112 University of California Publications in History

 England did not feel greatly bound by any of these "obliga-
tions," nor did she even consider them to be such. In April, 1817,
when Castlereagh knew that Spain might request mediation, he
told Wellesley that he thought there was "no claim that we should
... entangle ourselves ... with a New and Complicated Mediation
with the United States in favor of Spain."" A month later his atti-
tude toward Spain was more vehemently expressed:
I have not attempted in my official answer to Enter into any reasoning in
Reply to Pizarro's Note [on the slave trade negotiation], in truth there is
something so ludicrously extravagant in the Manner a Spanish Minister En-
deavors to persuade you to place yourself at his disposal, that it defies all
reply--One might infer from this Singular Specimen of Spanish Logic that
Spain was the most accommodating Ally, and the most liberal protectress of
British Commerce in the World. In short it is too bad, and too absurd, and it
would be difficult to find any rational Motive, except the Obligations of Treaty,
and Habits of Friendship growing out of the late Struggle, for keeping on
any Terms with so perverse and so shortsighted a Government... with respect
to the Intervention with the United States, you will, without giving too per-
emptory a Negative discourage Spain from looking to our Entangling our-
selves in New difficulties, whilst we have so many of our own to adjust with
that State. We may possibly find an occasion of being of some Use to them in
that Quarter by our Influence, but there is nothing in our recent relations
with Spain or the United States which would justify us in Undertaking a
formal Intervention."

 In spite of such a cold reception to its sounding of British policy,
however, Spain did make the formal request. Wellesley suggested
that some attention be paid to it, rather for use in diplomatic bar-
gaining than as a piece of altruism, when he wrote:
... I think it might be useful to our Negoeiations here if Your Lordship were
to authorize me to state that His Majesty's Minister in America would be in-
structed to use his good offices in favor of Spain, if he should be of opinion
that he could do so with any effect.'

 Owing partly no doubt to Wellesley's suggestion, the British
yielded to the point of making a halfhearted offer. It was handled
through Charles Bagot, the minister to the United States. He had
taken that post with reluctance and misgivings, but had made him-
self remarkably popular in Washington and contributed notably
to good feeling between the United States and England. Onis
thought Bagot unduly friendly to the United States, and the des-
patches show little association or accord between the two.