renew the negotiations for the restoration of peace so often broken off by their predecessors; and on the 29th Ventose, Lord Hawkesbury transmitted to Citizen Otto the following note: London, 21st March, 1801. The undersigned has received the commands of the King, to communicate to the French government the dispositions of his Majesty immediately to enter on negotiations for the restoration of peace, and to declare that his Majesty is ready to send to Paris, or any other suitable place, a minister fully authorised to give every necessary explanation, as well as to negociate and conclude, in the name of his Majesty, a treaty between this country and France. HAWKESBURY. The First Consul, whose dispositions for peace had not changed for a moment, eagerly received this overture; but, convinced more than ever, that, in the complication of interests which a war of eight years had so strangely perplexed, a pompous negotiation was not calculated to produce a prompt rcestablishment of peace, he directed Citizen Otto to present the following note, in which he proposed, previously, to agree to a general suspension of hostilities, or even to preliminary articles of pacification. 2d April, 1801. The undersigned Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, does not lose a moment in acquainting M. Otto, that his Majesty feels a real satisfaction on learning that the sentiments of the French government for the reestablishment of peace are conformable to his own. From the manner in which the overtures of his Majesty have been received at Paris, he has every reason to hope that this desirable object will be obtained, for the mutual interest and happiness of both nations. As to the proposition of an armistice, which is suggested as a fair alternative, the difficulties foreseen in the note of M. Otto are of a nature to render them insurmountable, or, at all events, to occasion considerable delays: but the other proposition, an immediate, full and confidential communication, respecting the terms and preliminaries of peace, is entirely conformable to the wishes of his Majesty. The undersigned will be authorized, in a very few days, to enter into a negotiation with M. Otto; and he will receive the necessary powers to bring this important business to a very prompt termination. HAWKESBURY. 12th Germinal, An 9. The undersigned has communicated to his government the note of his Excellency Lord Hawkesbury, dated 21st of March, 1801.The First Consul retains his constant love of peace; and the undersigned is specially directed to communicate the lively satisfaction felt by the First Consul, on perceiving that the British Cabinet is at last disposed to put an end to the misery which, for eight years, has desolated Europe. The campaign is beginning: the fleets of his Britannic Majesty appear ready to carry war into the bosom of the Baltic; the continental powers are prepared to attack Portugal and Hanover. How can it be expected, that, amidst these warlike preparations, and these new causes of exasperation, a public negotiation could be successful, without agreeing to some preliminary principles? Would it not be more natural to precede a negotiation by a suspension of hostilities? or, if the obstacles to a suspension of maritime force are more difficult to remove, even than the re-establishment Aperçu, in the hand-writing of Lord Hawkesof peace itself, would it not, at least, be bury.-His Majesty proposes to the French more suitable to come to a previous under- government, to conclude peace, for itself and standing on the basis of the latter? The un- its allies, on the following conditions:-The dersigned has all the powers and instructions French government will evacuate Egypt, and necessary to give Lord Hawkesbury the ad-give it up to the Porte. His Majesty will ditional explanations which his excellency can desire. The First Consul will regard that as the most splendid day of his life, when the conimerce of Europe will enjoy its pro This note proves, that the British government acceded to the proposition for opening the negotiation on the preliminary articles; and the discussions for that purpose were begun on the 14th Germinal. The English minister endeavoured, at first, to bring forward all the former pretensions of his court; and some of the events which had taken place in the North of Europe (the passage of the English fleet into the Sound, and the unexpected death of the Emperor Paul I.) as having contributed to give confidence to the British cabinet. In his second conference, Lord Hawkesbury delivered to Citizen Otto, a sketch, without any signature, of the conditions which he proposed should form the preliminaries of pacification. restore, on his part, to France and its allies, the following conquests: - Pondicherry, Chandernagor, Mahé, Negapatam, Malaca, Amboine, Banda, Cochin, St. Marcou, the ་ Cape of Good Hope, on condition that it form a balance between two powerful nashall be a free port, Gorec, Surinam, Cura- tions, can no more influence the conditions cao, Saint Lucia, the Saints, St. Pierre and of a maritime peace, than of a continental Miquelon, Mincrca. The Batavian Repub-peace; and whatever may be the fate of lic shall grant to the House of Orange an forces employed upon the Nile, the Tagus, entire indemnity for the loss which it has suf- or any other quarter, it is incontestible that fered in its property. If authentic informa- the pretensions and respective interests will tion should be received, previous to the sig- remain always the same; and that the object nature of the preliminaries, of the evacuation of the pacification will be, invariably, to reof Egypt by the French troops, or of a con- establish an equilibrium which at once emvention concluded to that effect, his Majesty braces the possessions and the commerce of will not hold himself bound to subscribe to two powers in different parts of the globe. the above conditions in all their extent. To attain this object, the French government, reckoning more and more on the sincerity of the British ministry, requests that the negotiations may take a more official character: and that the ministry will communicate to the undersigned, in writing, the propositions it proposes to make on the basis that his Majesty shall have thought proper to adopt, for the establishment of a definitive and general peace. The well-known firmness of the French government, and its means of defence, would be sufficient to set aside any condition that might be incompatible with the honour and the dignity of the republic; if even the principles of justice and moderation that the ministry of his Britannic Majesty has hitherto professed, were not to be considered as pledges of his sincere desire to shorten the negotiations by offers analogous to these principles. Отто. The First Consul ordered Citizen Otto to be informed, that he could consider these first propositions of the English minister only as a means of gaining time; that there certainly could be no idea of their being seriously discussed; that there was some difference between the fifth and the ninth year of the republic; that he would consent only to an honourable peace, founded on a just equilibrium of the different parts of the world; and that, with such a view of things, he could not leave, in the hands of England, countries and establishments of such immense weight in the balance of Europe, as those which she demanded. During several weeks, the discussions went on and extended to a considerable length. To give them more activity, the First Consul ordered Citizen Otto to deliver the following note to Lord Hawkesbury: Hereford-street, 12 Prairial, dn 9. The French government sees with concern, that, from the first overtures made by his Britannic Majesty, to enter on negotiations respecting peace, two months are passed away, without being able to fix the basis of a pacification so important to the two nations and all Europe. In the actual state of things, it cannot be presumed that certain military events, and, above all, the operations of some small armies, that bear so inconsiderable a proportion to the real and disposable force of the two countries, ought to influence, essentially, a measure whose object it is to produce a system capable of re-establishing peace, and securing its duration. The public declarations of the British minister have informed Europe of the determination of his Britannic Majesty, to labour in the work of a general pacification, without suffering himself to be dazzled by success, or disheartened by misfortune. These sentiments are participated by the First Consul, by his council, and the whole nation. They are equally animated with a sincere desire to put an end to the war, but without compromising, in any manner, the dignity and real interest of France. The chances of war, which from one moment to another may On a demand made to Lord Hawkesbury, that he would specify his propositions for the re-establishment of peace, he answered by referring to the Aperçu which he had given, to Citizen Otto, in an early part of April; and, without particularizing the articles it contained, requested that the French government would also make known its propositions. His note is as follows: Downing-street, June 6, 1801.. The undersigned, first Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has laid before the King the note presented by M. Otto on the 1st inst. His Majesty has never ceased to preserve the sincere desire that he manifested at the commencement of the negotiation, to conduct to a speedy conclusion, the war which unhappily exists between the two countries. The delays which might take place in the course of the negotiation, cannot, on any account, be attributed to his Majesty: and if it was thought more convenient to carry on the necessary discussions by verbal communications, rather than by the more usual means of official notes, it was because that mode, proposed by the French government, was best calculated to bring the two countries to a full and clear understanding with each other. The undersigned has already, on several occasions, made M. Otto [1184 and now acquainted with what appeared to his Ma- first wish of the French government: and, jesty's government to be the most suitable during twenty months, it has not ceased to means of negotiation, and on what conditions manifest is dispositions to that object. In peace might be concluded. This basis can be e tablished only on just and equitable the British government to treat of the month of Nivose, year 8, it proposed to prices, taking into consideration all the its proposition was repulsed. During the ch.cumstances of the war, and the relative negotiations with Austria, the French governpeace, and state of the belligerent powers at the moment ment reiterated the proposition of a separate of nogotiation. His Majesty is so far from negotiation with England, 2nd even of a ge being influenced by any view of ambition neral negotiation, if the court of London and aggrandizement, that he would most would put itself in the same position relawillingly abandon all the conquests which tive to France as the court of Vienna had have been made during the present war, on done, by the preliminary conclusion of a maricondition that the powers of the continent time armistice, analogous to that of the conshould recover the situation which they pcs-tinent, which was altogether in favour of sessed before the commencement of hostili- Austria. This proposition was also rejected: ties in 1722. But if there should be an opi-and if at this moment, when the negotiation nion that an arrangement of this nature was is opened between the two states, the British impracticable in the actual state of Europe, government participates in the wish for in this case his Majesty would be obliged to peace, it is very easy to give a proof of it, have recourse to some other principle equally since it possesses, from its immense conjust and reasonable; and he thinks that he quests, the pledge of a general peace. At has the right to expect, that the French go- the same time it must be said, that the vernment will acquiesce in his being justi- sincere disposition to peace is not visible fied, from the success of his arms, to retain in the propositions presented by Lord a part of his conquests, from a sense of giv- Hawkesbury. Can the court of London, if ing security to his dominions, and serving as it is sincere in its wishes for a counterpoise to the important acquisitions that the allies are concentrating their means of territory obtained by France on the conti- against it, pretend to preserve conquests, peace, nent. Conform bly to this principle, the which she owes only to the disorders of the undersigned has remitted to M. Otto, the French revolution, and the efforts of the coa14th of las: April, a memorial, wherein were lition? Nevertheless, it is acknowledged, laid down, the terms to which his Majesty that the great events which have happened was disposed to accede as conditions of in Europe, and the changes that have taken peace; and also, to give the most unequivo place in the boundaries of the great states of cl proof of the justice and moderation of his the continent, might authorize a part of the views, and of his sincere desire for the re- demands of the British government; but how turn of tranquillity, his Majesty does not can it demand, as an ultimatum, the keeping hesitate to declare, that he is not disposed to of Malta, of Ceylon, of all the countries conavail himself of the circumstances which quered from Tippoo Saib, of Trinidad, Marhave since presented themselves, though ever tinico, &c. The undersigned is authorized so important to the interest of his states, by to demand of Lord Hawkesbury, if, in case asking for terins more advantageous than the French government should accede to the those that have been stated in this memorial: arrangements proposed for the East Indies by therefore, his Majesty refers again to this England, and should adopt the status anie memorial, on the subject of those principles bellum for Portugal, his Britannic Majesty on which peace can be concluded between would consent that the status ante bellum the two countries. If the French govern- should be re-established in the Mediterranean ment has any propositions to make, different and America? from those that have been mentioned, and Отто. which in its judgment may conduce to peace, appear tranquil on the subject of Portugal, Until this period, England had affected to his majesty is ready to give them the highest though the French and Spanish armies, consideration. Citizen Otto received from his govern-duced Portugal to the last extremity, and a united, had, in the space of a few weeks, rement the following note, which he inclosed as an answer to Lord Hawkesbury : HAWKESBURY. 26th Prairial, An 9. The undersigned having transmitted to his government the note of his excellency Lord Hawkesbury, dated the 6th of June, is directed to address the following answer to kim :--A jest and honourable peace is the negotiation had been concluded, in which the his refusal to England, declaring freely, that in the advantages gained over Portugal, he only sought for the means of compensation to offer England, in exchange for the restitutions she should make to the allies of France. This was the object of a note, addressed from Paris to Citizen Otto, and which he transmitted to Lord Hawkesbury. It was as follows: 27th Prairial, In 9. mission of the Portuguese government, and leave the fate of this country to the British cabinet, who is called upon to decide it, by its answer to the last propositions which it has received, viz. if it will admit the status ante bellum for Portugal as an equivalent for the status ante bellum for America. The British government will not fail seeing, in the frankness of this measure, the desire to act with tenderness towards a feeble power, who, throughout the war, has acted no other part but that of an English province; and to avoid every thing which, by exasperating the two cabinets, would injure the negotiation entered upon by them, and would prepare for humanity new subjects for tears. Отто. Lord Hawkesbury replied by the following The war with Portugal having been pursued with ardour, and the province of Alentejo having been conquered by the Spaniards, the Prince Regent dispatched M. de Pinto with full powers to treat of peace. The negotiation was opened at Badajoz, between the ambassador of the republic and the Portuguese envoy. A kind of treaty was the result, whose principal stipulations were as follow:-That all the ports and roads in Por-note:tugal, as well in Europe as in the other parts Downing-street, June 25, 1801. of the world, shall be shut against English The undersigned, first Secretary of State vessels, whether of war or commerce, and to his Majesty for Foreign Affairs, has the shall remain open to those of France and its honour to mention the receipt of two notes allies, to the conclusion of a peace between, which have been forwarded to him by M. France and England. That the limits of the Otto, on the 18th inst. He shali abstain from two Guianas shall be determined in future by making any reflection on the motives which the river Arrawari, whose navigation, through- prevented his Majesty from entering into the out its course, shall be common to t. e two negotiation in the month of January, 1800, or countries. That the commercial relations on the circumstances which opposed his enbetween the two countries shall be fixed by a deavours, during the present year, to obtain treaty of commerce; but that, in the mean a general peace. The undersigned will, time, the goods and merchandize proceeding however, make some remarks on the nego from the soil and manufactures of each of tiation in question. The French governthe two countries, will be reciprocally ad- ment appears to admit the incontestible jusmitted, without being subject to any prohibi- tice of the pretensions of his Majesty to pretion or any duty but in common with similar serve a part of his conquests, by way of comgoods and merchandize imported by other pensation for the great acquisitions of terrinations; that the French cloth shall be im-tory which France has made on the contimediately introduced into Portugal on the footing of the most favoured branch of commerce. Farther, this treaty contains the stipulation of an indemnity in favour of the French government.-But whatever may be the advantages which would result from this treaty, the undersigned is directed to make known to Lord Hawkesbury, that the instrument signed between the two plenipotentiaries respectively, will not be ratified by the First Consul, and will only be considered by him as a minute of conferences, and rather as a projet than a definitive treaty: at the same time, the First Consul, not to depart from the declaration made at L'Orient to M. D'Aranjo, that peace with the court of Lisbon would not be concluded, till the allies should be in possession of three provinces of Portugal, which might serve as a compensation for their colonies at a general peace. The undersigned must add, that in giving his orders to the French army to be prepared to continue the attacks of Portugal, the First Consul designed to avail himself of the subVOL. HI nent. His Majesty has already proved the moderation of his pretensions by the demandɛ contained in the propositions sent to M. Otto. It cannot be doubted that his Majesty, in preserving every thing he has gained by his arms in the course of this war, does not overbalance the extent and importance of the acquisitions and influence of France on the continent. But his Majesty, animated by a sincere desire to re-establish peace, and by that spirit of moderation which can alone procure it, has declared his intention to make important concessions to France and its allies, and to keep those possessions only which it may judge necessary for the support and security of his states. M. Otto, by his first note of the 18th January, announces to his Majesty, that the French government is willing to admit the conditions proposed relative to the East Indies, and the status ante bellum for Portugal; provided his Majesty would cons sent to the status ante bellum for the Mediter ranean and America. By the status an bellum in the Mediterranean, his Majest * N The conclusions of this note, then, were nothing less than that, if the status ante bollum was allowed to Portugal, his Britannic Majesty would allow the same to the King of Spain; that is to say, that of all the objects of which England proposes to retain, she only offers to give up Trinidad, being desirons of keeping Malta, Martinico, Ceylon, Tobago, Demerary, Essequibo, and Berbice. This note was calculated to lessen, in a great degree, the confidence which the first Consul wished to have in the pacific declarations of the English minister. He directed Citizen Otto to transmit the following paper : understands that the French government | signed, after having made such observations wishes, on its part, not only that Egypt as the occasion requires, has, nevertheless, should be restored to the Grand Scignior, but been directed by his Majesty to give an addithat the integrity of the Ottoman empiretional proof of the care he takes of the inteshould be secured. This proposition, exten- rest of his allies, and of his desire to bring sive as it is, cannot in any way produce the the negotiation to a happy conclusion. Fer results that it announces, nor re-establish the this purpose, the undersigned is authorized two nations in the status ante bellum in the to promise, that when the French governMediterranean. It would be also necessary ment shall have acceded to the propositions that the French government should evacuate already made by his Majesty respecting the the country of Nice, and all the states of the East Indies and the Mediterranean; and if it King of Sardinia; that the Grand Duke of consents also that his Majesty shall keep in Tuscany should be re-established, and that America, Martinico, Tobago, Demerary, the rest of Italy should recover its indepen- Essequibo, and Berbice, his Majesty will add dence. If that cannot be, and that France to what he has already granted, the status is to preserve a part of the influence which ante bellum for Spain, in consideration of the she has lately acquired in Italy, his Majesty status ante beiluni for Portugal, and conclude is legitimately authorized to keep the island of peace on these conditions. Malta, to protect the commerce of his subHAWKESBURY. jects, and to watch at least over the interests of Great Britain in that part of the world. The proposition mentioned in the second note of the 25th inst. on the status ante bellum in America, as a compensation of the status ante bellum as relative to Portugal, appears to be unjust. The undersigned, in his note of the 14th April, has already regulated the concessions that his Majesty intended to make to France and his allies, with a view to assure to Portugal and the Ottoman Porte the status ante bellum, on the re-establishment of peace. But, although his Majesty is disposed to make every reasonable concession for the advantage of his allies, it cannot be expected that he will consent, for The undersigned has submitted to his gotheir sake, to make sacrifices which will be vernment the note of Eis excellency Lord incompatible with the security of his king- Hawkesbury, dated 25th June. He has redoms. Independent of all considerations of ceived orders to make the following answer: this nature, the proposition is in itself liable-It is with the most poignant grief that the to objections, since the status ante bellum for First Consul perceives, on the perusal of this Portugal cannot in any way be equivalent for note, that all the measures hitherto taken by the status ante bellim for America. His the British government by no means tended, Majesty has made very important conquests as it had publicly declared, to obtain a prompt in that part of the world, not only from pacification between the two states. What France, but Spain and Holland. It cannot, can be expected of a negotiation which astherefore, be expected that his Majesty will sumes such a retrograde character! By the restore all the conquests that his arms have note of the 6th June, and the explanations made from several powers in America, as a which accompanied it, Lord Hawkesbury compensation for the status ante bellum in had stated that his Britannic Majesty was Portugal alone: besides, it must be observed disposed to restore all the acquisitions which that the status ante bellum in America could he made from France and her allies, with not be produced by the restitution of the the exception of Ceylon, of Martinico or conquests which his Majesty has made there, Trinidad, and the island of Malta, with this without calling for a compensation to Great modification with respect to the latter, that Britain, for the acquisition that France has its port should be neutralized: and it is to be made of the Spanish part of St. Domingo. observed, that the conquests made by the His Majesty does not mean to avail himself allies in Portugal are reckoned as nothing in of the incontestible right which he can claim the propositions of Lord Hawkesbury, no from treaties of bringing into discussion this more than the other compensations of the concession of Spain to France; but he cannot same kind that France might offer on the conallow that it should pass unnoticed in regu-tinent. By the note of 30 Prairial, the French lating the conditions of peace. The under-government has proposed to abandon all the 21st Messidor, in 9. |