The circumstances stated ...
The circumstances stated in thc ensuing paragrapli are of so singular a naturc, tllat wc hardly knowv hlow to give credit to them:- " It is said that a requisition has beeii madc by thc Spanish Govcrllmlnit, that in the adjustment of the claims " of' British and Spanish sulbjects, before the Commission 'sitting in Londoni for that purpose, there shall be included the losses of Spanish subjects, oaused by the destructieni of the frigates at the bieaking out of thc war. Some in- dividuals who suffered in their property by that svcnt lhave gonie so far, it is stated, as to prepare evidence for cstablis2ir.g those claims, whichi they have forwvarded to London." The losses sustainel by the dlestruction of the Spanislh frigates, at thc beginning of the long war ! And why not in- demnity, also, for the losses sustainedl at the taking of Porto Bello by Admiral VERNON ? as wcll as for those suffered from th;e capture of ihc Galleons, by the circumnnavigator ANsoN ? The Commission is sitting for the purpose of adjusting the claims wvhichi British merclhants have upon Spain for losses sustaine(d by them in their commerce with the South Americani States. And Spain had( acknowledlge(d the justice of the claims antecedently to ihe appointment of the Commissioni. Have we acknowlcdged the justice of any claims made by Spain for remunieration, otn account of the first vessels destroyed byus at the beginnling of the war, that those claims arc now to be thrust in for adjustment ? The losses of our rnercbantmnen are occasioned by pirates sailing under the Spanish flag; and wve havo a right,-and Spain has aeknowledgod the riglht, X fll upon her, eit'her to suppress the piracies committed under her flag, or to ac- knowledge the independence of the South American States,| in which case we:should cal uponL them to suppress the. piracies. Bpt Spain, - doing neither of these things, is-Ud* cessory to thie loss which we sustain, and whieh she is therefore.ohliged to-nike good.. If Spaini were aggrieved by our attempt to capture her frigates at the beginning of the war with her, the peace- the winding up of the war ten years ago-was the time for her to state her grievances, and require reparation. The bringing up the affair of the frigatCes now, is really opening the war again.