the like case: A trade of this nature was never suffered by you; and it hath been opposed by the Salus Populi in all countries, in like circumstances. His majesty sees with pleasure the trade of his neighbours flourish, and would behold its increase with satisfaction, if its prosperity were not repugnant to this primary law. But he likewise persuades himself, that never, for the sake of some transient profit to individuals, will his ancient allies be the first to injure England in this essential part. Considering the thing in this light, I cannot doubt but that your High Mightinesses will give the King the pleasure to hear that they, for their subjects, have honestly abandoned it, and that this stumbling block is for ever removed. In settling this point, his majesty commands me to include in it the charge, commonly called Overscheepen, which is made of a French vessel into a Dutch vessel, when the former dares not continue her course, and endeavours to save herself by carrying neutral colours, in order to avoid seizure at sea by the King's ships. Your High Mightinesses while you acknowledge the justice of my first demand, cannot refuse the second; since that would be to declare, that you treat with good faith, whilst, at the same time, a more dangerous door will be left for fraud. Such a conduct is unworthy of the equity of your High Mightinesses, especially in the present case, when the question is the prevention of any subject of future dispute, and the restoration of harmony and good neighbourhood between the two powers. The last point of my instructions, which relates to the amicable demands inade by his majesty to your High Mightinesses, requires a more minute consideration. I cannot enter upon that subject yet; but reserve it till afterwards. I must nevertheless, observe to you, that the King has seen, not without pain, yet without giving them any molestation, a great number of Dutch ships pass by his harbours since the commencement of the war, laden with all sorts of materials for building and repairing the enemy's fleets. His majesty asks that certain articles of naval stores may be comprehended in the class of contraband: but he will so settle it with your High Mightinesses, as that the inoffensive trade of your subjects to the north of Europe, (if I may use that term) shall not be involved in this article. Your High Mightinesses, who are yourselves a maritime power, and know how to contend for, and defend your prerogatives as such, must always allow, that in the present war against France, it is both the King's interest, and his duty, not only to hinder the maritime of his enemy from becoming too.formidable, but also to employ all means to weaken it. Can it be disputed that naval stores are not in this view, as prejudical as balls and gunpowder ? Let France be without ships, and her warlike stores will never make England uneasy. The importance of this article is so evident, that the King ventures to refer it to the judgment of your High Mighti nesses. These, my Lords, are my instructions with regard to the satis faction which the King would think himself entitled to require from the friendship and justice of the republic, if he had no other foundation for his claim. But I have already informed you, that it is his majesty's majesty's sincere desire to unite his own safety with the convenience of your High Mightinesses; which makes it unnecessary for me to enlarge on this head. In this representation of the points on which I have orders to insist with your High Mightinesses, I have endeavoured to follow the method which you yourselves have begun to put in practice; that is to say, first to state the claim, and afterwards propose the expedients. I come now to the articles of your resolutions of the 25th of September last. I. As to the demand contained in the first article, I must observe to your High Mightinesses, that this very treaty, which you so strongly insist on, prescribes the manner of proceeding in case of seizure or de. tention; and that you cannot claim the exercise of an extrajudicial power by his majesty, whose hands are tied with regard to his own subjects, by the laws; and with regard to foreigners, by treaties. If there have been any irregular sentences, either the judge must have been misled by appearances at the hearing of the cause: or delays were made, of which there was just reason to complain. The supreme court, established for judging in the last resort, hath always been ready to revise and correct abuses, if at any time any could be discovered in the sentences of the inferior courts. But your High Mightinesses will give me leave to observe, that it is very extraordinary, that not one ape peal hath yet been thrown in, notwithstanding the assurances given to your High Mightinesses by many persons. This is a fact at which every body in England is astonished: and, doubtless, had the appellants desired to be heard, the num ber of complaints would have been greatly diminished. Mean while, to assist and relieve the subjects of your High Mightinesses, as much as possible, and to avoid confounding the innocent with the guilty, his majesty hath just now ordered an exact list to be delivered to him of all the Dutch vessels detained in his harbours, in order to call those to an account who may have brought them in on frivolous pretences; to oblige them to release them, and to hasten the finishing of the trials in general. If there remains any thing more to be done for the further facility and security of the navigation of the republic, it will readily be agreed to by his majesty. The nation is desirous to second the King's good intentions on this head. I flatter myself that these assurances will be sufficient to dissipate. those ill-grounded fears which possess certain persous in these provinces. A mutual confidence, and the desire to avoid any subject of animosity, are highly re quisite in treating of matters of such importance, and of such a complicated nature, II. As to the second article of the said resolutions, I almost dare venture to assure your High Mightinesses, that if you cordially interest yourselves in his majesty's situation in the present war, and discover a readiness to grant the points which he thinks he hath a right to require of you, you will receive all possible satisfaction and security. It is his majesty's intention that the subjects of your High Mightinesses should enjoy all the privileges and immu nities resulting from the treaty of 1674, so far as the tenor of it is not derogated from by the present. accommodation. III. As III. As to the third article, as soon as your High Mightinesses shall have agreed with his majesty on the points which I have mentioned in his name, it shall be easily settled. IV. The fourth article contains complaints for which perhaps there is too much foundation by the vio lences committed by English privateers, or vessels pretending to be such. His majesty is sincerely grieved that such disorders should have been committed, to the disgrace of his subjects. The whole nation joins with the king in endeavouring to suppress those robberies. I take the liberty to communicate to you the orders issued by the admiralty of Great Britain against such behaviour; and, for the honour of the merchants of London, I must add the advertisement published by them, offering a reward for discovering the offenders. His majesty intreats your High Mightinesses to assist him on this occasion, by exhorting your subjects to bring to justice the authors of those offences; in which they may depend on the utmost protection andencouragement. As to the rest, the king is astonished, that, after so many applications made here for obtaining proofs of the facts alleged, not one, notwithstanding the reward offered, has gone over to England to give evidence. I take the liberty to refer to the contents of my first article for an answer to the fifth resolution of your High Mightinesses; only adding, that his majesty will with pleasure agree to any method that shall be proposed to him for authenticating the genuineness of ship papers, in. which point too many abuses have been committed. 4 Memorial presented to the General of the French islands; by the Governors and Lieutenants du Roi of the several quarters in the island of Martinico, Jan. 1, 1759. THE orders given us by the general, the 25th of last November, for holding our several districts in readiness to march; and the report spread of an armament fitted out in England, which was said to be destined for these colonies, have determined us to lay before the general the condition of this island, and its different districts, the command of which is intrusted to us, under his directions. The precautions necessary for securing his majesty's possesions become more pressing, as we are threatened by the enemy; and we should think ourselves deficient in our duty, if we omitted representing to our governor the means conducive to the security and defence of the island. Our trade with theDutch is become our sole dependence; the general must be convinced of it, since he hath authorised it; he can expect no succour from Europe, as we have been abandoned by it ever since the war broke out; and the manner in which traders have been suffered to come among us has been of little ser vice to the colony. The merchants, who have had permissions granted them, have abused and defeated the intention of the general. Possessed of this privilege, they have made themselves the arbitrary disposers of all provisions brought in, and of all our own commodities sent out, and of consequence, the former have been at as high a price as their avarice could raise it, and the lat ter ter as low as self-interest could sink it. While the general meant providing, by this means, supports for the country, and the inhabitants were the object of his good intentions, they, by a criminal abuse of the permissions granted, have not reaped the least benefit from them. The colony, for two months, has been destitute of all kinds of provisions; the view of the general was, to provide some in sending men of war to convoy vessels fromSt. Eustatias, to this island; but the use the merchants of St. Pierre's have made of their permissions,has destroyed all our expectations of relief by that method. By this means, the island still suffers the want of provisions; all our own commodities lie upon our hands; and masters are unable to support their slaves, who are pe rishing thro' hunger. The interests of the king and country are mutual and reciprocal; the loss of negroes diminishes his majesty's revenue; and the great, not to say the entire stop put to the exportation of our commodities, is such a blow to our trade, that we feel it in the most sensible manner. Many of our inhabitants have not been able to repair the mischief and damage done their buildings and plantations by the last hurricane; and their reduced situation incapacitated them from furnishing negroes so easily as could have been wished, for the use of the public works. Every one is animated with the warmest zeal and inclination; but ought we not to be apprehensive of dreadful consequences from slaves, who are halfstarved, and to whom all bondage is equal. Misery debases mankind; and when it has reduced them to a precarious situation, we often find them have recourse to confusion and VOL. II. despair, as a remedy against the ills which oppress them. From the accounts we daily receive of what passes in our districts, and the enquiries it is our duty to make into every condition, we can, without exaggeration, affirm, that the best provided of our inhabitants partake largely of the present calamity, and want many of the common necessaries of life, whilst others have not so much as a grain of salt in their houses. Another great misfortune is, that the inhabitants are reduced to the necessity of killing their cattle, to keep their negro children and sick people alive; but this resource must soon fail, and our mills stand still for want of cattle to work them; and by this means we shall consume beforehand the reserve we might otherwise have in case of a siege. It is sufficient to represent to the general these misfortunes: the goodness of his heart for a people entrusted to his care, will point out a remedy,in suppressing the permissions granted to particular merchants,and in permitting neutral vessels to come freely into all our ports, and trade with the inhabitants, without first addressing themselves to our mer chants. When every quarter becomes stocked with provisions, and men can eat, we shall see their zeal, which the famine had damped, revive again; and when the inhabitants see their properties secured,by finishing the public works, and takingall precautions necessary for their defence, they will be easy,and unite themselves in repulsing the enemy, with the courage they have always hitherto testified. Care, however, ought to be taken for securing his majesty's duties, and there is a method of doing it; for in every port P where where there are no guns to command such vessels importing the provisions, the commandant of the quarter may oblige the customhouse officers to visit them, and bring their sails on shore, till the king's duties are paid. In times of calamity, the king gives every assistance to his distressed subjects, and this colony claims help and relief against the famine, which is devouring it. The citadel of Fort Royal seems the principal object on which the safety and defence of the country depends. The loss of that must necessarily be attended with the loss of the whole island, We may indeed retire into the woods; but how are we to subsist there? When the enemy are become masters of this place,how are we to expect succours from without? The whole colony ought to make the most vigorous efforts to stop the progress of an invading army, and every man will set about it in earnest, if the fort was properly provided with every thing for its safety and defence; and if magazines for furnishing the necessaries of life, as well as of war, were established in the different quarters of the island. Signed, Chaillon, De Folleville, De Lignery, Lou. Villiers, De Poincey, Rouille. The genuine legal sentence pronounced by the high court of judicature of Portugal upon the Conspirators against the life of his most Faithful Majesty, with the just motives for the same. The preliminary facts are as follow: Tappears that the Duke of A veiro had conceived an impla cable resentment against the King, for preventing a marriage which he had precipitately adjusted between his son and the sister of the Duke of Cadaval, endeavouring, at the same time, by vexatious artifices, to prevent the Duke,who is a minor, from marrying, in order to secure to his family, the possessions and honours of that house; and for defeating several projects to preserve a pernicious influence which he acquired in the latter years of the late reign. That he endeavoured to ingratiate himself with all persons, who were dissatisfied with the government, of what party or condition soever, and therefore,as soon as the Jesuits were dismissed from court, he forgot an inveterate enmity which till then had been implacable against them, invited them to his house,and made them frequently long and secret visits, at their houses, where the death of the King was concerted, the Jesuits declaring, that whoever should kill his majesty, would not by that act become guilty, even of venial sin. That the Duke of Aveiro, and the Jesuits, drew the Marchioness of Tavora into their confederacy, notwithstanding the mutual jealousy between the two houses, and the Marchioness drew in the rest of her family. That the Marquis of Tavora having entrusted Joseph Romeiro, an old servant, who had attended him to and from the Indies, with the conspiracy, committed to him the care of waiting, with horses ready saddled, where the conspi rators were to mount. That the Duke of Aveiro several times rode and walked with Alvares Ferreira, his late wardrobe-keeper, and Joseph Policarp, Ferreira's brother-in-law, to acquaint them with the |