I have procured the assimilation in the report of the Spanish colonies with the mother country in the reciprocity. I cannot yet take upon myself to say that this introduction will be admitted by the Government, but I have reason to trust that it will pass. The Board also expresses its opinion that a Convention to the effect of establishing this reciprocity is not a document of a nature which requires it to be submitted to the Cortes, and that it may be signed immediately. I send your Lordship a translation of an Article which the Board wishes to be inserted after Article II in the Convention which your Lordship transmitted to me in your despatch of the 3rd of April of this year. Its intention is to meet an observation often made here, and which I have never thought it worth while discussing so long as I saw that I was making progress by resting the case on the evident Spanish interests prospectively involved in the question. The rest of the Convention meets here with no objection, and your Lordship will examine the Inclosure and consider whether it suits you that it shall be inserted; if so, at this moment there appears to be no reason why the Convention should not be concluded at once; but your Lordship will see the importance of giving me a speedy answer to this despatch. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. HOWDEN. (Inclosure.)—Article proposed to be inserted after Article II of the Convention on Reciprocity of Navigation. (Translation.) Ir is true that the Spanish nation has a perfect right to be treated in England as the most favoured nation, without the necessity of her subjecting herself to that reciprocity, or to any other gratuitous or onerous condition. So is it constantly repeated in those Treaties which Spain has celebrated with that Power from 1665 to 1783, all of them in force, according to the context of the Treaty of the 5th of July, 1814. But so imperfectly have those Treaties been fulfilled by either party in the lapse of the last two centuries, that one can hardly say that that clause seriously exists, as was proved, among other things, by the violent interpretation given to its meaning at an epoch not far remote by Her Britannic Majesty's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lord Aberdeen, relative to the question of Cuban sugars-an interpretation which the Spanish Government tacitly agreed to, the efficacity of the above-mentioned clause being thus from that moment destroyed. But, nevertheless, the Commission is of opinion that in drawing up the Convention relative to the affair in question, an Article could be introduced into it which should establish that, for the future, Great Britain cannot exact from our Government the being treated as the most favoured nation, without placing itself under the same circumstances in which that nation is placed which has merited the favour, which is what the English Cabinet does as respects ourselves. MY LORD, No. 130.-Viscount Palmerston to Lord Howden. Foreign Office, October 29, 1851. I HAVE received, and have referred to the Board of Trade, your Lordship's despatch of the 9th instant, inclosing a paper containing the substance of an Article which the Board appointed by the Spanish Government to report upon the proposed Convention between England and Spain respecting port dues is desirous to have inserted in the said Convention; and I have to inform your Lordship that Her Majesty's Government do not think it would be advisable to adopt the precise words proposed by the Spanish Board, because those words might from their vagueness be liable to misconstruction. But Her Majesty's Government have no objection to insert in the proposed Convention a clause similar to that which has been inserted in recent Conventions between England and foreign countries, and which was designed to answer the same purpose, and is, with slight modification, to the same effect as that which has been submitted to your Lordship by the Spanish authorities. I have accordingly to instruct your Lordship to propose the following Article to the persons appointed by the Spanish Government to manage this matter, viz., "In all that relates to duties of Customs and of navigation, the two High Contracting Parties engage that any privilege, favour, or immunity which either of them may grant to any other Power, shall be also and at the same time extended to the subjects of the other High Contracting Party gratuitously, if the concession in favour of that other State shall have been gratuitous, or on giving a compensation as nearly as possible of equal value and effect, to be adjusted by mutual agreement, if the concession shall have been conditional." I have to authorize your Lordship to sign the Convention in question, either with or without the Article above quoted. Lord Howden. I am, &c. PALMERSTON. No. 131.-Viscount Palmerston to Lord Howden. MY LORD, tion between the ships of Spain and Great Britain, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government have seen with great pleasure tl.e development of sound principles of commerce and of doctrines of enlightened policy contained in this report; and Her Majesty's Government cannot doubt that if the recommendations of this report are adopted and carried into execution by the Spanis Government great advantages will therefrom result to the interests of both countries. I am, &c. Lord Howden. PALMERSTON. No. 132.-Lord Howden to Viscount Palmerston.- (Rec. Nov. 18.) (Extract.) Madrid, November 9, 1851. I HAD every reason to suppose that the reciprocity question would be decided according to the Report of the Committee appointed to examine it; common sense dictated such a probability, but I find that, although that Report was signed by the Delegate of the Marine Department, deputed as its organ, great difficulties have since been presented by that very department, especially in what regards the Colonies. However, I have made another attempt to quicken this interminable business, and I herewith inclose the copy of a note, which I have just addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Viscount Palmerston, G. C.B. SIR, HOWDEN. (Inclosure.)-Lord Howden to the Marquis of Miraflores. Madrid, November 8, 1851. Ir would be a very great satisfaction to me to learn from your Excellency that the question of reciprocity in navigation and duties. is making progress through the various departments to which it has been submitted. I need not again remark to your Excellency the many international disadvantages that would accrue from its not being settled by the meeting of the English Parliament. I have heard that the Committee appointed to make a Report has terminated its labours, and my expectation equals my hope of it being liberal in its character from the known intelligence of the members who composed the Board. I do not wish to lengthen this note (which is merely an anxious request to your Excellency not to allow any unnecessary delays to clog a definitive decision) by re-entering into a question I have at various times so fully developed, but I wish merely to recall to your Excellency's mind that the principle of the measure was conceded by the Spanish Government in the year 1817, aud that it was insuperable difficulties of a technical nature on our side that alone prevented its solution. While I trust that the advance made by the science of political and commercial economy, whose rapid pro gress towards truth is now from year to year what was formally from century to century, will induce the Spanish Government to see its own interest in a wider application of what was contemplated 5 years ago; it is satisfactory to reflect that the basis has been already examined and declared sound by the Government of Her Catholic Majesty, and that the superstructure is but a question of time. Your Excellency well knows what, in this active age, is the value of time, and that the nation, however full of life and power, which neglects its start, must consent to remain behind in the race. I avail, &c. The Marquis of Miraflores. HOWDEN. No. 134.-Lord Howden to Viscount Palmerston.-(Rec. Nov. 24.) I HAVE just learnt with great regret (while the bag is closing), that the proposition for reciprocity in navigation has been transmitted from the Marine Department to that of Finance, with a most unfavourable report, and with not a dissentient voice in favour, on the part of the Naval Committee which was appointed to examine it. I am very much inclined to recommend your Lordship to instruct me to inform the Spanish Government, that from the 1st of January, 1852, the corresponding duties will be levied by Order in Council, unless some measure passes here to avert this contemplated retaliation. I have, &c. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. HOWDEN. No. 137.-Lord Howden to Viscount Palmerston.-(Rec. Jan. 8, 1852.) I HEREWITH inclose a Decree which has appeared, fixing the duties which are to be paid by national and foreign ships entering the ports of Spain. As it appeared to me that this Decree had an immediate connection with the question of reciprocity which I have been so long anxiously urging, I immediately wrote the accompanying note to the Marquis of Miraflores, which, with his Excellency's answer I inclose. On examining this Decree with the synoptical paper drawn up by Mr. Consul Brackenbury, which I inclosed to your Lordship in my despatch of the 15th May last, on the different duties exacted in the different ports of this country, I find that its effect on English interests is curious. In some ports the payment made by English ships will be greater, in others it will be inferior to what is now paid. As a measure of internal administration it is certainly an improvement, as it does away with anomalies, and introduces a system of uni formity which, even with regard to foreigners, is manifestly advantageous. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. I have, &c. HOWDEN. (Inclosure 1.)-Royal Decree, fixing the Duties to be paid by National and Foreign Ships, entering the Ports of Spain.-Madrid, December 16, 1851. (Translation.) IN consideration of the reasons which have been stated to me by the Minister of Commerce, in conformity with the opinion of the Council of Ministers, I have determined to decree as follows: ART. I. The administration and service of the ports of the Peninsula and of the adjacent Islands, the cleaning thereof, their preservation and works in the same belong to the Government, and will be under the direction of the Ministry of Commerce. II. The collection of the imposts established by the present Decree will be made by the subaltern officers of the Ministry of Finance. III. The works and cleaning of the ports of general interest will be entirely defrayed by the State. The works and cleaning of ports of local interest will be defrayed by the State and by the locality. A regulation will fix the quota of each, according to circumstances. IV. The imposts at present levied in the ports, whatever their denomination and their object may be, provided they are levied for the benefit of the same ports, will be reduced to two sole charges, denominated anchorage dues, and dues for lading and unlading. For the levying of these dues the following rules will be observed: 1. Spanish merchant-vessels entering and leaving the ports of the Peninsula and of the adjacent Islands will pay 1 real per ton, as per measurement (23d.), and one-eighth of a real (d.) per quintal on the goods laden and unladen. 2. Foreign merchant-vessels entering and leaving the Peninsula and the adjacent Islands will pay 2 reals (54d.) per ton, and onefourth of a real (3d.) per quintal on the goods laden and unladen. 3. Vessels upwards of 20 tons and not reaching 60 tons burden will pay one-half of the anchorage duty, and the full duty of lading and unlading. 4. Vessels upwards of 60 tons burden will pay both dues in full. 5. Vessels under 20 tons burden will be free from anchorage duty, and will only pay one-half of the duty of lading and unlading. 6. The above regulations with regard to foreign vessels are understood to be adopted without invalidating the stipulations of existing Treaties. V. The anchorage duty will be levied at one sole port, which |