The Virginia Gazette

In our last we mentioned that an Embargo was laid on all Vessels in the Port at Cadiz; but as we knew not then the particular Reason of it, the following is inserted to set the Affair in a clear Light.

—It has been the Custom at the Port of Cadiz, that every British ship trading thither, pays, besides the Consular Fees, and other Port-Duties, a certain Gratuity, called Contribution Money; the Intent whereof was, that the same should be a Fund or Repository, for the Relief of the wrecked, or otherways distressed British Merchant, Mariner, &c. This Contribution Money, which amounts to a very large annual Sum, is vested in what may be called the Common Weal of the Consulate, that is to say, in the Consul and Merchants being Subjects of Great-Britain, resident at Cadiz.

Now there are resident there, certain Merchants, who call themselves Subjects of Great Britain, but are of the Communion, or Subjects of his Holiness the Pope, or in other Words are Irish Papists, these make the Majority of the Factory, and consequently either have the Disposition of the Contribution Money, which they divide among the poor people of their Community, or will not suffer it to be divided at all: And the present Consul differing with him in Opinion as to the Rectitude of such Distribution, the same is now become a Point that neither will give up; and the Governor siding with the Irish, because he participated of the Profits, and the Masters of the Ships siding with the Consul, and refusing therefore to pay any more, not only ten thousand Dollars of the said Money, but all the Ships are embargoed.