The King says, The honour of my crown and the rights of my people are deeply affected. The Spaniard, in his reply, says, I give you back possession, but I adhere to my claim of prior right, reserving the assertion of it for a more favourable opportunity.
The speech says, I made an immediate demand of satisfaction, and, if that fails, I am prepared to do myself justice. This immediate demand must have been sent to Madrid on the 12th of September, or in a few days after. It was certainly refused, or evaded, and the King has not done himself justice.—When the first magistrate speaks to the nation, some care should be taken of his apparent veracity.
The speech proceeds to say, I shall not discontinue my preparations until I have received proper reparation for the injury. If this assurance may be relied on, what an enormous expence is entailed sine die upon this unhappy country! Restitution of a possession, and reparation of an injury, are as different in substance, as they are in language. The very act of restitution may contain, as in this instance it palpably does, a shameful aggravation
