miniſtry conſidered a war as not likely to be long avoided. In the latter end of November private notice was given of their danger to the merchants at Cadiz, and the officers abſent from Gibraltar were remanded to their poſts. Our naval force was every day increaſed, and we made no abatement of our original demand.
The obſtinacy of the Spaniſh court ſtill continued, and about the end of the year all hope of reconciliation was ſo nearly extinguiſhed, that Mr. Harris was directed to withdraw, with the uſual forms, from his reſidence at Madrid.
Moderation is commonly firm, and firmneſs is commonly ſucceſsful; having not ſwelled our firſt requiſition with any ſuperfluous appendages, we had nothing to yield, we therefore only repeated our firſt propoſition, prepared for war, though deſirous of peace.
