ion of these
addresses, with such a liberal hand, as to give rise to the bye-word of
a "A knight of Peg Nicholson's order!"

{GEORGE III. 1786-1787}

TREATIES WITH FRANCE AND SPAIN.

In the month of September his majesty appointed a new committee of
council, for the consideration of all matters relating to trade and
plantations, of which board Mr. Charles Jenkinson, now created Lord
Hawkesbury, was appointed president. Under the auspices of this
commission, a treaty of commerce was signed between the courts of
England and France, on the 29 th of September, on the principle of
admitting the commodities of each country to be freely exported and
imported at a low _ad valorem_ duty. The chief negociator of this
treaty was Mr. Eden, afterwards Baron Auckland, who, under the coalition
administration, had filled the office of vice-treasurer of Ireland. This
was the first memorable defection from that inauspicious alliance,
and it was considered the more so because Mr. Eden was considered its
original projector.

About the same time a convention was signed with Spain, which terminated
the long-subsisting disputes respecting the British settlements on the
Mosquito shore and the Bay of Honduras. By this treaty the Mosquito
settlements were formally relinquished; and, in return, the boundaries
of those on the coast and Bay of Honduras were somewhat extended. In a
political point of view this convention answered a valuable purpose, by
removing a source of national disputes; but it is to be regretted
that the claims of humanity and justice were overlooked. The Mosquito
settlers, who amounted to many hundred families, and who had from time
immemorial occupied their lands, under British protection, were ordered
to evacuate the country in eighteen months; nothing further being
stipulated in their favour, than that the king of Spain should "order
his governors to grant to the said settlers all possible facilities for
their removal to the settlements agreed on by the present convention."
In all measures for the public good, the rights of private individuals
should be regarded, but, by this treaty, they were manifestly
sacrificed.

AFFAIRS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.

During this year the affairs of the Prince of Wales attracted much
notice. At its commencement he had formed an acquaintance with a
widow lady of the name of Fitzherbert: a lady several years older than
himself, but still possessing many personal attractions.