The Lives and Times of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1855. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 1 Franklin's Works, vol. viii., p. 209. Court of Spain a treaty of commerce and alliance, similar to the one proposed to France, with the additional clause that if his Catholic Majesty would join with the United States in war against Great Britain, they would assist in reducing to the possession of Spain the town and harbor of Pensacola; provided that the citizens of the United States should have the use of that harbor, as well as the free and uninterrupted navigation of the Mississippi; and would, provided it was true that Portugal had insultingly expelled the vessels of the United States from her ports, or had confiscated any of them, declare war against that power, if that measure should be agreeable to, and supported by, the Courts of France and Spain. And for this purpose, he was authorized to offer the assistance of six frigates, manned, of not less than twenty-four guns, and provisions equal to two millions of dollars. Dr. Franklin declined this commission, and sent the instructions to Lee, who was then at Burgos. King Charles, though very bitter against the English, was not prepared to wage war against them. To avoid giving umbrage to the British embassy at Madrid, he stopped Lee at Burgos, whither he sent to meet him his leading minister, the Marquis de Grimaldi, and M. Gardoqui, an eminent merchant of Bilboa, who had been long engaged in the American trade. They had several interviews; but, for greater secresy and dispatch, Lee returned to Vittoria, where he was again met by Grimaldi and Gardoqui. These secret negotiations had no other result than the grant of a small sum of money on the part of Spain, which was subsequently transmitted to Lee at Paris, and considerable military stores, which were shipped to the United States from Bilboa.1 No ...