vinced of the sincerity of their intentions, and because the opinion which they may have of that sincerity is the only pledge for the success of the negotiations. With respect to the second point in the note which the undersigned has had the honour of receiving, he is to refer to his letter of the 16th, in which he informed his excellency Lord Grenville, that he was directed to give satisfactory explanations relative to the principal cbjections of the British government to the proposed armistice, and entreated him, at the same time, to facilitate the means of verbal communications with the ministry. It was therefore difficult to believe that the French government would adhere, without any modification, to its first overtures; for ia that case it would have been quite useless to solicit for an interview, in order to give satisfactory explanations. In speaking of the compensations requisite, in order to place the naval armistice upon a footing with the continental truce, his Majesty's ministry think that there is some preponderance in the balance settled by the French government. A formal discussion upon this point would undoubtedly be displaced, after the various successes of a war which has produced so meny extraordinary events. It is difficult to doubt of the moral influence of those events upon armies, upon nations, upon governments themselves; and the deductions which may be drawn from it at present, appear to

destruction of one of the belligerent powers. It is not therefore the French government which proposes to his Majesty to separate his interests from those of his allies; but having in vain attempted to unite them in a common centre, and finding them separated in fact by the refusal of England to lay down on the altar of peace some special advantages of which France had already made a sacrifice, the First Consul has given a fresh proof of his dispositions, by pointing out another means of reconciliation which the course of events will bring about sooner or later. In conformity with the advice which the undersigned had transmitted on the 4th of this month, notification was given of the cessation of the continental armistice at the term which had been fixed upon; but the counter-projet of the British ministry, dispatched by the undersigned upon the 8th of this month, having reached Paris on the 10th, and is Imperial Majesty having appeared to be convinced that his ally would not withhold his consent to an admissible armistice, the First Consul determined again to retard for eight days the renewal of hostilities. Orders were immediately dispatched to the armies of Germany and Italy, and in the event of those orders arriving too late in the last-mentioned country, and of the French generals having obtained successes in consequence of any military operation, they are ordered to resume that position which they occupied on the preci e day on which hostilities were recom-justify the opinion which the undersigned menced. The simple relation of these facts has felt it his duty to state. If there be any will, without doubt, be sufficient to prove exaggeration in this opinion, it is shared with that the French government never can have the enemies of the republic themselves, who intended to cover, by pretended negotiations, have employed every effort to prolong the a fresh attack upon Austria; and that, on the truce, and who have not scrupled to use the contrary, it has acted throughout this nego- means of pretended negotiations in order to tiation with that frankness and loyalty which gain time. The preliminaries signed by can alone ensure that re-establishment of ge- Count de St. Julien, and disavowed by his neral tranquillity which his Majesty and his court, are a memorable example of this; ministers have so much at heart. It would and the prolongation of the continental armibe in vain to look for proofs of a contrary in- stice must necessarily be considered as a sateation in some expressions contained in the crifice on the part of the republic, since official communications of the French govern- every effort has been employed to extort its ment to the allies of his Majesty; more espe- consent to it. But even whilst his Majesty's cially if such proofs were attempted to be ministry admit the existence of this sacrifice, drawn from one of the last letters written to they formally declare that an analogous sacriBaron Thugut, which the undersigned might fice cannot be expected to be made on the part have communicated himself, if he had found of his Majesty. It certainly does not become an opportunity. That letter would prove, France to judge how far his Majesty's engagethat the French government, always a friend ments with his allies may counteract his inclinato peace, appeared to complain of the intention in this respect; but France appears to have tions of Great Britain only because it had every reason to believe them contrary to a solid system of pacification. The undersigned has entered into these details only because, on the eve of negotiations which may be entered upon, it is of importance to the counils of the two powers to be reciprocally con

certainly an undoubted right to demand the price of the sacrifice which she has made, and which she is still willing to make. The First Consul has given to Europe repeated pledges of his pacific dispositions; he has never ceased manifesting them to the cabinets interested in this contest; and even al

tions for peace, will be found in the facilities it may afford for expediting both the commencement and the successful termination of that negotiation into which the King and his ally the Emperor of Germany have already expressed their willingness to enter, and which can alone, by a general and compre

though the hopes of the enemies of the French Republic should be excited by his moderation, it shall always be the sole guide of his actions. Notwithstanding this difference in the manner of viewing several questions accessory and preliminary to the proposed pacification, the undersigned cannot but congratulate himself on finding, in all the con-hensive arrangement of the interests of all munications which he has hitherto had the the parties concerned in this extensive war, honour of receiving, the same assurances of afford to Europe the hope of solid and perhis Majesty's disposition to employ his efforts manent tranquillity. With respect to the towards the re-establishment of the tranquil-supposed case, in which it is stated, that lity of Europe, and he will neglect no opportunity of placing this disposition in its strongest light to his government. OTTO. Lord Grenville replied in the following

manner:

France would not agree to treat with Austria but for a separate peace, the fortune of war can alone decide on the means of realizing such a pretension; but whenever it shall be insisted on by France, after the experience of what has already passed, it will afford to all other powers, not a presumption only, but the painful and decided conviction, that the French government has no real desire to put a final and conclusive period to the calamities of Europe. No man who considers the past events of this contest with attention, or who is capable of judging with accuracy of the present situation of affairs, can believe that, if the present war is to be terminated

tween the different powers now engaged in it, any permanent or solid basis of general tranquillity could be established. As his Majesty has, in compliance with M. Otto's wishes, authorised a proper person to confer with him respecting the different proposals for a naval armistice, it is unnecessary to add any thing here on that subject. This step affords a new proof of his Majesty's disposi tions to lend himself to every reasonable facility which can contribute to a general paciFcation, and every part of his Majesty's conduct will be found conformable to those dispositions. GRENVILLE.

Downing-street, Sept. 25, 1800. It is by no means the wish of the British government to prolong a written controversy on the circumstances to which the first part of M. Otto's note of the 23d inst. principally relates; it is however necessary, in order to vindicate the accuracy of the former statement which the undersigned was dircc'ed to make, that the dates of those facts should, in reply to M. Otto's note, be more particularly detailed; but this will be done without add-only by a succession of separate treaties being any fresh comment upon them. The first proposal made to his Majesty, on the part of France, for a naval armistice grounded on that of the continent, was dated on the 24th of August. The notices for terminating the continental armistice were given by the French generals on the 27th and 29th of August; the orders for that purpose must therefore have been actually sent from Paris before the 24th. His Majesty's answer was transmitted by the undersigned to M. Otto on the 29th, the very day on which the last of the notices was given in Germany. That ansver referred to the Austrian armistice as still existing; and it was not till the 4th of September that the first intimation was received here of the measures taken in Germany for giving notice of its termination. With respect to the letter of M. Talleyrand to Baron de Thugut, to which M. Oito_refers, it was also dated the 24th August. The French government, so far from being at that time entitled to consider his Majesty's intentions as hostile to the re-establishment of a solid system of pacification, was then ac-first account of the dismissal of Messrs. Pitt, tually in possession of the notification given Dundas, and Grenville. One of the first in his Majesty's name, through his ally, of his acts of the new ministry was to revoke the readiness to concur in immediate negocia orders which had been issued against the fishtions for that very purpose. It will be withing-boats, by their predecessors, which was real pleasure that his Majesty will see the conclusions which appeared to him to resul from these facts disproved by the event. The best evidence which the French government can now give of the sincerity of its disposi

The negociation relative to the maritime armistice must now be considered as, in a great measure, broken off; and, on both sides, an end was put to those discussions, which were rendered useless by the rapid succession of military events, as well as by the conclusion of a treaty of peace at Lunevilic, between France and the Emperor, 20th Prairial, An 9.-On the 29th of this month Citizen Otto transmitted, from London, the

the only answer given to the note sent by Citizen Otto, according to the orders of his Cabinet. It now appeared, that Messrs. Addington, Hawkesbury, and the other members of the new ministry, were disposed to

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 reestablishment 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.

sperity undisturbed, which can arise only from the peace of the seas.

Отто.

Citizen Otto announced, at the same time, that he had received the instructions and powers necessary for either of the two negotiations which should be preferred. The answer of Lord Hawkesbury was conceived in the following terms :

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 na tions. 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 insurmount able, 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.

of

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 This note proves, that the British governfelt by the First Consul, on perceiving that ment acceded to the proposition for opening the British Cabinet is at last disposed to put the negotiation on the preliminary articles; an end to the misery which, for eight years, and the discussions for that purpose were behas desolated Europe. The campaign is be- gun on the 14th Germinal. The English ginning: the fleets of his Britannic Majesty minister endeavoured, at first, to bring for appear ready to carry war into the bosom of ward all the former pretensions of his court; the Baltic; the continental powers are pre- and some of the events which had taken pared to attack Portugal and Hanover. How place in the North of Europe (the passage can it be expected, that, amidst these war- the English fleet into the Sound, and the unlike preparations, and these new causes of expected death of the Emperor Paul I.) as exasperation, a public negotiation could be having contributed to give confidence to the successful, without agreeing to some prelimi- British cabinet. In his second conference, nary principles? Would it not be more na- Lord Hawkesbury delivered to Citizen Otto, tural to precede a negotiation by a suspension a sketch, without any signature, of the conof hostilities? or, if the obstacles to a sus-ditions which he proposed should form the pension of maritime force are more difficult preliminaries of pacification. to remove, even than the re-establishment Aperçu, in the hand-writing of Lord Hawkes of 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, necessary to give Lord Hawkesbury the ad- give it up to the Porte. His Majesty will ditional explanations which his excellency restore, on his part, to France and its allies, can desire. The First Consul will regard the following conquests: Pondicherry, that as the most splendid day of his life, when Chandernagor, Mahé, Negapatam, Malaca, the commerce of Europe will enjoy its pro- Amboine, Banda, Cochin, St. Marcou, the

and

Cape of Good Hope, on condition that it shall be a free port, Goree, Surinam, Curacao, Saint Lucia, the Saints, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Minorca. The Batavian Republic shall grant to the House of Orange an entire indemnity for the loss which it has suffered in its property. If authentic information should be received, previous to the signature of the preliminaries, of the evacuation of Egypt by the French troops, or of a convention concluded to that effect, his Majesty will not hold himself bound to subscribe to

the above conditions in all their extent.

form a balance between two powerful nations, can no more influence the conditions of a maritime peace, than of a continental peace; and whatever may be the fate of forces employed upon the Nile, the Tagus, or any other quarter, it is incontestible that the pretensions and respective interests will remain always the same; and that the object of the pacification will be, invariably, to reestablish an equilibrium which at once embraces the possessions and the commerce of two powers in different parts of the globe. To attain this object, the French govern The First Consul ordered Citizen Otto to ment, reckoning more and more on the sinbe informed, that he could consider these cerity of the British ministry, requests that first propositions of the English minister only the negotiations may take more official chaas a means of gaining time; that there cer-racter: and that the ministry will communitainly could be no idea of their being seriously cate to the undersigned, in writing, the prodiscussed; that there was some difference positions it proposes to make on the basis between the fifth and the ninth year of the that his Majesty shall have thought proper to republic; that he would consent only to an adopt, for the establishment of a definitive honourable peace, founded on a just equili- and general peace. The well-known firmbrium of the different parts of the world; ness of the French government, and its and that, with such a view of things, he means of defence, would be sufficient to set could not leave, in the hands of England, aside any condition that might be incomcountries and establishments of such immense patible with the honour and the dignity of weight in the balance of Europe, as those the republic; if even the principles of justice which she demanded. During several weeks, and moderation that the ministry of his Brithe discussions went on and extended to a tannic Majesty has hitherto professed, were considerable length. To give them more ac- not to be considered as pledges of his sincere tivity, the First Consul ordered Citizen Otto desire to shorten the negotiations by offers to deliver the following note to Lord Hawkes- analogous to these principles. Отто. bury:

Hereford-street, 12 Prairial, An 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 byverbal 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

In

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. peace might be concluded. This basis car the month of Nivuse, year 8, it proposed to be established only on just and equitable the British government to treat of peace, and principles, taking into consideration all the its proposition was repulsed. During the circumstances of the war, and the relative negotiations with Austria, the French governstate 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, and even of a gebeing influenced by any view of ambition neral negotiation, it 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, anak gous to that of the conshould recover the situation which they pos- tinent, which was together in favour of sessed before the commencement of Lostili Austria. This proposition was abo 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 Lupe, government participates in the wish for in this case his Majesty would Le obliged to peace, it is very easy to give a proof of it, have recourse to some other principic equally since it possesses, from its immense conjust and reasonable; and he thinks that hejerests, the pledge of a general peace. At has the right to expect, that the French go vernment will acquiesce in his being juctified, from the success of his arms, to retain a part of his conquests, from a sense of giving security to his dominions, and serving as a counterpoise to the important acquisitions of territory obtained by France on the continent. Conformably to this principle, the undersigned has remitted to M. Otto, the 14th of las April, a memorial, wherein were laid down, the terms to which his Majesty was disposed to accede as conditions of peace; and also, to give the most inequivo Cai proof of the justice and moderation of his view, and of his sincere desire for the return of tranquillity, his Majesty does not hesis te to declare, that he is not disposed to aval himself of the circumstances which have since presented themselves, though ever so important to the interest of his states, by asking for terms more advantageous than those that have been stated in this memorial: therefore, his Majesty refers again to this memorial, on the subject of those principles on which peace can be concluded between the two countries. If the French government has any propositions to make, diferent from those that have been mentioned, and which in its judgment may conduce to peace, his majesty is ready to give them the highest consideration.

HAWKESBURY. Citizen Otto received from his govern ment the following note, which he inclosed as an answer to Lord Hawkesbury :---

28th Prairiai, An 9. The undersigned having transmitted to his government the note of his excellency Lord Hawkesbury, dated the 6th of June, is di rected to address the following answer to him:-A just and honourable peace is the

the same time it must be said, that the sincere disposition to peace is not visible in the propositions presented by Lord Hawkesbury. Can the court of London, if it is sincere in its wishes for peace, and now that the allies are concentrating their means against it, pretend to preserve conquests, which she owes only to the disorders of the French revolution, and the efforts of the cca lition? Nevertheless, it is acknowledged, that the great events which have happened in Europe, and the changes that have taken place in the boundaries of the great states of the continent, might authorize a part of the demands of the British government; but how can it demand, as an ultimatum, the keeping of Malta, of Ceylon, of all the countries conquered from Tippoo Salb, of Trinidad, Martinico, &c.? The undersigned is authorized to demand of Lord Hawkesbury, if, in case the French government should accede to the arrangements proposed for the East Indies by England, and should adopt the status anie belian for Portugal, his Britannic Majesty would consent that the status ante bellum should be re-established in the Mediterranean and America? Огто.

Until this period, England had affected to appear tranquil on the subject of Portugal, though the French and Spanish armies, united, had, in the space of a few weeks, redeced Portugal to the last extremity, and a negotiation had been concluded, in which the court of Lisbon was compelled to make the greatest sacrifices. In fact, the first treaty concluded at Badajoz had already imposed very rigorous conditions on Portugal, the principal of which were directed against England. Nevertheless, the First Consul refused to ratify this treaty, and made known