And although the puissant Kings of France and Spain have prided tiiemselves on this practice, their individual laws, however, do not constitute the public law^. As regards ours, our civilians are in doubt on the matter, and do not furnish an instance of this case wherein there is not some difference. Moreover, other considerations present tiiemselves in this connection, of such consequence, that though we would desire to hold the balance even, witliout prejudicing either the one or the other, yet the difficulty of the matter may excuse the postponement of the resolution in what relates to

the interests of all our allies, and which must stand as a general and permanent rule. They require, lii^ewise, the suppression of two books, lately published to embitter, say they, the animosities between the subjects of the two states, contrary to what they deserved. To this it may be replied, that nothing save the balm of justice can heal ulcerated hearts. This his Majesty has waited for a long time with great patience, and should a denial or a delay of this be persisted in, not only will the King and people, but the whole world, complain of such misdeeds, and demand redress at their hands. In the fourth and last place, they demand the release of a vessel seized at Plymouth, returning from a certain plantation usurped by tiiem in the north parts of Virginia, whicii they say was acquired from the natives of the country. But, first, it is denied that the Indians were those countries, so as to be able to dispose of them either by sale or possessores bona: Jidei of