Assien'to

Assien'to (Span., 'contract'), a word specially applied to a contract between Spain and some foreign nation, according to which the Spanish government conferred upon the latter, under certain conditions, the monopoly of the supply of negroes for its American colonies. Charles V. first formed such a compact with the Flemings; and similar ones were entered into with the Genoese (1580), with the French Guinea Company (1702), and with England (1713). The British government made over its privilege to the South Sea Company for thirty years, permission being also granted to send yearly a ship, carrying 500 tons of goods, to the Spanish colonies. The misunderstandings arising hence contributed not a little to the war that broke out between the two nations in 1739. At the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, the English company having still four years to run, their rights were guaranteed to them; but they relinquished them at the Madrid Convention of 1750, upon the payment of £100,000, and the concession of certain commercial advantages.