I have received from Messrs. Viar and Jaudenes, the representatives of Spain at this place, a letter, which, whether considered in itself, or as the sequel of several others, conveys to us very disagreeable prospects of the temper and views of their court towards us.  If this letter is a faithful expression of that temper, we presume it to be the effect of egregious misrepresentations by their agents in America.  Revising our own dispositions and proceedings towards that power, we can find in them nothing but those of peace and friendship for them; and conscious that this will be apparent from a true statement of facts, I shall proceed to give you such a one, to be communicated to the court of Madrid.  If they find it very different from that conveyed to them by others, they may think it prudent to doubt, and to take and to give time for mutual inquiry and explanation.  I shall proceed to give you this statement, beginning it from an early period.

At the commencement of the late war, the United States laid down as a rule of their conduct, to engage the Indian tribes within their neighborhood to remain strictly neutral.  They accordingly strongly pressed it on them, urging that it was a family quarrel; with which they had nothing to do, and in which we wished them to take no part:  and we strengthened these recommendations by doing them every act of friendship and good neighborhood, which circumstances left in our power.  With some, these solicitations prevailed; but the greater part of them suffered themselves to be drawn into the war against us.  They waged it in their usual cruel manner, murdering and scalping men, women, and children, indiscriminately, burning their houses, and desolating the country.  They put us to vast expense, as well by the constant force we were obliged to keep up in that quarter, as by expeditions of considerable magnitude which we were under the necessity of sending into their country from time to time.

Peace being at length concluded with England, we had it also to conclude with them.  They had made war on us without the least provocation or pretence of injury.  They had added greatly to the cost of that war.  They had insulted our feelings by their savage cruelties.  They were by our arms completely subdued and humbled.  Under all these circumstances, we had a right to demand substantial satisfaction and indemnification.  We used that right, however, with real moderation.  Their limits with us under the former government were generally ill defined, questionable, and the frequent cause of war.  Sincerely desirous of living in their peace, of cultivating it by every act of justice and friendship, and of rendering them better neighbors by introducing among them some of the most useful arts, it was necessary to begin by a precise definition of boundary.  Accordingly, at the treaties held with them, our mutual boundaries were settled; and notwithstanding our just right to concessions adequate to the circumstances of the case, we required such only as were inconsiderable; and for even these, in order that we might place them in a state of perfect conciliation, we paid them a valuable consideration, and granted them annuities in money which have been regularly paid, and were equal to the prices for which they have usually sold their lands.