The New Hampshire Gazette

KING GEORGE the III's Declaration of WAR against Spain

From the London Gazette.

Whitehall, January 2. 1762.

Translation of a Note delivered to the Earl of Egremont
by the Count de Fuentes. Dec. 25. 1761.

The Count de Fuentes ambassador from
the Catholic King, to the King of Great
Britain, has just now received an express
from his court, which informs him, that Lord
Bristol, ambassador from his Britannic to his
Catholic Majesty, having intimated to his minister of state his Excellency Mr. Richard Wall,
that he had orders to demand a positive and categorical answer to this question: Whether
Spain intended to unite herself to France against England? and added, that he should
look upon a negative, or refusal of such categorical answer, as an aggression and declaration
of war; and that in consequence thereof, he
thought he ought to retire from the court of
Spain. -He was thereupon answered by the
said minister of state, that the spirit of haughtiness and of discord, which had dictated to him
such a rash step, and which,(as the bane of humankind) still influences the British government, had also at that very instant made a declaration of war, and insulted the dignity of the
King; wherefore he might think of retiring
now and when it suited his own conveniency.
The Count de Fuentes is ordered, in consequence thereof, to depart this court and kingdom
of Great Britain, and to make known to his
Britannick Majesty, the British nation, and to
the whole world, that the unlimited ambition
and haughtiness of him who held the reins of
his government, and who, (as it seems) still
holds them by another hand, is the cause; or
him that has dug the Pit, into which the two
nations of Spain and England are going to tumble: That if the Catholic King has excused himself from answering the question: viz. Whether
the treaty which all Europe suspected or suggested to have been signed by their Catholic and
most Christian Majesties, on the 15th day of August did or did not contain any conditions relative to England? It ought to be considered, First,
just requital for the want of condescension,
the insulting manner with which, during the
whole ministry of Mr. Pitt, the affairs of Spain
have been treated. And lastly, when he
(Pitt) saw himself convinced of the justice
of the pretensions of the Catholic King, he
made use of this declaration:
That he would grant them whenever the
Mayor of London should be conquered by the pointed sword. Add to this the imperious tone
which such declaration was made.
The Spanish ministry could have freely declared to the English (as the King himself now
his own free will commands the Count de
Fuentes to declare publickly) that the treaty in
question is reduced to a covenant between his
Majesty and the family of Bourbon, which contains nothing relative to the present war: and
that, even in the mutual guaranty of realms, it
is specified, that it regards only those which
should remain to France after the end of the
war; that notwithstanding the great share of
resentment, which fell to the lot of his Majesty
in the unexpected action of giving back in a
slighty manner, to Mon. de Bussy, Minister of
France, the memorial by him presented, desiring
that the differences between Spain and England
might be terminated at the same time as the war
between England and France, with the laudable
conclusion of a peace; yet his Catholic Majesty
thought well to dissemble that slight, by a writing delivered to my Lord Bristol. A demonstration of the good nature and sincerity of this
step, which was taken by France, shocked Mr.
Pitt.
And lastly, his Majesty wrote to his cousin
the most Christian King, that since the junction
of the affairs of Spain obstructed in England
the intended peace, he would rather abandon the
same, than lay the least obstacle thereto: but
this was soon experienced to be only a pretext
for the British Minister to avoid Settling the
same; since he saw that the French, in this
course of this negociation, without speaking any
more about the business of Spain, for the sake
of peace, had submitted to such conditions, as in
the judgment of the whole world, appeared to be
of excessive advantage to England; notwithstanding which he broke the negociation, and
discovered his venomous intentions against Spain.
in opposition to the whole British Council, and
unhappily he has accomplished his depraved
intention.
This declaration being now made, the
Count de Fuentes beseeches his Excellency My
Lord Egremont to offer his profound respects
to the King of England, his master, and obtain
such passports from him; and such orders as
shall be convenient for him to depart with his
family without interruption from the territory
of Great-Britain: and also for the short navigation which separates this Island from the continent.
St. James's, January 2. 1762.
GEORGE R.
Our Will and Pleasure is, That you
attend the Proclamation of Our Declaration of War against Spain, that is
to be made on Monday next this Fourth Instant between the Hours of Nine and Twelve
in the Morning, in the usual Places, and with
the Solemnities customary on the like Occasion: And for so doing this shall be your
Warrant. Given at our Court at St. James's,
the Second Day of January, 1762, in the
Second Year of Our Reign. By His Majesty's Command,
EGREMONT.
To Our Trusty and Well-Beloved
Servants, the Kings, Heralds.
and Pursuivants at Arms.
(Accordingly on the Fourth Day of January War
was declared against Spain with great Solemnity.)
His Majesty's
DAY.
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 public Tranquility
upon a solid and lasting Foundation. To
prevent those Calamities from being extended
still farther: and because the most perfect
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 Partia-
lities shewn by the Spaniards to our Enemies
the French, during the Course of the present
War, inconsistent with their Neutrality: And
most essential Proofs have been given of the
Friendship 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 Surprize 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, expressly relating to the Disputes between us and the Crown of Spain: and declaring, that, if those Objects should bring originate a War, the French King would be obliged to
take Part therein. Our surprize was encreased,
when afterwards, this unprecedented 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, 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 or Knowledge of France: and
soon after, we had the Satisfaction to be informed by. our Ambassador at Madrid, that
the Spanish Minister, taking Notice of the
Reports industriously spread of an approaching Rupture; had acquainted him, that the
King of Spain, had, at no Time, been more
intent on cultivating, a good Correspondence
with us: and as the Spanish Ambassador at
our Court made repeated Declarations to the
same Effect: we thought ourselves bound.
in Justice and Prudence, to forbear coming to
Extremities.
But the same tender Concern for the welfare of Our Subjects, which prevented Our
accelerating precipitately a War with Spain.
if it could possibly be avoided, made it necessary for Us to endeavour to know with Certainty, which were the Engagements, and real
Intentions of the Court of Spain. Therefore.
as We had Information, that Engagements
had been lately contracted between the Courts
of Madrid and Versailles: and it was soon after industriously spread throughout all Europe,
by the Ministers of France, that the Purport of
those Engagements was Hostile to Great-
Britain, and that Spain was on the Point of
entering into the War: We directed Our
Ambassador to desire, in the most Friendly
Terms, a Communication of the Treaties lately concluded between France and Spain; or
of such Articles thereof as immediately related to the Interest of Great-Britain, if any such
there were; or, at least, an Assurance that
there were none incompatible with the Friendship subsisting between Us and the Crown of
Spain. Our Astonishment and Concern was.
great, when we learnt that so far from giving.
Satisfaction upon so reasonable an Application, the Spanish Minister had declined answering; with Reasonings and Insinuations of a
very hostile Tendency: And as at the same
Time, we had Intelligence, that great Armaments were making in Spain, by Sea and Land,
we thought it absolutely necessary to try, once
more, if a Rupture could be avoided: We
therefore directed our Ambassador to ask in a
firm but friendly Manner, Whether the Court
of Madrid intended to join the French, Our
Enemies, to act hostilely against Great Britain,
or to depart from it's Neutrality; and if he
found the Spanish Minister avoided to give
a clear Answer, to insinuate in the most decent
Manner, that the refusing or Avoiding to
answer a Question so reasonable, could only
arise from the King of Spain's having already
engaged, or resolved to take Part against Us.
and must be looked upon as an Avowal of
such hostile Intention, and equivalent to a
Declaration of War; and that He had Orders immediately to leave the Court of Madrid. The peremptory refusal by the Court
of Spain to give the least Satisfaction, with regard to any of those reasonable Demands on
Our Part, and the solemn Declaration at the same Time made by the Spanish Minister, that they considered the War as then actually declared, prove to a Demonstration, that their Resolution to act offensively, was so absolutely and irrevocably taken, that it could not be any longer dissembled, or denied.

The King of Spain, therefore, having been induced, without any Provocation on Our Part, to consider the War as already commenced against us, which has in Effect been declared at Madrid: We trust, that by the Blessing of Almighty GOD on the Justice of our Cause, and by the Assistance of our loving Subjects, we shall be able to defeat the ambitious Designs, which have formed this Union between the two Branches of the House of Bourbon: have now begun a new War; and portend the most Dangerous Consequences to all Europe. --- Therefore, We have thought fit to declare, and do hereby declare War against the said King of Spain; and we will in Pursuance of such Declaration, vigorously prosecute the said War, wherein the Honour of our Crown, the Welfare of our Subjects, and the Prosperity of this Nation, which we are determined at all Times with our utmost Power to preserve and support, are so greatly concerned. And we do hereby will and require our Generals and Commanders of our Forces, our Commissioners for executing the Office of our High Admiral of Great-Britain, our Lieutenants of our several Counties, Governors of our Forts and Garrisons, and all other Officers and Soldiers under them, by Sea and Land, to do and execute, all Acts of Hostility, in the Prosecution of this War, against the said King of Spain, his Vessels and Subjects, and to oppose their Attempts; willing and requiring all our Subjects to take Notice of the same; whom we henceforth strictly forbid to hold any Correspondence or Communication, with the said King of Spain, or his Subjects: And we do hereby command our own Subjects, and advertise all other Persons, of what Nation soever, not to transport, or carry any Soldiers, Arms, Powder, Ammunition, or other contraband Goods, to any of the Territories, Lands, Plantations, or Countries of the said King of Spain, declaring that whatsoever Ships or Vessel shall be met withal transporting or carrying any Soldiers, Arms, Powder, Ammunition, or other contraband Goods, to any of the Territories, Lands, Plantations or Countries of the said King of Spain, the same being taken, shall be condemned as a good and lawful Prize. And whereas there may be remaining in our Kingdoms divers of the Subjects of the King of Spain, we do hereby declare our Royal Intention to be, that all the Spanish Subjects, who shall demean themselves dutifully towards us, shall be safe in their Persons and Effects.

Given at our Court at St. James's, the Second Day of January, 1762; in the Second Year of our Reign,

GOD Save the KING.

St. James's January 2. His Majesty in Council was this day pleased to order, that a Commission should be passed forthwith under the Great Seal, to authorize and empower the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to issue forth, and grant Letters of Marque or Commissions to Privateers, for seizing and taking the Ships, Vessels and Goods belonging to Spain, or the Vessels and Subjects of the King of Spain, or others inhabiting within any of his Countries, Territories, or Dominions, and such other Ships, Vessels and Goods as are, or shall be, liable to such Confiscation, pursuant to the respective Treaties between his Majesty and other Princes, States, and Potentates,

WESTMINSTER, January 19.

This Day His Majesty came to the House of Peers, and being in His Royal Robes seated on the Throne with the usual Solemnity, Sir Septimus Robinson, Knt. Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, was sent with a Message from His Majesty to the House of Commons, accordingly. His Majesty was pleased to make the following most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I HAVE so often assured you of my sincere Disposition to put an End to the Calamities of War, and to restore the publick Tranquillity on solid and lasting Foundations, that no impartial Person, either at Home or Abroad can suspect Me of unnecessarily kindling a new war in Europe. But it is with Concern I acquaint you, that since your Recess, I have found My Self indispensibly obliged to declare War against Spain. The Causes are set forth in my publick Declaration on this Occasion; and therefore I shall not detain you with a Repetition of them. My own Conduct since My Accession to the Throne, as well as that of the late King my Royal Grand father, towards Spain, has been so full of good Will and Friendship, so averse to the laying hold of several just Grounds of Complaint, which might have been alledged, and so attentive to the advantages of the Catholick King and his Family, that it was Matter of the greatest Surprize to Me, to find that Engagements had, in this Conjuncture, been entered into between that Crown and France: and a Treaty made to unite all the Branches of the House of Bourbon, in the most ambitious and dangerous Designs against the Commerce and Independency of the Rest of Europe, and particularly of My Kingdoms. Whatever Colours may be endeavoured to be put upon these injurious Proceedings of the Court of Madrid, I have nothing to reproach My self with; and, tho' I have left nothing untried that could have prevented this Rupture, I have thought it necessary to prepare against every Event. I therefore rely on the divine Blessing on the Justice of my Cause; the zealous and powerful Assistance of my faithful Subjects; and the Concurrence of my Allies, who must find themselves involved in the pernicious and extensive Projects of my Enemies.

I leave these Considerations with you, full of the justest Confidence, that the Honour of my Crown, and the Interest of my Kingdoms, are safe in your Hands.

LONDON. January 21.

The humble Address of the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled.

Die Martis 19. Januarii, 1762.

Most gracious Sovereign,

WE your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament assembled, beg Leave to return Your Majesty our humble Thanks for Your most gracious SPEECH from the Throne.

We have had so many Proofs of your Majesty's Paternal Love of your People, and of the Goodness and true Greatness which inspire your Royal Breast, that we are fully convinced of your Majesty's sincere Desire to put an End to the Calamities of War; and that your Majesty has left nothing untried, in order to avoid, if possible, the Necessity of extending it. We cannot therefore but express the utmost Surprize and Indignation, at the injurious and unprovoked Proceedings of the Court of Spain, which have rendered ineffectual your Majesty's salutary Endeavours; and particularly at the late Engagements enter'd into between that Crown and France, so inconsistent with their solemn and repeated Professions of Amity; so contrary to the Treaties actually subsisting between your Majesty and the Catholic King, and so prejudicial not only to the true Interest of these Kingdoms, but also of the Spanish Nation itself.

With Hearts full of Gratitude, we acknowledge your Majesty's Wisdom and Vigilance for the Security of your People, in taking effectual Care, at the Same Time the preventing of a Rupture was the great Object of your Majesty's Attention; to be prepared however, and ready for every event.

Animated with the warmest Zeal for the Defence of the Honour of your Majesty's Crown; and the undoubted Rights Of your People, tho' free from any View of encroaching on those of other Nations; we have a lively Sense of the Dangers which threaten your Majesty's Kingdoms, as well as the Commerce and Independency of the rest of Europe, from the ambitious and extensive Designs of the Confederacy now formed between the several Branches of the House of Bourbon; and we beseech your Majesty to accept the strongest and most affectionate Assurances, that we will, with the utmost Ardour act and support your Majesty, in repelling and suppressing the pernicious Effects, to greatly to be apprehended from this Union; and that we will readily concur in such Measures, as may enable your Majesty to prosecute the War with Vigour, until just and honourable Conditions of Peace can be obtained.

His Majesty's most Gracious Answer.

MY LORDS,

I Return you My hearty Thanks for this Address. The affectionate Assurances you give Me of your Support and Assistance in the vigorous Prosecution of this necessary War, are very agreeable to Me, and cannot fail of producing the most salutary Effects.

Abstract of the Votes of the House of Commons.

Jan. 19th, 1762. Resolved, Nemine Contradicente!

That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, to return his Majesty the thanks of this house, for his most gracious speech from the throne, and for his having been pleased to communicate to this house the motives, which have obliged his Majesty to declare WAR against Spain; a measure, which hath been rendered unavoidable, by the offensive conduct of that court, the great armaments made in Spain, both by sea and land, and by the repeated denials of those explanations, and of that just satisfaction, which his Majesty, for the security of his Kingdoms, had so much reason to demand.

To declare, that this house sees, with concern, that influence, which has unhappily prevailed in the court of Spain, and which hath determined them no longer to dissavow their hostile intentions, but to come to extremities, contrary to the real interest of both nations.

To acknowledge, with the warmest sentiments of gratitude and of duty, the many signal instances of his Majesty's moderation and of his tender concern for his people, in his constant endeavours to prevent this rupture if it had been possible; and to express the highest satisfaction at the preparations, which his Majesty, in his royal wisdom, hath in the mean time directed to be made for that event.

To assure his Majesty, that, thoroughly sensible of the dangers, with which the ambitious designs and union of the house of Bourbon threaten the commerce and independency of these kingdoms, and of the rest of Europe, his faithful Commons will, with the utmost firmness and vigour, readily support his Majesty, in the prosecution of this just and necessary war, and for the attainment of an honourable peace.

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to draw up an address to be presented to his Majesty, upon the said resolution.

Boston last Saturday Evening, the 27th Instant.