gnty in America, were wholly
chimerical; and the notification and request of the Spanish ambassador,
therefore, were met by a demand of satisfaction for the insults offered
to the British nation, and reparation to the individuals who had
suffered in property and person. This satisfaction had not been given;
and intelligence having also been received that armaments were fitting
out in the Spanish ports, his Britannic majesty judged it right to
prepare on his side for supporting the rights and interests of his
kingdom. Such were the circumstances related in his majesty's message
to the house of commons; and he requested that they would enable him to
make such an augmentation of force as necessity seemed to require. At
the same time the king expressed an earnest wish that the satisfaction
due might yet be given, and that the affair might terminate without
recourse to arms, or any interruption of the friendship and harmony
which subsisted between the two nations. The message being taken into
consideration, the commons unanimously voted an address to the king,
assuring his majesty of their determination to afford the most zealous
and effectual support in maintaining the dignity of his crown, and the
essential interests of his dominions. This was followed by a vote of
credit for L1,000,000, for the purpose of making the necessary warlike
preparations. Fox gave his warm support to the address and vote of
credit, but he blamed ministers for their exultation on the prospect of
peace, when a war with Spain had so long been threatened: though from
Pitt's explanation it did not appear that they knew anything of
the preparations in the Spanish ports till a very few days since.
Subsequently, motions were made in both houses, by opposition, for the
production of papers to illustrate the grounds of this dispute; but
these were successfully resisted, on an established rule of policy,
prohibiting all documents relating to a negociation with a foreign power
from being produced while such negociation was still pending.

{GEORGE III. 1789-1791}

IMPEACHMENT OF WARREN HASTINGS.

The trial of Warren Hastings re-commenced on the 10th of February, on
which day Mr. Anstruther went through the charge relating to the corrupt
receipt of presents. Disputes instantly arose about the evidence proper
to be admitted, and their lordships took another walk to their chamber
in order to debate and consult. Fresh objections were then made by
the cou