Kings of GREAT Queen ANNE of Ambaffadors. Treaties; years. Where figned, and Mr. WALPOLE, in 1707, brought from SPAIN a treaty of commerce, probably that above mentioned. Cale's Mem. p. 472. Kings cent. fhall be demanded on the credit of the inftrument, declaring the charge and prices of the merchandize and goods, which fhall be exhibited by the merchant or factor, confirmed by witneffes on oath. 7. All prize goods, taken by the Queen's fhips of war, or privateers, fhall be efteemed as goods the produce of GREAT BRI8. The Queen of GREAT BRITAIN and the King of SPAIN fhall ratify ΤΑΙΝ. these articles within ten weeks. To this treaty was annexed a fecret article, whereby it was agreed, that a company of commerce to the INDIES fhould be formed, confifting of the subjects of GREAT BRITAIN and SPAIN, in the dominions of the crown of SPAIN in the INDIES. The forming of this company was referved till his Catholick Majefty fhould be in poffeffion of the crown of SPAIN: but, in cafe unforeseen accidents should prevent the forming fuch company, his Catholic Majefty obliged himself and fucceffors to grant to the British fubjects the fame privileges and liberty of a free trade to the INDIES, which the Spanish fubjects enjoyed, a previous fecurity being given for the payment of the royal duties. His Catholic Majefty likewife obliged himself, that from the day of the general peace, to the day the faid company of commerce fhould be formed, he would give licence to the British subjects to fend to the INDIES annually ten fhips, of 300 tons each, provided that they pay all the royal duties, and be registered in fuch port of SPAIN as his Catholic Majefty fhould appoint; and give fecurity to return from the INDIES to the fame port of SPAIN, without touching elsewhere. That his Catholic Majefty would likewife permit the faid ten fhips of trade to be conveyed by British fhips of war, provided the faid fhips of war do not trade: And that he would not demand any indulto or donative on account of the faid trade, contenting himself with the royal duties only. And the Queen of GREAT BRITAIN promifed, that the faid fhips of war fhould, in going to, and returning from the INDIES, convoy the fhips of his Catholic Majefty: And his Catholic Majefty engaged never to permit the fubjects of FRANCE to be concerned in the said company of commerce, nor in any wife to trade to the INDIES. After the figning of this treaty, King CHARLES was made fenfible, that the conceffions granted therein to the English were fuch as would not eafily pass with his own fubjects, fhould he ever be poffeffed of the SPANISH throne; and therefore it was not without reluctance, and merely in compliance with the neceffity of his af fairs, that he ratified the articles of it, on the 9th of January 1708, fix months after f it was figned. The perfon who was entrusted to carry this treaty to LONDON having embarked at BARCELONA, on board a small veffel for GENOA, was unluckily taken by a French frigate: the exprefs, as is ufual in fuch cafes, threw his dispatches over-board; but they were taken up by fome divers, and tranfmitted to the Marquis de TORCY at VERSAILLES, who took care to fend privately a copy of the treaty to the States General, in order to excite their jealousy of the English, who were endeavouring, by that tranfaction, to engrofs the trade to the WEST INDIES. See Tindal's Continuation of Rapin, Vol. 4. B. 26. *This contract (for Affiento in Spanish fignifies a contract) was to commence May 1713, and end in 1743. It was a fource of iniquity, and a deposit in the hands of the Spaniards for our good conduct, to feize on at pleasure. By this treaty King PHILIP yielded for ear to GREAT BRITAIN, GIBRAL TAR and MINORCA. This treaty is very fhort, contains little new, confirms the former, but revokes the three articles fo injurious to GREAT BRITAIN, which were tacked to the treaty of UTRECHT, and called explanatory. Thefe were the III. V. and VIII. This fettled the reftitution of the fhips taken by lord TORRINGTON and Sir GEORGE WALTON in 1718. The Spaniards are perpetually objecting to us, the injustice and illegality of that measure of attacking their fleet in the time of profound peace, and without any declaration of war; but thofe who will take the trouble to perufe CORBET's account of that matter, will find that Sir GEORGE BING fent an officer to the Spanish minifter, to acquaint him with the defign and deftination of his fleet; and that the minifter fent him word back, that he might go and execute whatever commiffion the king his mafter had given him. See alio, for the fame purpofe, the memoirs of the Marquis ST. PHILIP. f 2 Kings He was appointed his Majesty's envoy extraordinary to the King of PORTUGAL, May 1745. Thefe two treaties related to the neutral garrifons in ITALY, and were owing to our being tired of the congrefs at Soissons. The quadruple alliance ftipulated, that Swiss, and not Spanish troops, fhould be fent into ITALY, to maintain Don CARLOS; but the treaties of SEVILLE changed it for Spanish, and not Swifs troops. That is to fay, the court of SPAIN carried its point. 1 *The Affiento fufpended at this time. The balance between ENGLAND and SPAIN was 96,000 pounds; but the fecret article took away 36,000 pounds. The difference could not be adjusted, and the war broke out. By the tenth article of the preliminaries, and the XVI. of this treaty, ENGLAND was to be paid 100,000 pounds reimbursement, and the right to the remaining four years of the Affiento was fettled; but it was afterwards fold by a convention, and occafioned the treaty of 1750. In this the 100,000 pounds were again fettled and agreed on, the explanatory articles of the treaty of UTRECHT again abolished, and the Affiento and the annual hip given up. All former treaties confirmed. 1 |