STATE PAPERS, COMPRISING THE WHOLE OF THE RELATIVE TO THE LATE NEGOCIATION FOR PEACE BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE, AS LAID UPON THE TABLES OF THE TWO HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, ON THE 27TH AND 28TH OF DECEMBER. SIR, (No. 1.) Downing-freet, Sept. 6, 1796. N obedience to the o ders of the KING, my Mafter, I have the honour to tranfmit to you the inclofed Note, and to request of you that you will forward it to His Danish Majesty's Minifter at Paris, to be by him communicated to the Executive Directory. The fentiments of your Court are too well known to the KING to admit of HIS MAJESTy's entertaining any doubt of the fatisfaction with which HIS DANISH MAJESTY will fee the intervention of his Minifters employed on fuch an occafion, or of the earnestness with which you, Sir, will concur in a measure that has for its obje the re-establishment of Peace. To the Count de Wedel Jarlberg.]GRENVILLE. NOTE. (No. 2.) HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY, animated with the fame defire which he has already manifested, to terminate, by juft, honourable, and permanent Conditions of Peace, a War which has extended itfelf throughout all parts of the World, is willing to onit nothing on his part which may contribute to this object. It is with this view that he has thought it proper to avail himlelf of the confidential intervention of the Minifters of a Neutral Power, to demand of the Executive Directory, Paffports for a Perfon of Confidence, whom HIS MAJETY would fend to Paris with a Commiffion to difcufs with the Government there, all the means the most proper to produce fo defirable an end. not permitted him to return an Answer in writing, but that he was directed to express himself verbally to this effect: "That the Executive Directory of the "French Republic would not, for the future, "receive or aniwer any Overtures of Confiden"tial Papers, tranfmitted through any inter"mediate channel from the Enemies of the "Republic, but that if they would send Per"fons furnished with full powers and official 46 papers, thefe might, upon the Frontiers, "demand the Paffports neceflary for proceeding "to Paris." London, Sept. 23, Co. de WEDEL JARLSBERG. 1796. SIR, (No. 4.) Paris, Sept. 19, 1796. I WAS indifpofed at my country house when your Excellency's Courier brought me the Letters which your Excellency did me the honour to write to me on the 7th init. together with the Note of Lord GRENVILLE enclofed therein. I fet off for Paris on the following day, where, after demanding an audience of Citizen DELACROIX, Minister for Foreign Affairs, I prefented the Note above mentioned, accompanied by another in my own name, in which I explained the motives that had induced me to undertake a meafure for which I had no authority from my Court. He promifed to fubmit the two Notes to the infpection of the Government, and to return me an anfwer immediately. Having waited for three days without receiving an aniwer, I went a fecond time to wait upon the Minifter, who, in a very dry tone, informed me, that the Executive Directory had not permitted him to return an anfwer in writing, but that he was directed to exprefs himielf verbally to this effect: "That the Executive Directory of the French "Republic would not for the future receive or anfwer any confidential overtures, or papers, "tranfmitted through any intermediate channel "from the Enemies of the Republic; but that, "if they would fend perfons furnished with "full powers and official papers, these might upon the Frontiers, demand the pafiports ne"ceffary for proceeding to Paris." I HAVE the honour to inform Excelyour lency, that the Note addrelled to the Executive Directory of France, in date of the 6th of the prefent month, was tranfmitted by Mr. KOENEMAN, Chargé d'Affaires of HIS DANISH MAJESTY, to M. DELACROIX, Minifter for Foreign Affairs, at Paris, who promised that an Answer fhould be returned to it, after it had been fubmitted to the confideration of the Government. Three days having elapfed in expectation of this Answer, Mr. KOENEMAN went a fecond time to the Minister above mentioned, who gave him to understand, that the Executive Directory had To his Excellency the Count de Wedel Jarlsberg. Such, fir, is the refult of a measure which I have taken at your request, I wish, for the fake of humanity, that we may meet with bet ter fuccefs, at fome future period; but I fear that this period is ftill at a great distance. KOENEMAN. ΝΟΤΕ, 1796.] State Papers relative to the late Negociation with France. 923 NOTE, (No. 5. ) IN demanding of the Executive Directory of the French Republic, through the intervention of the Minifters of a Neutral Power, a Pafiport for a Confidential Perfon to be fent to Paris, the Court of London accompanied this demand with express declaration, that this Perfon fhould be commiffioned to difcufs with the Government all the means the most proper for conducing to the re-eftablishment of Peace. The KING, perfevering in the fame fentiments which he has already fo unequivocally declared, will not leave to his Enemies the fmalleft pretext for eluding a difcuffion, the refult of which will neceffarily serve either to produce the happiness of fo many Nations, or at leaft to tener evident the views and difpofitions of those who oppose themselves to it. In is therefore in pursuance of these fentiments, that the underfigned is charged to declare, that, as foon as the Executive Directory fhall think proper to tranfmit to the underfigned the neceffary Paffports (of which he, by this Note, renews the demand already made) His BRITANNIC MAJESTY will fend to Paris a Perfon furnished with full Powers and Official Inftructions, to negociate with the Executive Directory on the means of terminating the prefent War, by a Pacification, juft, honourable, and folid, calculated to eftore repofe to Europe, and to enfure for the time to come the general tranquillity. GRENVILLE. Westminster, Sept. 27, 1796. To the Minifter for Foreign Affairs, at Paris. (No. 6. ) I HAVE the honour to tranfmit to Lord GRENVILLE a Copy of the Decree of the Executive Directory of the French Republic, in anfwer to his Note of the 27th September," 1796 (O. S.) He will there fee a proof of the earnest defire of the French Government to profit of the Overture that is made to them, in the hope that it may lead to Peace with the Government of England. I have the honour to fend to him, at the fame Paris, 11 Vendemiaire, 5th Year EXTRACT FROM THE REGISTER OF THE The 9th Vendemiaire, 5th Year of the French Republic, One and Indivifible. THE Executive Directory, upon confideration of the Note addreffed to the Minifter for Foreign Affairs, by Lord GRENVILLE, dated Westminster, September 24, 1796, wishing to give a proof of the defire which it entertains, to make Peace with England, decrees as follows: * Sic in Orig. MONTHLY MAG, No. XI, The Minister for Foreign Affairs is charged to deliver the neceffary Paffports to the Envoy of England, who fhall be furnished with full Powers, not only for preparing and negociating the Peace between the French Republic and that Power, but for concluding it definitively be tween them. (No. 7*.) LORD MALMESBURY, who is appointed by the KING to treat with the French Government for a juft and equitable Peace, calculated to restore repose to Europe, and to ensure the public tranquillity for the time to come, will have the honour of delivering this Letter from me to M. DELACROIX. The distinguished rank and merit of the Minifter of whom His MAJESTY has made choice on this occafion, makes it unneceflary for me to fay any thing in his recommendation; at the fame time that it furnishes a freth proof of the defire of His MAJESTY to contribute to the fuccefs of this Negociation: for which object I entertain the moit fanguine wishes. GRENVILLE. WAminster, October 13, 1796. To the Minister for Foreign Affairs, at Paris. (No. 8.) LORD MALMESBURY, named by his BRITANNIC MAJESTY, as his Plenipotentiary to the French Republic, has the honour to announce, by his Secretary, to the Minifter for Foreign Affairs, his arrival at 'Paris ; and to request of him, at the fame time, to be fo good as to appoint the hour at which he may wait upon him, for the purpose of communicating te him the object of his miffion. Paris, ciober 22, 1796. THE Minifter for Foreign Affairs learns with fatisfaction the arrival of Lord MALMESBURY, Plenipotentiary of HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY. If Brumaire, An. 5. (October 22, 1796.) LORD MALMESBURY has the honour to thank the Minifter for Foreign Affairs, for the obliging Antwer which he has just received / from him. He accepts with pleasure the firft moment propofed, and will wait upon him to-morrow morning, at eleven o'clock precifely. Paris, October 22. To the Minifter for Foreign Affairs. and concluding Peace between the Republic and HIS MAJESTY. To-morrow, if LORD MALMESBURY pleafes, the refpective Powers fhall be exchanged. The Minifter for Foreign Affairs will then be ready to receive the Propofitions, which Lord MALMESBURY is commiffioned to make to the Republic, on the part of HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY. The Minifter for Foreign Affairs requests Lord MALMESBURY, to accept the affurances of his high confideration. 2 Brumaire, Aug. 5. CH. DELACROIX. (No. 12.) LORD MALMESBURY has the honour to prefent his acknowledgements to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the communication which he has just made to him, and he will have the honour to wait upon him to-morrow, at the hour which he fhall have the goodness to appoint, to receive the Copy of the full powers with which he is furnished on the part of the Executive Directory; and as foon as they fhall have been exchanged, he will be ready to commence the Negotiation with which he is charged. He requests the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to acept the affurances of his high confideration. Paris, Oct. 23, 1796. MALMESBURY. (No. 13.) XTRACT FROM THE REGISTER OF THE DEBREES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORY. 2 Brumaire, (22 Nov.) 5th Year of the French Republic, One and Indivifible. THE Executive Directory, after having heard the Report of the Minister for Foreign Affairs: The Citizen CHARLES DELACROIX, Minifter for Foreign Affairs, is charged to negotiate with Lord MALMESBURY, Commisioner Plenipotentiary of HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY, Furnished with full powers to prepare and negotiate Peace between the French Republic and that Power, and to conclude it definitively be tween them The Directory gives to the faid Minifter all powers neceffary for concluding and Signing the Treaty of Peace, to take place between the Republic and HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY. He fhall conform himself to the Inructions which fhall be given him. He fhall render a regular account, from time to time, of the progrefs and of the iffue of the Negotiations. The prefent Decree fhall not be printed at this time. (No. 14.) MEMORIAL. HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY defiring, as he has already declared, to contribute, as far as depends on him, to the re-establishment of public tranquillity, and to enfure, by the means of juft, honourable, and folid conditions of Peace, the future repofe of Europe; HIS MAJESTY is of opinion, that the best means of attaining, with all poffible expedition, that falutary end, will be to agree, at the beginning of the Negotiation, on the general principle which fhall ferve as a bafis for the definitive arrangements. The firft object of Negotiation for Peace geerally relates to the Reftitutions and Ceffions which the refpective Parties have mutually to demand, in confequence of the events of the War. Great Britain, from the uninterrupted fuccefs of her Naval War, finds herself in a fituation to have no Reftitution to demand of France, from which, on the contrary, she has taken Establishments and Colonies of the highest importance, and of a value almoft incalculable. But, on the other hand, France has made, on the Continent of Europe, Conquefts, to which HIS MAJESTY can be the lefs indifferent, as the most important interefts of his People, and the most facred engagements of his Crown, are effentially implicated therein. The magnanimity of the KING, his inviolable good faith, and his defire to restore repose to fo many Nations, induce him to confider the fituation of affairs as affording the means of procuring for all the Belligerent Powers, juft and equitable terms of Peace, and fuch as are calcu lated to enfure for the time to come the general tranquillity. It is on this footing, then, that he proposes to negotiate, by offering to make Compensation to France, by proportionable Reftitutions, for those arrangements to which the will be called upon to confent, in order to fatisfy the juft demands of the King's Allies, and to preferve the political Balance of Europe. Having made his first overture, His MAJESTY will, in the fequel, explain himfelf more particularly on the application of this principle of the different objects which may be difcuffed between the refpective Parties. It is this application which will constitute the fubject of those difcuffions into which HIS MAJESTY has authorised his Minifter to enter, as foon as the principle to be adopted as the general bafis of the Negotiation is known. But HIS MAJESTY cannot omit to declare, that if this generous and equitable offer fhould not be accepted, or if, unfortunately, the dif cuffions which may enfue fhould fail to produce the defired effect, neither this general propofition, nor those more detailed, which may refult from it, can be regarded, in any cafe, as points agreed upon or admitted by His MAJESTY. Paris, O. 24, 1796. MALMESBURY. (No. 15.) EXTRACT FROM THE REGISTER OF THE DE- Paris, 5 Brumaire, 5th Year of the THE Executive Directory orders the Minifter for Foreign Affairs to make the following Anfwer to Lord MALMESBURY: The Executive Directory fees with pain, that, at the moment when it had reafon to hope for the speedy return of Peace between the French Republic and HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY, the propofal of Lord MALMESBURY, offers nothing but dilatory or very diftant means of bringing the Negotiation to a conclufion. The Directory obferves, that if Lord MALMES BURY would have agreed to treat feparate 1796.] State Papers relative to the late Negociation with France. 925 ly, as he was formally authorised by the tenor of his Credentials, the Negotiations might have been confiderably abridged; that the neceffity of balancing with the interefts of the two Powers, thofe of the Allies of Great Britain, multiplies the combinations, increases the difficulties, tends to the formation of a Congress, the forms of which, it is known, are always tardy, and requires the acceffion of Powers which hitherto have difplayed no defire of accommodation, and have not given to Lord MALMESBURY himself, according to his own declaration, any power to ipulate for them. Thus, without prejudging the intentions of Lord MALMESBURY; without drawing any conclufion from the circumftance of his declaration not appearing to accord with his Credentials; without fuppofing that he has received any fecret inftructions which would destroy the effect of his oftenfible powers; without pretending, in fhort, to affert, that the British Government have had a double object in view-to prevent, by general propofitions, the partial propofitions of other powers, and to obtain from the People of England, the means of continuing the War, by throwing upon the Republic the odium of a delay, occafioned by themselves; the Executive Directory cannot but perceive, that the propotion of Lord MALMESBURY is nothing more than a renewal, under more amicable forms, of the propofitions made laft year by Mr. Wick HAM, and that it prefents but a diftant hope of Peace. - The Executive Directory farther observe, with regard to the principle of retroceffions advanced by Lord MALMESBURY, that fuch a principle, prefented in a vague and isolated manner, cannot ferve as the bafis of Negotiation; that the first points of confideration are, the common neceffity of a juft and folid Peace-the political equi librium which abfolute retreceffions might deftroy-and then the means which the Belligerent Powers may poffefs ;-the one to retain conquefts at a time when it was fupported by a great number of Allies, now detatched from the Coalition; and the other, to recover them at a time when those who were at firf its enemies, have almoft all become either its Allies, or at least neuter. Nevertheleis, the Executive Directory, animated with an ardent defire of putting a top to the fcourge of War, and to prove that they will not reject any means of reconciliation, declare, that as foon as Lord MALMESBURY fhall exhibit to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, fufficient Powers from the Allies of Great Britain, for ftipulating for their respective interests, accompa nied by a promife on their part to subscribe to whatever fhall be concluded in their names, the Executive Directory will haften to give an anAwer to the specific propofitions which shall be fubmitted to them, and that the difficulties fhall be removed, as far as may be confiftent with the fafety and dignity of the French Republic. (No. 16.) THE Underfigned has not failed to tranfmit to his Court, the Anfwer of the Executive Directory, to the Propofals which he was charged to make, as an opening to a pacific Negotiation. With regard to the offenfive and injurious infinuations which are contained in that Paper, and which are only calculated to throw new obftacles in the way of the accomodation which the French Government profeffes to defire, the KING has deemed it far beneath his dignity to permit an Answer to be made to them on his part in any manner whatsoever. The progrefs and the refult of the Negotiation, will fufficiently prove the principles by which it will have been directed on each fide; and it is neither by revolting reproaches, wholly deftitute of foundation, nor by reciprocal invective, that a fincere wish to accomplish the great work of pacification can be evinced. The Underfigned paffes, therefore, to the first object of difcuffion brought forward in the An.. fwer of the Executive Directory ;-that of a feparate Negotiation, to which it has been fuppofed, without the fmalleft foundation, that the Underfigned was authorised to accede. His full Powers, made out in the ufual form, give him all neceflary authority to negotiate and to conclude the Peace; but thefe Powers prescribe to him neither the form, the nature, nor the conditions of the future Treaty. Upon thofe points, he is bound to conform himfelf, according to the long eftablifhed and received cuftom of Europe, to the inftructions which he shall receive from his Court; and accordingly, he did not fail to acquaint the Minifter for Foreign Affairs, at their first conference, that the KING his Mafter had exprefsly enjoin. ed him to listen to no Propofal, tending to feparate the interefts of His MAJESTY from thofe of his Allies. There can be no queftion, then, but of a Negotiation which fhall combine the interefts and pretenfions of all the Powers who make a common caufe with the KING in the prefent War. In the courfe of the prefent Negotiation, the intervention, or, at least, the participation of thefe Powers, will doubtless become abfolutely necellary; and HIS MAJESTY hopes to find at all times, the fame difpofitions to treat, upon a juft, and equitable bafis, of which Hrs MAJESTY the EMPEROR and KING, gave to the French Government fo ftriking a proof, at the very moment of the opening of the prefent Campaign. But it appears, that the waiting for a formal and definitive authority on the part of the Allies of the KING, before Great Britain and France begin to difcufs, even provifionally, the principles of the Negotiation, would be to create a very useless delay. A conduct wholly different has been obferved by these two Powers, on almost all fimilar occafions; and HIS MAJESTY thinks, that the beft proof which they can give, at the prefent moment, to all Europe, of their mutual defire to put a ftop, as foon as poffible, to the calamities of War, would be to fettle, without delay, the bafis of a combined Negotiation, inviting, at the fame time, their Allies to concur in it, in the manner the most proper for accelerating the general Pacification. 6 B 2 It It is with this view that the Underfigned was charged to propofe at firft, and at the very commencement of the Negotiation, a principle, which the generofity and good faith of HIS MAJESTY could alone dictate to him-that of making compenfation to France, by proportionable reftitutions, for the arrangements to which the will be to confent, in order to fatisfy the juft pretenfions of the KING'S Allies, and to preferve the political Balance of Europe. The Executive Directory has not explained itfelf in a precife manner, either as to the acceptance of this principle, or as to the changes or modifications which it may defire to be made in it; nor has it, in fhort, propofed any other principle whatever to answer the fame end. The Underfigned, then, has orders to recur to this point, and to demand, on that head, a frank and precife explanation, in order to abridge the delays which muft neceffarily refult from the difficulty of form which has been started by the Executive Directory. He is authorifed to add to this demand the expréfs declaration, that HIS MAJESTY, in communicating to his auguft Allies every fucceffive ftep which he may take, relative to the object of the prefent Negotiation, and in fulfilling, towards thefe Sovereigns, in the most efficacious manner, all the duties of a good and faithful, Ally, will emit nothing on his part, as well to difpofe them to concur in this Negotiation, by the means the moft proper to facilitate its progrefs, and infure its fuccefs, as to induce them always to perfift in fentiments conformable to the wifhes which he entertains for the return of a gemeral Peace, upon just, honourable, and perma ment conditions. THE Underfigned is charged, by the Executive Directory, to invite you to point out, without the smallest delay, and exprefsly, the objects of reciprocal compenfation which you propofe. He is, moreover, charged to demand of you, what are the difpofitions to treat, on a juft and equitable bafis, of which HIS MAJESTY the EMPEROR and KING, gave to the French Government fo ftriking a proof, at the very commencement of the Campaign? The Executive Directory is unaquainted with it. It was the EMPEROR and KING who broke the Armiftice. CH. DELACROIX. Paris, 22 Brumaire (Nov. 12.) (No. 18.) THE Underfigned does not hefitate a moment to answer the two Queftions which you have been inftructed by the Executive Directory to put to him. The Memorial prefented this morning by the Underfigned propofes, in exprefs terms, on the part of HIS MAJESTY the King of Great Britain, to compenfate France, by proportionable reftitutions, for the arrangements to which the will be called upon to confent, in order to fatisfy the just pretenfions of the KING'S Allies, and to preferve the political Balance of Europe. Before the formal acceptation of this principle, or the propofal, on the part of the Executive Directory, of fome other principle which might equally ferve as the bafis of a Negotiation for a general Peace, the Underfigned cannot be authori fed to defignate the objects of reciprocal Compenfation. As to the proof of the pacific difpofitions given to the French Government by HIS MAJESTY the EMPEROR and KING, at the opening of the Campaign, the Underfigned contents himself with a reference to the following words contained in the Note of Baron d'EGLEMAN, on the 4th of June last. "The operations of the war will in no wife “prevent His IMPERIAL MAJESTY from be"ing ever ready to concur, agreeably to any form "of Negotiation which fhall be adopted, in con"cert with the Belligerent Powers, in the dif"cuffion of proper means for putting a stop to "the farther effufion of human blood." This Note was prefented after the Armistice was broken. MALMESBURY. Paris, Nov. 12, 1796. (No. 19.) THE Underfigned, Minifter for Foreign Affairs, declares to Lord MALMESBURY, Minifter Plenipotentiary from HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY, that he is to confider the Official Note fent to him yesterday as the Anfwer to that which Lord MALMESBURY had addreffed to him on the morning of the fame day. CHARLES DELACROIX, 23 Brumaire, Nov. 13, 1796. (No. 21.) LORD MALMESBURY has just received the Anfwer of the Minifter for Foreign Affairs, in which he declares that the Official Note which he sent to him yesterday is to be confidered as the Anfwer to that which Lord MALMESBURY addreffed to him on the morning of the fame day. Lord MALMESBURY will tranfmit it this day to his Court. Paris, Nov. 13, 1796. (No. 22.) THE Undersigned, in reply to your second Note of yesterday, is ordered, by the Executive Directory, to declare to you, that he has nothing to add to the Anfwer which has been addreffed to you. He is alfo inftructed to ask you, whether, on each official communication which shall take place between you and him, it will be neceflary for you to fend a Courier to receive special inftructions? CHARLES DELACROIX. Paris, 23 Brumaire, Nov. 13. (No. 23.) THE Underfigned will not fail to tranfmit to his Court the Note which he has just received from |