Jenks's Portland Gazette

POLITICAL STATE PAPER.

Copy of a letter to the Minister of the United States at Madrid, from the acting Minister of State of his Catholic Majesty

SIR,

By order of the king, my master, I transmit to you for the information of your court, a copy of the answer of this government to the strange manifesto of his imperial majesty the emperor of Russia, in which he has declared war against the former power. In the one as well as in the other are expressed the respective political sentiments entertained by both crowns; and his Catholic majesty does not doubt, from the impartiality of the United States of America, that they will recognize in that of Madrid the spirit of justice and moderation displayed in his reply.

I offer myself, on this account, to your disposal, &c.

MARIANO LUIS DE URQUIJO.

St. Ildefonso, 9th Sept. '99, &c.

Mr. David Humphreys.

Spanish Declaration.

THE religious scrupulousness, with which I have endeavored, and shall endeavor, to maintain the alliance I have contracted with the French Republic, and the ties of friendship and good intelligence, which happily subsist between the two countries, and which are cemented by the evident analogy of their mutual political interests, have excited the jealousy of some powers, particularly since the formation of the new coalition, whose object, rather than the apparent and chimerical one of re-establishing order, is to disturb it, by tyrannizing over the nations, who do not yield themselves up to their ambitious views. Among these, the conduct of Russia has been particularly marked towards me, the emperor of which, not content with arrogating to himself claims, which in no wise belong to him, and with manifesting in them his objects, because, perhaps, he did not find the condescension he expected, on my part, has just issued the decree, declaratory of war, whose publication alone will sufficiently evince its entire want of justice. Being literally translated, it runs thus:

"We, PAUL the first, by the grace of God, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russians, &c. &c. &c. make known to all our faithful subjects, We, and our allies have resolved to destroy the anarchical and illegitimate government, which now prevails in France, and, consequently, to direct against it all our forces, God has blessed our arms, and has hitherto crowned all our undertakings, with happiness and victory.

"Among the small number of European powers, who have apparently delivered themselves up to it, but who, in reality, are fearful of the vengeance of that government, abandoned of God, and which is in its last agonies, Spain has manifested more than all the rest her fear, or her submission to France, not indeed by efficient succours, but by preparations for that end. In vain have we employed every means to make this power see the true path of honor and glory, and pursue it in conjunction with us, he has remained obstinate in the measures, and errors, which are pernicious to her; by means of which, we are finally obliged to signify our indignation, by ordering her charge d'affaires to depart from our states; but knowing now that our own has been likewise forced to withdraw from the dominions of the king of Spain, within a fixed time, we consider this absolutely as an offence to our majesty, and declare war against her, by the present proclamation :--Wherefore, we order the sequestration and confiscation of all the Spanish merchant vessels, and that the order be sent to all the commanders of our forces by land and sea, in order that they may act offensively, every where, against the subjects of the king of Spain. Given at Peterhof, the 15th of July, in the year 1799, of the birth of Christ, and in the third year of our reign. Signed in the original, with the proper hand of his imperial majesty PAUL."

I have seen this declaration without surprise, because the conduct observed towards my Charge d'Affaires, and other proceedings, no less strange of that sovereign, for some time past, announced that this crisis would happen. Therefore, in having ordered the Charge of Russia to depart from my court and states, resentment had much less share, than the imperious considerations of my dignity.--Agreeably to these principles, I am very far from wishing to refute the incoherencies of the Russian manifesto, which are very evident at the first sight, and what is therein contained, of a nature offensive to me, and to all the powers of Europe. And as I know the nature of the influence, which England holds over the present Czar, I should think myself humiliated, were I to answer to that manifesto, not being bound to render an account of my political connections to any one, but the Almighty, whose assistance, I hope to repel every unjust aggression, which presumption, and a system of unfounded combinations may attempt against me, and against my subjects, for whose protection and security I have taken, and am now taking the most efficacious measures; and in giving them notice of this declaration of war, I authorize them to act with hostility against Russia, its possessions, and inhabitants.

Signed with the royal hand.

A true copy,

(Signed)

URQUIJO.

St. Ildefonso, 9th Sept. 1799.