Williams, Jonathan (1750-1815) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.04594 Author/Creator: Williams, Jonathan (1750-1815) Place Written: London, England Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 May 1790 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; 32.9 x 19.9 cm. Order a Copy
Describes an incident that took place between England and Spain and the possibility of the two countries going to war. Says yesterday this country was "surprised by a hot press, which like an explosion swept between 3 & 4000 seamen, and to day we find the course in a Message sent by the King to the House of commons." Evidently, two Spanish ships of war seized two British ships that were trading off the northern coast of America. All of the men who were aboard were sent to a Spanish port as prisoners. The justification of the seizure was that Spain had the "exclusive rights of soverignty [sic] navigation and commerce in the territories coasts and sea in that part of the world," and the British ships were in violation of these rights. Believes Spain will not push the matter since they are an unequal match to England and can no longer count on France, who is in the middle of the French Revolution, for aid. Goes on to discuss the possibility of war between England and Spain. Describes the need for the United States to stay neutral if the two counties go to war and the benefits the United States could have if such an event should take place.
[draft - partial]
[3] To us in America no War ought to be a desirable circumstance, but the sentiments of humanity apart I suppose no war could be more pleasing to us than the present one; for our neutral flag must become the immediate resource of both parties, and our produce must meet with [strikeout] [inserted: two] markets in direct competition with each other. Should the flame of Liberty reach to South America [struck: this] I should think this was a fortunate aid to so desirable an object...
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