The Convention touching the Commerce of the Spanish Netherlands.

FOR, of the

OR the provifional Regulation of the Commerce

call'd Spanish, as thofe which have been reconquer'd and yeilded, it has been agreed:

I.

That in all Places where Goods are imported or exported in the faid Spanish, re-conquer'd, or yielded Netherlands, the Duties on Merchandizes fhall be ex acted and paid, as they were exacted and paid in .1680.

II.

All forts of Merchandize imported by the Subjects of Great Britain, and of the United Provinces, which have formerly enjoy'd the Right of Tranfit, fhall continue to enjoy the fame; and the Merchandize of Great Britain, and of the United Provinces, which have enjoy'd the Right of Tranfit, fhall enjoy the fame, though thofe who fhall import them, be not the Subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, nor of their High Mightineffes, and that Duty shall not exceed Two and a half per Cent.

IIL

That all Duties of Entry on Merchandizes carrying out of the other Parts of the Spanish Netherlands, and entring into thofe that are call'd the Reconquered and Yielded, fhall be abolish'd; and all the Subjects of Great Britain, and of the United Provinces, fhall from henceforth be exempted from paying any Duty of Entry in the reconquer'd and yielded Countries, for their Goods, as fhall alfo all Merchandizes of Great Britain, and of the United Provinces, that fhall be imported by others."

IV.

. That the Duties of Confumption on the Goods and Merchandize of both the faid Subjects fhall be altogether the fame in the Towns, and other Places of the reconquer'd and yielded Countries, with the fame Liberty to fell them, and the faid Duties fhall not

exceed what has been paid in the fame Towns and Places before the Conquest. V.

That the Duties of Exportation, which have been impos'd on Merchandizes exporting from the NetherLands into the new Conqueft or yielded Places, fhall be abolish'd from henceforth; and the Merchandizes exporting out of the faid Netherlands to France, and other Countries, whether through the Places lately reconquer'd or yielded, or others, fhall pay one Duty only at their Exportation; and the faid Duty fhall be the fame that was paid in 1680. in the Spanish NetherLands; and it fhall not be lawful, during this provifional Regulation, to exact more or lefs for the Entry, Exportation, or Tranfit of Merchandizes, than what was paid in 1680.

VI.

As to what regards the Duty of Convoy, the Dif cuffion thereof is referr'd to the Minifters of the Queen of Great Britain, and of their High Mightineffes, at Bruffels.

VII.

The Queen of Great Britain and their High Migh tineffes fhall give Orders to their Minifters at Bruf. fels, to take care, that all and every one of the Arti. cles of this provifional Regulation be speedily put in Execution, and duly obferv'd.

In Witnefs whereof, We have fign'd this prefent Deed, and affix'd thereto our Coats of Arms. Done at Utrecht, July 15-26. 1713.

(L. S.) John Bristol,

C. P. S.

(L. S.) Strafford.

(L. S.) F. V. Randwijk.

(L. S.J W. Buys,

(L. S.) B. V. Duffen,

(L. S.) N. Gheel, V. Spanbroeck (L. S.) Baron de Reede de Renf woude,

(L. S.) Graef. V. Kniphuyfen.

ANSWER

ANSWER to the Memorial, which was publish'd concerning the Affairs of the Lord Francis Pic, formerly Duke of Mirandola.

THE Memorial touching the Interefts of the Lord Francis Pic, formerly Duke of Mirandee printed in the Thirteenth Tome of the Acts and Memoirs concerning the Peace of Utrecht, contains Two Heads. The one relates to the Sentence of the Aulic Council of Vienna against the faid Francis Pi, and the Confifcation of the Duchy of Mirandole. The other charges his most Serene Highnefs theDuke of Modena, with having contributed to the Ruin of the faid Lord Pic, and with having feiz'd, by his own Authority, Eftates which belong'd to him in Correggio, a Principality of his faid Highness of

Modena.

As to the first Point, it belongs to the Aulic-Coun cil, which is charg'd with Injuftice, to maintain the Validity of their Decrees; fo that 'tis not neceffary that we should undertake the Defence thereof. Wherefore this Anfwer to the faid Memorial ferves only to fhew the Injuftice of the Accufations form'd therein against his moft Serene Highness of Me dena.

And whereas the Author of the faid Memorial contents himself with faying in General, that Meffire the Duke of Modena has contributed more Ways than one, to the Ruin of the Houfe of Pic, without fpecifying any, it were fufficient for deftroying fuch an Imputation, to oppofe thereto a formal Negative, without making any other Defence.

But on the other Hand it may be afferted, That his moft Serene Highness, the Duke of Modena has juft Caufe to complain, that when the French Troops feiz'd his Dominions, Signior Francis Pic, and others of his House, demanded Penfions upon the Finances of the Ducal-Chamber of Modena, which were granted them by the King of France; and they went lo far

as to take fome of the Moveables of his faid Highnefs, who has never complain'd thereof, nor fhewn any Refentment against the Houfe of Pic; and the only Reason that induces us to speak of it here, is to declare what manner of Conduct they have obferv'd towards his faid Highness.

If it be fuppofed, that the Author of the Memorial, in accusing the Duke of Modena, for having contributed to the Ruin of Signior Francis Pic, had Regard to the Acquifition made by his Highness of the Duchy of Mirandola; 'tis proper we fhould inform the Publick, concerning this Affair, by a true Account of what pafs'd on Occafion of the faid Purchase.

'Tis neceffary then it should be known, that Mon, fieur the Duke of Modena did not think of acquiring the Duchy of Mirandola, till after the Imperial Chamber had put up publick Placards at Milan, for the Sale thereof; and even not till after his Highnefs had learn'd, that the Court of Vienna had offered it to a Power of Italy; and that another Prince had made Propofals for buying it. It not being the Intereft of Modena, that any other Power or Prince fhould buy a Territory confining to his own, 'tis not furprizing that he thought himself oblig'd to take Measures, that, in Cafe the Imperial Chamber perGifted to fell the faid Duchy, his Highness should have the Preference.

It must be further obferv'd, That the Ministers of the Maritime Powers refiding at the Court of Vienna, being apprifed of the Defign to make that Sale, and being then intent to find Means for the March of many new Regiments of the Imperial Troops, which for Want of Money were ftill in their Winter-Quarters in Italy, in the Month of April, and without any Appearance of leaving them, propofed this Purchase to the Minifter of Modena, at the faid Court, and to the Minifters of his Imperial Majefty, fignifying to them, That they acted in that Affair, with the Approbation of their Mafters; fo that his Highnefs of Modena, in Confideration of all the above-mention'd Reasons, refolv'd to agree upon the Price of the faid Duchy, with the Imperial Chamber;

Chamber; and the Money paid was really imploy'd for the Campaign of the Emperor's Troops, with the Confent of his Allies; the fame having a parti'cular Regard to their Service. But the Inveftiture of that Duchy was not given till the Year following, by the Emperor Jofeph, to his Highnefs of Modena; being refolv'd to wait for the Confent of the moft Serene Electors of the Empire, which they unanimoufly gave in the most ample Form, and without any Referve; though the Author of the Memorial was pleas'd to deny it by Way of Anticipation, not caring whether he was well inform'd or not. That firft Investiture was afterwards confirm'd by his Imperial Majefty, Charles VI. now reigning. Thus we have fhew'd the Manner and Reafons why his mot Serene Highness of Modena made Purchase of the Duchy of Mirandola, of which he is at préfent Proprietor.

If the Imputation, that the Duke of Modena contributed to the Ruin of the Houfe of Pic, is contrary to Fact, as has been fhewn, the other Accufation of his having feiz'd the Eftates of that Family, in the District of Correggio, is still more falfe.

The Author of the Memorial, who advanced that Accufation, fhould have inform'd himself a little better, before he vented fo confidently what he faid; and he might have eafily known, that the DucalChamber of Modena never feiz'd, nor ever thought of feizing any Eftates or Lands belonging to the Houfe of Pic, in the State of Correggio: But he might have learn'd, that Count John Bellencinine Modena having Pretenfions against the Chamber of Mirandola, prefented his Petition, in 1707. to his Imperial Majefty, who deligated for Judge, the Count of Caftel barco, his Commiffary-General and Plenipotentiary in Italy; and that the faid Count, fubdelegated for Judges of that Action, the Sieur de Rhinfeld, the Emperor's Secretary, and Dr. Cani his Auditor, who gave Sentence in Favour of Count Bellencini, on the zd of November, 1707. and by Vertue of their Requifitory-Letter to the Podeffat of Correggio, accor ding to the Cuftom of States living in Friendship, he was judicially put in Poffeffion of the faid Eftates, without