108 University of California Publications in History

appealed to England and the other Powers to force the return
of the Banda Oriental. England took some part in this dispute as
a mediator, but the territory remained Brazilian until after the
end of all Spanish control in South America.
 The thought of asking aid in negotiations with the United States,
Spain's third problem, was not a new one when the formal request
was made in 1817. It followed naturally from the attempt of Spain
to be considered in the Treaty of Ghent. Since that vain effort,
though, developments had taken place which made the assistance
of England even less probable than before.
 Castlereagh's well-known desire for a balance of power in Eu-
rope, and for a workable accord with the United States, led him
to subordinate minor claims in his effort to arrive at an amicable
settlement of difficulties. With a widespread scorn for Spain and
distrust of the United States evident in public opinion and even
in the Cabinet, Castlereagh often found it hard to hold public in-
dignation in check and to calm troubled waters.
 Castlereagh's program was difficult to achieve at Madrid. There
the emphasis was placed on favoring the establishment of a firm
absolutist government, on securing the abolition of the slave trade,
and on combating the intrigues of Russia. The whole pattern of
foreign machinations must be viewed against the background of
British commercial ambitions and Alexander's vision of a Holy
Alliance.
 The effort to guide the actions of Ferdinand's government was
entrusted to Henry Wellesley, brother of the Iron Duke and, in
1817, a veteran of seven years' service in Spain. He was having
trouble at the time in protecting the interests of English merchants
in Spain, who were suffering under severe and at times seemingly
unduly arbitrary commercial regulations and legal processes. Fur-
ther embarrassment was caused Wellesley by members of the Op-
position party in England, who frequently berated Spain violently
in the Parliament.
 Meanwhile, with lavish exchange of decorations and compli-
ments, Dmitri Pavlovitch Tatistcheff, Russian ambassador at Ma-
drid, was building up his influence. He supported a more liberal
policy than that indicated in the counsels of England with respect
to Spanish internal policy, and in this had the cooperation of the
Queen.' He is said to have been responsible for the appointment of