cession of the territory and the disavowal of Buccarelli's proceedings; to have required his punishment in any form, would have been a degrading display of vindictiveness.
But the point most insisted on, is a secret covenant, that the place should be evacuated by Great Britain, when her honour had been appeased by the surrender. This fiction was promulgated by the influence of party at the time of the dispute; but its value may be ascertained from a communication of Lord Rochford to Mr. Harris (8th March 1771), after the final arrangement had been made. "The Spanish ambassador," he says, "has pressed to have some hopes given him of our agreeing to a mutual abandoning of Falkland's Islands. "I replied, that the restitution must precede every "discourse relating to them. Grimaldi is much out "of credit and out of temper about this affair: he is "equally reproached for rashness in beginning, and pusillanimity in ending the contest."
As to the value of the territory. The Spaniards, in their jealousy of every thing which might interfere with their sovereignty over South America and monopoly of its commerce, fixed on it much more than its just estimate. Representations were made to the English government to encourage settlements and commercial establishments; but they were vague and unimportant. The agricultural value of the islands was never insisted on; but, among other things, it was surmised that a plant had been discovered, which would be of great use to dyers, as a substitute for the lichen called Orchil or Archil, used by them in producing or fixing purple tints, and imported at great expense from Cape Verd and the Canaries. This intimation, disclosed in 1773, was declared not to be new, and rejected as impracticable. Taking a just view of the advantages to be derived from the possession, and the expense of maintaining it, government found that a sloop of war, with one hundred and twenty-five men, constantly stationed at Port Egmont, although utterly insufficient to protect it from hostile attack, would cause an annual expense of £10,120;
while a force of fifty men, seamen and marines, quite adequate to support the claim of right, would cost only £3,552 a year, and this course was therefore preferred.
In proof that Falkland's Islands were never supposed to have any intrinsic worth, it may be observed that they never were the object of enterprize in war, nor of discussion in any negotiation for peace.
In these observations, I endeavour only to shew that the measures pursued by government in 1771 were neither dishonourable nor unwise. If the facts stated by Mr. Mackinnon are correct, it will remain to be considered hereafter, how far the islands, hitherto deemed barren and unprofitable, may be rendered valuable and important as a settlement.
King's speech at the close of the session, 3. -View of the war
between Russia and the Porte, ib.-Commencement of hos-
tilities, ib.-Destruction of the Turkish fleet, 4.-Jealousy
of France, ib.-Congress at Fokshiani, ib.-Preparations of
France, ib.--Augmentation of the British naval force, 5.
French minister eager for war, 6.-The King averse, ib.
Preparations at Brest, ib.-Conference of Lord Stormont
with the French minister, ib.-Armament at Brest discon-
tinued, 7.-New one at Toulon, ib.-Preparations in En-
gland, ib.-Second Conference of the British ambassador
with the French minister, 8.-Memorial to the French
court, ib.-French deterred from hostilities, 9.-Prepara-
tions mutually suspended, ib.-Conduct of Lord Stormont
highly approved, ib.-Resolutions passed by the City of
London respecting the duration of Parliament, 9.-Address
and remonstrance to the King, 10.-Efforts to revive
Wilkes's popularity, ib.-He moves an address, ib. --which
is negatived, 11.-Wilkes's aspersions on the Lord Mayor,
ib.-State of Ireland, ib.--Meeting of the Irish Parliament,
ib.-House surrounded by a mob, 12.-Addresses opposed,
ib.-Protest, ib.-Resignation of Mr. Ponsonby, ib.-Efforts
of opposition, ib.-Proceedings in the ensuing session, 13.
Addresses opposed, ib.-Protest, ib.-Strenuous exertions
of opposition, ib.--Money Bill amended in England re-
jected in Ireland, 14.-Alterations in the establishment of
revenue officers, ib.--Hearts of Steel, 15.-Loan negotiated,
16.-Termination of the session, ib.-Lord Townshend re-
called, ib.-Lord Harcourt lord-lieutenant, ib.--Affairs of
America, 17.-Contest of Massachuset's Bay with Governor
Hutchinson, ib.--Taxation of revenue officers, ib.-Address
of the Assembly, 18.-Remonstrance, ib.-Assembly pro-
rogued, ib.-Progress of opposition, 19.-Influence in the
Assembly, 20.-Dependent state of the Judges, 21.—
Governors prohibited from receiving presents, ib.-Pro-
ceedings of the Assembly, 22.-Legislature removed back
to Boston, ib.-Tumultuous state of that town, ib.-Reve-
nue officers insulted, ib.- Burning of the schooner Gaspee,
23.-Report of the intention to fix the salaries of the Judges,
ib.-Town meeting, ib.-Message to the Governor, ib.-
Corresponding Committees appointed, 24.-Observations
on them, ib.-The Committee frame a declaration of rights,
25.-Address to the people, ib.-Meeting of the legislature,
26. They deny the legislative authority of Parliament, ib.
Messages respecting the salaries of Judges, ib.-Hutchin-
son assents to the act of the Assembly, 27.-Further grants
voted which the Governor refuses to sanction, ib.-Activity
of the Committees of Correspondence, 28.-Publication of
the letters of Hutchinson and Bernard, ib.-Their charac-
ters, 29.-Proceedings of the Assembly, ib.-Effect of the
act for exporting tea, 30.-Proceedings at Boston, ib.-Ar-
rival of a ship, 31.-Body meeting, ib.-Tea thrown into
the sea, 32.-Proceedings in other provinces, ib.-Impeach-
ment of the Chief Justice, ib.-His letter, 33.-Assembly
dissolved, ib.-Massachuset's petition, ib. Account of
Hutchinson and Bernard's letters and manner of obtaining
them, 34.—Their effect in America, 38.-Duel between
Mr. Whately and Mr. Temple, 39.-Dr. Franklin's letter,
ib.-Proceedings in the Privy Council, 40.-Mr. Wedder-
burne's speech, 42.-Decision of the Privy Council, 45.---
Observations, 46.-Bill filed in Chancery against Franklin,
47.-Examination of his conduct and motives, 48.
Meeting of Parliament, 51.-King's speech, ib.-Peace esta-
blishment, 52.-Woodfall and Horne brought before the
House of Commons, ib.- and discharged, 54.-Mr. Fox
complains of a libel, ib.-Prosecution of it ordered, 56.-
Grenville Act made perpetual, 56.-Alderman Sawbridge's
annual motion, 57.-American papers laid before Parlia-
ment, 58.-King's message, ib.-Bill for shutting Boston
port, 59.-Opposed by Mr. Dowdeswell, 60.-Petition of
Americans in London, ib.-Amendment moved, 61.-re-
jected, 62.-Opposition on the third reading, ib.-Oppo-
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