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, An 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 note :-

Downing-street, June 25, 1801: The undersigned, first Secretary of State to his Majesty for Foreign Affairs, has the honour to mention the receipt of two notes which have been forwarded to him by M. Otto, on the 18th inst. He shall abstain from making any reflection on the motives which prevented his Majesty from entering into the negotiation in the month of January, 1800, or on the circumstances which opposed his endeavours, during the present year, to obtain

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- | tugal, as well in Europe as in the other parts of the world, shall be shut against English | vessels, whether of war or commerce, and shall remain open to those of France and its allies, to the conclusion of a peace between France and England. That the limits of the two Guianas shall be determined in future by the river Arrawari, whose navigation, throughout its course, shall be common to the two countries. That the commercial relations between the two countries shall be fixed by a treaty of commerce; but that, in the mean general peace. The undersigned will, time, the goods and merchandize proceeding however, make some remarks on the negofrom 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 nent. His Majesty has already proved the footing of the most favoured branch of moderation of his pretensions by the demands -commerce. Further, this treaty contains the contained in the propositions sent to M. Otto. etipulation of an indemnity in favour of the It cannot be doubted that his Majesty, in French government.--But whatever may be preserving every thing he has gained by his the advantages which would result from this arms in the course of this war, does not overtreaty, the undersigned is directed to make balance the extent and importance of the acknown to Lord Hawkesbury, that the instru-quisitions and inquence of France on the ment 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. III.

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 con sent to the status ante bellum for the Mediter ranean and America. By the status ar bellum in the Mediterranean, his Majesty * N

as the occasion requires, has, nevertheless, been directed by his Majesty to give an additional proof of the care he takes of the interest of his allies, and of his desire to bring the negotiation to a happy conclusion. For this purpose, the undersigned is authorized to promise, that when the French government shall have acceded to the propositions already made by his Majesty respecting the East Indies and the Mediterranean; and if it consents also that his Majesty shall keep in America, Martinico, Tobago, Demerary, Essequibo, and Berbice, his Majesty will add to what he has already granted, the status ante bellum for Spain, in consideration of the status ante bellum for Portugal, and conclude peace on these conditions. HAWKESBURY.

The conclusions of this note, then, were nothing less than that, if the status ante bellum 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 desirous 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 should be restored to the Grand Seignior, but that the integrity of the Ottoman empire should be secured. This proposition, extensive as it is, cannot in any way produce the results that it announces, nor re-establish the two nations in the status ante bellum in the Mediterranean. It would be also necessary that the French government should evacuate the country of Nice, and all the states of the King of Sardinia; that the Grand Duke of Tuscany should be re-established, and that the rest of Italy should recover its independence. If that cannot be, and that France is to preserve a part of the influence which she has lately acquired in Italy, his Majesty is legitimately authorized to keep the island of Malta, to protect the commerce of his subjects, 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 28th 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-cstablishment of peace. But, although his Majesty is disposed to make every reasonable concession for the advantage of his allies, it 21st Alessidor, Án 9. 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 his 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 Table --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 bellum 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

to restore to France and his allics, Pondi cherry, Chandernagor, Negapatam, Malacca, Amboine, Bande, Cochin, the Cape of Good Hope, Goree, Surinam, Curacao, St. Lucia, the Saints, Saint Pierre and Mique lon, Saint Marcou, and Minorca, provided that France would restore the only conquests that she made from the allies of his Majesty: and his Majesty, at the same time, declared, that in case the evacuation of Egypt by the French should precede the signature of the preliminaries, he should not consider himself as bound to adhere to these conditions in all their extent. On the 1st of June, a proposition was made by the French government, that the negotiation should assume a more official character; and in conformity to that wish, the undersigned transmitted to M. Otto the note of the 6th June. Although a very important change has taken place in the situation of this country; although a reasonable hope was entertained of a speedy and friendly arrangement with the powers of the north; although the success of the British arms in Egypt was then sufficient to justify an increase of requisitions; his Majesty still refers to his first memorandum of the 14th April, respecting the terms on which he was disposed to conclude a treaty of peace. The success of the troops in Spain and Portugal have since been represented by the French

conquests of the allies in Portugal: and by way of answer to this pacific proposition, the English government, in its note of the 25th June, demands, by name, Ceylon, Malta, Martinico, and, still further, Tobago, Demerary, Essequibo, and Berbice; that is to say, that the proposition made by France to snatch Portugal from the horrors of a war, in which it has been involved by its attachment to England, will produce no other effect on the British government, than to make it retract a part of the restitutions to which it had consented. The conquest and occupation of several provinces of Portugal, will be the probable consequence of a measure so contrary to declared intentions, and so unfavourable to the success of the negotiation. Can it be believed that the French people are reduced to such a sad extremity as to sign a disgraceful peace? If, after eight years of war which has caused so much blood to be shed, after so many assurances of moderation, so many reciprocal protestations, the French people see themselves obliged to continue the war, is it to be doubted that it will find in its constancy, its population, and its strength, the means of repairing the losses which its allies and itself have, only in part, sustained by treasons, by the consequences of the revolution, and the efforts of continental nations? The First Consul cannot persuade himself that the British go-government as giving a right to demand addivernment will continue to prolong the calamities of war; or, which would be the same thing, would propose a system of peace which would not possess, in the highest degree, the character announced in the letters of Lord Hawkesbury, which would not be reciprocally just or honourable. Отто.

This note occasioned the following reply from the English minister :

tional restitutions on the part of his Majesty. The situation of Portugal had already been taken into consideration by his Majesty in the propositions which he had made 14th April. The change which some successes in that quarter might produce, cannot, in any degree, be compared to the advantages. which have accrued to this country by the events already mentioned. His Majesty would then have been fully justified in adhering at least to his first propositions, but, from his invariable solicitude for the interest of his allies, and his sincere desire to facilitate the attainment of peace, the undersigned was authorized, in the the note of the 25th June, to offer, in addition to the restitutions which had been already proposed, the im

The undersigned principal Secretary of State, &c. has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the note of M. Otto, dated 14th July; and he cannot express the surprise he experienced from the reading of it. The sincere desire of his Majesty for the restoration of peace was clearly manifested in the proposition that he originally made to attain that object; and in the progress of the nego-portant island of Trinidad, and also the tiation he has been so far from increasing his demands, that, on the contrary, in his last proposition he has considerably diminished them. His Majesty deplores that, in the answer which has been received from the French government, he does not discover that spirit of moderation which has constantly influenced his own conduct. In the memorandum delivered by the undersigned to M. Otto, the 14th April, his Majesty stated the conditions to which he proposed to subscribe, to attain the great object he had in view. He offered

eventual assurance of the status ante bellum for Spain, as a consideration for the status ante bellum for Portugal. The French government has distinctly admitted, in the note presented by M. Otto 18th June, that which could not, indeed, be contested, that his Majesty was justified in retaining from his own conquests a compensation for the important acquisitions of territory that France has made on the continent. If the value and extent of these acquisitions are fairly estimated, and if it is considered that France

has availed herself of her recesses to retain | First Consul was afflicted at the retrograde Nice, Savoy, the whole of the Austrian low character which the negotiation had assumed: countries, and the countries to the left of the but as Lord Hawkesbury contested that opiRhine; if it is also considered what a large nion in his note 20th July, the undersigned proproportion of his conquests his Majesty has ceeds to recapitulate the state of the question proposed to restore to France and her allies, with the frankness and precision which such the justice and moderation of his Majesty important affairs deserve. The question is must appear evident to all the world, whe- divided into three points:-The Mediterrather the possessions which he proposes to re-nean, India, and America. Egypt shall be tain be considered relatively to the success of his arms, or, which is still more important, in a state of comparison with the augmented influence and power of France. In conformity to these sentiments, his Majesty has fixed on the terms on which he conceives that a just and honourable peace may be concluded. It is to these terms that his Majesty would still adhere, notwithstanding events hig ly favourable to the interest of Great Britain have taken place since the last communication with the French government. His Majesty then has a right to demand that the French government would be equally explicit. The undersigned is, in consequence, authorized to demand, that the French government will distinctly state to what part of the propositions of his Majesty its objections apply, and that it will communicate, with the same frankness which has marked the conduct of his Majesty, the conditions which, after a general consideration of the circumstances just mentioned, it may judge proper to conduct the negotiations to a prompt and happy conclusion.

restored to the Porte. The Republic of the Seven Islands shall be acknowledged. All the ports of the Adriatic and the Mediterranean which have been occupied by French troops shall be restored to the King of Naples and the Pope. Mahon shall be given back to Spain. Malta shall be restored to the Order; and if the King of England thinks it conformably to his interests as a preponder ating power on the seas, to raze the fortifications, this clause shall be admitted. In India England shall keep Ceylon. The other establishments shall be restored to the allies, comprehending the Cape of Good Hope. In America every thing shall be restored to its ancient possessors. Portugal shall be preserved in all its integrity. Such are the conditions which the French government are ready to sign. The advantages that the British go vernment will obtain are immense; and to pretend to greater, is not to demonstrate a wish for a peace reciprocally just and honourable. Martinico, not having been conquered by the British arms, but given up by the inhabitants into the hands of the English This communication increased the em- till France should possess a government, canbarrassments of the negotiation; and there not be considered as an English possession. was reason to apprehend, that, with these re- France will never renounce her right to it. ciprocal recriminations, the business would | Nothing now remains for the British cabinet terminate without coming to a right under- but to manifest the part it will take; and if standing. The First Consul, therefore, ap- these conditions cannot satisfy it, it will be plied himself to give a new shape to the proved in the face of the world, that the terms of the proposition; and Citizen Otto First Consul has neglected nothing, and that transmitted, by his order, an explanatory and he has evinced his disposition to make every categorical note, in which he clearly an- kind of sacrifice to re-establish the peace, and nounced the conditions on which the First to spare to humanity the tears and blood Consul was ready to sign the preliminary ar- which will be the inevitable consequences of ticles of peace. a new campaign.

4th Thermidor, An 9. The undersigned has communicated to his government the note of Lord Hawkesbury, dated 20th July, and is directed to make the following answer :--The French government is forgetful of nothing that may lead to a general peace; because it is at the same time the interest of humanity and the allies. It is for the King of England to calculate if it is equally for the interest of his politics, his commerce, and his nation. If that should be the case, a remote island more or less cannot be a sufficient reason for prolonging the distress of the world. The undersigned has declared, in his last note, how much the

Отто.

The First Consul consented, with extreme regret, that the English should keep Ceylon; nor did he dissemble the importance of the sacrifice; but he was convinced of its neces sity; and he did not doubt that Batavia itself, deprived by treason of its finest colonies, and despoiled of all its commerce, was anxi ous, even at this price, to be restored to that state of safety which peace alone could ob tain. But, by not insisting on the restitu tion of an establishment which rendered England absolute mistress of India, the First Consul owed it to his allier, and to himself, as chief of the French government, to clam the entire restitution of all the other islands

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tiation on which those interests which are the dearest to humanity depend. The undersigned flatters himself that the French government will be guided by the same principles, and that the success of the negotiation will not be frustrated by a demand, on its part, of restitutions which the relative situations of the belligerent powers would not allow, and which its own example in regard to its conquests does not give it any right to expect, and which his Majesty does not consider as to accord with these principles on

and colonies, which the fate of war, and still oftener treachery, had placed in the power of the English. It was essential to the maintenance of the pacification which so much pains were employing to establish that England should have its power extended and strengthened in Asia and America; but it could not be permitted that she should extend her commercial monopoly and maritime dominion over the Mediterranean, which, from the condition of the shores which surround it, should not be suffered to acknowledge such an influence. Lord Hawkesbury sent the fol-which alone an honourable and permanent lowing official answer :—

5th August, 1801.

peace can be concluded. In this view his Majesty is disposed to give a new proof of his moderation and sentiments; and he does not make any difficulty in declaring, that if the French government will admit of a reasonable arrangement, relative to the East Indies, in conformity to the principle which has been acknowledged as the true basis of the negotiations, his Majesty is ready to enter into further explanations relative to the island of Malta, and desires seriously to concert the means to form an arrangement which will render it independent both of Great Britain and France. HAWKESBURY.

This note could not be considered as answering the just expectations of the French government; but as the British government manifested a disposition to enter upon the important subject of Malta, the First Consul felt infinite satisfaction at this first appearance of an accommodating intention. Citizen Otto was directed to transmit the following note :

The undersigned principal minister of his Majesty for Foreign Affairs, has laid before his Majesty the note presented by Citizen Otto the 26th of last month. His Majesty had every right to expect, that the unreserved and moderate propositions to which he was disposed to accede for the re-establishment of peace would have been favourably received by the French government, or at least in the plan of pacification which was offered, there would have been no essential difference. This expectation was encouraged by the repeated declarations made on its part of its disposition to enter iato an equitable arrangement, and by its admission of the principle on which the propositions of his Britannic Majesty was founded. In the application of this principle his Majesty was not determined by views of ambition and aggrandizement, but by proposing to keep no more than a moderate portion of his vast acquisitions, he has been influenced by the desire 20th Thermidor, An 9. of giving additional security to his ancient The undersigned did not delay a moment possessions. In no part of the negotiation to communicate to his government the note has his Majesty framed new pretensions, and of Lord Hawkesbury, dated the 5th August. the assertion of M. Otto to that effect in his It is with the sincerest satisfaction that the last note is wholly destitute of proof. His First Consul perceives in the last communiMajesty is convinced that no reasonable ob- cation of the British government, that the nejection can be made by the French govern- gotiation begins, on its part, to assume a chament to the substance of the conditions which racter calculated to inspire confidence, and to he has proposed. He had, therefore, a right afford the prospect of a termination to those to expect that every proposition that might evils, which are the inevitable consequences spring from it should be conformable to those of a war of so long duration. The re-esta principles which had been acknowledged as blishment of the respective positions in the those were, which appear in his last com- Mediterranean and the American seas, were munication. The assertion advanced in the the points on which there has not yet been a note of M. Otto that Martinico had not been clear understanding. But his Britannic Maacquired by the arms of his Majesty, but jesty having consented that the island of placed under his protection by the in abi- Malta and its dependencies should be placed tants, is clearly erroneous. The terms of the in such a position as to belong neither to capitulation will demonstrate that the acqui- France or to England, the sole obstacle is resition of this important colony can be alone moved which the arrangements respecting attributed to the efforts of the troops employed the Mediterranean still continued to offer. in that expedition. The French government And as to America, his Majesty having dehas acknowledged that the acquisition of anclared that he is not influenced by any view of island more or less, cannot be of sufficient ambition and aggrandisement; and that he importance to determine the fate of a nego- wishes for an arrangement conformable to the