ment of the uselessness and danger of any such interference-so objectionable does it appear to them in principle, as well as utterly impracticable in execution, that when the necessity arises, or (I would rather say) when the opportunity offers, I am to instruct your Grace at once frankly and peremptorily to declare, that to any such interference, come what may, His Majesty will not be a Party.

No. 3.-The Duke of Wellington to Mr. Sec". Canning.—(Rec. Oct. 31.) Verona, October 22, 1822.

(Extract.)

WE had a Conference on Sunday night, at which the French Minister, M. de Montmorency, read a Paper, of which I inclose a Copy.

I imagine that each of the Ministers will answer this Paper. In my answer, I shall review our line of conduct since April 1820; and shall decline to engage ourselves to adopt any measure beforehand, or till we shall have a full knowledge of all the circumstances which have occurred between the two Countries. I propose, besides, to point out, that, considering the relative position of France and Spain, it is not probable that Spain will declare against them; if they explain as they ought, the meaning and object of their Corps of Observation, and make some allowance for the state of effervescence of men's minds in Spain in a state of Revolution and Civil War.

(Inclosure.)—Questions addressed by the French Plenipotentiary to the Plenipotentiaries of Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Great Britain.

Vérone, le 20me Octobre, 1822.

1. DANS le cas, où La France se verroit forcée de rappeler de Madrid le Ministre qu'Elle y a accrédité, et de rompre toute Rélation diplomatique avec L'Espagne, les Hautes Cours seront-elles disposées à prendre une Mesure semblable et à rappeler leurs propres Légations?

2. Si la Guerre doit éclater entre La France et L'Espagne, sous quelle forme, et par quels actes, Les Hautes Puissances prêterontElles à La France l'appui moral qui doit donner à son action la force de l'Alliance, et inspirer un salutaire effroi aux Révolutionnaires de tous les Pays?

3. Quelle est enfin l'intention des Hautes Puissances, quant au fond et à la forme du secours metériel qu'Elles seroient disposées à donner à La France, dans le cas, où, sur Sa demande, leur intervention active deviendrait nécessaire?

No.4-The Duke of Wellington to Mr. Sec". Canning.-(Rec.Nov. 14.) (Extract.) Verona, November 5, 1822. PRINCE METTERNICH called together a Conference of the Five Cabinet Ministers on Wednesday evening, at which were delivered in,

Answers to the Demands of the French Minister of the 20th ultimo, from the Russian, Austrian, and Prussian, Ministers; and that from myself, a Copy of which I inclose.

(Inclosure.)—Answer of the Duke of Wellington to the French. Plenipotentiary.

Memorandum.

Verona, October 30, 1822. SINCE the month of April 1820, the British Government have availed themselves of every opportunity of recommending to His Majesty's Allies to abstain from all interference in the internal Affairs of Spain.

Without adverting to those Principles which His Majesty's Government must always consider the rule of their conduct, in relation to the internal affairs of other Countries, they considered that to whatever degree either the origin of the Spanish Revolution, the System then established, or the conduct of those who have since had the management of the internal affairs of Spain, might be disapproved of, any amelioration which might be desired in the Spanish System, for the sake of Spain herself, ought to be sought for in measures to be adopted in Spain rather than Abroad; and particularly in the confi. dence which the People should be taught to feel in the character and measures of the King.

They considered that an interference, with a view to assist the Monarch on the Throne, to overturn that which had been settled, and which He had guaranteed, or to promote the establishment of any other Form of Government or Constitution, particularly by force, would only place that Monarch in a false position, and prevent Him from looking to the internal means of amelioration which might be within his reach.

Such an interference always appeared to the British Government an unnecessary assumption of responsibility; which, considering all the circumstances, must expose the King of Spain to danger, and the Power or Powers which should interfere, to obloquy, certain risks, and possible disasters; to enormous expenses, and final disappointment in producing any result.

Upon these principles His Majesty has advised His Allies, and has acted Himself, from the month of April 1820, to the present day.

The Protocols and other Acts of the Congress at Aix la Chapelle, which established the Union at present existing between the Five Powers, so happily for the World, require the most unlimited confidence and communication on the part of Each; and accordingly, His Majesty has never failed to communicate to His Allies, and particularly to France, every Instruction which he has sent to His Minister at Madrid; and all the Communications made by His Majesty's com

mands to the Minister of Spain residing in London,-all in the same spirit of good will, towards the King of Spain and the Spanish Nation.

It is impossible to look at the existing relations between France and Spain, adverting to what has passed from the commencement of the year 1820, to the present moment, without being sensible of the unfortunately false position in which the King of Spain is placed; and that the spirity of Party in both Countries, having aggravated the National antipathy which antecedent circumstances had occasioned, is in a great measure the cause of the unfortunate irritation in Spain against France, to which His Excellency the Minister of France has adverted. The great object of His Majesty's Foreign Policy is to preserve Peace among Nations; He feels the most anxious interest for the happiness of His Catholick Majesty, and the honour of his Government; and it would be His sincere desire to allay that irritation.

But the British Government cannot but feel, that to make any Declaration on any of the Three Points referred to by His Excellency, without a previous accurate knowledge of all the circumstances which have occurred between the two Countries, would be not only premature and unjust, but would probably be unavailing; and would in fact deprive His Majesty of the power of discussing and deciding upon the measures of His own Government in this Affair hereafter, when He should be better informed. His Majesty must either place himself in this painful position, or He must do, what would be equally painful to his feelings, require from His August Friend and Ally, the King of France, that He should submit his conduct to the advice and controul of His Majesty.

His Majesty's Government cannot think either alternative to be necessary; but are of opinion that a review of the obvious circumstances of the situation of France, as well as Spain, will show, that whatever may be the tone assumed towards France by the ruling Powers in Spain, they are not in a state to carry into execution any plan of real hostility. Considering that a Civil War exists in the whole extent of the Frontier which separates the two Kingdoms; that hostile Armies are in movement and in operation in every part of it; and that there is not a Town or Village on the French Frontier which is not liable to insult and injury, there is no Person who must not approve of the precaution which His Most Christian Majesty has taken in forming a Corps of Observation for the protection of his Frontier, and for the preservation of the tranquillity of his People.

His Britannick Majesty sincerely wishes that this measure may be effectual in attaining the objects for which it is calculated; and that the wisdom of the French Government will have induced them to explain it at Madrid, in such terms as will satisfy the Government of His Catholic Majesty of its necessity.

Such an explanation will, it is hoped, tend to allay, in some degree, the irritation against France; and, on the other hand, it may be hoped, that some allowance will be made in France for the state of effervescence of men's minds in Spain, in the very crisis of a Revolution and Civil War.

A moment's reflection upon the relative power of the two States will show, that the real evil to which His Most Christian Majesty is exposed, is that resulting from the operations of the Civil War on the neighbouring Frontier of Spain; against which the measure which His Government have adopted is best calculated to preserve him.

Even revolutionary madness could not calculate upon the success of a serious attack by Spain upon France, under any circumstances which it is possible to suppose to exist at present in the latter Kingdom. But the attention of the Spanish Government is now occupied by a Civil War, the operations of which certainly justify the formation of a Corps of Observation in France; and it is not very probable that they would, at this moment, desire to break with France.

Neither is it to be believed that, in their present situation, they would not desire still to enjoy the advantage of that countenance to their System, which the presence of the French Ambassador at the seat of Government must afford them.

His Majesty therefore considers any rupture by Spain, or any measure on Her part which may render necessary the immediate discontinuance of diplomatick relations by France, very improbable: and as His Majesty is quite unacquainted with what has passed between France and Spain since the month of April 1820; and His Government cannot know upon what grounds His Most Christian Majesty's Government may think proper to discontinue the diplomatick relations of France and Spain; or upon what grounds War may break out between the two Countries; it is impossible for them now to pronounce what advice they should consider it their duty to give to His Majesty, in case either or both of those events should occur.

His Majesty most anxiously wishes that such extremities may be avoided; and he feels convinced that the Government of His Most Christian Majesty will find means of avoiding them.

No. 5.-The Duke of Wellington to Mr. Sec". Canning.-(Rec Nov.21.) (Extract.) Verona, November 12, 1822.

I HAVE little to report as having occurred on the Spanish Question, since I wrote to you on the 5th instant.

But I inclose to you a Memorandum on what is passing here, which I send to Sir Charles Stuart by this occasion.

(Inclosure)-Memorandum of the Duke of Wellington. (Extract.) Verona, November 12, 1822. On the 20th of October, the French Minister gave in a Paper, requiring from the Ministers of the Allies to know, whether, if France should be under the necessity of withdrawing her Minister from Spain, the other Allied Powers would do the same? In case France should be involved in War with Spain, what countenance the Allies would give the former? And in case France should require it, what as

sistance?

To these questions the Three Continental Allies answered on the 30th of October, that they would act as France should, in respect to their Ministers in Spain, and would give to France every countenance and assistance She should require ;—the cause for such assistance, and the period and the mode of giving it, being reserved to be specified in a Treaty.

The Minister of Great Britain answered, that having no knowledge of the cause of dispute, and not being able to form a judgment upon an hypothetical case, he could give no answer to any of the Questions.

The mode of communicating with Spain was considered on the 31st, with a view to prevent a Rupture between France and Spain. It was agreed that the Minister of each of the Four Continental Courts at Madrid should present a separate Note of the same tenour, and drawn up on the same principles; and on the 1st of November it was settled, that the Four Courts should draw up their Notes, and communicate them to the British Minister; who should, upon seeing these Notes, make known the line which his Court would take.

Since that Meeting, it is understood that the plan of proceeding proposed and agreed to, has been altered. Instead of Official Notes to be presented by the several Ministers at Madrid to the Spanish Government, it is now intended that Despatches shall be written to those Ministers respectively, in which the several Courts will express their wishes and intentions: this mode of proceeding is adopted, as affording greater latitude for discussion and explanation than. that by Official Notes.

Accordingly, Monsieur de Montmorency has prepared the Draft of his Despatch; and it is understood that the Ministers of the Continental Powers are preparing theirs.

These are the facts which have occurred at the existing Congress. In the course of the Discussions which have taken place upon this occasion, a marked difference of opinion as to the mode of action has appeared between the Continental Courts on the one hand, and England on the other.

The Minister of the latter Power has recommended that France, and the Powers which should interfere in this case, should confine themselves to what may properly be called the cxternal Quarrel between France and