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Las cartaa, pianchas, tahiaaux, ate. pauvant Atra flimfo A daa taux da rMu.^tion dlff«rants. L«rsqua la document aat trop grand pour Atre raproduit an un aaul cllcli*. ii aat film* A partir da I'anghi aupAriaur gaucha. da gaucha A droita, at da haut an baa. an pranant la nombra d'imagaa nAcaaaaira. I.aa diagrammas suivants ijlustrant ia mithoda. 1 2 3 4 5 6 >*';■ ^y - ,>(,, ''f .#; • * >t.'' ',■ ■ ■■ *--^'i'' '' g. '■•§»: .* "I 4 i^r %sit • 'i^ . ^v.-*' ■. ^^ ',;"* C0RRE3P0NBENCE ■«,• ^XOlit, MAtMESBUR;; ♦.m ■.^ ; g, ■" " . ■■*■ * ^••1^'^ '"i^ii :«. •■■ ■w*.. -. •'*-»^ 1^, *■ * . AfMiNe %Ci?IE^ OF tPIJE LETTMS •■>-f .> ■> tXiRi GJIBNVILLE, COr^ltE WEDEL TMtLSBERO, MES|||^^ IIARTHELEMl, WlCKHAMi^clte. v^ * ■' ' 'f ^EElItI^VB to THt' *;''' V Sk •l^:-:- > I IV If DV Jit 5l„/ ^1 1 1. Note tranfmitted $y Mr. jyickham to M, Barth^^ lemi. — Dated J^erne, Mdr^A 3, 17^6. IJ, Note tratifmitted from M. jShrthelem to .4fr. Wtckham. — Dated Bc^fie, 6 Germinal, An 4 de la I^epublifue Frangaife (March 26, 1796.)^ ii|. Note. — Dated Dowfiing Street, April 10, 1796. t. Letter from Lurd Gremfille to Count WedelJarlf- berg. — Dated Do'oming Street, September 6, »796- a. Note tranfmitted through the Danifh Mtmfter to the Executive DireBory. — Dated JVeftmmfterf St^temher 6, 1 796. 3. Letter from Count Wedel Jdrl/berg to Lord Crenville.T^Dated London, September 23, 1796. - i 4. Letter from M. Koenematm to Count Wedel Jarlf- berg. ^-^Dated Paris, September 1^, ^19^' 5. Note tranfmitted from Lord Grenville to the Mt-^ nj^ for Foreign Affairs at Paris i—^Dated Weflminfier, September 2/^, ^19^' 6. Letter from M. Delacroix to Lord Gretruilh^ imlofing PaJ^orts.-^Dated Paris, 1 1 Fendi^ miaire, ^th Year of the French RepubUe. A a *i De' f i li;!: ( 4 ) 7. Decree of the Executive Direilory,-— Dated gth Fendemiaire, ^th Year of the French Republic, One and hid'wffihle, 7.* Letter from Lord Grenville to S/l. Delacrotx^"^ Datpd Wefimnfiery 0 >796» : . •- . / .,, -. 5 '7' -^«- i-^< ■>■ »r- W'X 6 5 y tf\iinfioer of the Mvmfier for Fonign J^tts'i^ Lord Malm^flmrys Note.-^Ehted ^Parss, 22 Brumaire, $th Year, &c. rS. LordMalm^ry^s Refly.'rrMiPed Paris, Nov. 12, 1796. ' 19. Lord Maim^/hfy to tkt Mn^r for Foreigi^ Affairsj^^Dated Farh, Nd^em^er 13, 1796, 20. The Mintfter for Ffireign Affairs to LordMalmef- hury, — Dated Paris, lyBnmtairt^ $Ph Year^ 2i. Lord Mabn^/huay to thi Mmjfler/orfhreign ^ : Affairs. -^Dated- Paris, November 13, 179^. 22. The Mmifterfor Foreign Affairs to LordMalmef- hury.-^'Dated Paris, 2 J Brttmaire, $th Jear^ Lord MaJnuJhury to the Min'ifter for Foreign Affairs. — Dated Paris, November 13, 1796. Note delivered by Lord Malmejbury to the Minifier for Foreign Affairs.-— Dated Paris, November 26, 1796. Anfwer of the Minifier for F-^reign Affairs to the Note delivered by Lord Malmxjbury. — Dated Paris, 7 Frhmire, ^th Year, &c» 26. Lord Malm^/bury to the Miuifter for Foreigtt Affairs. '-'Dated Paris, November 2 j, tyg6. 27. Note delivered by Lord Malmefbury to the Miniffer for Foreign Affairs, •^Dated Paris, Decembep 17, 1796. 28» QoTlfidential Memorial A,^-^Dated Paris, Dec, 17, 1796. 29. Con* .-i^ 23 24 ^S' I I %^ Ccnfidential Memorial B.-^Dated Paris, Dtc, r'^ hj, .1796. y.^'.K ■ 30. Difpatch from Lord Malm^Ury to Lord Grm- vilk, inclojing (A) (B) (C) (D).— DtfW Parist December ao, 1796. gi. (A) The Minijier for Foreign Affairs to Lord , ,., MalmiJbury^^Dated Paris, 28 Frimaire, ^th Year, 32. (B) UrdMaJm^ry to the Minifier for Foreign Affairs, — Dated Pai^is, December 19, 1796. 33. (C) The Minifter for Foreign Affairs to Lord ,. ;, , Malmtjbury, '-'Dated Paris, 2^ Frimaire, 5/A Year, 34. (D) Lord Mahnejhury to the Minifier for Foreign Affairs, '^Dated Paris, December a«, 1796. ' j». 1 ^ . . ^ . Vv-,''*.'^' .'♦ '' i ," 'I ' 1 ••■ , .. ■ • i ■ i . ■* - . ■» « / *• 5 1. , , V ^ ^ -t . * 1 1»" t , « » > V'«\^, '-^fe ' f " \^ \'A^.-v' i .5 ... "w'l ^.,i*,^A*" .Wm"^^ • 1 -' •'•••,'>i. ^.' *'• "' • i .,..va--.. ■'■■■""'■>■ HjfV' ■■ ^ ■ l^'r. ..,■^4^. l.:,iA'^ , • COfc * ; » >) B«< -'-la' .""'1 oi^ ■,r;. ■^l^ft CORRESPONDENCE, 3-»*"r '■«*» ik9 r. ^^ No. L •- •^,J^^s^^'^'-»^^;"^'v :¥ i^«/^ tranJmiUed to M, Barthelmi by hfr, Wichhsm^ March S, 17^6. X HE upderfigned, h\$ Britannic Majefty's mi- nifter plenipotentiary to the Swifs Gmtons, is au- thorifed to convey to Mpnlieur Barthelemi the de- iire of his court to be ma^e acquainted, through him, with the diipolitions of France in regard to the objedl of a general pacification ; he therefore rcquefls Moniieur Barthelemi to tranimit to him in writing (after having made the necelTary inquiries) his anfwer io the following quefUons ; I. Is there the diipoiition in France to open 4 negotiation with his Majefly and his allies for the re-eflabliihmcnt of a general peace upon juil and fuitable terms, by fending, for thatpurpofe, mi* pifl^rs to a congrefs at fuch place as may hereaftec \^ agreed upon? «. Would A ' ■ I! - ( 8 ) !«• Would there be the difpoiition to communi- cate to the underfigned the general grounds of a pacification, fuch as France would be willing to propofe, in order that his Majefly and his allies jnight ^theteuppA ^x^fhiiHe ih concert whether th^y } are fuch as might ferve as the foundation of a nego- tiation for peace ? « »?."^ > .' ^ 3. Or would there be a defire to propofe any other . way whatever for arriving at the fame end, that of a general^acification ? "; .? ;^"Jv. The underfigned is authorifed to receive from Monfieur Barthelemi the anfwer to thefe queftions^ ^nd to trattibnt it to hib odurt 1 but he is not au- ' thorifed to enter ^ith hii9 into negotiation or dif- cuilion upon theie fubje^ls. 4iJt^a'7D-t:;Mc.r (8igh^) , W. WICKHAlVf. i}m, Mf^i, 1796. ' ''I ^''""y' / / No. 11. 'Quh -ill mm..x^^tA.- ffi>0fi ^^ftmmtd Mr.mcUmi ly M. Bafthektm, .r-.-^'^ ;. 4- -I**;*- Mifek^6, i^f)6; THE underfigned, amba^ador of the French rc- publid to the Helvetic Body, has tranfmitted to the Executive CireiSiory the note which Mr. Wickhaiii, his'Britknnic Majefiy's minlilcr plenipotentiary to the SWi(8 Cintbhs, was' pleafed to convey to him,' dated'the £lth ofMarch. He Has it in command to aflfwcr *;■%■■ M,. *j ( 9 ) •■ • . ' aniwcr if by an expoiition of the fcntiments and dif- pofitions of the Executive Dirc6lory. T , The Directory ardently defires to procure for the Frendh republic a juft, honourable, and folid peace. The ftep taken by Mr. Wickham would have af- forded to the Dire<5lory a real fatisfadlion, if the declaration itfclf, which that minifier makes, of his not having any order, any power to negotiate, did not give room to doubt of the fincerity of the paci- fic intentions of his court. In frldl, if it was true, that England began to know her real interefls ; that fhe vvifhed to' open again for herfelf the fources of abundance and profpcrity ; if ihe fought fbr peace with good faith ; would ihe propofe a congrefs, of which the neceflary refult muft be, to render all negotiation endlefs ? Or would Ihe confine herfelf to the aiking, in a vague manner, that the French government fhould point out any other way what- ever for attaining the fame object, that of a general pacification? Is it that this ftep has had no other objedl than to obtain for the' Britifh government the favourable impreffittn which always accompanies the firfl overtures for Jjeace ? May it not have been ac- companied with the hope that they would produce noefFe6b? However that may be, the Executive Diredlory, whofe policy has no other guides than opennefs and good faith, will follow, in its explanations^ a con- B duft ( la ) dnd With the moil perfeiSlconfideration, ^ ,^^^ . lypur moft humble, .^_ And moft obedient fervaritj/^ -'■',-%^\mwm^ .;r^-:.M-- GRENVILLE. , To the Count PFedel Jarlfberg^ &c. No. 2. Jj... NOTE, b-; -s is'- -,,. ; ^, ; -^t . ' HIS Britannic Majefly, animated with the fame defire, which he has already manifefled, to termi- nate, by juft, honourable, and permanent condi- tions of peace, a ft pn^ i(^ pfcxii^ fs) diffirible jih cha; And his M&jefty in t^arandbd tii« Ke i%^ ccive, without dela^, ihtbd^ the ikmt cfakhiiel> a fatisfa6):bry anfwer to tliis ddndnd, tif^hich cannot fail to place in a Hill clearer Hg^t the juft and pa- cific difpofitiond ti^hich h6 entertains in common, with his allies. -^ **uju#f*^.*;>. ^ . ^^ ..T-^-ilsr :-'■:■ GRENVIIXE. 5 fVeJminfier, Sep, 16, 1796. ; , .t'v; .*>■>■ !■•- '-■ '•I I 1 .►5?- V,.;, No. 3. ^ My Lord, I HAVE the honour to inform your Excel' lency, that the note addreiTed to the Executive Dircdlory of Fraffce, in date of ttife 6th df'thefirc- fent month, was tranfmitted by Mr. Koehemann^ charge d'affaires of his Dftn^fH Majcfty, to M. Delacroix, mini(^er for foreign affairs at Paris, whd promifed that an anfwer ihotild be returned to it after it had been lubmitted to the coniideration of the government. Three days having elapfbd iri expeyer any overtures or confidential papers *' trapfmitted through any intermediate channel << from t^e enemies of the republic ; but that iTthey *^ would fend perfpns furniihed with full powers " and official papers, tbefe might, upon the fron* <* tjiers, demand th^ pafTj^i^s neceflaiy forprocee^« « ing to Paris." I have the honpur to be, with the moft perfe^ ^yLprd, Your Excellency's v-i >» « ■ t. ;(I.*»«'.:^«-VV,^ fi^ nm^--.:.^^ Moft humble and moil obedient ferrant, ^i (Signed)' Comte de y^EDISL JAIOSBER^. ^t ■ No. 4. SiR^ Paris, Stpt, i^, X796« I WAS indi^ied at my country houfe whmi ^our IjLcellency*a coi^iic^ brought nic the letters, which yous ExceUpnqr 4d me the hcmpurrto writo ' to.m9, on thf; fik int^t^ togethei; wl^ the note of m '^- ■> ^ *, 'i. m;, . r* 1'^ '^ ? iff! iS ( »6 ) • on tlie following day, where, after demanding an audience of Citizen Delacroix, minifter for foreign affairs, I prefented the note above mentioned, ac- cpmpanied by another in my own name, in which I explained the motives that had induced me to undertake a meafure for which I had no authority from my court^ He promifed to fubmit the two notes to the infpecftion of the government, and to return rae an anfwer immediately. Having waited for three days without receiving s^n anfwer, I went a fecond time to wait upon the mIniAer, who, in a very dry tone, informed me, that the Executive Directory had not permitted him to return an an- fwer in writing, but that he was direded to exprefs himfelfverballytothisefFecft:^^,^^.^ YWr-^y * ' That the Execi itive Dire($ltory of the French|||b <* public would not, for the future, receive or anfc^r •* any confidential overtures or papers tranfmitted «« through any intermediate -channel from the ene- ^ <* mies of the republic ; but that if they would « fend perfons, fumilhed with full powers and « official papers, thefe might, upon the frontiers, ;. «< demand the pafi*ports neceifary for proceeding to « Paris.** '•''*^ If ^?ai^ .mi M' w^emfi'ti • ■ ;:; V Such, Sir, js the rcfult of a mekfure which I have * taken at your requef):. I wifli, for the fahe of hu- manity, that we may meet with better fuccefs at fome future period ; but I fear that this period is fiill at a great difiance. I have wfja ■/t'iT t hkvt this boh6ur to be, with refpedlful attach- ment, ' Sif, ' Your EACellency*s '' ^^Mf^^mi^i^^: ^^'^ Mort humble arid ^>^^^»f MqA obedient Servant, >^- . .• ' ' njhtrNKOENEMANN.yv '^ *« Excellency . 4 :^,>,f,:.^^p^:^, .^.d?' ^ The Count mdelJaryherg, r:^,:^'^,^ i^f^m '►Of of iiftft ■^■^''•^''V- --^1 "Vi,. Mri^fiM?^^ i^jqV , ; It is therefore in purfuance of thefe fentimenft, that the underfigned is charged to declare, that as foon as the Executive Di* '9.ory Ihall think proper to tranfmit to the underfigncd the neceiikry pafT- ports (of which he, by this note, renews the de- mand ahready made), his Britannic Majefty will (etid to Paris a perfon furniihed with full powers and official inflru6tions to negotiate with tlie Executive Directory on the means of terminating the prefent war, by a pacification, juft, honourable, and folid, V calculated to reftore repofe to Europe, and to in- fure, for the time to come, the general tranquillity. (Signed) GRENVILLE. Weftminfter, Sept. If, ifj^S, '. , , - , , To the Minifterfor Foreign Affairs , fp^ i^St^^^^t at Paris* ?f f >• * tv No. 7. '*»% Bxtra£i from the Regifier of the Decrees of the Executive DireSlory, The gth Fsndemiaire, ^thyear of the French Republic, One and Indivifible. THE Executive Diredlory, upon conlideration of the note addrefled to the minifter for foreign afi^s by Lord Grenville, dated Weftminfter, Sep- tember 24, 1796, wiihing to give a proof of the deiire which it entertains to make peace with Eng- U^d, decrees as follows : C 2 The u t I ■ -^ t »■■»■ . . ( ao ) • The minlder for foreign af&irs it charged to deliver the neceflary pa^poxts to the chvoy of England, who ihall be fi^rniihed with full powers,, not only for preparing and negotiating the peace^ between the FreiKh republic and that powerj but for concluding it definitively between thcnj. . ,_^'. True copy, (Sign«4) UW^REVELUERELEPEAUX, ' • Prefideut. , ^ ^,^7 By the Executive Diredory. , » j. For the fecretary geaeral, (Signed) liE, TOURNEUR, Certified true copy, The miniAer for foreign affiiirs, f CH. DELACROIX;. By the minifier, T. GUIRAUDET, Sec. Gen. WW":■ •:/,,,■ -^^^ :-f:.- -/:■•■' ■ :^ ■-■■-,■• ^^ ■ ;,,.,;,,/,;■ No. 7.» LpRU MALMESBURY^ who is appointed by the King to treat with the French government for : a juil^and equitable peace, calculated to rcHore re^ poie to Europe, and to iqfure the public tranquillity for the time to come, will have the honour of de* livering thjs letter firpm me to M. pelacroix. < *' ) The dlfiingulfhed rank and merit of the miniiler of whom his Majeily has made choice on this oc* cafion, makes it unneceifary for me to fay any thing in his recommendation ; at the fame time that it furniihes a frefli proof of the defire of his Majc&f to contribute to the fuccefs of this negotiation: for which objed^ I entertain the moi): ianguine wifhes. ^ r Moniieur Delacroix will have the ^^dncTs to accept from me the afTurance of my moli petle6| coniideration. ^Signed) ORENVILLP. fVefimtn^erj 0£f. 13, 1796. w**?^; t», ^rt To the Minifter for Foreign . ' ^ Affuirs, at ^arh. ',,^;v^,^ ' , V. No. 8. LORD MALMSBURY, pamed by his Britan- nic Majefly as his plenipotentiary to the French republic, has the honour to announce, by his le- cretary, to the miniiler for foreign affairs his ar-* rival at Paris ; and to requefl of him, at the fame time, to. be fo good as to appoint the hour at which he may wait upon him, for the purpofc of com- municating to him the object of his mi^Q. Paris i OB* 22, 1796. 7 U*r r;t {.;it.n in;;f t'T-ii**J|i^ •i(f:ii ;h;T • "■j'i ■h . No. i 4 '".'' •*'k*^?'/. i-'> •f ^r»o pf<4tl>\(?Ns Y«U/: ..»fr 9' ii-\,0'p) .(•jSiii^, iKfhi^ US*' 'i'Hk miniftd: for fcrcign affairs fearns \/ItK fa- tisfe^ion the arrJval'of Lord Malmcfbury, pleni- potentiary of his Britannic Majcily. He will have the honour to receive him to-morrow at eleven o^cIock in the morning, or at any later hour that may fait him, till two o'clock. He hopes that Lord Malmeihury will forgive him for thus limit- ing the time, on account of the nature and the multiplicity of his occupations, ly? Brttmaire, An 5. ' (Oa. 22, 1796.; "'^'■'-'-■^ ■^--^•^...^^'.'H • To Lord Mahnejbury^ mini/ler plempofentiary from his Britannick M^j^Jiy to the French republic, at Paris. •■»r>''i '.» ■ • "11 *<■■ • :\ '•< '■■ '"v LORD Malmdfbury has the honour to thank the miniftcr for foreign affairs for the obliging anfwcr which he has jufl received from him. He accepts with pleafure the firft moment pro- pofed, and will wait upon him to-morrow morn- ing, at eleven o'clock precifely.^ '?" '" -"^* • Paris, Oa. 22. ■ '-^^^i^'^^^.f^^^- To. the miiiifter for foreign' affairs. * '■•■(•A- ■< ■*.^l ';*>i-4 m No. li. ( »3 ) No. 'ii. * THE minifler for foreign affairs has the honour to apprize Lord Malmefbury, commiffioner pleni- potentiary of hiy Britannic Majeflyj that he has received from the Executive Diredlory the necef- fary powers for negotiating and concluding peace , between the republic and hi.s Majefty. To-morrow, if Lord Matmcfbury pleafes, the rcfpedlive powers Ihall be exchanged.' The minif- ter for foreign affairs will then be ready to receive the propolitions, wh and to conclude it de£- nitively between them. The Directory gives to I the I'', 'm K the iaid minifter all powers hecefliary for conclu- dihg anB iighlng the treaty of peace to take plac6 between the republic^ and liis Britannic Maj^fty. He (hall conform hinifelf to the inftrU6li6hs ^hich fhdll be giten him: Hfe flidll render d regular a^* count, from time td time, of the progtefs ahd of the iflue of the ricgotidtibn: ' ' "^ ■ r « i The prefcnt decree Ihall not be printed dt thii time; A true copy. (Signed) L. R. REVEILLERE LEPEAUX. ' By the Excfcutivc Dire«5\ory. ^ ^^ *•■!':** r' ^* "•^■'^^^^^ The fectetaty general, " (Signed) LA GARDE. [ ^opy. , t . ^ w. The miiiifier for foreign ^affairs, (Signed) CH. DJfcLACjROIX. By the Minifleri (L. S.) ^ ,_^^^ T. GUIRAUDET, fee. gen. ,ti - • . T - I, No. 14. M k M b R lAL. Ui^^ His Britannic Majeily defiring, as. he has al- teady declared, to contribute, as far as depends . on him, to the reeftabiin-iment of public tranquil* lity, ai^i to enfure, by the means of juft, honour- - *i^-i^^.j!>H^;filK|J u ■H> a>>le. m H)l': i . ( a5 ) able, and folid conditions of peace, (he future rc- pofecl Europe; his Majefly is of opinion, that the beft means of attaining, with all poflible cxpedi- tron, that falutary end, will be to agree, at thtf beginning of the negotiation, on the general prin- ciple which fhall ferve as a bafis to the' definitive arrangements. ^ , .^'^ j_ The firft ohyc^i of negotiations for peace gene- rally relates to the rcflitutions and ceflions which the refpeL^^ive parties liave mutually to demand, in confequence of the events of the war. t Great Britain, from the uninterrupted foccefs of her naval war, finds herfelf in a fituation to have no rellitution to demand of France, from which, on the contrary, ihe has taken eftablithments and colonies of the higheft importance, anu of a value almofi incalculable. But, on the other hand, France has made on the continent of Europe conquefts to which hi» Majefty can be the lefs indifferent, as the moft im- portant interefts of his people, and the moft facred engagements of his crown, are efientially implicated therein. The magnanimity of the King, his inviolable good faith, and his defire to reftore repofe to fo many nations, induce him to confider this fituation of affairs as affording the means of procuring for all the belligerent powers juft and equitable terms of peace, and fuch as are calculated to infore for 4hc time to come the general tranquillity. 4 It ( 27 ) It is on this footing, then, that he propofes to negotiate, by oiFcring to make compenfation to France, by proportionable reftitutions, for thofe arrangements to which flie will be called upon to confent, in order to fatisfy the juft demands of the King's allies, and to preferve th political balance of Europe. ■:■■ ^^K' -':'''■ ^-^y'^-^y^^ '■:-.. : ■ .- • leaving made this firfl overture, his Majefty will, in the fcquel, explain himfelf more particu- larly on the application of this principle to the dif- ferent objedls which may be diicuiie4 betweeij |he rcipc(^ive parties. ^**' f- ifr:-;^ a ^ ^ T It is this application which will conflitute tip fubjecSl of thofe difcuffions, into which his M^jeAy has authorifed his rainiiler to enter^ as foon as tl)f principle to be adopted as the general baiis pf t|)p negotiation is known. .; r; ^^^v,,, ^,i^;, ,;^,;,,i/ But his Majefty cannot omit to declgre, tjiat if this geperous and equitable offer Ihould riot be aor ccpted, or if unfortunately the difcuflions which may enfue ihould fail to produce the deiired cfFeiSl, neither this geueral proportion, nor thofe roc*" detailed which may rcfult from it, can be regarded in any cafe as points agreed upqn 9j: admitted by his Majelly. '* - tAv .-'rrt ,.*-ti^.' «.i([».i>ij,.;(ijjj>' t ; (Signed) MALMESBURY, * ^'mifier pkntpotenfiary from A*k//' w'i. ifT r I Tv ^aris, Oul, 24, 1796. H^f-j-^^ fkp. ;<^^}* «/g^ ''i-^M^ . D 2 ■ '^^'T^i' ^^HtM^Mxtf^ ' »>?.' ' ^<' ( ?8 ) f If in '11 ' ill I: i ; .'•■•,■ -' '^■•No. ii(.'^-'V'; :■••■..' --:..-■;,-!■ ExftraJl from the Reglft^r of the Delikralions of , the Executive Dire^otj, ,, , r Paris i ^ Bnmiaire, ^th y^ar of the repiiblicy one and indivifible. 1 .. , .<■»»-* ■-.'■. . ^ - , I , THE Executive Diredlory orders the minifteir for foreign affairs to make the followiiig anfwer tp Lord Malmeibury : ^o^r^rj^^v^ vy v The Executive Diredory fees with pain, that at the moment when it had reafon to hope for the fpeedy return of peace between the French repub- lic and his Britannic Majefty, the propofal of Lord Malmefbury offers nothing but dilatory or very diflant means of bringing the negotiation to a con- clulion. ^ The Directory obferve, that if Lord Malmeibury would have agreed to treat feparatcly, as he was formally authorifed by the teriour of his creden- tials, the negotiations might have been confidera- bly abridged ; that the neceffity of balancing with the interefts of the two powiers thofe of the allies of Great Britain, multiplies the con»biniitions, in- creafes the difficulties, tends to the foniiation of a congrefs, the forms of which it is known are al- ways tardy, and requires the acceffion of powers which hitherto have difpjaycd no defire of accom- modation -m \ ( »9 ) |nriodation, and have not given to Lord Malcpief- bury himfelf, according to his own declaration, ally power to flipulate for them. Thus, without prejudging the intentions of Lord Malmelbury, without dra vying any conclulion from the circumAance of his declaration not appearing fo accord with hi3 credentials, without fuppofing th^t he h$$ received any fecret inltrudions which would deftroy the effect of his oftenlible powers, without pretending, in fhprt, to affert that the Britifli government have had a double objedl in view — to prevent, by general propoiitions, the par- tial propoiitions of other powers, and to obtain from the people of England the means of continu- ing the \yar^ by throwing upon the republic the odium of a delay, occalioned by themfelves; the Executive Dire6|:ory cannot but perceive that the propolition of Lord Malmeibury is nothing more than a renewal, under more amicable forms, of the propoljtions made laft year by Mr. Wickham, and that it prefents but a diftant hope of peace. I'he Pxecutiye Dirccflory further obferve, with regard to the principle of retroceffions advanced l)y Lord ;^|almeibu^y, that fuch a principle, pre- fonted in a vague and ifolated manner, cannot ferve as the bafis of negotiation ; that the firft points of cpnfideration ap, the common neceflity of a juft and folid peace, the political equilibrium which ^blblutd v<-tro,cpflione pight deftrpy, and then the '■tilt JkXi.n " ., ,.• means .4/5 11 I ■':?1 i 'i i r: ( 30 ) means which the belligererrt powers might pofTcfs — the one to retain conquefts made at a time when it was fupporicd by a great number of allies, now detached from the coalition ; and tlie other, to re- cover them at a time when thofe who were at firft its enemies have, almoft all, become either its allies, or at leaft neuter. Neverthelcfs, the Executive Directory, animated with an ardent dclire of putting a flop to the fcourge of war, and to prove that they will not rejedl any means of reconciliation, declare, that as foon as Lord Malmefbury (hall exhibit fo the mi- ni fter for forei<^n affairs fufficient powers from th$ allies of Great Britain for flipulating for their rcf* p$£llve interefts, accompanied by a promife on their part to fubfcribe to whatever fhall be concluded in their names, the Executive Dire... ^jj DELACROIX, By the minifter;'--: ■'i'- '^-^Ji-i^^i h ■ * ■ iy-1 if,;:- ■ ' No. 16. » S i / ■ ■> M i'-; • 'k * N T E. A THE underiigned ha^ not failed to tranfmit to his court the anfwer of the Executive Dire(9^ory to tUc propofals which he was charged to make, as an opening to a pacific negotiation. .,,^ . -^t 5c , . With regard to the offenlive and injurious infi- nuations which are contained in that paper, and which are only calculated to throw new ohdacles in the way of the accommodation which the French government profcfles to dciire, the King has deemed it far beneath his dignity to peimit an anfwer to be made to thena on his part in any. manner whatfoever. ' '" The progrefs and the refult of the ncgotiatHMi will fufHciently prove the principles by which it will have been diredled on each lide ; and it is neither by revolting reproaches wholly deditute of foundation, nor by reciprocal invei^ive, that a iincere with to accompliih the great work of paci- fication can be evinced. - * The underiigned pafles, therefore; to the firft objedt of difbuflion brought forward in the anfwer af the Executive Directory ; — that of a feparate negotiation, to which it has been fuppofed, with- out the fmallbii foundation, that the underfigncd was authorifed to accede. Hi* m >. ' '.iLd ill :; Hi ^A His full pothers, made out in thd iifual form> give him all ncceflary authority to negotiate and to conclude the peace ; but thefe powers prefcribft to iiiiii neith^T the form, the nature, nor the condi- tions of the future treaty. Upon thcfe points, he is bound to conform himfelf, according to the longeftablilhcd and received cuftoni of Europe, to the inflrud^ions which he fhall receive from his court ; and accordingly, he did not fail to acquaint the minifter for foreign affairs, at their firft conference, that the tCing his mafter had ex- preflly enjoined him to liften to no propofal tend- ing to feparaie the interefls of his Majelly front thofe of his allies. *^ ^• There can be no queftion then but of a negoti- ation which Ihall combine the intererts and pretent- lions of all the powers who make a common caufb with the King in the prefent war. In the courfe of fuch a negofiatioil, the inters vention, or, at leaft, the participation of theic powers will doubtlefs become abfolutely ncceflary ; and his Majefly hopes to find at all times the fame difpofitions to treat, upon a jufl and equitable balls, of which his Majefly, the Emperor and Kin^, gave to the French government fo flriking a proof at the very moment of the opening of the prefent campaign. ■ - «F ^ * But it appears, that the waiting for a formal and definitive authority on the part of the allies of thd' ;;iv: " -^'V Tni, ■.'■":':■( 33 ). King, before Great Britain and Prance begin to diicufs, even provifionally, the principles of the negotiation, would be to create a very uCeleis delay. " ^"^ A condudl wholly difierent has been obferved by thefe two |K>wers on almofl all limilar occafions ; and his Majelly thinks, that the beft proof which' they can give, at the prefent moment, to all Eu- rope, of their mutual deiire to put a ftop, as foon as polTible, to the calamities of war, would be to fettle, without delay, the b^^s of a combined nego- tiation, inviting, at the fame time, their allies to concur in it, in the manner the moiV proper for accelerating the general pacification. f'-n^K^r It is with this view that the underfigned was charged to propoie at firft, and at the very com-^ meucemept of the negotiation, a principle, which the generoiity and good faith of his MajeJdy could alone didtate to him — that of making compenfa-i tion to France, by proportionable reAitutions, for the arrangements to which flie will be to confent, in order to fatisfy the juft pretedfions of the King's allies, apd to preferve the political balance of Europe. " ""'''-^^ .-/■:^'.'^^^^. The Executive Dire<^ory has not explained it- felf in a precife manner, either as to the acceptance of this principle, or as to the changes or modifi* , cations which it may defire to be made in it ; not 2 has it, in ftiort, propofed any other principle what- , ever to anfwer the fame end. < - V, Ttie u m 11 ■ i ',i 'l!, ■ f' ( 34 ) The undcrligncd, then, has orders to recur fo' this point, and to demand, on that head, a franl; dnd precife explanation, in order to abridge the delays, which muft neceflarily refult from the diffi- culty of form, which has been ilartcd by the Exe- cutive Diredlory. iv*vv»^* »n*iwt>:;|nf.'M/4 He is aHthorifed to add to this demand the ex- prefe declaration, that his Majefly, in communi- cating to his auguil allies every fucceilive ilep which he may take relative to the objedt of the prefent negotiation, and in fulfilling, towards thofe fovereigns, in the moft efficacious manner, all the duties of a good and faithful ally, will omit nothing on his part, as well to difpofe them to concur in this negotiation, by the means the moft proper to facilitate its progrefs and infure its fuccefs, as to induce them always to perlift in fentimeiits conformable to the wiffies which he en-^; tcrtains for the return of a general peace, upon juft, honourable, and permanent conditions. (Signed) MALMESBURY, h Paris y K&i'emher 12, 1796. A ■, ■ ' f •- .' ? —i ,«, ■ ' '■JTt r!fcCJ-5f: KS No. 17' ^"'^l THE undcrfigned is charged by the Executive DireAory to invite you to point out, without the fmaTleft delay, and expreffiy, the objeds of reci- procal compenfation which you propofe. Hi*. -,■■■ -;.-'■' ^y:.t^>.Gi^ ,.:^iif..*^fi:^-^i^Ki I >' He isj moreover, charged to demand of you, what are the difpofitions to treat, on a j^ft and equitable bafis, of which his Majefty, the Emperor and King, gave to the French Government ^o ftriking a proof, at the very commencement of the campaign. The Executive Directory is unacquaint- ed with it. It was the Emperor and King who broke the armiftice. * ' " (Signed) CH. DELACROIX. Paris, 22 Brumaire, (Nov. \2) \ Sth Yer^r of the French Re- imirrot^,;*.^ , ■mifiT^'^M^K^t^-- No. i8. ■ ■' ■'■■:•';;'■- ' ■. •' . # *- • r . THE underfigned does not helitate a moment to anfvver the two queftions which you have been infirufted by the Executive Directory to put to him. . , : The memorial prefented this mornmg by the underfigned propofes, in exprefs terms, on the part of his Majefly the King of Great Britain, to compenfate France, by proportionable reflitutions, to the arrangements to which Ihe will be called upon to confent, in order to fatisfy the juft preten- fions of the King's allies, and to prcfervc the political 1 talance of Europe. 1^ Before the formal acceptation of this principle, or the popofal^ on the part of the Executive Direc- ^M i *i i \ ISi ',1 IH' ( S6 ) ioiy, of ibme other principle, which might equally lerve as the hails of a negotiation for a general pease, the undcrligned cannot be authorifed to defignate the obje ;' MALMESBURV,' Paris, NovemhriZi ly^, » y; .<,m *«tA ii-i' ' •»• .' >} -*^ 'r. >''. 7^;:,ff ' ^*>Il/) r(i'W'>^ ?>,:j-f ,ik No. 19. •^r' tfefi/i ..;]? i m THE Minifter Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majefty requefts the minifter for foreign affiitra to inform him, whether he is to coniider the official note which he received from him yefterday eveniaAg, as the anfwer to that which Lord Malmeihury ^ ; ^ delivered ' * ' t % ■ • • • < sr ) deliviored yfAeTday morning to the mmifler for foreign affairs, by order of his court. Hq applies itit thte kiforUlBlit>n, that the departure of his courier may not be unneceffarfly delated. MALMESBURY. Paris, Nov. 13, 1796. Kq. SO. TH£ underiigned, HunL^er for foreign affairs, declares to Lord Malmefbury, minifkr plenipoten- tiary firom his Britannic Majefty, that he is to coniider the official note fent to him yeflerday as the anfvver to that which I^ord Malmefbury had adtiyi^ ifi tij^JHi tiie morning of the fame day. ^" """ " CHARLES DELACROIX. 23 Brumaire, ^ih Year, November 13, 1796. :v^ ,^v... ■^.■^•:^yx i > K^ No.'flfi. '^^^Vu.i^f>iMfg'r?¥' ■>ifr .«V^-^'f'* ^'ifi'-'^ LORD MALMEl^BURY has jufl raceiyfld the anfwer of the miiiiiler for foreign affairs^ in which he declares that ihex)ifficial note wluch he feat to him yeflerday, is to be confidered as the anfwer to that which Lord liahnefbury r^^ddteflfd to him oa- the morning of the Y^.i^v^' Lord :t:il ..imiijilJSliP Fir r I *M i li ■ ill ii:; '■ ( 38 ) " Loi-d Malmefbury will traAfmIt it, this day/tohis COUI^' ^^'^ '■ ' " '■"■t '^'^ '^*^^^'-'^' ^^- ' -'^i*^-^-^^®^ •; •r,^-nntj..n>. -^ i^*V • MALMESEURY.. Paris, JYbv. 13, 1796. miw ^ tarr /iiiU ¥^r»iioi' No. 22. THE underfigned, in reply to your fecond note of yefterday, is ordi^red by the Executive Directory to declare to you, that he has nothing to add to the anfwer which has been addreifed to you. He is alfo inftfu6led to afk you, whether, on each official communicdtioti which ihall take jpihce between you and him, it will be neccflary for you to fend a courier to receive fpecial inftni^.r ^. In confequence. Lord Malmefbury Is again Invited to give a fpeedy and categorical anfwer tp the propofal made to him on the Z2d of la(l Brumaire, and which was conceived in thefe terms: •* The underiigned is in^u^ted by the Executive Dire6lory to invite you to deiignate, without the leaft delay, and expreilly, the objedls of reciprocal compenfatioQ which you have to ^ * ^ ;^ ^^ vJ CH. DELACROIX. .. • ■ I ■ ♦ .■ ■X,, ^ :ja- if'T • No. 26, THE underiigned miniAer plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majefly, in anfwer to the note dated '■"^■■■■C- .,^_ 5 .:,■./'; this ( 41 ) this morning, which was fcnt to him by the minifter for foreign affairs, hallcns to aflure him, that he will not delay a moment in communicating it to his court, from which he muft neceflarily wait for further orders, before he can explain himfelf upon the important points which it contains. (Signed) . MALiMESPURY. . ^ ftf r tai A / r** — v)^- td..r :;t;i ^^^'"Vi:^ ' *K > >-■ . * < » t • . ' .■ . ' ■•■} ' V C. ?»;.».. 1^.- ' ■■•' ■' ■' ■ . .-. ...-M ;..,''.-^-r':;, ■ ^>^- 'M- No. 27. ^^■-^-^■^\,^:"r^-r^.^ . \- ^^tth '■•;■:, rf'-.i . -NOTE. ..,,._,:.4..,% ■ THE underfigned is charged io tranfmlt to the miniflcr for foreign affairs the enclofed memorial, containing the propofals of his court, with refpedl to the application of the general principle already eflablifhed, as the bafis of the negotiation for peace. ; ■ -l •■■:....;,-, .: ^■">^::,, He will, with the utmofl: readinefs, enter with that minifler into every explanation which the ftate and progrefs of the negotiation will allow, « d 7u vvill not fail to enter into the difcuilion of iir'h (it )pofitions, or of any counfcr-projc«5l which may > tranfmitted to him on the part of the Exe- cutive Dirediory, with that franknefs and that fpirit of conciliation, which oorrcfpond with the juft and pacific intentions of his court. -kfh^' (Signed) MAUVIESBURY, Parisj Deemhr 17, 1796, - ■■'V F No. 28. i ( 4» ) ll No. 28. ' .. • '■ ''■'"■■••' CONFIDENTIAL MEMOHUL on the pm- c'lpal Objeds of Re/iitution, Compen/anon, ^fi4 , recijtrocdl Arrangement^ - THE principle, already eflablillied, as the balis of the negotiation, by the confent of the twq governments, is founded on reflitutions to be made by his Britr ^nic Majefly to France, in comr penfation for the -gements to which that power may confent, .a order to fatisfy the juft prctenfions of the allies of the King, apd to pre- ferve the political balance of Europe. * .. i- In order to accomplifh thefe objedts, in the mari- ner the moft complete, and to offer a freih proof of the lincerity of his wiihes for the reeftablill^r ment of general tranquillity, his Majefty would propofe, that there fhould be given to this principle, on each fide, all the l^tiiuc^e pf which it may l^e iufceptible. ^. ,.,^ ,, , ,, L His Majefty demands thetcfbrc, f i>, |. The reltitution, to his Majefly, the Emperor and King, of all his dominions, on the footing of i\\Gjidtn,s ante helium, \ \.,%: ■. .•j" ; • r ti^It:'> 2. Tlie re-eftablifliment of peace between the * Germanic empire and France, by a fuitablc ar- rangement, conformable io the refpe^i>fK But if, in addition to this, his Majefty were io wave the right given to him by the exprefs ftipula- tioi^s of the Treaty of Utrecht, of oppoling the ceflion of the Spanilh part of St Domingo to France, his Majefty would then dc laiid, in return for this conceflion, a compenfation, which might feeure, at leaft in fome degree, the maintenance of the balance of the rcfpc^live pofleflions in that part of the world. V. In all the eafes of cefTions or reftitutions, which may come in queftion in the courfe of this negotiation, there fhould be granted on each lide, to all individuals, the moft unlimited right to withdraw with their families and their property, and to fell their land and other immoveable pof- feflions; and adequate arrangements fhould alfi> be made, in tlie courfe of this negotiation^ for the removal of all fcqueftrations, and for the fatisfac- tion .- f. ..* ( 45 ) tJoiiof the jufl claims which individuals on cithet lide may have to make upon the retpecliv^ go- vernincnts. *' *' 1 ,7 '• *^-, ' **<-' ^ ' (Signed) MALMESBURV. , J. No. 29. Cunfiihtit'ial Memorial on ihe Pcuce iv'ilh S^ain ami .iji ./, THE allies of France not tiaving hitherto ex- prdled any delire or difpolition to treat >yith the . King, his Majefiy might have forborne to enter into any detail on their account ; but in order ttr avoid any delays prejudicial to the great objeiVt which the King has in view, and to accelerate the? work of a general peace, hisMajefty will not rcfullr to explain himfclf in the flrfl: inlhnicc on the points which concern thofe powers. If, then, the Ca- tholic King lliould delire to be compehended in this negotiation, or be allowed to accede to the definitive treaty, this would meet with no obllaclc on the part of his Majefiy. Nothing having hi- therto been conquered by either of the two Ibvc- reigns from the otlter, no other point could, at the prcfent moment, come into quellion but tha^ , pf the re-eftablifliment of peace, fimply, and with- , out any reftitution or compenfation whatever, ex- ^•cept , ( 46 ), fcept fuch ,j mighi pofllbly relult irora the appli- tion c. the ' ■nciple declared at the end of the fovi h article jf the memorial already delivered to the minifter for foreign affairs. ' But if, duting {he negotiatiod, any altcratioii A>ould take place in the llatc of thin<^s, in this re- fpe |)lacc, any minifter was authorifed, in ttie firft in- ' G iniiance. «-»*« -x i j! (' 50 ) ilance^ to go fo fully into the dricuiTion as I no\# «ira8. That I was f'ure neither the truth of this re- mark, nor the manifcft conclulion to he drawn from it, would efcape M. Delacroix's obfervation. I then put the two papers into his hands. He began by reading the note, on which, of courfe, he could only exprefs fatisfacHion. After peruling the confidential memorial, with all the attention it dc- ferved, he, after a ihort paufe, faid, th?t it ap- peared to him to be liable t infurmountable objec- tions ; that it feemed to him to require much more than it conceded, and, in the event, not to leave Prance in a fltuation of proportional greatnefs to the powers of Europe. He faid, the a6l of their (onflitution, according to the manner in which it "ivas interpreted by the heft puhJiciJisj (and this phrafe is worthy remark) made it impoflible for the re- public to do what wc required. The Auflrian Ne- therlands were annexed to it ; they could not be difpofcd of without flinging the nation into all the eonfulion which mufl: follow a convocation of the primary aflemblics ; and he faid, he was rather fur* prifed, that Great Britain fhould bring this for- ward as tlie governing condition of the treaty, fince he thought he had, in forrie of our late cor- verfations, fully explained the nature of their con- flitution to me. I replied, that every thing I had "Ticard from him on this point, was perfedlly in my recoUe6lion, as it probably was in his ; that though ' ■-.'^■■•-(.^i I had .^^ ( i' ) I had llflcncd to Mm with that attention I always afforded to every thing he faid, yet I had never made him any fort of reply, and had neither ad- mitted, nor controverted his opinion : that although I helieved I could eafilj difprove this opinion from the fpirit of the French confiitution itfelf ; yet the difcuilion of that confiitution was perfectly foreign to the objetft of my miflion ; lince, even allowing his two pofitions, viz. that the retroceffion of the Auflrian Netherlands was incompatible with theic laws, and that we ought to have known that be- forehand; yet that there exifted a droit public in Europe, paramount to any droit public they might think proper to eftablifh within their own domi- nions ; and that, if their confiitution was publiciy nown, the treaties exifting between his Majcfly Vmd the Emperor were at leafl equally publici and in thcfe it was clearly and diflin^lly announced, that the two contracting parties reciprocally promife not to lay down their arms without the reflitution of gU the dominions, territories, &c. which may liave belonged to either of them before the war. That the date of this flipulation was previous to their an- nexing the Auflrian Netherlands to France ; and the notoriety of this ought, at the very moment when they had pafied th^ law, to have convinced them, that, if adhered to, it mufl prove an infurr^ mountabl& obflacle to peace. I applied his maxim to the Weft India Iflands, and to the fettlcmcnts in -?#■■ n Is.'' I (5^ ) the Eaft Indies ; and alked him, whether it was ex» pe(£Ved that we were to wave our right of pofleflioni and be required ftill to conlider them as integral parts of the French republic, which muj be re- Hored, and on which no value was to be fet in the balance of compenfation. I alfo itated the pofiible cafe of France having loft part of what Ihe deemed hef integral dominions, inftead of having added to them, in the cowrie of the war ; and whether then, under the apprchenfion of ilill gre^iter lolTes, the government, as it was now compofed, fhould con- fider itfelf as not veftcd with powers fufficient to fave their country from the impending danger, by making peace on the conditions of facrificing a por- tion of their dominions to fave the remainder. M. Delacroix faid, this was ftating a cafe of neceffity, and fuch a mode of reafoning did not attach to the prcfent circumflances. I jf^adily admitted the firft part of this propofition j buv corJended, that if ihe power cxifted in a cafe of neceflity, it equally e-c- ifted ip all others, and particularly in the cafe be- fore us, lince hehimfelf had repeatedly ♦old me that peace was what this country and its government wifhed for, and even wanted. M. Delacroix, in reply, fliifted his ground, and by a ftring of arguments, ^founded on premifes cal- culated for this purpofc, attempted to prove, that from the relative Situation of the adjacent countries, the prefent gpvernment of France would be repre- henfible , ( 53 ) h«nfiblein the extreme, and deferve impeticbiT;ent, if they ever fuffered the Nelherlatids to be fepp.rated from {heir dominions ; that by the partition of Po- land, RufHa, Auilria, and Pruilia, had iacrcilcd thei/ power to a mof. ibrmidable degree ; that Eng- land, by its conquefts, and by the adlivity and judgment with which it f^overned its colonies^, had uoi.oled its ftrength, Tour Indian empire alone, raid M. Delav'iroix wi^h vehemence, has enabled you to fubfidife all the powers of Europe againft us, and yofar monopoly of trade has put you in poffef- ifion of a fund of inexhauilible wealth. His words were, ** Voire emfire dam finde vous a fourni ks " moyens de falarter toutes les futffancss contre notis, " ei xous avez accapare k commerce da maniere qii^ *' toutes les richejfes du monde fe vcrjent dan$ VQf ^* cofresr ■*^;,:fJf»^.i*i^ni,.-'.U . k: Iwi'v' i^-^jyi'&it « ¥^::r i From the neceffity that FVance fhauld keep the Netherlands and tlie left bank of the Piiine, for the purpofe o' preferving its relative lituaiion in Eu- rope, he paifed to the advantages which he con- tended would refult to the other pow jrs by fuch art addition to the French dominions. Belgium, (to life his v/ord) by belonging to France, would re- move Vv'ha'. had been the fource of all wars for twa centuries pad ; and the Rhine, being the natural boundary of France, would infure the tranquillity of Europe for two centuries to come. I did not fepl it neceljary ic combat tb'S prepoHerous doc- ti^inej lit ( i4 ) trine ; I contented myCe\{ with reminding him of what he had faid to me in one of our laft confer" ^nces, when he made a comparifon of the weakneft of France under its monarchs, and its ilrength and Tigour. under its repuhlican form of government, •' Nous ne fommes plus dans la dicripiiude de /| •• France moncrrhique, mats dans toute la force d'lme ^.repKblique aacUjcmis*^ was his expreflioni and I inferred irorn ■ ., according to his own reafoning^ that the force and power France had acquired by its change of government, was much greater than it could derive from any acquisition of territory ; and that it followed, if France, when under a regal form of government was a very juft and condant ob- ject of attention, not to fay of jealoufy. to the other powers of Europe, France, (admitting his ^iom) was a much more reafonable obje(5l of jealoufy and attention, under its prefent conftitution, than it ever had yet been ; and that no addition to its do- minions could be feen by its neighbours, but under impreflions of alarm for tlieir own future fafety, jind for the general tranquillity of Europe. M. Delacroix's anfwer to this was fo remarkable, that I muft beg leave to infert it in wliat I believe to be nearly his own words. " Dam U terns revolulionuire ♦• tout ce que vmis dites, my Lord, etoit vrai — rien ^* riegahit iwtre pu'^ance i mats ce terns nexifte plus, ♦* Nous ne pouvon^ Jus lever la nation en majfe pour ♦* volet au focijufs de la fatrie eji danger. Nous ne ** f>ouvonji tt (C (( (( , ;. , ( 55 ) ,' . :■•■;. ,■. pouvcm plus meager nos contitoyens d'ouvrir ieurs hour/is pour les verfer dans le trefor nafiotial, et de fe priver meme du necejpiire pour Je hein de la chofe puhlique" And he ended by faying, that the French republic, when at peace, neceflarily muft become the moft quiet and pacific power in Eu- rope. I only obferved, that in this cafe the paflage of the republic, from youth to decrepitude, had been very fuddcn ; but ♦bat ilill 1 never could ad- mit, that it could be a matter of indiflerence to its neighbours, much l^fs one neceffary fccurity to it* fclf, to acquire fuch a very extenfive addition to its frontiers, as that he had hinted at. This led M. Delacroix to talk of offering an equivalent to the Emperor for the Aufirian Ne- therlands ; and it was to be found, according to his plan, in the fecularization of the three ecclefl* aitical eledlorates, and ieveral bishoprics in Ger* many and in Italy..^ ^-v,)s^.i, i:y^^^'r'^ ^ ■ " ^•'■" •'''^'^.^- He talked upon this fubjedt as one very fam ir to him, and on which his thoughts had been fre- quently employed. 5^S>' • - »' ^"' * ^<^' '•iSr ' He fpoke of making new eledors, and named, probably with a view to render his fcheme more * '^ palatable, the Stadtholder and the Dukes of Brunf- J wick and Wurtemburg as perfoa'* proper to replace the three eccleiiaftical ele^lors which were to be re-formed. « . .ijf-^< R, ■r'i -■:' ^■'•! ' lt:%!.'M I would ( 5« ) It would be making an ill ufe of your Lordlliip*9 time to endeavour to repeat to you all he iaid on this fubjecl; it went in I'ubllance (as he himfelf i:onfeired) to the total fubverfion of the pretent conftitution of the Germanic body ; and as it mi- litated direilly againft the principle which both his Majefty and the Emperor laid down lb dif- tind^ly -as the bafis of the peace to be made for the empire, I contented myfelf with reminding him of this circumftance, particularly as it is impoflible to difcufs this point with any propriety till his Impe- rial Majefty becomes a party to the negotiation. I took this opportunity of hinting, that if on all the other points France agreed to the propofals now made, it would not be impoflible that fome increafe of territory might be ceded to her on the Germanic fide of her frontiers, and that this, in addition to the duchy of Savoy, Nice, and Avignon, would be a very great acquifition of Urength and power. M. Delacroix here again \everted to the cooilitution, and faid, that thefe countries were al-* ready coufl itutionally annexed to France. I replied, that it was impoflible, in the negotiation which we were beginning, for the other powers to take it up from any period but that which immediately pre- ceded the war, and that any acquifition or diminu- tion of territx)ry which had taken place among the belligerent powers fince it"fij;(t broke out> muHi neceflarily become fiibjedt mattei: for negotiation. ( 57 ) and \)e bcLUaced ^igi^inft e^ch other in the £ivi) arrangeiment of a general peace. You then periift, faid M,. Dftlacroix, in applying this principle to Belgium ? I anfwered, moA certainly ; and I ihould not deal fairly with you if 1 hesitated to declare, in the outfet of our negotiation, that on this poinl you muA entertain no expedtation that his Majeily will relax, or ever conient to (ee the Netherlands r^iaain a part of France. V -u M. Delacroix replied, he (iw no profpe No. la. y^ ^ .^ •,. . Although I had touched upon the fubjedl of the Spanilh part of St. Domingo, when I had been fpeaking to M. Delacroix on the peace with France, yet, as it did not become a matter of dif- cuflion between us till I came to mert+ion the peace with Spain, I thought it better to place all that paffed on the fubjedl in this part of my difpatch; it was the only point on whicl^ he entered, but I by no means infer fron^ his not bringing forward fome claims for Spain, that we are not to hear of any in the courfe of the negotiation: on the con- trary, I have little doubt that many, and moll of them inadmiffible, will be made before it can end. He, however, was lilent on them at this moment, and confined all he had to fay to combating the idea that Spain was bound, by the treaty of Utrecht, not to alienatft her poiTeilions in Ame> rica. I had the article copied in my pocket, and I read it to him. He confeffed it was clear and explicit, but that circumflances had {o materially altered lince the year 1713, that engagements made then ought not to be confidered as in force now. I faid, that the fpirit of the article itfelf went to provide for diftant contingencies, not for wh»t was exjxj^cd to happen at or near tlie time ii i ! * f 60 ) when the tfeity was made, and that it was Ijedaufe the alteration of circumftattces he alluded to was forefeen as poflible that the daufe was infeitcd; and that if Spain paid any regard to the fkith of treaties^ ihe muft confider herfelf as no lels fitiftly bound by this clatife now than at the moment when it was drawn np. I went on, by faying, that it did not howevfcr appear quite im- poiiible that this point might be fettlfed without' much diiHculty; and that means might be de- vifed that his Catholic Majefly Ihould not break his faith, and botll England and France be equally iktisfied. I then held out to him, but in general tenns> that either Spain might regain her part of Si, Domingo, by making fome confiderable ceffion TO Great Britain and France, as the price of peace, OK that, in return for leaving the whole of St. Do- mingo t6 France, we ttiould retain cither Marti- nico or St. Lucia and Tobago. M. Deladroix Hflened with a degree of attention to thefe propo- fals, but He was fearful of committing himfelf hf any expreffion of approbation, and he difmiflcd the fubjedl of the court of Madrid, by obferving, that FVan-ie never would forfake the interefls of its allies. Our converfation oil thofc of its other ally,' Holland, was much longer, as the wbrding of the memorial inevitably led at once deep iiito the fubjedl;.. M.De- ,1 *. .m: <•, I ! ( 6i ) M. Bela^dlx tfl^ed to tteat '«ny <€letktio^ from the teetHf of peace eottcluded betwech iF^jMice and that «»iiiitry, or any i^oration e^ territories acquired uiAdet that treaty to France, «s quite ittt- practicable. He treated, •M equally in)p¥a<5licaMe, any attempt at reftoring the ar^cient form of £6- vemment in the Seven Unked Provinoeg. He talked with an air ^(5 Diredory ; ^d^ in order to do this with more ■'%0 c . ' ■'"■■' ", "''^ " ■ ' • ^ ' ■• accu- ( H ) accuracy, he agAin afkcd me, whether in hU re- port \}c was to flatc the difuniting Belgium from France as a Jtne qua nan from which hts Majefty would npt depart. I rep^ed, it mod certainly wa^ A Jim qm non from which his Majefty would not depart; and that any prop^ial which would I^VG ^be ^therlands annexed to France would be atte^ided w^h much grcftter benefit to that power^ and. loi$ to the ^Ue^i than the preient lel^tive iituation of the belligerent powers could entitle the French government toi cxpc : ^I. Peli^^rok by bo means eBcourage4 Jl^'to exp^ii» w^ielf more luUy;, be r^eatedly faid, that thi$ ■'■''V'".''} "f;" -,-'.~'N ( 7» ) inc. , ','■■■ , lio, 3ft*^:<^ t>f}t:5Q"v<^oo. r. * - >* No. ytf A'^'ii'-: vi1^«ti i-.. (C.) THE underiigned miniiler for foreign affiiirs it charged by the Executive Dire^ory to anfwer lx)rd Malmefbury's two notes of the 27th and a9th Frimaire, (17th and 19th December, O. S.) tliat the Executive Diredlory will lii)en to no pro- pofals contrary to the confiitution, to the laws, and to the treaties which bind the republic, -u >, ; And as Lord Malmfbury announces at emy communication, that he is in wai^t of the opinion of his court, from which it refults that he adts a I i f^ ) ISa ^r«ftttee'3t Rbrnr v!^^ld^$ the tttidetfigtied it Inrtli^cliargea to grte htih m>itcd' to* depart from Btif^ Ih eight tod f(Mfty hc^fBi Tvlni aH theperfoDs whb li«tt» AoeonpttfMd ti»d f(»lk>wkl hira, and tb ^t, ' as texpedltio^lly as poiflble, % tcfritoiy of ihe t«putillc. The »fldcifignfcd detkr^, nioret^cr, m t!rti'tiatBe of the EsceirfiTO IJird&mf, that if thi B^l^t eabmet iis^ deHmu^'of pelce, the Execftth^ IXte(^ory Is «e»[l]r to Ib^Uiwfh^ negotktions^ aid* cording to th(^ hafisi laki €b¥r# rA die pM^t! notu; bf the reciprocal clmiiiielsiol comUm* -^^ ^'^^ 5/^ Year of the French r$^uhUCf one and ifidivifible, , ) ( ■Ufa 'ri\'' ' ut ■■•-■^Ti'.i; (!>!)» :' '■ r'i - .:, ' l^CWd I^inefbukyfaafleiiffitOTadkiiawIfadgfedift teeei^ oit'tho nots' of ths miaiftcr fer fbmign a^m> dfiitcd yeilbrdaTt Hbisr prt^acing \a quit Piarisi to^otfrQn^. aitdl demaiidsf in/ odiiequenaB; the necdnny^psfiportbifiir £dnifid£ andhiafaite. :n& 7 Ifo nqiMfis^ tfafr mimftbr fotforugH ail^tir^- to «B^itrtfaffaifiiniiiQat of^ his* lU§iiicoiilAderatioiUi -^ fid , DECLA- ••'■'■' 'iiTrit t.it'- < 73 ) DECLARATION/ I'HE negotiation, whicll itt dtixioui defift fof the reftoration of peace had induced his Majefty in open at Paris, having been abruptly terminated by the French government, the King thinks it due to himfelf and nis people to date, in this public mari- ner, the circumfiancds which haVe preceded and attended a tranfadlion of fo much importance t& the general interefls of Europe* -^ ^^' ' ' • It is well known that early iri the! pr^fetit ydar> his Majefty, laying afide the confideration of , many circumflances of difficulty and difcourage- ment, determined to take fuch flops as were beil calculated to open the way for negotiation, if any correlponding defire prevailed on the part of his enemies. He diredled an overture to l^e made in his name by his miniAcr in Swiilerland, for the \ purpose of afcertaining the difpolitions of the French government with refpc«5l to peace* The ^ anfvver which he received in return was at once haughty and evaiive : it afiedted to queflion the lincerity of thofe difpolitions of which his Majelly's ^^ condu6l afforded fo unequivocal a proof; it raifed •'groundlefs objciftions to the mode of negotiation ^^ propofed by his Majefly (that of a general congrefs, 'by which peace has fo often been reftored to J^u- rope :) but it fludioufly pafTed over in filencc his Uk ' ^ > Majcfty*s i, t ■ ( 74 ) Majclly's dcfxtc to learn >ybat other mode wowM be preferred by France, It at the fame time af- ierted a principle, which vyas ilated as an mdifpen- Jable prelimifXto ibr[a moment. Its applipation tp the prcfent / cafe led to nothing lefs than that France fhouldj, *'as a preliminary ta all difcuflionj retain nearly 'i»all her conqueils, , and Jiigfe particularly in which i^his^Majcfty waa moll cppcerned, both from the ties !->of* intereil, and the , lacrcd obligations of treaties : t. that fhe ihould). in Ijke rpanncr, recpyef back all I that had bei^ cpnquered from her in every part of .the world ; ^ajid thatlhe Ihould be left at liberty to ,; bring forward fudi ft^rther demands, onallotticr points of negotiation, as fuch unqualified fubmif- tlSion on th© ,p?irt,^of thofe with whom ihe treated •^vcould jiot fail to produce. ^ ^^^^ ■■; "V ' On { 7S ) On fuch grounds as thefe, \i ^-^s iu^ciently evi- dent that no negotiation could hfi. eftabliihed: neither did the ariiwer of his Maj?fty'« enemiea| afford any opening for continuing the difcuffion, iince the mode of negotiation offered by his Ma> jcfly had been peremptorily rejedled by them, an<^ DO other had been i^ated in which they were willing to concur; i ' ^r*r'5i*!>.^^ i;!,|,.;|(:- -t- '^r^y'jn His Majefty was, however, not difcouragcd even by this refuU from ftill purfuing fuch mcafurcs as appeared to him mod conducive to the end of peace; and the wifHes of his ally, the Emperor, eorrefponding with ' thofe which hi« Majefty had manifeft'ed, fentimenb of a iimilar tendency were cxprefled on the part of his Imperial Majefty at thfc time of opening the campaign : but the cohtinu* ance of the fame iipirit arid principles on the part of the enemy renddttd tins frefh overtuit equfdiy vmluccciSAil. .:^ \X'^:--- ''"■'■;■ ■ ■- i, ";,',::-'; While the govcrrimenrof France thu's'pcrlifled in obftru(5ting every meafure that could even opek the way to negotiation, no endeavour was omitted to miflead the public opinion throughout all EJu^ Tope with refped to the real caufe of the prolonga- tion of the war, and to caft a doubt on thofe difpo- ., Utions which could alone haVe di^^ated the Heps taken by his Majcfly and his auguft ally. I'fr^*^ ' • 'm) ':(^'*-^f 'ii\^lt-my;rifrmXj^^t^t.irm^-fifj * r7r.M-.^l.;-^>- ,*rf«^|ii>^5 •S?* ■:'1i ■ >$>'^^ j;. f- •"*'■' ' «t -10. v la -i':f^f il I ■ ' \i'i ( 7« ) In order to deprive his enemies of all poflibility of fubterfuge or evafion, and in the hope that a juft fenle of thf contini.ed calamities of war, and of the incrcafing diftreffes of France herfelf, might at length have led to more jiift and pacific difpolitions, liis Majcfly renewed in another form, and through the intervention of a friendly power, a propofal for opening negotiations for peace. The manner in which this intervention was received, indicated the moft hoftile difpolitions towards Great Britain, an4 at the fame time afforded to all Europe a flriking inilance of fliat injurious and ofTenlive condu(^ which is obferved on the part pf the French govern- ment towards all other' countries. The repf^^tcd overtures made in his Majc(ly*s name were i. er- thelefs of fuch a nature, that it was at l^ft found impoflible to perlift in the abfolute rejection of them^ without the dire(^ and undiiguifed avowal of a determination to refufe to Europe all hope of the I'eAoration of tranquillity. A channel was there- fore at length indicated through which the govern-r mcnt pf France profpffed jtfelf willing to carry on a negotiation, and a readinefs was expreiTcd (though in terms far remote from any fpirit of conciliation) to receive a miniftef, aqthorifed hy his Majefty to proceed to Paris for that purpofe. Many circumstances might have been urged as affording powerful motives againft adopting this faggcftipn, qntil the government pf France had ^ V givei^ f \ u.,-,. ( 17 ) ^vcn fome indication of a fpirijt better calculated to promote the fuccefs of fiich a miflion, and to me c thefe advances on the part of Great Britain. The King's deflrefor the refloration of general peace yon juft and honourable terms, lii^ concern for the jntercfls of his fubjedls, and his determination to leave to his enemies no pretext for imputing to him the confequenccs of their own ambition, induced him to overlook every fuch confideration, and v^o lake a ilep which thefe reafons alone could juflify« The repeated endeavours of the French govern- fncnt to defeat this million in its outfet^ and to break off the intercourfe thus opened, even before the firft fleps towards negotiation could be taken j the indecent and injuriow) language employed with 9, view to irritate ; the captious and frivolous ob- jciftions raifed for the purpofe of obllru6Hng the progrefs of the diicpilion ; all thefe have fuf- jficiently appeared from the official papers which paifed on both fides, and which are known to all Europe. '^ .;.....*.,.,.,.>. ,i»,, J J. ^v.- 3ut above all, the abrupt termination of the ne- gotiation has afforded the mod conclufive proof, that at no period of it was any real wifh for peace potertained on the part of the Freiich government. After repeated cvalion and delay, that govern- ment had at length confented to eflablifh, as the t)alis of the negotiation, a principle propofed by his Majcftyi liberal in its own nature, equitable to- wards I' ( 7S X W9rds his enemies, and calculated to provide for the ^itcreils of his allies, and of ^.urojPiq. . It had been a^eed that coippenfation ihould be fnade t(^ France, by proportionab|le rcflitutipns.froni hU Ma-; ipfty*9: ^onquefts on that power, fpr tbojj; ^rrangcr inents to which fhe fhoiild |^ called upon to con- icnt, in order to I'^tisfy the jufl pretenlwos of his allies, and lo prcferve the political biilancc of Europe. At the delire of the French government itfel^ memorials were prefentcd by his IVJajef^y's miniver, which contained the «utl|n9S of teripf^ of P^ace, grounded on tjie ha^is ib eilalplifhc^, and in which his Majefty propo^d to carry to this ut^oll poflibic exjtf nt the application of a prinapk ip ^uitfible witli refpedl to France, and fo liberal on his M^ejfty's part. Tlje delivery of. thefe papers ivas ,;^^mpanjed by a dpcl^ratio^n exprefsly and l;fP,^Ked tp ftitgr, with a fpint of conciliation and fairnefs^ . into the difcuf!ion of the different points thcr^ cotntaincd, or into tl^at of any other, propofal or ichcme o£ peace, which the French government might w^ftj. to fubftitute in its pjace. ,- :■ / j^.. In reply to this communication, he received a dcipapdj in fqrm rthc moft offenHve, and in fub- , i!ance the moil extravagant, that ever was made in the co^irfe of any negotiation. It was pereuip- toipily reqnired of him, that in the very outfet of the bnf^nefs, when no anfwer had been given ty the Frehfch government to ha lirft jvrapofaJ, when he had ndt even learnt, in any regular iliape, the tlatnre or extent of the dbJG<9ions to it, and muoh lefs received fVotti that government any other offer or plan of peace, he fhoiild :n twenty -four hours deliver in a flaferrtcnt of the final terms to vrhidh lils court x^buld in any cafe accede. A demand tending evidently to ihut the door to all nego- ' tiation, to preclude all difcuffion, all cxptanaiion, ' all poffibility of the Amicable adjuflment of points 'of difference. A dlemand in its nature prepoffterotis, ' in its execution impraiJticable, lince it is plain thiit • Jio fuch ultimate rcfbliition rcfpet^nga general ipkn . '*of peace ever can be rationally formed, much lefs declared, \vithout knowing what 'poihts arc priti- cipaHy obJc<$ted to by thc^ enemy, and ^hat faoiiities 'lie may be ^ilHiig'td iiffer in return for ^oncelS^n ^in thdfc refpedls. flkvitig declined comptiMiice with this demand, and -explained the reafotis'tvhieh 'rendered it inadiHfffiblc, but 'h^infe, at^t^ie fkftie * time, exprefsly fihiefwch the declaration »f feis :^ readiiiefe'to efitier ittto ttie^difctiiflSttn of thte^prttpofal ■ he had conveyed, or of ahy oth6r'Which'ikli]ght te !' conMttUttidAtcd to httn^ 'Ihe^Kihg's miniftet^ Weeiirfcd ■ no other anf\ver than an abrupt comm&id-'lo^'quit i^'P4risiff^y^igl^Hours.i^If;< in Idditkn tti iuch ^- an ihlMt,' ari^ further^ pt^f ^re tieijefffefy 6( Iftie ^^•dirporitlotK''ofHhofe byvrfidm 1t>as Wcredy^Hidt -^*^_ i' . ..... proof i "S-S^TBHCTGiWi :\': '.\i ( So ) ' -: proof would be abundantly fupplled from the con- tents of the note in which this order was conveyed. The mode of negotiation on which the French government had itfelf mlifted is there reje(5led, and no practicable means left open for treating with efFe£fc. The bafis of negotiation fo recently efla- blifiied by mutual confcnt is there difclaimed, and> in its room, a principle clearly inadmiflible is r«- afierted as the only ground on which France can confent to treat : — the very fame principle which had been brought fciward in reply to his Majefly*s rirft overtures from SvvifTerland, which had then been rejected by his Majefty, but which now ap- pears never to liave been in fa(Sl abandoned by the government of France, however inconfiftcnt with that or. which they had exprefsly agreed to treat. It is tlierefore neceiiary, that all Europe ihould 'tfndcrftandj that the rupture of the negotiation at Paris does not arife from the failure of any iiucere attempt on the part of France to reconcile," by fair Aiicuinon, the views and interells of the contend- ing powers. Such a difcullion has been repeat- edly invited, and even folicited on the part ot his Majefty, but has been, in the firft inftance, and abfoltttely, precluded by the sl6\ of the French go- vernment. ■ ,— , . '.•ft-.'*. •'■ ■}- ' ■ i ' It arifes exclufively from the determinatiou of that government to rejedl all means of peace : a de- ' t^minatign which appeared but too ftrongly in all :.-'.T'-' ' . " '. the 1r _:-s..''viiyv 1 ;■', ;« .■ '.'^4'J«?Pi"SP"«»PPlPP»'"P^^|pP|PPIi»iP ( 8i ) Jthe prelinnhkt y difcuffions ; wlikK was clearly ma- nifefted in the demand of an ultimatum made in the very oirtfct of the negotiation 4 but which is proved beyond all pofRbility ot doubt, by the ob- ilinate adherence to a claim, wh' -;h never can be admitted { a claim, that the conArudlion which *hat government affects to put, (though even in that 2Ci(pe6l unfupported by the fa61) on the internal nftitution of its own country, ihall be received^ ^y all other nations, as paramount to every k^ sown principle of public law in Europe, as fupeiior td the obligations of treaties, to the ties of common in- tereft, to the moll preffing and urgent conlidera- tions of general fecurity. On fuch grounds it is that the French govern- ment has mbruptly terminatcrl a negotiation, which it commenced with relu<5lance, and condudted with every iridication of a refolution to prevent its final fuccefs. On thefc motives it is, th&t tlie fur- ther effufion of blood, the continued calamities of war, ihe interruptions of peaceable and friendly in- ftercourie among mankind, the prolonged diAreiles of Europe, and the accumulated miseries of France itfelf, are by the government of that country to be jufVified to the world. His Majefly, who had entered into the negotia- tion with good faith, who has fuft'ered no impedi- ment to prevent his profecuting it with earneAnefs «nd iincerity, has now only to lament its abrupt h teri lination ; mf^. Is, Bin ^ 81 ) termination ; and to renew, in the face of all Eu- Tope, the folcmn declaration, that, whenever his enemies ihall he difpofed to enter on the work of general pacification in a fpirit of conciliation and equity, nothing fhall he v/anting on his part to contribute to the accompliihroent of that great ob- jeft, with a view to which he has already offered fuch confiderable facrifices on his part, aim which is now retarded only by the exorbitant pretenliOQg cf his enemies. 1 Weftminfier^ I'jthDec, 1796. ^-^^^'X' ^ * ifiif FINIS. -<' jy v^'/ ■■^^^^1 ■ I ! BPWl .\\ -%- II