the sequel) of the final rupture of the negociation at Madrid.On the twenty-sixth of October, one thousand eight hundred and four, his majesty's chargé d'affaires presented a note to the Spanish minister, in which the following conditions were insisted upon, as preliminary to the appointment of a mi. nister from Great Britain, who might treat of the adjustment of other matters which remained for discussion. The conditions were three: first, that the orders given at Ferrol, Cadiz, and Carthagena, should be countermanded, as well for the equipment of ships of war in any of those ports, as for their removal from one of those ports to another. Secondly, that not only the present armaments should be discontinued, but that the establishment of ships of war in the different ports should be replaced on the -footing on which they stood at the commencement of hostilities between England and France. Thirdly, that a full disclosure should be made of the existing engagements, and of the future intentions of Spain with respect to France. From the period above-mentioned to the second of November, several official notes passed between his majesty's chargé d'affaires and the Spanish minister, consisting, with little variation in their tenour, of urgent demands of satisfaction on the one side, and of evasive and unsatisfactory replies on the other. After repeated delays and reiterated applications, his majesty's chargé d'affaires received his passports on the seventh of November, and departed from Madrid on the fourteenth of that month.During the whole of this negotia tion, no mention was made of the detention of the Spanish treasure

ships, nor does it any where appear that an account had been received at Madrid of that transaction. It is evident, therefore, notwithstanding the attempt made by the Spanish court to avail itself of that event, in the manifesto which has been since published, that the state of war must equally have arisen between Creat Britain and Spain, had the detention never taken place, and that, in point of fact, the rupture ultimately took place upon grounds distinct from, and totally unconnected with, that measure.-The leading circumstances which characterise the reiterated abuse of his majesty's moderation, were each of them of a nature to have exhausted any less settled system of lenity and forbearance. Succours afforded to his enemies; explanations refused or evaded, after repeated demands; conditions violated, after distinct notice that on them depended the continuance of peace. Such has been the conduct of the Spanish court; and it is under these circumstances that his majesty finds the domineering influence of France exerted, and the Spanish nation in a state of declared and open war.His majesty appeals with confidence to all Europe for the acknowledg ment of his exemplary moderation in the whole course of these transac tions. His majesty feels with regret the necessity which places him in a state of hostility with Spain; and would with heart-felt satisfac tion observe, on the part of that country, the assumption of a more dignified sense of national importance, and a more independent exercise of sovereign rights.-His majesty would indeed be most happy to discover in the councils of Spain a reviving sense of those ancient

feelings

feelings and honourable propensities which have at all times been so congenial to the Spanish character, and which, in better times, have marked the conduct of its government. His majesty will, on his part, eagerly embrace the first opportunity, thus offered, of resuming a state of peace and confidence with a nation which has so many ties of common interest to connect it with Great Britain, and which he has hitherto been ever disposed to regard with sentiments of the utmost consideration and esteem.

Letter from the Emperor Napoleon, to His Majesty the King of England, dated 2d January, 1805, and communicated to the Legislative Body of France on the 4th of February, 1805.

Sir and Brother,

Called to the throne of France by providence, and by the suffrages of the senate, the people, and the army, my first sentiment is a wish for peace. France and England abuse their prosperity. They may contend for ages; but do their governments well fulfil the most sacred of their duties, and will not so much blood, shed uselessly, and without a view to any end, condemn them in their own consciences? I consider it as no disgrace to make the first step. I have, I hope, sufficiently proved to the world, that I fear none of the chances of war; it, besides, presents nothing that I need to fear: peace is the wish of my heart, but war has never been inconsistent with my glory. I conjure your majesty not to deny yourself the happiness of giving peace to the world, nor to leave that sweet satisfaction to your

children: for certainly there never was a more fortunate opportunity, nor a moment more favourable, to silence all the passions, and listen only to the sentiments of humanity and reason. This moment once lost, what end can be assigned to a war which all my efforts will not be able to terminate! Your majesty has gained more within ten years, both in territory and riches, than the whole extent of Europe. Your nation is at the highest point of prosperity; what can it hope from war?-To form a coalition with some powers of the continent !— The continent will remain tranquil: a coalition can only increase the preponderance and continental greatness of France. To renew intestine troubles?-The times are no longer the same. To destroy our finances?-Finances founded on a flourishing agriculture can never be destroyed. To take from France her colonies?-The colonies are to France only a secondary object; and does not your majesty already possess more than you know how to preserve? If your majesty would but reflect, you must perceive that the war is without an object, without any presumable result to yourself. Alas! what a melancholy prospect to cause two nations to fight merely for the sake of fighting. The world is sufficiently large for our two nations to live in it, and reason is sufficiently powerful to discover means of reconciling every thing, when the wish for reconciliation exists on both sides. I have, however, fulfilled a sacred duty, and one which is precious to my heart. I trust your majesty will believe in the sincerity of my sentiments, and my wish to give you every proof of it, &c.

Rr 4

Napoleon. Anszzer

Answer given by Lord Mulgrave, Sec. of State for Foreign Affairs, dated the 14th January, 1805.Addressed to M. Talleyrand.

His Britannic majesty has received the letter which has been addressed to him by the head of the French government, dated the 2d of the present month. There is no object which his majesty has more at heart, than to avail himself of the first opportunity to procure again for his subjects the advantages of a peace, founded on bases which may not be incompatible with the permanent security and essential interests of his dominions. His majesty is persuaded that this end can only be attained by arrangements which may at the same time provide for the future safety and tranquillity of Europe, and prevent the recurrence of the dangers and calamitics in which it is involved. Conformably to this sentiment, his majesty feels it is impossible for him to answer more particularly to the overture that has been made him, till he has had time to communicate with the powers on the continent, with whom he is engaged in confidential connexions and relations, and particularly the emperor of Russia, who has given the strongest proofs of the wisdom and elevation of the sentiments with which he is animated, and the lively interest which he takes in the safety and independence of the continent.

Mulgrave,

Address presented to the King, upon the Throne, by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of London, on the 30th of April,

1805.

We your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the lord-mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council assembled, beg leave, with every sen. timent of duty and devotion to your majesty's person and government, to approach your majesty with our sincere congratulations on the discoveries which have been made by the reports of the commissioners of naval inquiry, laid before your majesty and the other branches of the legislature; from which your ma jesty must have seen with astonishment and indignation that an emi nent member of your majesty's government, the lord viscount Melville, had been guilty of practices which the representatives of the people, in parliament assembled, have deelared to be a gross violation of the law and a high breach of duty. We are persuaded that your ma jesty's royal mind feels it to be a great aggravation of lord Melville's palpable, conscious, and deliberate breach of a statute, which he, beyond all others, was bound to observe with strict fidelity, that he had filled so many and such high offices in executive government, and was honoured with so large a portion of your majesty's confidence.-The virtues which adorn your majesty, and which excite in the highest degree the love of your people, are a pledge to the nation, that in removing lord Melville from your majesty's councils and presence for ever, the punishment of a delin quent, however just, is far less a motive with your majesty than the example held out, that no minister, however favoured, shall presume upon your majesty's countenance, who shall be found to have trampled upon the law, and to have disgraced

the

the functions with which he had been invested.-The investigations 'of the commissioners of naval inquiry have excited the interest, and inspired the country with gratitude towards those commissioners, and we are persuaded that your majesty participates in the general anxiety which pervades all ranks for the prolongation, and, if necessary, for the enlargement of their authority. -Confiding in your majesty's paternal solicitude, that whatever is cheerfully contributed by a loyal people shall be faithfully administered, we entertain the fullest assurance that to your majesty it will be a source of the profoundest satisfaction, that all necessary measures shall be adopted and persevered in, towards the correction and punishment of proved malversation, and that nothing will be omitted which shall have a tendency to promote the public confidence in government, and to invigorate and confirm the spirit, energy, and union, of your majesty's empire at this important

crisis.

His Majesty's Answer.

I am fully sensible of your loyalty and attachment to my person and government: you may rely on my concurrence in every measure which is calculated to maintain the credit of the country, and to remedy any abuses which may be found to exist in the public expenditure.

Address of the City of London to his Majesty, on the Victory of the late Lord Nelson over the Combined Fleets of France and Spain, off Cupe Trafalgar. Presented Nov. 21, 1805.

To the king's most excellent majesty: The humble, loyal, and dutiful address of the lord-mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council assembled.-Most gracious sovereign,We, the lord-mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council assembled, impressed with the most solemn sense of gratitute to the Almighty Disposer of events, for his late transcendant goodness to this highly-favoured nation, approach the throne, to offer our warmest congratulations to your majesty, on the recent most glorious and decisive victory obtained over the combined naval force of France and Spain, off Cape Trafalgar, by your majesty's fleet, under the command of the illustrious and ever-to-be lamented hero, lord viscount Nelson. A victory, which, while it adds to the British archives, in immortal characters, the proudest conflict that ever graced them, mournfully records the fall of the chief, who had, in that moment, attained the summit of splendid achievements.-Far be it, however, from the minds of your majesty's grateful subjects, to repine at the severe blow which Providence has inflicted; or, while they deplore the loss of distinguished worth, offend the spirit and character of the British name, by forgetting the many obligations they owe to the surviving brave men, whose valour and public spirit will lead them successfully to emulate such heroic deeds, inspired by their loyalty to their beloved king, and their attachment to their native country.

Signed, by order of court,
Henry Woodthorpe.

1

His Majesty's Answer.

I receive with peculiar satisfaction the congratulations of my loyal city of London, on the late glorious and decisive victory, obtained, under the blessing of God, by my fleet, commanded by the late lord viscount Nelson, over the combined naval force of France and Spain. The skill and intrepidity of my officers and seamen were never more conspicuous than on this important occasion. The loss of the distinguished commander, under whom this great victory has been achieved, 1 most sincerely and deeply lament. His transcendant and heroic services will, I am persuaded, exist for ever in the recollection of my people; and, whilst they tend to stimu'late those who come after him to similar exertions, they will prove a lasting source of strength, security, and glory to my dominions.

Proclamation of the King of England, published at Hanover on the 2d of December, 1805.

We, George III. by the grace of God, &c. &c.-Our warmest wishes for the liberation of our beloved German estates have at length succeeded; the enemy, in consequence of the efforts of our high allies, having been compelled to evacuate them. We had indulged a hope, that this would have been effected, some time since, by our own troops; but the execution of the same has been retarded by contrary winds. In the interim, the king of Prussia, while the Russian troops required by his majesty were advancing, took possession of the city of Hanover, when evacuated by our enemies, under the most friendly assurances. 2

-It is one of the first objects since the restoration of the ancient administration of affairs, thus publicly to make known to the country our joy upon this happy change, and to testify to our faithful subjects, that the repeated proofs of their unshaken fidelity and attachment, during the oppression they suffered from the enemy, have not been unnoticed by us, but have been observed and acknowledged with increased affection and good will.Our next object will now be direct ed to the healing of the wounds in. flicted by the enemy in every pos sible way; and, as far as in our power lies, to cause the calamities of the past to be forgotten in the prospect of the future. But we confidently expect from our faithful subjects, that each of them will co-operate with us, to the extent of his abilities, never losing sight of the reflection, that this country has been by the enemy most unjustly involved in a war; and which still calls for our strongest efforts, to ensure those happy consequences which must be the result of our perseverance. We are, therefore, convinced, that the country will be gratified in receiving the informa. tion, that it is our intention to entrust the direction of the adminis tration of the military affairs of this country to the duke of Cambridge, as soon as he can conveniently arrive. This notice is, therefore, previously given to all whom it may concern. With respect to civil concerns, we have found it necessary to send our cabinet minister, count Munster, who, with other charges, will undertake a more minute inves tigation of the necessities of the country, and will adopt such measures as may be necessary for their alleviation.