France and Spain. In the West Indies, Dominica and St. Lucia were both demanded by France, and in Europe the clauses relating to the fortress of Dunkirk contained in previous treaties were to be rescinded. These propositions were expected; as was also the cession of the river Senegal and the island of Goree. In India however France demanded not only the restoration of the French factories in Bengal and Orissa, with the right of fortifying Chandernagore and the surrender of Pondicherry, Karikal, and the Comptoir of Surat, but also the whole of the Northern Circars and Masulipatam; and in America the concession of an exclusive right of fishery off Newfoundland from Cape St. John to the Point à la Lune,[1] and one or more islands in full possession, to be fortified and serve as a guarantee to their fishermen. The demands of Spain were still more extreme. They included the cession of Minorca, of the English possessions and rights in Honduras, Campeachy and the Mosquito shore, of all Florida, of the Bahamas, of the Isle of Providence, and lastly of Gibraltar; for which however Oran and Mazalquivir were offered as some compensation. Fitzherbert frankly told D'Aranda that under the instructions he had received from Shelburne there was not the slightest chance of England accepting these terms.[2]
The Spanish demand for Gibraltar was encouraged by the knowledge that the idea of ceding it had not in times past been unknown to the statesmen of England, and had been even favourably regarded by Stanhope and by Chatham.[3] Hardly however had Spain renewed it, before the intelligence arrived of the complete and final failure of the attack on the fortress by the combined armies and fleets of the allies. How to relieve it had been one of the most anxious con-
- ↑ Called Cape Lahune on the English maps.
- ↑ Fitzherbert to Grantham, October 7th, 1782. French and Spanish Memorials, October 6th, 1782. In the will of Isabella the Catholic, she inculcates on her successors the importance of never divesting themselves of their title to the fortress of Gibraltar. (Prescott, History of Ferdinand and Isabella, iii. 153.)
- ↑ Lord Stanhope, History of England, i. 464; iv. 166 (ed. 1854).
