The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
The King of England's speech at the prorogation of Parliament,
contains nothing remarkable, worth the attention of America, except
compliments to the two Houses upon their magnanimity and perseverance
in the pursuits of this just and necessary war, which he says, has put
it in his power to make such efforts, that he dares hope, with the aid
of Divine Providence, to disconcert the violent and unjust designs of
his enemies, and induce them to listen to equitable and honorable
terms of peace. These efforts have already been followed by success
both by sea and land, and the happy and important turn, which affairs
have lately taken in North America, makes me conceive the best founded
hopes of the return of the affection and loyalty of my subjects of the
Colonies, and of their happy reunion with their mother country.
There is one more sentence, which deserves attention. "Exert
yourselves to inculcate this important truth, that rebellious
insurrections to resist or reform the laws, cannot fail to terminate
in the destruction of those who have made the attempt, or by the
subversion of our happy and free constitution." Americans will make
their own reflections on this speech. It is very certain, that it has
not the air nor the spirit of peace.
_Madrid, the 27th of June._ "We expect to learn in a few days, the
formation of the combined fleet in the Bay of Cadiz. The following is
the state of the Spanish vessels which are now there, ready to go out
under the command of Lieutenant General Don Louis de Cordova; La Tres
Sainte Trinite, of one hundred and twenty guns; the Foudre and S.
Ferdinand of eighty; the Sainte Isabelle, the Ange Gardien, the
Serieux, the Atlas, the St Pierre Apotre, the Orient, the St Raphael,
the St Joachim, the St Damase, the St Isidore, the St Eugene, and the
St Laurent of seventy; the Mino of fiftysix; the frigates, the Ste
Lucie of thirtysix, the Ste Rufine of twentyeight, the Ste Barbe, and
the Assomption of twentysix; the chebecs, the Majorquais, and the
Murcien of thirtysix; the St Sebastian of twentyfour, and the
corvette, the Ste Catharine of eighteen. To these vessels must be
added the squadron of Ferrol, which entered on the 23d of May in the
Bay of Cadiz, under the command of Don Athanasio Baranda, and composed
of the vessels, the Conception of ninety; the St Charles and the St
Vincent of eighty; the Ferme, the Galice, the St Paschal, and the
Brilliant of seventy; the Septentrion of sixtyfour; the frigates, El
Carmen and the Perpetua of thirtysix; as well as the corvette, the Ste
Helene of twentytwo guns; making thus a total of twentyfour ships of
the line, six frigates, four chebecs, and two cutters."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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