The New Hampshire Gazette

The following Declaration of War by Spain against Great Britain, dated the 16th of January, was published at Madrid on the 18th.

THE KING.

ALTHOUGH I have already taken for granted a declaration of war by England, against Spain, the inconsiderate step of Lord Bristol, the Britannic King's ambassador at my court, when he demanded of Don Richard Wall, my Minister of State, what engagements I had contracted with France, making this the condition of his demand, or rather adding this threat, That if he did not receive a categorical answer, he would leave my court, and take the denial for an aggression: And although, before this provocation was received, my patience was tired out with suffering & beholding, on many occasions, that the English Government minded no other law, but the aggrandizement of their nation by land, and universal dominion by sea: I was nevertheless desirous to see whether this menace would be carried into execution, or whether the court of England, sensible of the inefficacy of such methods towards my dignity, and that of my crown, would not employ others that should be more suitable to me, and make me overlook all those insults. But the haughtiness of the English was so far from containing it within just bounds, that I have just learned that, on the 2d inst. a resolution was taken by the Britannic King in council, to declare war against Spain. Thus, seeing myself under the hard necessity of following this example, which I would never have given, because it is so horrible, and so contrary to humanity, I have ordered, by a decree of the 12th inst. that war should likewise be immediately declared, on my part, against the King of England, his kingdoms, estates, and subjects; and that, in consequence thereof, proper orders shall be sent to all parts of my dominions, where it should be necessary, for their defence, and that of my subjects, as well as for acting offensively against the enemy.

For this end, I order my council of war, to take the requisite measures that this declaration of war may be published at my court, and in my kingdoms, with the formalities usual upon such occasions; and that in consequence all kind of hostilities may be exercised towards the English: that those of them who are not naturalized in Spain may leave my kingdoms; that they may carry on no trade there; and that only those who are employed as artisans may be suffered to remain: That for the future my subjects may have no dealings with those of England, nor with the estates of that crown, for any of their productions or fisheries, particularly cod, or their manufactures or merchandise; so that the inhibition of this trade may be understood to be, and may be in fact absolute and effective, and tamps vicious quality, and a prohibition of sale on the aforesaid effects, productions, fisheries, cod, merchandise and manufactures of the dominions of England; That no vessel whatsoever with the above-mentioned effects on board, may be admitted into my harbours, and that they may not be permitted to be brought in by land, being illicit and prohibited in my kingdoms; though they may have been brought or deposited in buildings, baggage, warehouses, shops or houses of merchants, or other private persons, my subjects or vassals, or subjects or vassals of provinces and states with whom I am in peace, or alliance, or have a free trade, whom, nevertheless, I intend not to hurt, or to infringe the peace, the liberty, and privilege which they enjoy, by treaty, of carrying on a legal trade in my kingdoms with their ships, and the proper and peculiar productions of their lands, provinces and conquests, or the produce of their manufactures: I also command that all merchants who shall have in their possession, any cod, or other fish or produce of the dominions of England, shall in the space of fifteen days from the date of this declaration declare the same; and deliver an account thereof, either at my court or elsewhere, to the officers who shall be appointed by the marquis de Squilace, superintendent-general of my revenues, that the whole may be forthcoming; and such of the effects of which a list shall not be so delivered in the space of fifteen days, shall be immediately confiscated; two months, and no more, being allowed for the consumption of those which shall be declared; after which time the merchants shall be obliged to carry the said effects to the custom house, and, where there is no custom house, to the houses that serve instead thereof, that they may be publicly sold by an officer or officers nominated for that end, or, if none should be appointed, by the judges, who shall give the produce of the sale to the proprietors; but none of the said merchandizes, prohibited in the manner just prescribed, shall return to the warehouses or shops.

I have given a separate commission, with all the necessary powers, to the marquis de Squilace, superintendent general of my revenues, that in that quality he may see that this prohibited trade be not suffered, and that he may immediately issue such orders and instructions as he shall think necessary for this important end; taking cognizance in the first instance, in person, and by his subdelegates; of the disputes which shall arise on occasion of this contraband, with an appeal to the council of the finances in the hall of justice, except however what relates to contraband military stores, arms and other effects belonging to war, particularized in treaties of peace; the cognizance of disputes on these articles belonging to the council of war and the military tribunals.

And I command that all that is above be observed, executed and accomplished, under the heavy penalties contained in the laws, pragmatics, & royal cedulas, issued on like occasions in times past, which are to extend also to all my subjects, and the inhabitants of my kingdoms and estates, without any exception, and notwithstanding any privileges; my will being, that this declaration of war shall come as soon as possible to the knowledge of my subjects, as well that they may guard their persons and effects from the insults of the English, as that they may labour to molest them by naval armaments, and by other methods authorized by the law of arms.

Given at Buen Retiro, Jan. 16, 1762.

I THE KING.