The Virginia Gazette

February 24. They write from the Hague, that the Republick thinks itself but indifferently treated by the Court of Spain, in Regard to its Complaints against the Guarda Costas in America.

M. Vander Meer, Ambassador from their High-Mightinesses at Madrid, has not yet been able to obtain an Answer from the Marquis de la Quadra, to the ample Resolution of their High-Mightinesses, which answers all the Grievances complained of by the Spaniards against the Subjects of the Republick, particularly those of Curacao.

This Ambassador having found fault with the dilatory Practice of the Spanish Court in that Respect, was answered by the Marquis, that the Resolution of their High-Mightinesses was so full, and the Articles that it contained so important, that it demanded a very serious and careful Examination: Their High-Mightinesses, he was sure, must be sensible, that a Piece so long as was this Resolution of theirs? could not be very soon replied to, seeing they themselves had taken more than four Months to answer the Memorial of the Marquis de St. Gilles.

The Deputies of their High-Mightinesses have talked upon this Subject to the last mentioned Ambassador, who took Occasion to assure them, that the King his Master was very much disposed to render to the Subjects of their High-Mightinesses the Justice which they demanded of him, in Respect to their Ships arrested and confiscated: but that as it was an Affair of long Discussion, a Convention ought to be negotiated between his Court and the Republick, (the old Method for Delay) in order to prevent the like Complaints for the future, and to agree upon the Sense of some Articles of the Treaty of Commerce concluded at Utrecht, particularly the XXXVIIth, because that being regulated, it would be easy to accommodate the rest, his Catholick Majesty being strongly inclined to contribute all in his Power to promote the Continuation of the good Understanding between him and their High-Mightinesses.