Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2- Appendix): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

APPENDIX. 157 restraining the crews of the ships under his command in this respect but if, at or after the restitution to be made, the Spanish commander should make any protest against his Majesty's right to Port Egmont, or Falkland's Islands, it is his Majesty's pleasure that the commander of his ships should answer the same by a counter-protest, in proper terms, of his Majesty's right to the whole of the said islands, and against the right of his Catholic Majesty to any part of the same. " In case, from any accident or otherwise. Captain Stott should not, on his arrival at Port Egmont, find any officer there on the part of the King of Spain, your lordships will direct him (supposing he should find it necessary to put any of his men on shore) to avoid setting up any marks of possession, or letting his Majesty's colours fly on shore, as it is for the King's honour that the possession should be formally restored by an officer of his CathoHc Majesty ; and for that reason it will be proper that the King's commanding officer should keep a good look-out, and, upon perceiving the approach of any vessel of his Catholic Majesty, should re-embark any of his men who may at that time be on shore, that the possession may be indis- putably vacant. ' " If it should happen that after the King's ships shall have remained as late as all October, no Spanish officer should yet appear, your lordships will direct Captain Stott, in such case, either to pro- ceed himself, or send an officer to Soledad, to deliver his Catholic Majesty's orders to the Spanish commander there, taking care not to salute the fort as a Spanish garrison, and making a protest, in civil terms, against that settlement of his Catholic Majesty's subjects in an island belonging to his Majesty. " If, within a reasonable time after the delivery of the said order to the Spanish commander, at Soledad, there stiU shall not an-ive at Port Egmont any officer of his Catholic Majesty to make the restitu- tion, it is the King's pleasure that the commanding officer of his ships should then draw up a protest of the inexecution of his Catholic Majesty's late declaration, and should take formal possession, in his Majesty's name ; hoisting his Majesty's colours on shore ; and that, leaving there the Hound sloop, and Florida store-ship (if the latter is necessary), and sending a duplicate of his protest to the Spanish officer at Soledad, he should proceed to England to lay before youf lordships, for his Majesty's information, his report of the manner in which he has executed his commissioii.