Folio 269: Porten to Shelburne. In answer to f.210, he comments on Hamilton's dispatches...

Folio 269: Porten to Shelburne. In answer to f.210, he comments on Hamilton's dispatches and the other papers about commerce between England and the Two Sicilies. The treaty of 1667 between England and Spain was continued by the Austrian viceroys. The court of Naples wishes to make treaties of commerce with England and other powers, but Naples is under pressure from Austria and Spain. The re-establishment of a `judge conservador' would help Britain. A new treaty could exempt English ships, whose reputation is very high, from searches (visitations). The many small French vessels are suspected of smuggling. Porten stresses the advantage of vice-consuls in all ports. Spain has already granted this to Britain. These three issues were all mentioned in the treaty of 1753 between the Netherlands and the Two Sicilies. Tobacco is such an important element in the economy that it would be sensible to get permission for a certain amount to be kept on every ship for the crew. English subjects in Naples and Sicily, as in Spain, suffer as protestants and need safeguards.

Date and place: 1767 Dec 16 Paris.