of Tuscany in exchange without disgracing his own, which he wears with so much dignity, especially because it is no equivalent, as is pretended by the emperor, and is moreover the lawful property of the most serene infant Charles Lewis, who has been proclaimed king of Etruria, and would undoubtedly have the right to claim that crown. On these and other palpable grounds, his majesty ought not by any means to accede to the proposal of the emperor, because it is disgraceful and contrary to the high dignity of the Spanish throne; nor ought any degree of violence or force move his majesty to accept the above proposal, as the acceptance of it would render him guilty of gross misconduct in the face of all Europe.

"This is my opinion, given in obedience to his majesty's order communicated to me, and signed by me in Bayonne, the 29th April,

tral or supreme junta of Spain.Political and Literary Courier of Salamanca, of Sept. 17, 1808.

Extract from the Address of his Imperial and Royal Majesty to the Legislative Body, on the 25th of October, 1808.

HE United States of Ame

Trica have chosen to re

nounce the commerce of the ocean, rather than acknowledge its subjugation.

"In a few days I shall put myself at the head of my armies, to crown, with God's assistance, in Madrid, the king of Spain, and to plant my eagles on the towers of Lisbon.

"I cannot but be proud of the sentiments which animate the princes who compose the confederation of the Rhine.

"Switzerland every day expe riences more and more the beneficial effects of the act of mediation. "The people of Italy furnish me with nothing but matter for satisfaction.

"The emperor of Russia and myself have seen each other at Erfurth-OUR FIRST THOUGHT WAS OF PEACE-Nay, we have even resolved to make some sacrifices to procure for the hundred million of men we represent, the advantages of a MARITIME PEACE.We are agreed and permanently united for PEACE as well as for WAR."

Translation of the Chop which the Tsontoe of Canton addressed to the Senior Commander, Captains, Officers, Petty Officers, and others, belonging to the English

I,

Ships at the Port of Whampoa,* and which was delivered to the said Senior Commander, Captain Milliken Craig of the Elphinstone, by the Mandarins, deputed by the Tsontoe, under a Canopy of State, surrounded by Chinese Guards under arms, erected for the occasion on French Island, on the side of a hill, having a Chinese Camp on each side on hills each about one mile distant, and all in view from the Van Ships of the Hon. Company's Fleet, moored in Line of Battle within Gun-shot.

THE Mandarin Vu, by favour of my prince, tsontoe of the two provinces of Quang-tong and Quang-si, member of the tribunal of war, &c. direct this letter to the captains, officers, passengers, and others belonging to the English ships, to warn you, that being certain that your bad kingdom is situated on an island of the sea, and that you originally employed yourselves in making watches to enable you to pay your taxes; afterwards, by the especial and profound goodness of our great emperor, who was desirous of benefiting you, he granted you permission to come to this empire to trade. Behold what exalted and profound virtue belong to him!!! Notwithstanding this, the admiral of your kingdom, regardless of the laws, has brought here for the first time foreign soldiers, and without leave

introduced them into Macoa, and your chief supra-cargo uniting with him, they are, with one accord, making disturbances. This being the case, I informed the emperor from whom I have just received a decree, in virtue of which I again send mandarins deputed to inform them, that if they persist in detaining the soldiers, a great many troops shall be immediately dispatched to destroy and extinguish them, and to terminate this business, for the consequences of which the admiral and chief supra-cargo will be responsible, but you, captains, officers, passengers, and others, people of the ships, shall be free from all responsibility, if you remain quietly in the observance of the laws; and after the soldiers of your nation shall be entirely withdrawn, I shall feel it my duty to inform the emperor, praying him to have the goodness to permit you to carry on your trade as formerly. But if you, giving ear to and obeying the admiral and chief supra-cargo, unite yourselves to them to create disturbances, when afterwards our innumerable soldiers shall arrive, who shall destroy and burn you, even if you are as hard as stone or jasper, I shall then not be able to use you with any indulgence nor free you from the net of the law in which you will be ensnared; and in order that you may be obedient and discreet, I direct this chop to you. In the 13th year of the Emperor Kia

Kia King, on the 17th day of the 10th Moon (3rd Dec. 1808.)

Memorandum.-Received, on the 4th December, 1805, from the hands of the mandarins delegated by the tsontoe, who were, the military brigadier mandarin Chang, and the quangchou-foo (governor of the city of Canton) Fu.

Answer to the foregoing. To his Excellency the Viceroy of Quang-tong and Quang-si. May it please your Excellency, WE the undersigned,_commanders of the hon. English East-India company's ships at Whampoa, for ourselves, our officers, and our men, have the exalted honour to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's most gracious letter, delivered to us on French Island, on the 4th Dec. 1808, by the two mandarins, whom we are informed it was your condescending pleasure to send for that purpose.

Our object in visiting this country is purely commerce, to continue in the same manner that friendly and useful intercourse which has existed for centuries, and now be

come, from its magnitude, of the very first importance to both our vast empires.

We are taught in our own country, that obedience to our laws is the first essential to the well-being of the state; the same principle must apply to all countries, and we are therefore ordered, and endeavour, to venerate and obey yours; but such is the nature of our own laws and constitution, that we dare not, even in a foreign country, depart from allegiance to our own country, nor to those who

are dignified with its most exalted representation.

This

We understand that our admiral, who is an officer of high rank, at the request of the Portuguese, landed some troops at Macoa, to help them to defend it, against attacks from the French. wicked nation, ever since they murdered their sovereign, have waged war upon all nations within their reach, and we understand are now marching by land to make war upon the celestial empire, as the British navy prevent them by sea.

We, of course, wish to have no concern with any disturbances in the celestial empire, and we therefore most humbly implore your excellency to order the trade to be opened, that we may thereby find employment in the quiet habits of industry, which we conceive would prevent our services being required for other purposes, but which, if called for, our laws and our honour, would compel us to obey, whatever might be the consequences.

With sentiments of the most profound veneration, and prayers for your excellency's welfare, we beg leave to subscribe our names.

Hon. Comp.'s Ship Elphinstone,
Whampoa, 7th Dec. 1808.

(Signed) M. CRAIG, Sen. Officer.
C. E. PRESCOTT,
WM. MOFFAT,
H. MERITON,
J. LOCKE,

WM. DUNSFOrd,
R. H. BROWN,
J. J. WILLIAMSON,
C. B. GRIBBLE,
LUKE DODDS,

F. ARMITAGE, (Chief
Officer) for W. A.
MONTAGUE,

J. STRACHAN

J. STRACHAN (Chief Of
ficer) for RICH. NEB-
BITT,
J. LOCHNER,
WM. PATTERSON.

The Tsontoe's Reply.

I, Tsontoe, &c. in reply to your letter, have to inform you,that I first thought that you, like your merchants, came to carry on trade, and that you would not have joined with your superiors, I mean the admiral and chief, to make disorders. Under this idea I sent you a chop. But seeing now that you do not think proper to alter your way of thinking, taking as a pretence the protection of the Portuguese, I plainly know that you have joined your opinions with those of the above superiors remaining in the same vain hope; I, the Tsontoe, have repeatedly sent my chops declaring that as long as there remained a single soldier at Macoa, and you would not obey my orders, I absolutely will not

consent to your continuing to carry on your trade. If you do not wish to trade, you may take away your ships as you think proper; but if you are desirous of pursuing your mercantile negotiations, it is necessary to remain peaceable and to obey the laws, relying with certainty that after your troops shall have entirely evacuated Macoa, that your trade shall be granted you as formerly: as your letter declares that you must of course obey the laws of the imperial dynasty, this shows that you have respect and veneration for them, therefore I have directed to you this chop with all the efficacy possible, to open yet a way for you; but after this dispatch, if your admiral and you all will not change your sentiments, and send any more letters, I have given orders that they shall not be received.

In the 13th year of Kia King, 21st day of the 10th Moon (7th Dec. 1808). Received 9th Dec, 1808.

A GENERAL