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from such conduct that the inference can be drawn," that the British government have resolved to forego the prospect of a peace."

Are the conditions which the undersigned was ordered to propose as the basis of a peace between his majesty the emperor of all the Russias and the French government more of a nature to have given rise to this suspicion? Quite the reverse. If a solid and durable peace was the object of the two powers, these were such conditions as justice and expediency demanded. Justice; because certainly nothing could be more equitable than to grant to his Sicilian majesty and to the king of Sardinia a compensation for their immense losses on the continent. Expediency; because in order to insure the duration of peace, such an arrangement of boundaries as may prevent disputes must always be preferable to that which furnishes to one of the parties the means and advantages of attack. It was on this principle that the proposed evacuation of Dalmatia and Albania by the French troops, naturally suggested itself.

If, therefore, the undersigned has received orders to demand his passports, and to depart from France, it is certainly not because his sovereign wishes to renounce peace, but because his majesty finds himself obliged to do so; the French govern. ment not having consented to all the conditions which were comprised in the proposals originally made by them to his Britannic majesty, and having moreover rejected, as the basis for the treaty with Russia, the just and reasonable conditions which the undersigned was authorised to propose.

The undersigned has received with real satisfaction the general

assurances of the disposition of the French government to renew the negotiation at a future period, as expressed in the official note of his excellency the minister for foreign affairs. He has seen with no less pleasure, that the tone and the moderation observed in this communication correspond with the sentiments which accompany them. On this subject his excellency may rest assured, that the French government, could not in any way express a stronger desire to see an end put to the calamities of war, than that which his Britannic majesty will invariably feel, whenever peace can be concluded on conditions compatible with the honour of his crown and the interests of his subjects.

But

The undersigned ought here to conclude the official answer which he has thought necessary to make to the note of his excellency the minister for foreign affairs. he cannot pass over in silence one part of this note, where his excellency wishes to convey the idea that the British government seems no longer disposed to act on the same principles which directed the conduct of the great man whom England has lately lost. The undersigned, without being authorised to mention this subject, nor even to introduce it in an official paper, trusts in the known goodness and indulgence of his sovereign, when he allows himself to make the following observations on this subject.

During twenty-six years of intimate and uninterrupted connection with Mr. Fox, the undersigned as much as any one, has had an opportnnity of confidentially learning the sentiments of that celebrated man. From his knowledge of them, he is impressed with the strongest conviction, that no minister could give to 3 E 3

the

the instructions of which he was to be the organ, a more perfect assent, or concur more effectually in their execution, than Mr. Fox would have done, in giving to the undersigned on the part of his Britannic majesty, such orders as the undersigned has in fact received, under circumstances in which peace (on the just and equitable conditions which had been proposed to that minister) would have appeared to him impracticable.

How much would this opinion have been strengthened in the mind of that minister, on perceiving the French government refuse the just demands of that illustrious ally, who, by his fidelity to his Britannic majesty, has deserved, on the part of the king, that his interests should be as dear to him as his own.

The undersigned has the honour to acquaint his excellency the minis. ter for foreign affairs, that he this morning applied to his excellency M. de Champagny for his passports. At the same time, he requests him to accept the assurance of his high consideration. (Signed)

Lauderdale.

No. LVI. Extract from a Dispatch from Mr. Arbuthnot to Mr. Secretary Fox, dated Buyukdéré, · August 25, 1806.-Received September 29. It was yesterday settled at the Forte, that the present hospodars of Moldavia and Wallachia should be recalled, and that prince Charles Callimaki, the first dragoman of the Porte, should be named to the government of Moldavia, and prince Alexander Suzzo to that of WalJachia; at the same time Mr. Bano Hanchyry was appointed dragoman in the room of prince Callimaki.

To give you a perfect idea of the disrespect with which Russia has been treated in this instance, it is necessary that I should transmit to you an extract from the regulations respecting Moldavia and Wallachia, which were published in the year 1802.

As no accusation whatever has been brought against either of the Hospodars who are now removed, there can be no excuse for breaking the convention; by which it was stipulated with Russia, that seven years should be the period of each prince's government.

You will, probably, expect to hear that this measure has originated with the French ambassador: in effect, there are proofs sufficient that it is his work.

(Inclosure.)

Extract of a Regulation respecting the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, dated September 24th,

1802.

(Translation.)

Sept. 24th, 1802.

The term of the continuance of the hospodars in their governments shall from henceforth be fixed at seven complete and entire years, to date from the day of their nomination, and if they are not guilty of any open offence, they shall not be displaced before that term is expired; if they do commit an offence, during that time, the Sublime Porte will inform the minister of Russia of the circumstance; and if, after due examination is made into the af. fair on both sides, it shall appear that the hospodar has really com mitted an offence, in that case only his deposition shall be allowed.

Ne.

No. LVII.

Extract from a Dispatch from Mr. Arbuthnot to Mr. Secretary Fox, dated Buyukdéré, Sept. 29th, 1806. Received Nov. 9th.

man empire at various points, could not be acceptable to them.

Ragusa was restored to its independence under the protection of the Sublime Porte: this arrangement rendering it impossible for the Russians to keep up their intelli

Buyukdéré, 29th Sept. 1806. gence with the Montenegrians and
Sir,

On the 18th of this month the dragoman of the Porte communicated to Mr. Pisani*, for my information, a note which had been presented by the French ambassador, a copy of which I have herewith the honour to inclose.

(Inclosure.)

Note presented by the French Ambas sador at the Porte, to the Reis Effendi.

(Translation.)

Pera, Sept. 16th, 1806. The undersigned general of division, ambassador of his majesty the emperor of the French, king of Italy, has the honour to lay before his excellency the Reis Effendi, the following considerations.

He has been positively informed, although in an indirect manner, that the Russian legation has delivered a note to the Sublime Porte, in which it is said that the emperor of Russia has refused to ratify the treaty of peace signed at Paris by his plenipotentiary. This refusal places Europe in the same situation in which she was six weeks ago, but it unmasks the projects of Russia. This treaty of peace stipulated for the independence of the Seven Islands; a stipulation which removing the Russians from the Mediterranean, where they had established them. selves in order to attack the Otto

with the revolted Servians, was contrary to their views.

Doubtless it is the article which stipulates for the independence of the Ottoman empire, and the integrity of its territory, which has occasioned the rejection of the peace at Petersburgh: Russia then per.. ceived that she could no longer seize provinces of that empire by force of arms, as she seized the Crimea, or extort them from her in time of peace, as she did with regard to Georgia, and the passage of the Dardanelles.

This treaty of peace, in fine, leaving the French in Albania and Dalmatia, placed upon the frontiers of Turkey, her most ancient ally, and her most faithful friend, who would have remained, and will ever remain, ready to defend her. Such are the motives which have led the cabinet of Petersburgh to this refusal. I do not give way to vain declamation; I lay facts before you; I beseech you to weigh them with all the attention to which they are entitled.

If in these difficult circumstances the Porte does not form a true estimate of her dangers and of her force, if she does not form the decision her interests require of her, I shall, perhaps, ere long, have to lament her fate.

The undersigned has received the most positive orders from his ma3 E 4 jesty

First dragoman, or interpreter, attached to the British mission.

jesty the emperor of the French, king of Italy, to declare to the Sublime Porte, that not only the principles of friendship, but those of the strictest neutrality, require that the Bosphorus should be shut against all Russian ships of war, as well as against every other vessel of that nation, bringing troops, ammuni. tion, or provisions; and that the same passage cannot be opened to them, without committing an act of hostility against France, and with. out giving his majesty Napoleon the great, a right of passage over the territories of the Ottoman empire, in order to combat with the Russian army on the banks of the Dniester. Any renewal or continuation of alliance with the enemies of France, such as England and Russia, would be not only a manifest violation of the neutrality, but an accession on the part of the Sublime Porte to the war which those powers wage against France, and his majesty would see himself compelled to take measures conformable to his interests and his dignity.

The Sublime Porte cannot maintain her relations with two missions from Naples, and his majesty the emperor of the French cannot suffer his august brother, Napoleon Joseph, king of Naples and the Two Sicilies, to meet with difficulties here which he does not experience from any power in amity with France.

His majesty the emperor has a large army in Dalmatia: this army is collected for the defence of the Ottoman empire, unless an equivocal conduct on the part of the Porte, and a condescension towards Russia and England, which might again throw her into their power, should compel his majesty the em

peror of the French, to bring for. ward his formidable forces for a purpose totally opposite to that which he had in view.

Ilis majesty has ordered the undersigned to state to the Sublime Porte, in the most friendly though energetic manner, these demands, for the purpose of obtaining an answer in writing, and it is expected that this answer shall be positive and categorical.

No further delay can be allowed; and his majesty has no doubt that the Sublime Porte will give him the assurances he desires, and which are so much in unison with the interesis of the Ottoman empire.

The undersigned has no wish to make a vain display of the formida. ble forces of the great Napoleon; his friends know how to estimate their importance; his enemies have felt their power.

The genius of his august master is well known; his determinations are wise and prompt, his personal attachment to his highness is sin

cere.

pendence, the integrity, and the He only seeks the inde glory of Turkey. He desires nothing. He asks nothing. What inducements to an union with him! At the same time what reason to apprehend the loss of his good will, by adopting a timid, uncertain, or ini mical line of conduct! Under these circumstances the answer of the Sublime Porte will regulate the con. duct of my august master. Let not the threats of the enemies of France impose on the Sublime Porte; they have been vanquished, and they will ever be so. will employ all his resources for the The great Napoleon glory of his highness Selim III. his friend; and as his resources are immense, his genius is still greater.

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Declaration of his Britannic Majesty. The negotiations in which his majesty has been engaged with France having terminated unsuccessfully, his majesty thinks proper to make this public declaration to his subjects and to Europe, of the circumstances which have led to an issue which his majesty deeply regrets. He has no object nearer to his heart than the conclusion of a secure and permanent peace. He laments the continuance of a war affecting the happiness of so many nations, and which, even amidst all the successes that attend his arms, is so burthensome to his faithful and affectionate people. But he is confident that there can arise on this occasion no other sentiments, either in his own dominions, or in any part of Europe, than that of an increased conviction, that the restoration of general tranquillity is retarded only by the injustice and ambition of the enemy.

The French government, unsatisfied with its immense acquisitions on the continent, still openly perseveres in a system destructive of the independence of every other power. War is pursued, not for security, but for conquest; and negotiations for peace appear to be entered into for

no other object than that of delading the neighbouring powers into a state of false security, while France is herself preparing, arranging, and executing, her unremitted projects of encroachment and aggression.

Her conduct in the recent discussions has afforded but too many proofs of this disposition.

The negotiation originated in an offer made by the French government, of treating for peace on the basis of actual possession, which was stated to admit of mutual compensation; and a distinct assurance was added, that his majesty's German dominions, which had been attacked without even the pretence of any cause of hostility, should be restored.

Such a proposal appeared to his majesty to afford a just foundation for negotiating: It was, therefore, accepted, with this reserve, that the negotiations should be conducted by his majesty in concert with his allies.

No sooner had this basis been mu tually admitted, than it was departed from by the eucmy, and that too in points of so great importance, as to call for an immediate declaration on the part of his majesty, that unless the principle proposed by France herself were adhered to, the communications which had been opened between the two governments must at once be closed.

This produced new professions of the disposition of France to make considerable sacrifices for the attainment of peace, if the discussions were suffered to proceed; at the same time that a difficulty was started on account of the want of full powers in the person intrusted by his masty with this communication.

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