The Nootka Sound Controversy

PEACEABLE

m prime minister (1777)."[199] He retained this position fifteen years. "His integrity and love of labor won for him the entire confidence of Charles III, who found in him the industrious and respectful servant whom he sought.[200] He was a great worker, of clean morals, beneficent, but very proud."[201] He was a devoted servant of monarchy and an enthusiastic adherent to the principle of aristocracy. But on account of his recent elevation to the rank of a noble he did not enjoy the favor of the up

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Charles III (1788). He was retained by Charles IV, but it was not long bef

was more busily engaged in these bagatelles than in the weighty affairs of state.[203] ... The Queen found willing accomplices among the Count'

years' reign of Charles III, which had just closed, is the most glorious period of Spanish history, with the single exception of her period of preeminence in the sixteenth cent

andise and ideas. To protect the colonies he hurled upon them a new current of Spanish emigration, and decreed liberty of commerce between the Peninsula and America. He allied himself with F

h a rejuvenated kingship, and a minister second only to Pitt.[207] Led by this minister, Spain had less than a decade before been largely instrumental in humiliating England; and since then she had persistently refused to make any commercial concessions to her vanquished antagonist. The same minis

ly and externally, when news arrived of the occurrences at No

Valdez[209] sent to Floridablanca the second installment of letters and documents concerning the occurrences at Nootka. Three days earlier he had sent the first bundl

Viceroy of Mexico, having had notice that the English were forming an establishment at the above-mentioned place, ordered a ship there to take possession of it." Others said that the Spanish ship was there simply to reconnoiter the coast. There were also conflicting accounts of what was done with Russian, Portuguese, and American ships found in the same port, some stating that all we

efiniteness and inconsistency of the accounts gave room for[366] full play of the imagination. The Spanish Court, which had complete accounts, either did not study them carefully enough to get at the whole truth, or intentionally kep

that the Russians intended to occupy Nootka, and of the Viceroy's prompt action to anticipate them. But respecting the events at Nootka little is told except the seizure of an English vessel and its arrival in Mexico as a prize.[213] On January 15 the British chargé wrote of a conference with Floridablanca on the subject. "The Count avoided explaining to

ntly.[215] A week after sending his harsh instructions the[367] Count attempted to smooth matters over in another conference with Merry. He wished to see the present har

fter Campo's communication should have been received. He declared that England undoubtedly had a complete "right to visit for the purposes of trade, or to make a settlement in, the district in question."[217] When

hat started the diplomatic controversy, and since it has not before been made public, it is worth

ude, and named by foreigners "Nootka," or "Nioka," of which possession had formerly been taken. He arrived there the 24th of last June. In giving his account to the Viceroy, M. Martinez said that he found there an American frigate and sloop, which had sailed from Boston to make a tour of the world. He also found a packet boat and another

so many years. I say[368] this to your excellency as an established fact, and as a further argument against those who attribute to Captain Cook the discovery of the said port of San Lorenzo, I add that the same Martinez in charge of the last expedition was there under commission in August of 1774. This was

heir actions in unforeseen events. His Majesty flatters himself that the Court of St. James will certainly not fail to give the strictest orders to prevent such attempts in the fu

e honor t

quis de

y M. the Duke

ince no motive is apparent, and the correct date is given in the documents which Floridablanca had at hand. The note does not mention the fact, clearly stated in the same documents, that the first packet boat and the other vessel accompanying it from Macao were really English, though nominally Portuguese; and the impression is given that they were allowed to go absolutely free as were the American vessels. No mention whatever is made of the Princess Royal which was also sent as a prize to Mexico, though this is plainly stated in the documents. Instead of te

ys before they had a perfect right to do, namely, to trade and make settlements on the Northwest Coast. The further request that the English Government should give strict orders to prevent such enterprises in the fut

in the foreign office and publi

ip in time of peace to be an offense against the law of nations and an insu

tone equally imperious. After reviewing the facts as given by

lency that the act of violence spoken of in your letter as having been committed by M. Martinez, in seizing a British vessel under the circumstances reported, makes it necessary henc

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To determine the details of the ultimate satisfaction which may be found necessary mor

h ambassador. In his note to Floridabl

xpress my astonishment, but after considering the matter carefully I have concluded that I ought to refrain, fearing lest in the heat of conversation something might be said which might exasperate. S

eds listened to him calmly, but avoided any discussion of the matter. He had tarried a little time and then withdrawn to write his account and urge anew that orders be sent disavowing th

he advantage of England in connection with South America, and that plan was considered at this meeting. Miranda[371] explained the new form of government to be introduced and discussed the existing situation. The plan was admitted to be beneficial, but was to be put into execution only in case of a war with Spain. Pitt asked him to write down the substance of what he had said, adding a statement of all the products of South America, the exports and imports,

Merry to be guarded in what he might say, he also asked the chargé for all the information he could obtain concerning recent Spanish n

I can not, on the most diligent inquiry, find that any are yet commenced, except for the equipping of 3 ships of the line, 6 frigates, and 3 sloops of war for the purpose of forming a fleet of exercise. [O

much dissatisfied with the English reply, but still seemed anxious that peace should be preserved. Merry thought tha

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h accompanied it. He told of abundant military preparations at the principal places in the Indies, of what was needed to complete their equipment, and the orders that could be given to insure their security. He also reported on the state of the Spanish navy, telling of the ships at the three naval stations Cadiz, Ferrol, and Carthagena. There were 45 ships of the line and 32 frigates ready to be armed at once; and in addition 24 of the f

ase this had not already been done.[229] As stated in the preceding chapter, the vessels ha

ter as a ground for quarreling. The Spanish minister lamented the fact and hoped that the necessity for Spain's coming to an understanding with other courts might be avoided. He said th

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ies and in Spain, he had proceeded promptly, with His Majesty's approval, to execute the orders which follow in the report. Vessels were to be armed at once in Ferrol, Carthagena, and Cadiz, and, the real purpose being kept as secret as possible, a sufficient number were to be collected at the last-named port to form a respectable squadron for use in case later occurrences should make it necessary. The vessels that needed it were to be cleane

o maintain a peaceable demeanor. Floridablanca made especial efforts to keep the British chargé in the dark and quiet any alarm which t

which threatened an outbreak every moment. The King had concluded that the most efficacious measures must be taken with the greatest haste in order that these first dangerous agitations might be n

12 he reported that the fleet of exercise had been ordered to Cadiz. Other ships were being armed in that port and the other two naval stations.[234] Three days later he reported as being fitted for immediate service at Cadiz 14 ships of the line, 10 frigat

ted the second formal note from the Spanish Court on the Nootka Sound controversy. This embodied th

continually exercised over the territories, coasts, and seas above mentioned, including the right always exercised of capturing transgressors-[in spite of all this] the Viceroy of Mexico, as appears from the latest information, has already liberated the above-mentioned English vessel and crew. He did this because he was convinced that nothing but ignorance of the rights of Spain could have encouraged the individuals of any nation to resort to those places with the idea of establishing themselves or of carrying on commerce there. The Viceroy also had at hand positive orders which had been given to him instructing him to have all

timents and the most constant atta

quis de

y M. the Duke

hat Spain was right and England wrong. It distinctly avowed the seizure and made the release an act of pure generosity. As justification, it asserted the most extensive claims to exclusive dominion. It renewed the former demand that England prevent her subjects from infringing upon that dominion. To sup

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ir demands more vigorously. This was the arrival of Meares. He came just at the opportune moment. The blood of the English ministers was already u

c account of this transaction was obtained than h

ry, no longer having room to doubt of the insult offered to the British flag, and the injury sustained by British subjects from the unwarrantable and unprovoked ho

, mentioned above, caused the British Government to t

following recommendations to the King were agreed upon,

delivered by Monsieur del Campo relative thereto, Your Majesty's servants have agreed humbly to submit to Your Majesty their opinion that Your Majesty's minister at the Court of Madrid should be instructed to present a memorial demanding an immediate and adequate

y night, May 4, between 12 and 3 o'clock, as that time would create least observation. The same day that Grenville's note was written the King answered it requesting a privy council for the next day, May 3, to consider th

r which the latter had been instructed to make to the English demand for satisfaction made it necessary for His Majesty to direct his minister at Madrid to renew the

preventing his subjects' interfering with the just and acknowledged rights of Spain, he can never in any shape accede to those claims of exclusive sovereignty, commerce, and navigation to which your excellency's represen

lly religious mind of the Spaniard. That Spain had yielded the bleak northern shore of the Atlantic was of little consequence, since she retained the sunny southern portion, where, alone, the Spaniard could feel at home. With the exception of Portugal's comparatively insignificant holding, Spain still possessed practically the whole of both Americas south of the northern line of Florida and west of the Mississippi River. That Russia had recently settled on the icebound coast of the far-away northwest was hardly known and less to be regretted. Being accustomed to think of America thus, the Spaniard could not conceive that anyone else would dare to infringe on his right. Little was known in Spain of the colonial development of England and the new

passed between the two Courts until his arrival. In the meantime each Government was putting forth its utmost efforts to raise its naval force to the highest possible efficiency. During the same[379] time the diplomacy of each country was directed toward strengthening its European position by calling on its allies for assurances