cise all moderation as to my equitable pretensions. I am of opinion, that a just and solid peace cannot be agreed on but by the congress proposed and accepted by all the powers at war,

I place a full confidence in the friendship of your Imperial majesty, to whom the house of Saxony is bound by sacred ties. It is not unknown to your majesty that Saxony hath been attacked merely on account of its connections with the Russian empire; and that the king of Prussia has taken occasion to charge us with entering into defensive treaties with that empire against him. We therefore flatter ourselves with the hope, that so ancient and so equitable an ally of Saxony will not suffer our dominions, which are already reduced to the utmost distress, as well by exorbitant contributions as by the alienation of our revenues, and of the funds which were allotted for the payment of debts, to be completely ruined.

that we

The whole world agrees, are entitled to an equitable restitution and reparation of the damage sustained. But notwithstanding all these considerations, and though all the powers at war shew themselves inclined to contribute to the general pacification, yet, Saxony remains threatened with irretrievable ruin.

We therefore hope, that your majesty's philanthropy and magnanimity will prevail with your majesty to take care that, before all things, the electorate of Saxony be speedily evacuated, in order thereby to put an end to the calamities which overwhelm it; this being the means of facilitating and accelerating the conclusion of a general peace.

Speech made to the King by the Duke de Nivernois, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Most Christian King, on his presenting his Credentials to His Majesty, the 24th of Nov. 1762.

SIRE,

UNE reconciliation cordiale entre deux puissants monarques qui sont faits pour s'aimer; une union de systeme durable entre deux grandes cours que leurs interêts, bien-entendus, rapprochent l'une de l'autre; une liaisou sincere & solide entre deux respectables nations, que des malheureux préjuges ont trop souvent divisées; voilà, Sire, l'époque brillante de premiers momens du regne de votre majesté ; & cette époque sera, en même tems, celle du bonheur rétabli dans les quatres parties du monde. C'est à la félicité universelle que le nom, la gloire, & les vertus de votre majesté, seront unis pour jamais dans les fastes de l'histoire; & la posterité y lira avec un sentiment de respect ce traité, qui entre tous les traités portera le caractére distinctif d'une bonne foi non équi voque, & d'une solidité durable.

Qu'il me soit permis de me féliciter à vos pieds, Sire, d'avoir été choisi par le roi mon maitre pour servir, entre votre majesté & lui, d'organe aux nobles sentiments de deux cœurs si dignes l'un de l'autre ; & pour travailler à cet ouvrage sacré, qui assure la gloire de votre majesté en faisant le bonheur de l'humanité entiere.

SIR,

TRANSLATION.

A cordial reconciliation between two powerful monarchs, formed to

Most gracious Sovereign,

WE, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the commons of Great Britain in parliament assembled, beg leave to return your majesty our most humble and hearty thanks for your most gracious condescension, in ordering to be laid before us the preliminary articles of peace concluded between your majesty, on the one part, and their most Christian and Catholic majesties on the other; and to assure your majesty, that we have considered them with our best attention. And although to make peace and war be your majesty's just and undoubted prerogative, yet, knowing how agreeable it must be to your royal mind, to be informed of the grateful sense your people entertain of the justice and wisdom of your measures, and of your unwearied attention to their welfare, your faithful commons are

impatient to express their approbation of the advantageous terms upon which your majesty hath concluded preliminary articles of peace, and to lay before your majesty the hearty applause of a faithful affectionate people.

While we admire your majesty's prudence in availing yourself of the successes with which Divine Providence hath blessed your arms,— whereby your majesty hath procured such solid, and, in all human probability, such permanent advantages for this kingdom, — we are no less sensibly affected with that humane disposition which induced your majesty to put an end to a long, bloody, and expensive, though glorious and successful

war.

Your faithful commons will take the earliest opportunity to examine. into the state of the public revenues, in order to establish the best economy for the future, so wisely recommended by your majesty, and so necessary to maintain the king-, dom of Great Britain in that great and respectable situation in which your majesty's fortitude and wisdom have now placed it.

We are convinced that posterity, from their own experience, will

hereafter with us, in esteem-
agree
ing that peace to be no less honour-
able than profitable, by which there
will be ceded to Great Britain such
an addition of territory, attended
with so great an extension of our

commerce.

We therefore beg leave humbly to lay before your majesty the and to assure your majesty, that it strongest sentiments of gratitude; shall be our study to improve that which your majesty hath already so confidence of the people in you,

very deservedly acquired from your conduct in the present most importait juncture:

His Majesty's most gracious Answer. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, IRETURN you my hearty thanks for this most loyal and affectionate address.

Your approbation of the measures I have taken for restoring peace, and of the terms on which it is to be concluded, gives me the highest satisfaction.

The affection and gratitude of my people are the most pleasing return I can receive for my en deavours to promote their happi

ness.

1

The Definitive Treaty of Friendship and Peace between his Britannic Majesty, the most Christian King, and the King of Spain. Concluded at Paris the 10th day of February 1653. To which the King of Portugal acceded the same day.

In the name of the most Holy and undivided Trinity, Father, Son, and divided Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. So be it.

Be it known to all those to whom it shall, or may, in any manner, belong.

It has pleased the Most High to diffuse the spirit of union and concord among the princes, whose divisions had spread troubles in the four parts of the world, and to inspire them with the inclination to cause the comforts of peace to succeed to the misfortunes of a long and bloody war, which, having arisen between England and France, dur ing the reign of the most serene and most potent prince, George the Se

cond, by the grace of God, king.
of Great Britain, of glorious me-
mory, continued under the reign of
the most serene and most potent
prince, George the Third, his suc-.
cessor, and, in its progress, commu-
nicated itself to Spain and Portu-.
gal: consequently, the most serene
and most potent prince, George the
Third, by the grace of God, king
of Great Britain, France, and Ire-
land, duke of Brunswick and Lu-
nenbourg, arch-treasurer and elec-
tor of the Holy Roman empire;
the most serene and most potent
prince, Lewis the Fifteenth, by
the grace of God, most Christian.
king; and the most serene and
most potent prince, Charles the
Third, by the grace of God, king
of Spain and of the Indies; after.
having laid the foundation of peace,
in the preliminaries, signed at
Fontainbleau the 3d of Novem-
ber last; and the most serene and
most potent prince, Don Joseph
the First, by the grace of God,
king of Portugal and the Algarves,.
after having acceded thereto, de-
termine to complete without de-
lay, this great and important work.
For this purpose, the high con
tracting parties have named and
appointed their respective ambas-,
sadors extraordinary, and ministers
plenipotentiary, viz. his sacred ma-
jesty, the king of Great Britain,
the most illustrious and most excel-
lent lord John, duke and earl of
Bedford, marquis of Tavistock,
&c. his minister of state, lieute-
nant-general of his armies, keeper
of his privy seal, knight of the
most noble order of the garter,
and his ambassadar extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary to his
most Christian majesty; his sacred
majesty the most Christian king,

the