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them, and you are to use all proper Methods, that may be most
effectual for that Purpose,
I am with great Truth and Regard,
p. S. His Majesty has been Sir, Your most obedient
Pleased to order Letters of Marque, Humble Servant
or Commissions to Privateers, Egremont
to be granted in the usual Manner.
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Lib. J. R.
& U. S.
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His Majesty's Declaration of War, against the King of
Spain.
George R.
The constant Object of Our Attention, since Our Accession
to the Throne, has been, if Possible, to put an End to the
Calamities of War, and to settle the publick Tranquillity upon
a Solid and Lasting Foundation, To prevent those Calamities
from being extended still farther; and because the most per-
fect Harmony between Great Britain and Spain, is at all
times, the Mutual Interest of Both Nations, it has been our
earnest Desire to maintain the Strictest Amity with the King
of Spain, and to Accommodate the Disputes between us and
that Crown in the most amicable Manner. This object we have
steadily pursued notwithstanding the many Partialities shewn
by the Spaniards to our Enemies the French, during the
Course of the Present War, inconsistent with their Neutral-
ity: And most essential Proofs have been Given of the Friend-
ship and Regard of the Court of Great Britain for the King of
Spain and his Family. After a Conduct so friendly, and so
full of Good Faith, on our part, it was Matter of great Sur-
prise to Us, to find a Memorial delivered on the Twenty third
Day of July last, by Monsieur Bussy Minister Plenipotentiary
of France, to one of our Principal Secretaries of state, ex-
presly relating to the Disputes between us and the Crown of
Spain, and declaring that if those Objects should bring on a
War, the French King would be obliged to take part therein.
Our surprise was increased, when afterwards, this unprece-
dented and Offensive Step, made by a Power in open War with
Us, was avowed by the Spanish Minister to our Ambassador
at Madrid to have been taken with the full Approbation and
Consent of the King of Spain, But as this Avowal was accom-
panied with the most becoming Apologies on the part of the
King of Spain, and with assurances, that such Memorial
should never have been delivered, if it had been foreseen that
we should have Looked upon it in an offensive Light; and that
the King of Spain was at Liberty, and ready to adjust all his
Differences with great Britain, without the Intervention of
Knowledge of France; and soon after we had the Satisfaction
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p. 328
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