AND COUSIN, Cadiz, August 21, 1823 I have received the Letter of your Royal Highness, dated the 17th instant, and it is in truth very remarkable that the intentions of my Brother and Uncle, the King of France, have not before been manifested to me, when it is now 5 months since his Troops invaded my Kingdom, and are causing, in consequence thereof, so many calamities to my Subjects. The yoke from which your Royal Highness pretends to have delivered Spain, never existed, nor am I deprived of any other liberty than that of which the operations of the French Army have deprived me. The best mode of restoring it to me, and of leaving the Spanish People in possession of theirs, would be to respect our rights as we respect those of others, and that no Foreign Power should interfere, by means of an armed Force, in our internal affairs. The paternal sentiments of my heart are, with regard to myself, the most secure rule, and the most powerful stimulus to estimate and seek a remedy for the wants of my Subjects. Should further guarantees for the preservation of order and justice be wished by them, with them I will agree upon the same; and, in the mean time, let me be allowed to state to your Royal Highness, that what you point out to me as such, are as incompatible with the dignity of my Crown, as they are with the actual state and political situation of things, and with the rights, customs, and prosperity of the Nation which I govern. To revive, after three centuries of oblivion, an Institution so varied, changeable, and monstrous, as the ancient Cortes of the Kingdom, in which the Nation was never assembled, and never possessed a true Representation, would be the same, or worse, than to revive the States-General in France; it would, besides, be insufficient to secure tranquillity and publick order, and, without affording advantage to any one of the classes of the State, would produce the difficulties and inconveniences which in former times were, and have always been experienced, whenever this question has been agitated. The King is not the proper channel for the suggestions which your Royal Highness has thought it your duty to make; neither is it possible or just that he should be called upon to prevent evils which he neither causes nor merits: this appeal ought rather to be made to the wilful Author of them. I wish, together with my Nation, that an honourable and solid Peace should put an end to the disasters of the present War, which we have not provoked, and which is as prejudicial to France as it is to Spain. Negociations on this subject are now pending between me and the Government of His Britannick Majesty, whose mediation has also been solicited by His Most Christian Majesty, and from which I can. not, nor do I think your Royal Highness ought to depart. If, notwithstanding these my declarations, force should be used, under the pretext advanced by your Royal Highness, those who resort to it will alone be answerable for the blood spilt, and your Royal Highness will be particularly so before God and Man, for the evils you may bring upon my Royal Person and Family, and upon this me. ritorious City, the meetch BioglEA God preserve your Royal Highness, my Brother and Cousin, many Years. !! I, the KING. (3.)—The King of Spain to the Duke d'Angouleme.—(Translation.) SIR, MY BROTHER AND COUSIN, Cadiz, 4th September, 1823. THE declarations which I made to your Royal Highness in my letter of the 21st of August, have not had the effect which I had reason to expect, for, in despite of them, innocent blood has been spilt on both sidės, which might have been spared. The obligations I am under as a King, and the sentiments by which I am actuated as the Father of my Subjects, impel me take one more step in order to put an end to the calamities of the present war; and, fully convinced that your Royal Highness must be animated by a similar desire, I propose to you a suspension of hostilities, without prejudice to the blockade, in order that, in the meanwhile, it may be possible to treat of a Peace, honourable to both Nations. Lieutenant-General Don Miguel Ricardo de Alava, the bearer of this letter, is commissioned by me to confer with such Person as your Royal Highness may be pleased to name, if you think it proper. In this manner it may be possible to obtain those reciprocal explanations which are so necessary to come to an understanding, and to facilitate ulterior measures; and if your Royal Highness, as I have every teason to expect, should think it right to agree to my proposal, the above-mentioned Commissioner is also furnished with my authority at once to agree to, and sign an armistice; or, should it be deemed necessary, I will confer upon him my full powers in due form, for that that purpose. ། God preserve your Royal Highness, my Brother and Cousin, the many years I wish you. སྐུ “། a 199 je ne go to I am your Royal Highness's affectionate Brother and Cousin, H. R. H. The Duke d'Angouleme do FERDINAND. (4.) The Duke d'Angouleme to the King of Spain. MONSIEUR MON FRERE ET COUSIN, le 5 Septembre, 1823. J'AI reçu cette nuit la lettre de votre Majesté du 4, dont elle avait chargé le Lieutenant Général Don Miguel de Alava; j'ai l'honneur de lui répondre par le Maréchal de Camp, Duc de Guiche, mon premier Aide de Camp. dd Je ne puis traiter de rien qu'avec votre Majesté seule et libre. Quand ce bût sera atteint, j'engagerai avec instance votre Majesté à accorder |