1820. Nov r. 14

Emancipation Spanish

Introduction

'. 4. Rulers Opinion 1787

"Con todo el mundo guerra

Y paz con Inglaterra"

"Peace with England, and war with all the world". From one end of the Kingdom to

the other this sentiment prevails.

'. 4. Spanish Rulers Opinion A o 1787.

Such being the witness, you shall now see the report the makes of the

opinions prevalent in the above-mentioned best informed circles. In itself, it is not

less concise than decisive. But, that it was not delivered but upon opposite and

authentic grounds, derived from copious enquiries, and attentive examination, will

appear from the Tables taken from that same work of his: Tables which will presently

be submitted to your view.

"The fact, however, is - (says he II.181.) the fact is -"if we may

believe those who are best informed, that the Spanish Colonies yield no direct

revenue to the Mother Country". "This being the case" (he adds) "I can not conceive

upon what authority the Abbe Raynal states the clear

revenue from America at 34,500,000 livres or in reals vellon 130,000,000 clear, beside 82,337,800 reals paid

for duties in Europe.

Before this, under the head of Finance, (II, 175), "The India

Revenue" (he had said) "amounts in America, to near 12 millions sterling: but,

although variously stated in the schedule as productive of revenue, it is doubted (he

adds) whether it yields a profit, or becomes a loss to Spain."

If such was the opinion in those days - in those days when, throughout Ultramaria,

all was passive obedience and non-resistance - no charges for reconquest, for

quelling insurrection, nor so much as for preventing it;- if such was their opinion

in those days, what (think you) of those same rulers, would

be the opinion now? now that, not only would the expence of

the dominion, if obtainable, be so much greater, but all funds likely to be capable

of being established, for the support of that dominion, so much less dominion was the word at the time when the pen was first set

to the paper on this subject, but already with a few comparatively inconsiderable

exceptions, to the dominion, I must substitute that which

the nature of man and things has substituted - the claim

upon it.