Sitting of 4 February 1805

MINUTES.
Lord Henniker took the oaths and his seat for the county of Rutland.—Sir E. Nepean brought up an account of the expences and debt of the navy, to the 31st Dec. 1804.—The coal merchants' indemnity, and the Surry iron railway bill was read 2d time, and ordered to be committed.—Mr. Rose brought up the bill for making better provision for the quarrantine service, which was read a. 1st time. On his, moving that the bill be read a 2d time, he said, he felt it necessary to explain to the house the objects of the bill. The act of the 39th and 40th of the king invested his maj. and council with certain powers, which it was the purpose of this bill to enlarge and extend. His maj. by that bill, was enabled by his proclamation to subject to quarantine all vessels coming from countries infected with the plague. The present bill extended the like power with respect to ships coming from any countries infected with any other epidemical diseases which might be dangerous to the health of this country. It also went to empower his maj. to force persons who may have landed in this country from on board of such vessels clandestinely, to return on board forthwith on pain of death. It also had a clause to indemnify the members of the privy council for obliging certain persons who had landed from the wreck of a vessel from Gibraltar, and obliged to perform quarantine, to return on board of the vessel so wrecked, and take with them the persons resident in a public house where they had taken refuge, after their landing, in consequence of which some of those persons, were drowned. He admitted the case was certainly a hard one; but it was but a partial evil compared with the much more extensive and alarming one which the order was calculated to prevent. He concluded by moving, "that the bill be read a 2d time on Friday next. Ordered.—Mr. Alexander brought up the report of

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the qualification indemnity bill. The amendments were agreed to, and the bill ordered to be read a 3d time to-morrow.

PRINCE OF WALES'S ISLAND.
Mr. Johnstone,in rising to move the house on this subject, thought it sufficiently proved that he did not mean to trouble the house causelessly, when he stated, that on a ballot at the India house relative to the proposed establishment at that island, there were 325 out of 736 against the question; which was thus carried by a majority of only 86. The papers he meant to move for, were merely such as were necessary to put the house in possession of the subject. The hon. gent, then moved, for a copy of lord Castlereagh's letter, dated 9th Sept. 1804, to the chairman of the court of directors, relative to Prince of Wales's Island, with the inclosures contained in that letter; also, an estimate of the expence of building a 74-gun ship, and a 36-gun frigate at Bombay; also, copies of two letters from Sir A. S. Hammond to the chairman of the E. India comp. dated 29th and 30th Oct. 1804.; also, an account of the proceedings of the commissioners for the affairs of India, and the court of directors, respecting the Prince of Wales's Island, so far as the same may be disclosed without prejudice to the public service. Ordered.

COMMISSION OR NAVAL INQUIRY.
Mr. Creeveysaid, that understanding a commission had been issued, granting large and extraordinary powers to those to whom it was addressed, for acting on the reports of the existing commission of naval inquiry, he should move, "that an humble address be presented to his maj. praying, that he would be graciously pleased to order the proper officer to lay before the house a copy of the commission lately issued by the crown to sir C. Middleton and others, authorising them to act according as they should deem right, with respect to certain subjects contained in the reports of the commissioners of naval inquiry."
The Chanc. of the Excheq.said, this commission did not answer either to the description given of it in the motion, or to that which the hon. gent. gave in the observation with which he prefaced the motion. The hon. gent. had described the commission as giving large and discretionary powers: it gave no such powers, it limited precisely the powers it gave, and the objects of those powers. The commissioners were only impowered to digest and report to the admiralty the beat means
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of carrying into execution such reforms as should appear to them to be proper, in consequence of the reports of the commissioners of naval inquiry. This was the whole of the discretion granted to them. He had no objection to the production of the commission; he only said thus muck, to prevent its being understood that such an unlimited discretion was given as the hon. gent. supposed. A copy of the commission was ordered.
Mr. Creeveygave notice, that on an early day he should make a motion for information, whether any proceedings had been instituted by the lords of the treasury against John Fordyce, esq. who appeared indebted to the public in the sum of 80,000l.
The Chanc. of tie Excheq.said, if any motion were to be made on this subject, it would be perfectly competent to the hon. gent. to make it now. It happened that Mr. Fordyce was one of the persons to whom the commission lately adverted to by the hon. gent. was issued, as one of the fittest persons to carry it into execution; and he had no doubt of his appearing blameless, with respect to the deficiency the hon. gent. meant to make the subject of his motion.

WAR WITH SPAIN.
Mr. Greyrose to inquire whether anymore papers were to be laid before the house, in addition to the two sets which had already been delivered? There still appeared to him to be a very great deficiency in those popers, and he wished to know whether this deficiency was likely to be supplied by the production of any additional papers?
The Chanc. of the Excheq.replied, that there were some more papers to be delivered, and that he expected them every minute. The hon. gent. would then be better able to judge, whether there still remained any deficiency or not.
Mr. Grey,after all the information which the papers already moved for contained, still expressed himself of opinion that there were several important deficiencies to be supplied, and points of the highest consequence to be explained. The deficiencies at present existing, were of papers from the office of the sec, for the foreign department, and the board of admiralty. Of the latter he should, at present, say nothing, because all the papers he had moved for were not yet produced, and till they were on the table, he could not ascertain to what extent the deficiency of evidence existed. As to the deficiencies from

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the sec. of state's office, he had to offer a few observations. What, in the first place, he wished to ascertain, was, whether, previous to the 2d June, down to the 24th Nov. there existed any papers illustrative of the steps taken by our ministers to obtain any satisfactory explanation of the treaty of St. Ildefonso. He was also anxious to know whether, during the long interval betwixt the 21st Jan. and the 29th Nov. no instructions whatever were given by Lord Hawkesbury, or the person who succeeded him in the office of foreign sec. to our minister at Madrid, on the subjects in dispute betwixt the two countries. If no such instructions were given, it was fit that this should be stated to the house. If, on the other hand, instructions were given, it was proper that the house should be in possession of them to enable them to form a fair judgment of the whole of this very extraordinary negotiation. On a former day he had moved for a copy of all information received of the passage of French troops through the Spanish territories, referred to in Mr. Frere's dispatch of the 9th Sept. It was quite clear, that in consequence of the remonstrances of our minister, the future passage of French troops through Spain was prevented; but while this was admitted, it was equally evident that some explanations took place on the subject. Now, it was very important for the house to know what these explanations Were; but the house had hitherto no information on the subject. The existence of these explanations was indeed sufficiently evident, from references in the dispatches of the 24th Nov. but the house knew not in what spirit they were couched, or to what extent they proceeded. Respecting the convention alluded to in the correspondence, he was now convinced that what the right hon. gent. opposite (Mr. Pitt) had stated, was correct; that such an agreement between the govt. of Spain and this country had no existence. But it was quite as manifest that the Spanish govt. did, in consequence of what had taken place in various conferences with our minister, suppose that their neutrality was to depend on certain understood conditions. In various parts of the correspondence it appeared that ministers had made various demands for a copy of the treaty by which Spain was to furnish subsidiary resources to France. He wished to be informed whether ministers were ever in possession of an official Copy of this document. The knowledge of
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this fact was highly interesting, because it would be possible to form an estimate, whether the terms of it differed widely from those terms on which, in the, first instance, our forbearance was founded; whether it was materially contrary to the principles on which there was a chance of the preservation of Spanish neutrality; or whether Spain, at the time the rupture took place, had shewn any disposition to alter her conduct in any way likely to affect the interests of this country? It was not attempted to be denied, in the papers already on the table, that very important conferences had taken place betwixt the Spanish ambassador here, and the sec. for the foreign department. The chev. d'Anduaga alluded to the conferences in various parts of his dispatches. It was fair to presume, not only that these conferences were highly interesting, but it was not at all unlikely that the principal part of the discussion that took place was committed to writing. The Spanish ambassador spoke in his dispatches of explanations Which these conferences produced, and it would surely be very strange indeed, if the sec. for the foreign department never communicated any part of the discussions to our minister at Madrid, as affording him a rule for the regulation of his conduct in the course of the various discussions which took place on all the points in dispute. From the Chev. d'Anduaga's dispatches of the 3d Aug. it was quite undeniable that the conferences of the 29th and 30th Aug. involved matters of the highest consequence. In the whole of that dispatch, it was plain that his excl. viewed them in that light, and it was not less obvious, that in a similar light he had represented them to his court. If he attached so much consequence to them, was it presuming too much to suppose that they must have been at least equally interesting to our minister at Madrid? It was next to an impossibility that he should have been left altogether ignorant of their principal importance; but not a word of what had taken place betwixt Lord Hawkesbury, his successor, and the Spanish ambassador, appeared in the papers already on the table. The house, however, ought not to be kept in the dark, respecting any part of so interesting a business; and he certainly did think, that if any documents connected with these conferences were in existence, they ought to be produced. He should therefore feel it his duty to move for the production of all

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the notes which might have been presented at these different conferences to which the Spanish ambassador refers in various parts of his dispatches, and on which he appears to lay peculiar stress, as if in these the terms of the Spanish neutrality had been in a great measure adjusted. He next wished to call the attention of the house to the two notes of the Spanish minister on the 4th and the 11th of Nov. in which he gives an official explanation of the state of the Spanish armaments. It was important for the house then to know what was the information on which ministers proceeded when the orders for the detention of the Spanish frigates were issued. It was material to compare the intelligence received from our naval officers abroad, with the solemn assurances and explanations given by the Spanish ambassador resident at our court. Till this information was before the house, it was impossible to determine how far these orders were or were not called for by the actual state of things. If ministers had any such information, the house had a right to demand it. If ministers had no such information, it was not at all very doubtful what opinion ought to be entertained of them for issuing the orders. The hon. member also expressed a desire to have all letters or dispatches which took place from February to May 1804, produced. It was fair to presume that letters of an important kind were written during that interval. In the letter of the 1st of May, a letter of the 18th of Feb. is referred to, and he wished to have that letter produced, as affording some explanation of the manner in which any expectation of the continuance of Spanish neutrality could be preserved. He had thought it his duty to throw out these observations, not with the view of embarrassing govt. but solely with the object of coming, with full information, to the discussion of a subject which he could not help considering one of the most momentous which ever was submitted to the decision of the house of commons. As to deficiencies from the board of admiralty, he should at present say nothing, till he had an opportunity of seeing whether the papers he had moved for were satisfactorily produced.
The Chanc. of the Excheq.said, the papers he expected to present this day would afford as good answers as could be given to the inquiries of the hon. gent. There were
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two official letters from M. Anduaga. There were no others that could well be produced; for he did not conceive that mere memorandums, not delivered officially, or by command of the govt. or the ambassador, could be made objects of any serious proceeding. He would not now enter into any argument on the subject, which the hon. gent, professed to avoid, though he, at the same time, took occasion to insinuate an opinion upon it. The papers which were about to be presented to the house would be accompanied by a schedule, which directed how to apply them to the points. These contained all the information govt. could give. As to the written accounts of conferences, there were none, unless mere memorandums, which were not of a shape to be produced or relied upon. With respect to the convention of St. Ildefonso, all his maj.'s govt. knew about it was in the papers before the house. They knew it existed, and had some conjectures as to its provisions; but they had no official or authentic information upon it, such as could be made the subject of a communication.
Mr. Foxstrongly contended for the importance of having such explanations as look place at different conferences alluded to in the dispatches laid before the house. The explanations contained in the conferences of the 9th and the 30th of March, must, from the language of the letter of the 1st of May, have been highly interesting, and ought, by all means, to be produced. The chanc. of the excheq. had indeed stated, that mere notes, presented by an ambassador, perhaps merely offering a private opinion, and not authorized by his court, could not afford any information to the house. He, for his part, begged leave to argue that this was not a fair view of the subject. It was not possibe to conceive from the language of the Spanish ambassador, when alluding to explanations which had taken place at conferences, that he delivered in unauthorized notes. It was, on the contrary, quite evident that he alluded to authorized explanations, in which he laid down the principles and views of his court. It was impossible to believe that the notes which passed on such occasion were uninteresting. The presumption was certainly directly the reverse, and the house ought to have an opportunity of exercising their judgment on the subject. He was therefore anxious for the production, of all such explanations as would tend to

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throw light on this most interesting subject. There was in the perusal of the papers a circumstance which puzzled him considerably, and which required a good deal of explanation. Our minister, Mr. Frere, in a letter of the 12th of Nov. stated, that in consequence of some discussions with the prince of peace, he should demand a conference. Now it was a matter of some consequence to ascertain whether ever this conference took place, and if it did take place, what was the result of it, or what explanation it produced. It was hardly to be supposed that it should not have been demanded after Mr. Frere, in a letter to the sec. for the foreign department, had expressed an opinion of its expediency. But the house had not a tittle of information on the subject. He wished to have this deficiency, with those pointed out by his hon. friend, fully supplied, previous to entering on the general question.
Mr. Greyargued, that the notes given in by the Spanish ambassador at the conferences alluded to, were, if not official, at most, important documents. They were representations of the principles and policy of the Spanish govt. and in that light were highly requisite to guide the judgment of the house. That they were merely minutes and not signed in the usual diplomatic, style was a matter of no consideration. Their spirit was not on account of their form at all affected. He should therefore, to-morrow, move for copies of the notes delivered, and of explanations which took place at those conferences to which the Spanish ambassador in his letters alluded. Here the discussion terminated, and shortly after,
The Chanc. of the Excheq.presented to the house some further papers relative to the war with Spain; which were ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed. The following are correct copies of the said papers:

SECOND ADDITIONAL PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE DISCUSSION WITH SPAIN IN 1803 and 1804, PRESENTED BY HIS MAJESTY'S COMMAND TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, 4th FEBRUARY, 1805.
No. 1.—Extract of a Letter from W. Warre, Esq, his Majesty's acting Consul at Porto, to Sir E. Nepean, dated 26th July, 1803,—I beg leave to mention that this coast is much annoyed by the enemy's small privateers; that they are fitted out from the neighbouring ports of Galicia;
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and, considering the nature of this bar, and the approach of winter, the trade is much exposed. I have just received intelligence, that the ship Commerce, of Dublin, Grant, master, to this place, has been captured by a small French row-boat privateer, from Vigo, and carried into Guarda, in direct violation of neutrality, having been taken under the guns of the fort.
No. 2.—Natal Occurrences reported by Mr. Duff, his Maj.'s Consul at Cadiz, for Aug. 1803.—5th. Sailed, store-ship Presentacion, with salt, for Galicia.—17th. The Rufina frigate, 34 guns, with 11 millions rials vellon, for Carthagena,—18th. Store-ship Aurorei, with salt, for Galicia.—19th. Ship Mino, of 50 guns, with salt, and 10 millions rials vellon, for Galicia, to disarm.—Lugger Daphne, from Algeciras, is gone to the Carracca, to disarm.—Orders have been received at Ferrol for the ships, Neptune, of 74 guns, and Saint Austin, of 74, to take in their artillery, and keep in readiness until farther orders; and the same dispositions have been given at Carthagena, with respect to the Argonaut, of 84, and Bahama, of 74.—The Astrea, of 34 guns, with quicksilver, destined to Buenos Ayres, is to sail in Sept. and will carry out the capt.-gen. of the Rio de la Plata, brig. Don Ruez Huidobra.—Of the frigates Pomona and Mercedes, which sailed from Ferrol, for Lima; the latter was obliged to put into Montevideo, in consequence of some damage she had suffered in her helm, the other went on.—In the Carracca, the America of 66 guns is fitting out; she is to go to Vera Cruz, with quicksilver.—The Espana, of 64, has gone into Dock to careen, and will have the same destination.—The Sabina frigate, with treasure for the king, is expected from Vera Cruz.—The French ship l'Aigle, and the corvette Torch, are gone up to the Carracca to receive some repairs.—Of 18 sail of the line which are there, 3 of them, which had been in the dry docks for a length of time, were lately taken out, without any thing of consequence being done to them. They, as well as most of the others, will require very great repairs, there being only 3 judged to require but a moderate one, and, in the opinion of good judges, are not fit for any thing but to be broken up. There is a total want of timber in the arsenal, where there is hardly any but the country pine; and, in other respects, it is but very poorly provided.
No. 3—Extract of a Letter from Sir J. T. Duckworth, to Sir E, Nepean, dated Shark, Port-Royal, Jamaica, 2d Oct. 1803.—Sir; The report I stated to you for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty in my letter of the 12th June, by the Goliah, of a horde of privateers being in the act of fitting at St. Jago de Cuba, is, I am concerned to say, confirmed, and the sad effects of it are felt most particularly by the coasting trade of this island, notwithstanding the utmost exertions are used by his maj.'s squadron under my command; but the vessels they have to counteract are of such description, that large ships can be of little utility; I therefore hope, that their ldps. will have allowed of the national schooners, which are uncommon fine vessels of the sort, being purchased for that service.
No. 4.—Extract of a Letter from J. Duff, Esq. his Maj.'s Consul at Cadiz, to W. Marsden, Esq. dated 14th Oct. 1803.—I am assured this day, orders have been received at the island for the arming at that arsenal of 2 three-deckers, an 84, and 3 74's; and at Carthagena 3 large frigates. It has even been said some line of battle ships have been ordered to be fitted out there; also at Ferrol, but I believe not with certainty; and the fact is, several months must elapse before those at this department can be in any readiness to put to sea. My next will probably convey you more pointed information on this head.—Our capt.-gen. is called to court; and, as a considerable number of troops have assembled at Zamora and Valladolid, it may be inferred with a view to his inspecting them, or giving him some command.
No. 5.—Extract of a private Note from Mr. J. Hunter, his Brit. Maj.'s. Consul at Madrid, dated 22d. Oct. 1803, to Sir E. Pellew.—There is no confirmation of the rumours of neutrality.—At all the 3 arsenals they are arming; but there is a want of seamen, stores, and materials of every sort.
No. 6.—Extract of a Letter from. Rear-Adm. Sir E. Pellew, dated on board the Tonnant, off Ferrol, 24th Oct. 1803, to Adm. Cornwallis.—Much increased activity prevails since the last dispatches from Madrid, and they worked night and day until the 16 gun-boats were ready. It may be possible that these Spanish ships are fitting to embark Augereau's army. I shall use every means to discover that measure if it
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should be adopted, and forward the earliest intelligence of it to you.
No. 7.—Navel Occurrences for Oct. to be reported by Mr. Duff. Ships ordered to be fitted out.—Trinidad, of 130 guns; Santa Ana, 112; San Rafael, 84; Terrible, 74; Soberano, 74; America, 64; Amphitrite, 40. Destined for Vera Cruz and Havanna.—Rufina, 34 guns, destined for Lima.—The brig Penelope, of 18 guns, in the bay destined for Malaga, but detained on account of the epidemical disorder which reigns there.—Brig Argo, of 22 guns, and schooner Felozo, of 16 guns, are appointed guarda costas for La Guayra, under the command of brig. Don A. Figueraa, going commandant of that department.—Lugger Experiment, arrived from Malaga, to careen at the arsenal, and is still under quarzmtine.—Ships fitting out at Carthagena. Reyna Louisa, of 112guns; San Carloz, 112; Bahama, 74; Argonauta, 84; Matilde, 34; Vanganza, 34.—The ships ordered to be fitted out at Ferrol are 5, though hitherto the following only are named: Principe d'Austuria, of 112 guns; Neptune, 84; San Augustin, 74.—The place of rendezvous, it is asserted, will be this port; but from all appearances the earliest possible they can assemble will be Feb. or March next. The French ship and corvette have not yet got into dock.
No. 8.—Naval Occurrences for Nov. 1803, reported by Mr. Duff, his Maj.'s Consul at Cadiz.—In the Carracca, the fitting out of the 6 ships is going on. The America, of 66 guns, is the only one of them which is completed, and is gone out of the arsenal; as to the others, 3 of them (one of which the Trinidad) are in port; some time will elapse before they come out of it, and can be equipped as well as the others.—At Ferrol they are occupied in the armament of the 5 ships to be fitted out there, the Neptune, Don. A. Valdes, Monorca, Don A. Argomosa, S. Augustin, Don A. Pareja, S. Fulgencio, Don J. Rivera, Principe, Don C. Charruca; these ships, as fitted, are expected to come here.—Of the 4 ships fitted out at Carthagena, the Argonaut, 84 guns, brig. Don de One, and the Bahama, 74, capt. Don L. Truxillo, have been some time arrived here; the 2 remaining S. Carlos, 112 guns, brig. Don L. Musias, and Reyna Luisa, 112 guns, brig. Don. A. Pastigo, were preparing to follow.—The ships Paula, San Pablo, San Joaquim, and Guererro have been masted at the same place, but no order had

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been received for fitting them out. The frigate Santa Rufina, which arrived here from Carthagena, about 10 days ago, is under orders to get ready for America, supposed to be for Lima. The king's storeship, Santa Justa, sailed the 26th ult. for a port in Galicia, with a cargo of salt for the king's account. The new frigate Vengeance built at Mahon, and arrived latterly from Carthagena, is to be attached to the squadron; she appears to be a fine frigate, and can mount 40 guns. Of the 2 frigates which sailed from Ferrol last Feb. for Lima, the Santa Clara arrived at the Callac the 22d June; the other, the Mercedes, has put into Rio Janeyro, leaky. The brig Argo, and schooner Telosa, under the orders of the brig. Don A. de Fegueroa, are intended to sail in the present month, as guardá costas for the Caracas. The lugger Experiment, which went with surgeons and priests to Malaga, and is lately returned, remains in this bay performing quarantine. The brig Penelope remains equipped in this bay, and without any destination being given her.
No. 9.—Extract of a Letter from Rear-Adm. Sir E. Pellew, dated on board the Tonnant, off Ferrol, 1st Dec. 1803, to Adm. Cornwallis.—I have only to confirm the last report of the state of the enemy's ships in Ferrol and Corunna, with the additional circumstance of orders having arrived the day before yesterday to equip, with all expedition, 2 sail of the line (Spanish) it is said for St. Domingo.
(Inclosure in No. 9.)—Extract of Information from Sir E. Pellew, inclosed in Adm. Cornwallis's Letter, dated on board the Ville de Paris, off Ushant, 11 th Jan. 1804, to Adm. Cornwallis.—A few days since the Spaniards have been much employed mounting cannon in all their forts; and the garrison at Ferrol is augmented to 7000 troops. They have made no alteration with respect to their ships, except the 2 intended for the West Indies, which are getting forward.
No. 10.—Naval Occurrences for 6th Dec. 1803, reported by Mr. Duff, his Maj.'s Consul at Cadiz.—The Argonaut and Bahama, which arrived here from Carthagena in Nov. are gone up to the Carracca, the one to be coppered, the other to have her upper-works caulked. By late advices from the Havanna, the San Alexandre had been careened, and was expected to proceed for Vera Cruz; another ship was careening there; the others are in a great measure
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abandoned, and in so decayed a state as to be judged incapable of being repaired, The French ship l'Aigle and corvette the; Torche equally, the brig Argus of. 18 guns latterly arrived here, continue, the two first in the Carracca, and the latter in the bay; it has been surmised orders having latterly been received, for their being in readiness to proceed upon service. There can be no doubt entertained of their wish to spend the winter in this port, and in which I think it probable they will be grar titled. J. D.
No. 11.—Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Duff, his Maj.'s Consul at Cadiz, to Sir E. Nepean, dated 22d Dec. 1803.—Dear Sir; The armament of the ships here go on very slowly, and I have reason to believe it to be the case at the other departments, from many circumstances. I rather expect that several months may elapse before the ships fitting out will be so manned and united here, as it is said to be the intention to the number of 20 sail of the line.—By an express which arrived here to the French commissary of commercial relations, M. Le Roy, the 18th from Paris, and latterly from Ferrol, it is said he is supposed to have received directions relative to l'Aigle, corvette Torche; and Argus brig of 18 guns, (arrived since my last from St. Domingo and the Havanna,) relative to their further proceedings. It is surmised by some, that they are to remain in readiness in the event of the squadron at Ferrol being able to evade the vigilance of Sir E. Pellew, and appearing off to join them, and to proceed to the Mediterranean.
No. 12.—Extract of a Letter from Vice-Adm. Sir J. T. Duckworth, K. B. Commander in Chief of his Maj.'s Ships and Vessels at Jamaica, to Sir E. Nepean, Bart, dated on board the Shark, the Port Royal Harbour, 15 th Jan. 1804—I herewith transmit, for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, an extract of a letter just received by a merchant of eminence in this island, in which great confidence is placed; and should it be certainly ascertained that French agents proceed to the condemnation of English vessels carried into the ports of Cuba, I shall not feel great delicacy is due to the Spaniards, though I shall endeavour to avoid any open hostility till I am honoured with their ldp.'s commands.
(Inclosure in No. 12.)—Extract of a Letter dated St. Jago de Cuba, 8th Jan. 1804.—There has arrived here 2 days since, a French agent, who is charged with great

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powers. Just at present the Spanish govt. is not willing to acknowledge him; that does not prevent him nevertheless from leaving an agent to condemn prizes.
No. 13.—Naval Occurrences at Cadiz for Jan. 1804, repoted by Mr. Duff, his Maj.'s Consul at that place.—Note of the 15 ships armed and arming in this and the departments of Ferrol and Carthagena. Trinidada, 130—St. Ann, 112—Principe 112—ReinaLuisa, 112—San Carlos, 112—San Rafael, 84—Neptune, 84—Argonauta, 84—Monarca, 74—Bahama, 74—Sau Augustin, 74—Espacia, 66—America, 66—San Fulgencio, 66.—The 31st Jan. the following vessels sailed from this port: The frigate Vengeance, 36 guns, with stores for the Havanna, and Quicksilver for Vera Cruz: the frigate Amphitrite, 40 guns, Stores for Porto-Rico, and Quicksilver for Vera Cruz: the frigate Rufina, 34 guns, stores for La Guayra and Porto-Rico, and Quicksilver for Vera Cruz. This last ready, but not yet sailed. The frigate Matilde, 36 guns, is daily expected here from Carthagena, with stores for this arsenal.—The two brigs and schooner, destined as guarda costas for La Guayra, continue getting ready to proceed for their destinations.—The frigate Clara, 36 guns, opened her register at Lima, in Oct. upon her return for this country, and may be expected in May, with from 3 to 4 millions of dolfars.—The French ship l'Aigle is new victualled, and although badly manned, is expected to quit this the first favourable opportunity. The corvette Torche, and Argus brig, are not yet quite ready. The Donegal quitted this neighbourhood about the 15th of Jan. The Medusa and Maidstone have taken her station, and it is doubted the Aigle quitting this while they continue upon that station. The American brig of war Argus, has been here some days, and sailed the 5th Feb. for Gibraltar. An American schooner sailed the 4th, with answers to dispatches she brought here 3 weeks ago, from the Spanish minister at Washington.—4 regiments are said to be under orders to embark at Corunna or Ferrol, for N. Orleans,—Feb. 8th, sailed the Rufina, mentioned before as being ready; the 9th, 3 frigates, supposed to be the Medusa, Maidstone, and Diana, were seen at sunrise, about 2 leagues from the lighthouse; l'Aigle had been expected to sail in the night; the wind, a fresh Levanter; the Diana came in and anchored in the evening; the other two frigates are the Medusa and Am-
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phion. The Diana was immediately admitted to Pratique.
No. 14.—Extract of a Letter from Adm. Cornwallis to W. Marsden, Esq. dated on board the Ville de Paris, off Ushant, the 15 th Feb. 1804.—I send a copy of a letter from Sir E. Pellew to me, with the communications therein referred to; and a copy of a letter from Mr. Frere at Madrid to him. (Vide No. 12 of the additional papers, p. 181.)
State of the Naval Force in Ferrol, inclosed in a Letter from Adm. Corawallis, dated 15 th Feb. 1804—Two ships of 80 guns, half ready, men enrolled for them in the vicinity, and ready when called upon. One three-decker, two of 74 guns, commissioned and rigged. Storing their holds slowly.—Two frigates will be ready with the first ships. 4 three-deckers, 8 two ditto, and some frigates, out of commission.—In the arsenal, 1 of the line, and 2 frigates building.—The troops in garrison fluctuate from 8 to 10,000. E. PELLEW. Tonnant, Betancos Bay, 5th Feb. 1804.
No. 15.—Copy of a Letter from Vice Adm. Sir J. T. Duckworth, dated on board the Shark, Port-Royal, Jamaica, 7th Mar. 1804, to Sir E. Nepean.—Sir; having in a letter of the 15th Jan. acquainted you, for the: information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, of various intelligence received from St. Jago de Cuba, amongst which it was positively asserted, that the gen. of brigade, Noailles, had collected a force on the north side of Cuba, (of the troops that had escaped from St. Domingo) with which he meditated an attack upon New Providence; and having had the same corroborated by a letter express from gov. Halket, which reached here the 30th; on the 31st, and 1st of Feb. I dispatched the Racoon, and La Superieure schooner, to aid the Snake, Stark, and Sandwich, in resisting any attempt that might be made on that colony; and on the 29th ult. I received a letter, bearing date the 15th, from gov. Halket, by the Stork, acquainting me that the gen. of brigade, Noailles, had been killed in an action, with a Providence privateer, in the night, whilst removing from, one port to another, with 350 French troops in a brig, which captured the privateer; but in consequence of that gen.'s loss, all the French troops bad gone to the Havanna, and were in a very considerable force, receiving a sort of protection, and he believed a tacit encouragement, very improper from a neutral nation, even to

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the engaging of Spanish pilots, and being suffered to procure vessels to prosecute their hostile intentions against Providence. He therefore has thought incumbent to send a remonstrance to the govt. of the Havanna, demanding an explicit answer, with which capt. Roberts of the Snake has allowed the Sandwich cutter to proceed, and it is with great satisfaction I learn from gov. Halket, that the naval assistance he now has, causes him to have little apprehensions for the safety of the island, all which I will beg you to communicate to their 1dps. And I am, &c. J.T.DUCKWORTH.
No. 16.—Copy of a Letter from Vice-Adm. Sir J. T. Duckworth, dated on board the Shark, Port Royal, 25, March, 1804. to Sir E. Nepean.—Sir; The inclosed I have this moment received, and though it is not of a very recent date, as it corroborates the former intelligence of the very improper conduct of the Spanish govt. in Cuba, I transmit it for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty. I am, &c. J. T. DUCKWORTH.
(Inclosure in No. 16.) Ship Enterprise, Havanna, 17 th Jan. 1803.—Sir; According to my instructions from the high court of admiralty, I have to inform you of the proceedings in this port since my arrival on the 12th of this month. On my being in eight of this port, the signal was mane for an English ship. The French general here sent a French Privateer out for the express purpose of taking my ship; but not being of force sufficient to attack the ship, she thought proper to haul off. There are 5 privateers now here, of different descriptions; one brig fitting out on purpose to take this ship when she sails. The said brig mounts 18 guns, and full of men. One schooner of 6 guns; and the others mount 4 guns each, and carry from 50 to 60 men. I understand they are determined on taking the Ship. I shall have on board, when sailing, 30,000 sterling; and unless I have some protection, I am undetermined on sailing. One of the before-mentioned privateers has brought in here a large ship, named the British Queen, of St. John, that sailed with the last convoy from Jamaica. She parted with the fleet, and came through the Gulph. She was captured off Cape Antonio by a privateer of one gun. These privateers make prizes of Danes, Americans, and every thing unarmed. I have also to communicate to the admiralty of G. Brit, the conduct of this govt. And have the honour, &c.
C. LAWSON.
No. 17.—Naval Occurrences reported by Mr. Duff, his Maj.'s Consul at Cadiz, for May, 1804.—The squadron of the 15 ships continues nearly in the same state as in the preceding months. Upon the 16th May, the king's urea or storeship, the Santa Appolonia, left this port; her destination for the Havanna, conveying stores for that department, recruits, &c. Upon the 31st sailed his maj.'s urea visitation} her destination Ferrol; 2 others are pre-paring here to follow her, the Santa Justa and Liebre; the whole said to be intended to proceed to the Havanna, with stores, and to return from thence with timber for the arsenals. Orders are said to have been received for laying the keels of some ships and frigates, and to begin to build as soon as timber may arrive.—Upon the 7th April the frigate Amphitrite sailed from. the Havanna; she had gone from this, and with her sailed the frigate Neustra Senora Delao, of that department; their destination for Vera Cruz, there to join the frigates, Sabina and Vengenza, there to take aboard treasure, to be conveyed to this place, where they may now soon be expected. They will probably bring with them from 10 to 12 million of dollars.—Of the ships which have been fitted out at Ferrol, the san Fulgencio, of 66 guns, is under orders, and is getting ready to proceed for Vera Cruz, from whence she will probably return with treasure. She is reputed one of the fastest sailing ships in his maj.'s navy. By letters received lately from Lima, there is advice that 3 king's frigates were completing their register of money; it will probably run to about 3 millions of dollars upon each; they were expected to sail about the 15th Feb. and were to touch at Montevideo for intelligence, and there to put themselves under the command of the Gifu de Esquadra, or brig, don F. de Bustamente, who has been the naval commander there for some time, who is to take the command, and to return with them for Spain; they may be expected in August, and will come rich.—The ships that have been fitted out at the Carracca have but few men on board, and no steps taking, indicating a desire of soon manning them. Two of them are still in dock, completing their repairs. The number of additional carpenters and caulkers lately collected there, and which may go to about 1000, are employed upon the different vessels laid up there in ordinary, which are all of them to be overhauled, and to have repairs necessary to prevent many of them

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from sinking. They are about 10 in number, exclusive of the 6 which have been fitted or are fitting out, and of the Bahama and Argonauta, which came round from Carthagena; 4 of them are judged to be incapable of being repaired, and only fit to be broken up.—The l'Aigle, corvette Torche, aud brig Argus, French, which have been so long here, are completely manned and victualled for 6 months, and appear to be now waiting to proceed to sea.
No. 18 —Extract of a Letter from Rear-Adm. Cochrane to Lord Melville, dated 15th June 1804.—Your ldp. will observe by the enclosed paper, that the French are making every exertion to complete their squadron lying at Ferrol and Corumia. This reinforcement, which I expect to arrive by the 22d, will do much towards it, as hitherto they have been without marines. I make no doubt but seamen will follow the same rout, if they do not send them in small vessels across the bay, landing them at the out-ports, from whence they will pass by land to Ferrol. Landsmen will answer, as they are by no means deficient of seamen. How far the Spaniards have adhered to their neutrality, in suffering S00 men to march from one end of Spain to the other, in order to complete the equipment of the French squadron, is a matter that is not for me to decide upon.
(Inclosure in No. 18.)—Thirteen boats belonging to the French at Sedera. Each boat has 26 men, armed only with small arms. They are under the command of a naval officer, and came from Bayonne, laden with sail cloth, bunting, cordage, &c. which is now transporting by land to the French squadron at Ferrol: 6" more are hourly expected. The above boats do not exceed 14 tons each, and keep close in shore, never leaving port but when the coast is clear. The men are said to be as a recruit to the French. ships; and the boats to be sold.
No. 19.—Extract of a Letter from Rear-Adm. Cochrane to Lord Melville, dated 24th June 1804.—What I suspected has come to pass, and the French are completing their complement of seamen from their ports on the bay, while they receive soldiers through Spain from Malaga.
No. 20.—Naval Occurrences at Cadiz for July 1804, reported by Mr. Duff, his Maj.'s Consul at that Place.—The king's store ship, Santa Justa, which arrived latterly
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with building timber for the Carracca, is under orders to proceed to Trieste, to bring quicksilver. N. B. The mines of Almaden, which for the last 4 years had produced any quantity of quicksilver which was wanted here, having in a great degree failed, insomuch that the above-mentioned ship is destined for Trieste, to bring, a supply.—His maj.'s ship, Minho, which arrived latterly from Galicia, and brought building timber and powder, is to be careened at the Carraccas, as well as the Castilla, which is expected here from Galicia, and intended also to he sent for America.—The frigate Lucia is getting ready at Carthagena to come to this department.—The ship San Leandro, 66 guns, sailed from the Havanna, the 20th June, having on board don Mendimuta, late viceroy of Santa Fe; she is supposed to have put into Porto Rico, and was in a bad condition.—The Trinidad and Saint Ann are under orders to proceed for Ferrol, half manned, in order to remain in that department; in like manner the Regla, when careened. These large ships grounding at low water, from the creek of the Caracca having too little water for them in its present state, is assigned as the reason.—The 6' ships which were armed in this department, viz. the Trinidad, Saint Ann, Terrible, San Raphael, Glorious, and Saint Jago America, continue as before, with few men on board, and little exertion towards manning them.—The Bahama and Argonaut, 2 of the 6 which were fitted out at Carthagena and came round here, have their complement of men on board, and lay in the upper part of the bay ready for service.—They are continuing to overhaul and to careen the remaining ships in the Carracca as fast as they can undertake it. The number of caulkers, carpenters, &c. (Maistranzos) actually employed there may be about 2500. The ships actually in dock and repairing in them are the Rayo, San Juste, and Soverano. The department has a sufficient provision of pitch, tar, hemp, rope, and cables, and of sail cloth. I do not find any quantity of naval stores is expected from the Baltic this season, or that there are any contracts.—Nitre frigates, 4 of which from Vera Cruz, are expected soon from thence, Lima, &c.: 3 of them from Vera Cruz had sailed: the Venganza we learn is arrived at Ferrol, or Vigo, with 3,100,000 dollars. The Sabina and Amphitrite, which sailed with her from-Vera Gruz, and having equal sums on board, are said to

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Lave put into Teneriffe, arid all of them with reduced crews, from having lain at Vera Cruz during the sickly season. They left the Rufina, which was to have followed them the 23d June, and may be every day expected. These frigates, and the others from Lima, &c. it is computed may bring about 24 millions of dollars.—The Castilla from Ferrol arrived here the 15th.
No. 21—Extract of a Letter from Rear-Adm. Cochrane to Lord Melville, 23 d Aug. 1804.—The Spaniards have put their 12 regiments of marines upon the same establishment as ours. Officers distinct from the navy are appointed to them, and they are formed into 3 departments; viz. Ferrol, Cadiz, and Carthagena": 300 French soldiers are within a few days march of this, disguised as sailors, from Bayonne. The Spaniards are afraid to interfere.
No. 22.—Naval Occurrences at Cadiz for Aug. 1804, reported By Mr. Duff, his Maj.'s Consul at that place.—Aug. 7.—Sailed for Galicia the king's urea, or store ship, the Brujalo.—20. Sailed the urea Santa Justa for Trieste, to bring quicksilver. The ship San Leandro, and the frigates Amphitrite and Rufina, which latterly have arrived from Vera Cruz and the Havanna, are to remain in this, department. The frigate Matilda, which arrived from Carthagena the 11th, is under orders, to proceed for the Havanna in the next month, with stores for that department, her commander Don A. Vacoro. The frigate Magdalena is continuing to be fitted out at the Carracas, to proceed for America. The frigate Venganza, which arrived latterly from Vera Cruz with money, and the frigate the Prueba, which has been in readiness some time in Galicia, are. under orders to proceed soon for Vera Cruz, to bring money. One frigate which remained at Vera Cruz is expected soon with a similar sum, for the king, as the 3 others which are arrived. A very considerable sum, which it is judged may amount to above 5 millions, is expected from the same place, on account of the merchants, and to come in the merchant ships expected from that part in the course of this year. The frigates expected from Lima and Buenos Ayres, 4 or 5 in number, and 1 from Carthagena, are not yet arrived; they may be looked for in what remains of this year, and may be expected to bring in all from 8 to 10 millions for account of the king and of the merchants. N. B. In the Car-raccas things continue, and are going on,
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much as before; the old ship Rayo, sister ship to the Gibraltar, is changing into a 3 decker, her bottom has been found very good at this length of time since she has been built; since making out this. report, I am informed she registered seamen from the different ports belonging to this department, viz. from that of Ayamante to that of Algesires, both inclusive, have been ordered to repair to the Carracxa; this would indicate an intention to man the ship? which are fitted out; I will be attentive to the results, and to know how far it may be carried into effect, and as to the object proposed by it; giving information as to the result.
No. 23.—Extract of a Letter from. Rear-Adm. Cochrane, to Ld. Melville, dated 5th Sept. 1804.—Orders are just arrived to fit out the ships mentioned in the enclosed list with all possible dispatch: this, coupled with the sailing of 2 three-decked, ships from Cadiz for this port, to be followed by another, and the circumstance of the enclosed ships being ordered to victual for 3 months only (although said to be bound for America), makes me conjecture that their designs are not of the most pacific nature, I have, therefore, ordered the Illustrious to proceed directly to Plymouth, without calling off Ushant. Should the Spaniards' have any hostile views against G. Britain, within a month the following force may be collected here:—3 first raies from Cadiz—3 seventy-fours fitting here—5 French ships; making in all 11 sail of the line. The finances of this country are low. They only wait the arrival of the frigates with treasure to put on a different countenance. I cannot conceive that Spain, even if at war with America, could require so many line of battle ships, for similar orders are given at Cadiz and Carthagena. The time that the Armament will be ready for sea corresponding with that of the French squadron; the 3 first rates fitted at Cadiz to come round here; all tend to shew that they have some united object in view. Numbers of Soldiers for the French are now arriving at Ferrol from France, and many more are now upon the road.
(Inclosure in No. 23.)—List of the Squadron of Spanish Ships of War fitting at Ferrol.—Neptune 74 guns, San Augustin 74? Monarca 74, Vengeance 36, Fruesbo 40 Brugula, storeship, Urguiso, 24, corvette, a brig.—Provisions for 3 months. Don C. Balder commands this force.
No. 24.—Extract of a Letter from Rear-

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Adm. Cochrane, to Ld. Melville, dated 11 th. Sept. 1804.—I have been forced to keep the Illustrious, as there does not remain a doubt of the hostile intentions of Spain. Mr. Frere will inform your 1dp. that Spain has agreed to the propositions made by America; so that there is no pretence for supposing that the Armament is on account of that country: 3000 men embark from hence. I am told that the whole of the ships will be ready to leave this port in 14 days.
No. 25.—Extract of a Letter from Rear-Adm. Cochrane, to Adm. Cornwallis, dated on board the Northumberland, off Ferrol, 19th Sept. 1804.—I have ordered the Majestic to be completed with water, and should nothing particular happen she will be ordered to the Downs agreeable to the Admiralty order. It is impossible to say what state the Spanish squadron may be in; within a few days it must certainly depend upon orders from court.—I will delay sending the Ganges and Illustrious to Plymouth until I receive further orders, as I do not think the remaining 3 ships will be safe after their departure, should orders arrive from Madrid to send the Spanish squadron to sea, which they can do in 24 hours, should their object be an attack upon the squadron under my orders.
No. 26.—Extract of a Letter from Rear Adm. Cochrane, to Ld. Melville, dated 20th Sept. 1804.—I inclose to you copies of papers which I transmitted to adm. Cornwallis yesterday. I have since received an answer from the capt. gen. of the marine, to my last letter; the evasive nature of which must strike your 1dp. as it does me, that the retiring of the squadron into the arsenal is a mere blind, where they are equally ready for sea as when at anchor in the harbour. Most of their crew live in the vicinity of Ferrol; and they have, it is said, leave granted them until the 15th of next month. I must however remark, that they can be assembled at any time within a few hours.
(First Inclosure in No. 26.)—Copy of a Letter from Rear-Adm. Cochrane, to the Capt. Gen. of Marine, Ferrol, dated his Brit. Maj.'s Ship Northumberland, off Ferrol, 14th Sept. 1804.—Sir; Knowing the political situation in which G. Brit, and Spain stood with respect to each other, I was much astonished at being informed that orders had been sent to the different naval departments of this country to increase their marine establishments; and fit out squadrons
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similar to what is now doing in the port of Ferrol. As Spain is not engaged in any foreign war, I feel it my duty to demand an explanation, more particularly as the harbour of Ferrol contains 5 sail of the line belonging to the French, as also 1 Dutch man of war of the same rate; the officers of whom I am informed declare, that they intend sailing in com. with the Spanish squadron; which report seems to be confirmed by their late preparations.—The situation in which I am placed by commanding a division of his Brit, maj.'s ships, calls upon me to enquire of your excl. if the above facts are true; for should the 2 squadrons sail in company, I declare to your excl. that it is my determination to attack that of France and Holland, and I trust in doing so I will not be opposed by the Spanish squadron; the consequences of which may prove fatal to the harmony and good understanding that has so happily subsisted between the two countries, and which my best endeavours have hitherto been used to preserve. At the same time there is a duty I owe my country in maintaining its honour and dignity that is paramount to every other consideration, and by this I must be governed. I have the honour, &c.
A. COCHRANE.
(Second Inclosure in No. 26.)—Copy of a Letter from the Capt. Gen. of Marine at Ferrol, to Rear-Adm. Cochrane, dated 15th Sept.1804:—At 3 quarters past 12 of this day, I have received your excl.'s official of yesterday, directed to ask me explanations upon the subject of the armament of ships that your excl. says is making in this port, and to manifest that you are determined to attack any of the French ships of war and the Dutch ship that are here, should they verify their departure at the same time that the Spanish ships of war effect it.—To the 1st point I have no objection to answer your excl. that though in this department there have been armed 3 ships & 1 frigate, besides another that was already fitted out, and some smaller ships for a secret commission; the manner in which these ships have been manned with only half crews; this circumstance alone by itself dissipates all hostile apprehensions on the part of any European power.—And as to what regards the 2d point, I can only say to your excl. that I remain informed of the declaration which your excl. makes, of attacking the French and Dutch ships of war, should they effect their sailing with the Spanish; and not having, the least knowledge of the French in-

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tending to depart from this port with the ships of my sovereign, I give account to his maj. of what your excl, has just officiated with me for his royal information, which I lay before your excl, in reply to your said office. God preserve your exel. many years.
FELIX DE TEXADA.
(Third Inclosure in No. 26.)—Copy of 2d Letter from the Copt. Gen. of Marine at Ferrol, to Rear-Adm. Cochrane, 15th of Sept. 1804.—After having closed the adjoined packet for your excl. and having sent it with one of my adjutants to the English Vice Consul, who not being found, and when my dispatches were already in the post-office, in which I inform my court of what your excl. had officiated with me, and of my reply, I have received orders to disarm his maj.'s 3 ships that are in this port, and that only to remain so the 2 frigates, the packets, and transport ships, that were sp before, to be employed in their particular commissions; with which motive I have again opened the said packet, to subjoin to it this information, which should pacify the apprehensions you manifested in your office of yesterday. God preserve, &c.
FELIX DE TEXABA.
(Fourth Inclosure in No. 26.)—Copy of a Letter fram Rear-Adm. Cochrane, to the Capt. Gen. of Marine, dated his Maj.'s ship Northumberland, off Ferrol, l6 th of Sept. 1804.—Sir; I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, in answer to mine of the 14th inst. It affords me much pleasure, to understand, that your excl. has received order to retire into the arsenal and disarm the Spanish squadron now in the harbour of Ferrol. May I beg of your excl, to know, for the information of my court, if the orders are for the actual disarmament of the squadron, that is to say, disembarking their guns, provisions, rigging, &c. as also fpr the discharge of their respective ships companies. I am well aware, that ships of every der scription can remain in the arsenal equally ready for sea as at anchor where they now are; and the duty I owe my country puts me under the painful necessity of making the demands I now de. May God long preserve, &c.
A. COCHRANE.
(Fifth Inclosure in No. 26.)—Copy of a Letter from the Capt. Gen, of Marine, to Rear-Adm, Cochrane, dated 18 th Sept, 1804. —To the office that your excl. has been pleased to address me, under the date of 6th of the present month, and which was delivered to me yesterday morning, I can pnly reply to your excl. that the king's
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ships which I informed your excl. by my 2nd office, dated the 15th, should enter the arsenal, have already effected it, will remain in the same state they were in before their equipment for to get into, port, which has been the origin of the apprehensions your excl. had, and which you manifested to me in your letter of the 14th, and to which I have replied to your excl. by my; two officials on the following day, which I reassure yourexel. in answer to your said official; and wishing for opportunities in which I may be able to evince the consideration I have for your excl.'s person. God preserve, &c. Felix de Texada.
No. 27. —Naval Occurrences at Cadiz, &c. for Sept. 1804, reported by Mr. Duff, his Maj.'s consul at that Place.—Upon the 13th arrived the 2 store ships belonging to the king; the Presentacion and Aurora from Galicia with timber for Carthagina, and 450 of the troops destined from Tijas. The 1st proceeded the 23d for her destination, the 2d went to the Carracca to repair her main-mast. The troops were landed at the island and incorporated with the force which is forming there for that service, under the command of Don P. Grimarest, who is to command there, as is, according to report, Don J. Caro, lately promoted to the rank of capt. of a ship from that of capt. of a frigate, to qualify him for the command, which is to consist in frigates. For the present, 1600 troops are only intended to be sent out, and probably will go to the Mavanna in the 1st instance.—In the Carracca, the frigates Magdalena and Refina are getting ready; and in the hay, the frigate Pomona, (lately arrived from the department of Carthagena), also the Amphi-trite. In all these frigates they are forming the case for their receiving on board the quicksilver destined for the Havanna and Vera Cruz.—In Galicia, the frigates Venganzaand Pruesa are under sailing orders for Montivideo.—From Montivideo was expected to sail 25th of July the frigates Assumpcion, Paz, and Mercedes, which had put in there from Lima, where they have united with the frigates Clara and Medea, which were upon that station. The whole being a money or plate register, and under the command of the Gife d'Es-quadra, rear-adm. Don, J, Bustamente. They are expected to bring 6 millions.—The ships which had been ordered to befitted out at the Carracca, (and which, with respect to armament, have been so these some months past) remain in the same situation as they have been of late. Only 3

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of them have any number of men on board. These are the Trinidad and St. Ann, having about 500 each, and the America, with nearly her complement. The other 3 with hardly any. The Argonaut and Bahama, which came from Carthagena, are completely manned and ready for service in every respect. The careening of the remaining ships in the Carracca is carrying on.
No. 28—Extract of a Letter from Capt. Gore of the Medusa, dated 5th Oct. 1804.—The French ship l'Aigle of 74 guns, and 5 sail of Spanish line of battle ships, are perfectly ready for sea at Cadiz. The Santis-sima Trinidada and the St. Ann, both first rotes, are fitting, but not ready.
No. 29—Copy of a Letter from Capt. J. C. White, to Lord Melville, 19M Oct. 1804.—My Lord; In obedience to your ldp.'s commands, I herewith state the force of the French and Spanish ships, as far as came under my observation during my stay at Cadiz, between the 27th Aug. and 5th Sept. last, viz. In the pontal or road of Cadiz, the French force consisted of l'Aigle of 74 guns, and 2 corvettes, manned and ready for sea.—The Spanish force in the pontal consisted of the guardship, an old non-effective 6*0 gun ship; 2 ships of the line, one of 70,., the other of 64 guns; these had recently arrived from the colonies, were badly manned, sickly, and appeared by no means effective ships of war; 4 frigates were also lying in the road, 2 of them were in good order, and appeared fully manned; the other 2 I understood were incomplete, sickly, and wanting repairs; they had lately returned from the colonies. The Spanish force at the Carracc as I understood consisted of 2 ships of 74 guns, about half manned, and were fitting it was said merely to be carried round to Ferrol to be laid up; an 80 gun ship was repairing at the Carraccas, and to have a third tier added to her.—The above was as nearly as I can recollect the naval force at Cadiz on the 5th Sept. and, as far as my observation and enquiries led, there did not at that lime appear any thing like a naval armament on foot. I am, &c.
J. C. WHITE.

ARMY ESTIMATES.
On the motion of the Secretary at War the house went into a committee of supply, to which were referred the several estimates relative to the army.
The Secretary at Warsaid, it became his duty to call the attention of the house to
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the different parts of the military establishment of the empire. He was satisfied to, think, that he should not detain the house long. Following the example of those who preceded him in his office, some of whom he was proud to imitate, he should content himself with noticing those in which a variation had taken place in the charge. The principle increase of the charge had occurred in consequence of the addition of 29 rank and file per company. Since the estimate had been formed, however, a reformation had taken place, by which the total' expence had been diminished, by the adoption of a plan for not voting the whole addition for the cavalry, but only eleven men per troop; considering the effective of the cavalry at present and the current amount of the recruits raised, no material alteration would be made in that respect. The next description of force in which a material alteration had taken place was that which was raised in virtue of an act made 2 years ago, the Army of Reserve Act. By this act, 50,000 men were to be raised in the empire, 32,000 of which in England. A division into 16 districts had taken place with this view, each of which was to raise 2000 men. As it was difficult that any fixed standard could prevail among the various modes of recruiting by which this act was carried into execution, it was thought proper to form 16' garrison battalions, into which those who were under a certain size, or a certain age, or otherwise unfit for immediate service, had been incorporated. Those who were under age, who were the principal part of this force, having grown, had volunteered into the line, and by other changes, the whole amount of men in these battalions had been reduced to 1,500 men. It was, therefore, proposed to reduce them to 3 battalions, instead of 16, by which a saving would be made in the charges for officers of 204,288 l. There was some alteration in the charges for forces in India, but the expence of these was borne by the company. In the item of general and staff officers, an increase of 73,000 l. had been made. This was principally in consequence of the system of brigading the volunteers, and annexing to the. brigades field officers, whose utility in improving their discipline had been fully demonstrated. A considerable reduction had been made in the embodied militia, which it was proposed to vote on the old system of 40,000 men for England, and 18,000 for Ireland, the charge for which would be 3,176,000 l. instead of 2,663,000 l. In the

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charge of officers, an increase of 24,739 l. had been made in consequence of an additional expence in the commissary general's office; and an increase of 8,000 l. in the department of the horse guards. There was an increase in the charge for foreign corps, which arose from the augmentation in the German legion, now to contain 10,000 men, instead of 5,000. In the barrack department the expence was a million less than it had been last year. It was still great, because, in consequence of the menaced invasion, it was necessary always to keep a considerable number of men on the coast; a great part of these could not be lodged without barracks, which were now prepared for 8000 men. The right boa. gent, then proceeded to move the estimates, according to the following abstract, for G. Brit, and Ireland:

NUMBERS

£.

s.

d.

Guards, Garrisons, &c.

143,920

4,945,920

12

8

Forces in the Plantations, &c.

46,952

1,424,920

11

7

General and staff officers, with a state of the particulars of the charge

288,858

3

2

India forces

20,145

471,461

0

11

Troops and companies for recruiting ditto

460

25,410

18

4

Recruiting and contingencies

175,866

7

8

Embodied militia and fencible infantry

163,328

2,663,751

18

2

Contingencies for ditto

65,692

6

2

Clothing for ditto

198,793

0

0

Full pay to supernumerary officers

34,469

6

8

Offices

191,838

8

10

Allowance to innkeep-kcepers, &c.

476,699

5

0

Half pay and military allowances

181,288

16

5

do. American forces

50,000

0

0

do. Scotch brigade

1,000

0

0

In-pensioners of Chelsea and Kilmainhan hospitals

53,227

19

5

Out-pensioners of ditto

196,169

11

11

Widows' pensions

29,237

19

5

Foreign corps

17,386

851,350

6

4

Hospital expences (Ireland

20,522

11

10

Royal military college (with the general staff and particulars of the senior and junior departments)

13,315

6

4

Royal military asylum

23,458

6

1

Barrack department (Ireland)

483,698

11

8

332,191

12,866,951

8

7

Deduct the India force

20,145

471,461

0

11

Total

312,046

12,395,490

7

8

Mr. Francissaid, that he saw by the estimates there was a charge for 20,145 troops in India. He wished to know whether these were Europeans independent of the troops of the Company. He was desirous also of knowing whether the regiments composing this aggregate number were nearly complete.
The Secetary at War,in reply, said, that the troops were independent of the Company's forces; and that as far as he could understand, the numbers of the regiments were nearly complete.
Mr. Franciscontended, that the number of European troops in India could not be much above 8 or 9000.
The Secretary at Wardeclared, that though he could not precisely state their number, he was sure they were far above what the hon. gent, had represented.—The motion was then put and agreed to.—Upon the resolution respecting officers of the staff,
Col. Carlcraftsaid, it was not his wish unnecessarily to delay or interrupt the committee, but he could not suffer this item "in the estimate to pass unnoticed. The charge for general officers, he said, was most enormous; and how such a number could be deemed necessary, he was utterly at a loss to account. In England there were, he observed, no less than 136 general officers; in Scotland 17; in Ireland 57; which, with one in Guernsey, and another in Jersey, made the whole number no less than 212; a thing, he said, quite unparalleled in the history of the country, in any age; and the necessity for which, it would have become the right hon. gent, to have explained in a less summary way than he had been pleased to do. With respect to the volunteer force of the country, it was said, that a great number of staff officers were necessary to attend to their discipline; but to his knowledge, those corps for some lime past had been by no means so numerous on their parades, or in the field, as heretofore; and it appeared to him, that a great many more people were employed to attend to those corps that were at all necessary.
The Secretary at Warreplied, that the hon. gent, enjoyed an opportunity on the present occasion, in combating those items in his estimates from the aid. of a printed estimate, which he would hot have had but for his good nature in acceding to the motion for that purpose on a former night; as this was almost the only instance of

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such an estimate being brought forward to a committee in the printed form. The hon. gent. complained that the number and expence of general officers was unparalleled in the history of the country. But did he reflect also, that the occasion was unparalleled? that the necessity of keeping up an army of 600,000 men to guard against invasion, was unparalleled? or if it had not been for that volunteer force, which the hon. gent, now seemed to think of so little importance and productive of so much useless expence, the dangers which menaced the country would have burst over our heads, and we should have been involved in all that ruin so happily averted by their patriotic spirit and gallantry.
Col. Carlcraftreplied, that as long as he had a seat in that house, he should feel it his right and his duty to exact, either from the good nature of the right hon. gent, or any other who might fill his station, or from the authoritative influence of the house, the production of printed estimates; for when so enormous a portion of the public money was to be voted, he thought the house had as good right to examine printed estimates, as upon any other head of public expenditure.
Mr. Kinnairdcongratulated the house upon the acquisition of a secretary at war, who possessed not only so much good nature as the right hon. gent, but so much of another quality, which he should not name, as to boast of it. However, he himself concurred in opinion with the hon. member who spoke last, that a great deal of unnecessary expence was lavished in the pay of inspecting brigadiers to the volunteer corps; and these, too, were always at variance with the old field officers appointed to superintend those corps; so that it was to be apprehended, their disputes would at length break out into something extremely serious to the public service. Brigadier-.generals might have been wisely appointed in the first instance, but it would be very unwise to continue them when they could be no longer serviceable.
Mr. Whitbreadwas of opinion, that any increase in the staff establishment, with a view to the improvement of the volunteers in discipline, by the appointment of brigadier generals, was wholly unnecessary. From his own experience he could affirm, that no advantage whatever had been derived from such appointments; he therefore thought it imprudent to add, so
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much to the public expenditure unnecessarily.
The Chanc. of the Exchequerstated, as the ground of this particular arrangement, that in the circumstances of the country it might have been necessary to collect a large body of troops to a particular point, and that large bodies of troops could not be marched on such service, without the assistance of brig, generals. Whilst there was such a case to be looked to, it was deemed right not to wait for their appointment till the moment when their services would be necessary, but to make the appointments some time before the occasion would be likely to arrive. As the defence of the country would ultimately depend, in a considerable degree, on the efficiency of the volunteers, he was sure the house would not feel indisposed to agree to any expenditure that was to be directed to that object. From the latest returns that had been received, it appeared, that the volunteers amounted to more than 325,000 effective men. Of that number 240,000 had been inspected, and were reported by the proper officers effective, and fit for immediate service. About 40,000 only remained yet to be in? spected. After such a representation, he was confident the house would not consider the sum of 50,000 l. an object to be put in competition with the great object of improving the discipline of that very respectable branch of our defensive force.
Mr. Whitbreadadmitted, that the sum was not very material; but it remained for the right hon. gent. to shew that such an expenditure was necessary, or that it contributed in any degree to promote the discipline of the volunteers. In his opinion, without meaning to derogate from the character of the officers alluded to, the improved discipline of the volunteers was not at all owing to those general. Not one jot of that discipline was he disposed to attribute tp their orders or management. On the contrary, it seemed rather to proceed from the activity of the inspecting officers, who were as competent to forward those returns which were alleged as one cause for the new appointments, as any generals whatever. On the whole, he had much doubt of the propriety of such various appointments for the volunteers as major-generals, brigadier? generals, and inspecting officers. If either of these could, with all its appendages, be dispensed with, it would form a

253
saving of expence that ought immediately to be attended to. For the purpose of volunteer discipline, he repeated, that those general officers were unnecessary; and for the purpose of returns, the inspecting officers would fully answer. The original appointment of such a number of generals arose, he was aware, from a blunder committed in the very outset of the volunteer system. From this blunder, a confusion was likely to arise in case the volunteers were called into action, upon the score of rank among the volunteer officers, and also in consequence of the incapacity of those officers to direct the Operation of a body of troops. To guard against such an effect, the appointment of some regular general officers to command the volunteers, but not by any means such a number as appeared in the estimate on the table, became advisable. The ex-pence incurred by this increased number, he admitted, was small, if the purpose for which the increase took place was great; but for such purposes as those described by the right hon. gent, it was much more than ought to arise. Upon this subject lie thought that explanation more satisfactory ought to be given than the house had yet heard.
Col. Calcraftcompared the estimate of last year with that now under consideration, and asserted that his original statement was correct; that in the sum proposed to be voted, there was an increase beyond the vote of last year, of 134,0001. He referred to the two estimates for the proof of this difference, notwithstanding the positive assertion of the right hon. secretary at war.—The motion was agreed to.
The Secretary at Warthen moved, that the sum of 2,663,751 l. should be voted for the pay, &c. of the embodied militia of G. Brit, and Ireland, for the present year.
Col. Carlcraftsaid, that although the right hon. gent. had stated, in his opening, that it was intended to reduce the militia, yet the vote proposed was for the provision of the present establishment. He wished, therefore, to know whether any reduction of the militia was intended immediately to take place?
The Chanc. of the Exchequertook this opportunity of stating, that it was in the contemplation of his maj.'s govt. to bring forward, without delay, a plan for more speedily transferring to the regular army a
254
certain proportion of the militia. The various reasons which rendered, this measure advisable, would be stated when, it should be submitted to the consideration of the house; but the right hon. gent. thought, that the known disposition of the men to enter into the regular army particularly recommended its adoption, independently of the policy which obviously suggested itself, of bringing down the militia, with all convenient expedition, to the standard at which, according to the act of last session, it was in future to he fixed.
Mr. Johnstoneobserved, that whether the proportion of the militia alluded to. should remain attached to that body, or be transferred to the regular army, an additional allowance it seemed would be necessary.
The Chanc. of the Exchequersaid, that in the vote for the regular army, the regiments were placed so high, that even should the proposed transfer of the militia immediately take place, their establishments would still be incomplete; therefore there would be no necessity for any additional allowance such as the hon. gent. referred to.—The motion was agreed to.—Upon the proposition for allowance to innkeepers being submitted,
Mr. Fullertook occasion to remark on the extraordinary expence to which the county he had the honour to represent, and the other counties on the coast, were subject, by the conveyance of troops, their baggage, &c. It had been observed, that no less than 80,000 men had been for some time back stationed on the coast. The expence of carriage, &c. in forwarding those troops, was paid by govt. but back carriage fell upon the counties. This had produced so severe a grievance, that the hon. member stated it to be the subject of general complaint. This was an evil which he trusted some means would be taken to remedy. He hoped that, in bringing forward the army extraordinaries, the right hon. the secretary at war would propose something as a reimbursement to those counties for what they had already spent, and as an indemnity for the future. The house would, he had no doubt, acknowledge the justice of such a proposition. The conveyance of troops for the national defence was a national concern, and no undue proportion of the expence attending such conveyance should be' suffered to fall upon particular counties.
The Secretary at Warsaid, that if the ion. member would confer with him in private upon the subject he alluded to, he should be happy to pay him every attention in his power, and if the proposition he recommended should be found advisable, to promote its adoption. If, how-ever, the conversation should produce in his mind a contrary impression, it would still be open to the hon. member to bring forward a motion on the subject himself.— Upon the vote for the barracks being proposed,
Mr. Kinnaird,adverting to the temporary barracks erected on the coast, stated, that he understood them to be very unfit for the residence of the troops. He therefore wished to know whether it was meant to continue the use of those barracks, and whether, among the provision far bar-jacks, those were included? If so, he should certainly object to them; and if no specific account of the expence of those barracks was before the house, he should move for it.
The Secretary at Warsaid, that the barracks alluded to were constructed for the accommodation of the troops, because, from circumstances, no better could be provided. It was advisable that the troops should remain on the coast during winter, and from June till Nov. there was not time sufficient for the building any other than those temporary barracks.
Mr. Kinnairdexpressed his sorrow for the expence incurred hi the construction of such barracks; but that expence was by no means so much the object of his consideration, as the danger likely to result to the soldiery from a residence in such places. If those barracks were not to continue any longer in use, he would not so much complain; but if the contrary was intended, he should certainly object to it.

ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.
Mr. Wellesley Polethen rose to submit to the committee the estimates for the ordnance service of the year. The aggregate of the estimates for the present year exceeded the amount for the last year by 798,000 l. but the committee would not consider the estimate for the present year too high, when it looked to the extent of the force proposed to be maintained, and to the circumstances of the country. He should, therefore, content himself with simply moving the estimates; but should, with great satisfaction, answer the inquiries that any gent, might
256
think proper to make, and put the committee in possession of any information in his power. The hon. gent. then moved the following resolutions: "that there be granted to his maj. the following sums, under the following heads r For the expence of ordnance for his maj.'s land forces in G. Brit. 3,163,4l6 l. 2s. 6d.; for the service of the ordnance office in G. Brit. 190,344 l. 2s. 4d.; for the expence of ordnance for his maj.'s land forces in Ireland, 503,2041.; to replace a similar sum advanced by the exchequer in Ireland for the service of the ordnance office, 129,2301.; for the service of the office of ordnance in Ireland, 470,7651. 4s. fid.; the resolutions were agreed to without any comment, and the house being resumed, the report was ordered to be received to-morrow.— Adjourned.

ADDITIONAL FORCE BILL.
Lord Hawkesbury,by command of his majesty, presented certain military accounts and documents, chiefly respecting the levies under the additional force act, which were ordered to lie on the table.
Earl Darnleythereupon rose, and expressed himself not particularly desirous to agitate the proposition of which he had given notice on Thursday next. He should therefore move, that the order for summoning their ldps. upon Thursday next be discharged, and that an order for a similar purpose be made for a future day, which, in consideration of some important matter being proposed by a noble friend of his for Monday, he should propose to be on tomorrow se'nnight. The noble earl accordingly moved that the lords be summoned for that day.
Lord Hawkesburywished it to be understood, that the arrangement just proposed by the noble earl did not proceed from any thing wished for by his maj.'s ministers in that house; it would prove no sort of accommodation to them, as, if the proposition the noble earl had given notice of, was to be discussed distinctly from the subject of the general military state of the country, it was a matter of indifference to them when it was agitated.—While on his legs, the noble secretary requested a noble lord, then in his place (King), to give him an idea of the nature of his intended motion on Monday, as he had stated it so generally in the first instance, that he could not satisfactorily comprehend its object.
Lord Kingprofessed himself willing to give the information desired by the noble secretary. His intended motion was for the production of an account of the monies remitted to Ireland on account of the governments of both countries, under the new arrangement, the object of which, he understood, was a reduction of the rate of the exchange between this country, and Ireland.

WAR WITH SPAIN.
Lord-Grenvillesaid, that although he was prepared to
220
come to a discussion of the Spanish rupture, on the information which he had obtained from those papers which his maj.'s ministers, after 2 months consideration, had laid before parliament, and which they, no doubt, conceived sufficient for the full understanding of the subject; he must confess that he was glad that the additional papers had been brought down, as they had contributed to throw more light on the question. There were still many chasms in the correspondence, which he was anxious to see filled up, and which, no doubt, ministers would feel it to be their duty to communicate to the house. In Mr. Frere's letter to lord Hawkesbury, of the 5th March, 1804, he stated the subject of a conversation he had with the prince of peace on the morning of that day, and of his having been referred by him to M. Cevallos, for the communication of the treaty which had been concluded between Spain and France, relative to the neutrality of the former country. No traces of what had passed in that conference appeared in the papers which had been laid before the house. As the object of that conference was of the utmost moment, he must suppose that Mr. Frere had felt it to be his duty to communicate it to his govt.; and the information which that communication would afford, he thought, was very necessary, previous to the discussion of the subject. There were also 3 notes written on the 23d and 24th of Feb. by Mr. Frere to M. Cevallos, and answered by the latter on the 27th, of which he wished copies or extracts should be laid before their ldps.: they were alluded to in M. D'Anduaga's letter of the 30th March last to lord Hawkesbury. He would how move the first of his series of motions.—Before the question was put on the noble lord's motion.
Lord Hawkesburysaid, that it was not the intention of ministers to withhold any information which could with propriety be granted; he wished, however, that the noble lord would not press his motion at present, but allow govt. time to consider which of the papers it would be in their power to produce; they would be able to do that by to-morrow.
Lord Grenvillesaid, it would be extremely inconvenient for him to come down to-morrow; however, if ministers could not make up their minds immediately, he must be under the necessity either of attending to-morrow, or of getting some other noble lord to move for him.
Lord Mulgravesaid, that it had been his duty to make the selection of the papers which had been laid before parliament, from a very voluminous correspondence; and as no part of the negotiation had been conducted by him, he could not be supposed to be as fully master of the subject as the noble lord who lately filled the situation, which was now unworthily filled by him. Possibly, some papers might have been omitted, which should have been produced. All he could say, was, that if his noble friend would favour him with a list of the papers he intended to move for, he would come to a determination as to whether they could or ought to be laid before the house by to-morrow.
Lord Grenvilleobserved, that he could not refuse acceding to the noble lord's proposal. He would put the list of motions into the noble sec.'s hands, and trust to his honour and discretion to produce such of them as he should think necessary to be made public.
Lord Mulgraveexpressed his obligations to his noble friend, and said, that he would take care to apprise him, in the course of the morning, how far his motions could be complied with.
Lord Grenvillesaid, he would state, for the satisfaction of the house, what the papers were which he thought should be laid before their ldps. He wished, exclusive of those which he had already mentioned, that the answers which had been returned by lord Hawkesbury, to the different letters of M. d'Anduaga, should be brought forward. The document, however, which he was the most anxious to obtain, was the information imparted to lord Harrowby by M. d'Anduaga, respecting the armaments at Ferrol, as upon that would depend the propriety of the orders for the capture of the Spanish frigates. Although that information might have been verbally communicated, it was to be presumed, notwithstanding, that his noble friend had made some minute of the conversation for the information of the other members of the administration. If that were not so, it would yet be practicable to give their ldps. the information besought, by applying to his noble friend in the same way that information had been obtained from Mr. Frere, respecting a point on which there was some doubt. He wished also to obtain a copy of such answer, if any, as had been made to M. d'Anduaga's letter of the 22d Dec. He wished also for a copy
222
of M. Cevallos' note of the 27th Feb; 1804 to Mr. Frere, and which he supposed there could be no objection to furnish; for what was proper for him to receive, Could not be considered as improper to be laid before parliament. The noble lord made no motion, but handed the list of motions to the noble secretary of state.—Adjourned.