this moment. I have, therefore, by his Ma- | jesty's command, inclosed the project of an arrangement, which, under the present circumstances, would meet the ideas of his Majesty's government; which would afford security for those objects which are considered as endangered by the unequivocal disclosure of the views of the First Consul, and which, at the same time, might entirely save the honour of the French government. I am, &c. HAWKESBURY.

King of Etruria to be acknowledged. The Italian and Ligurian Republics to be ac knowledged by his Majesty, provided an arrangement is made in Italy for the King of Sardinia, which shall be satisfactory to him.

No. 51.-Extract of a dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris, April 7, 1803.-I received your lordship's dispatches of the 4th instant by the messenger Wagstaff, with their inclosures, yester day evening; and shall probably in the course His Excellency Lord Whitworth, &c. of the day have an opportunity of commu(First inclosure referred to in No. 50.)-nicating to Monsieur de Talleyrand the note, The undersigned, his Britannic Majesty's which I shall translate for that purpose. ambassador extraordinary has received the orders of his court to make the following communication to the French government. His Majesty has perceived, with great regret, that the French government continue to withhold all satisfaction and explanation on the points on which he has complained, and that at the time when they evade all discussion on the subject of his representations, they persist in their requisition that the island of Malta should be forthwith evacuated by his forces. His Majesty can never so far forget what is due to himself, and to his people, as to acquiesce in such a course of proceeding. He has therefore commanded the undersigned to ascertain distinctly from the French government, whether they are determined to persevere in withholding all satisfaction and explanation upon the points on which his Majesty has complained, or whether they are disposed, without delay, to give such satisfaction and explanation upon the present state of affairs, as may lead to an arrangement, which may be calculated to adjust the differences at present subsisting between the two governments. It is his Majesty's anxious desire that by adopting this mode of proceeding, an end may be put to that state of suspense and uncertainty which must be so injurious to the interests of both countries; and that the two governments, actuated by the same principles of justice and moderation, may be led to concur in such measures as are most likely to conduce to their permanent tranquillity.

(Signed) WHITWORTH. (Second Inclosure referred to in No. 50.)Heads of an arrangement to be concluded by treaty or convention between his Majesty and the French government.-Malta to remain in perpetuity in the possession of his Majesty. The knights of the Order of St. John to be indemnified by his Majesty for any losses of property which they may sustain in consequence of such an arrangement: Holland and Switzerland to be evacuated by the French troops. The island of Elba to be Confirmed by his Majesty to France, and the

Paris, April 7, 1803. No. 52. My lord, Since writing the preceding dispatch, I have seen M. de Talleyrand, and communicated to him the inclosed note, which I trust your lordship will find as close a translation as possible, of that which I received from your lordship. He read it over with much attention, and when he had done he appeared to be in expectation of some other communication. Upon desiring he would explain himself, he said that he was in hopes I should have furnished him with the heads of those points, on which it was affirmed in the note that the French government had so repeatedly refused all expla nation and satisfaction. I told him, that it would have been entirely useless to repeat what had been so often urged in vain; that he could not but know that the explanation required, referred to the conduct of the French government, and the system of aggrandizement which it had constantly pur sued since the conclusion and in direct violation of the Treaty of Amiens, founded as it indisputably was on the state of possession of the two countries at the time; that with regard to the satisfaction, it evidently referred to the unjustifiable insinuations and charges against his Majesty's government, against the officer commanding his forces in Egypt, and against the British army in that quarter, contained in the official report of Colonel Sebas tiani. He was by no means disposed to admit, that either of these cases could justify the assertion of the French government having refused explanation and satisfaction on the ground that no notice had been taken of these transactions but in a very cursory manner; nor had any explanation ever been required as to any particular transaction whether in Italy or elsewhere, and if it had, it would immediately have been given; and that the language of Colonel Sebastiani was not to be. put in any comparison with that used by Major Wilson, in his account of the campaign of Egypt. I urged the difference of a common publication like that to which he allud ed, and a report to the First Consul published

by him in his official paper. On this occasion M. de Talleyrand was disposed to call in question the authority of the Moniteur. In short the most ungrounded assertions were substituted for arguments; and amongst these, I cannot but place that so often repeated of the First Consul's having entirely given up all idea whatever of Egypt, consequently we could have no pretext for retaining Malta. He assured me for the rest, that he would communicate it this evening to the First Consul, and that to-morrow he should in all probability have a communication to make in return. I have the honour to be, &c.

WHITWORTH.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Hawkesbury, &c.

ment should be informed precisely what were the objects which had created such uneasiness, and on which it was alledged all expla nation had been refused. That although this had, perhaps, been touched upon in general conversation, yet no specific charge had been adduced in such a manner as to demand a formal explanation. I told him that if the object of the French government was to protract the present state of suspence and uncertainty, that object might be answered to the extent indeed of a very few days, by forcing me to such a reference; but I must at the same time declare to him, that it could be productive of no advantage, and would serve only to provoke such a recapitulation of the (Inclosure referred to in No. 52.)-Le system and conduct which France had pursoussigné, ambassadeur extraordinaire et ple- sued since the Treaty of Amiens, as would nipotentiare de sa Majesté Britannique, a reçu have all the appearance of a manifesto, every ordre de sa cour de communiquer ce qui suit item of which would carry conviction to au gouvernement de France. Sa Majesté a every individual in Europe; that it appeared vû à regret que le gouvernement de France therefore more likely to answer the end continue à refuser toute satisfaction et toute which both parties proposed, that of hastenexplication sur les objets dont elle a à se plain- ing the conclusion of an amicable arrangedre, et qu'en évitant toute discussion de cement, to take up the business on the basis qui fait le sujet de ses representations il per- which I should propose, and by which they siste néanmoins à demander l'evacuation de would admit no more than what was inconl'isle de Malthe par les forces de sa Majesté. trovertible, namely, that if the French goSa Majesté sait trop ce qu'elle se doit à elle-vernment exercised a right of extending its même et à son peuple pour acquiescer à de influence and territory, in violation of the pareils procédés. En conséquence elle a or- spirit of the Treaty of Amiens, Great Bridonné au soussigné de savoir distinctement tain had, if she chose to avail herself of it, du governement de France, s'il est déterminé (which I was confident she would not do furà perseverer dans son refus de toute satisfac-ther than was necessary as a measure of setion et de toute explication sur les objets de plainte de sa Majesté, ou bien s'il est disposé à donner sans delai cette satisfaction et cette explication sur l'etat actuel des affaires de maniere à pouvoir conduire à un arrangement qui seroit de nature à ajuster les differens qui actuellement existent entre les deux gouvernemens. Sa Majesté desire sincerement l'adoption de ce moyen que mettroit fin à un etat de suspension et d'incertitude si nuisible à l'interêt des deux nations, et de voir que les deux gouvernemens agissant par les mêmes principes de justice et de moderation puissent s'entendre pour concourir aux mesures les plus susceptibles de leur assurer une tranquillité permanente. Le soussigné prie son excellence M. de Talleyrand d'agréer l'assurance de sa haute consideration.

WHITWORTH.

Paris, April 9, 1803. No. 53. My lord, In my conversation yesterday evening with M. de Talleyrand, I found him, after he had seen the First Consul, more disposed to contest the substance of the note which I had presented the day before, than to afford any further explanation. He said, that in order to proceed regularly, it would be necessary that the French govern

curity,) an undoubted right to seek a counterpoise. He did not seem inclined to dispute this position, but rather to admit that such a right did exist, and might be claimed in consequence of the acquisitions which had been made by France. On the point of satisfaction I found him much more obstinate. He said that the First Consul was hurt at the expression (satisfaction), to which he gave an interpretation I had never understood belonged to it, as implying superiority; so that if the British government required satisfaction of the French, it arrogated to itself a superiority. I told him, what certainly must be understood by every one, that the demand of satisfaction implied that one party had been offended by another, and of course had a right to demand such satisfaction; that an inferior had an equal right with his superior to demand it; but in the case in question there was perfect equality, and consequently there was no offence to be found but in the conduct which rendered such an appeal necessary. The discussion of this point took up a considerable time without producing any thing decisive. We at last came to the main point of the business; and on this I canno say any real progress has been made M. de *E 2

the little hope I have given. To-morrow I shall, in all probability, be in possession of this answer from your lordship, and be enabled to speak still more positively.

Downing-Street, April 13, 1803.

No. 55. My lord, his Majesty has received from his chargé d'affaires at Ham burgh, the most extraordinary account of the conduct of Monsieur Reinhard, the French minister at that place, with respect to a most gross and unwarrantable libel upon his Ma

Talleyrand repeated to me that the First Consul had nothing more at heart than to avoid the necessity of going to war, and that there was no sacrifice he would not make, short of his honour, to obtain this end. Is there, said M. de Talleyrand, no means of satisfying both parties; for at the same time that the First Consul insists, and will always insist, on the full execution of the treaty, he will not object to any mode by which you may acquire the security you think so necessary. You are not satisfied with the inde-jesty's government. He has been assured pendence of Neapolitan troops; what others will answer the purpose? He then started the idea of a mixed garrison, composed of English, French, Italian, Germans, &c. He begged that I would refer once more to your Lordship, and submit the inclosed paper, which he drew up in my presence. I told him that we were only losing time by such a reference; that my instructions were positive, and had certainly not been sent me without the fullest consideration. I could not, however, refuse, what he so earnestly required; and your lordship will see by the paper how the matter rests after this conference. I will confess to your lordship, that my motive for consenting to forward this sort of proposal is, that supposing we should find the First Consul as obstinate as he now appears to be on the point of abandoning Malta to us in perpetuity, and that a temporary possession might be considered as the next best thing, something of this kind might derive from it. I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) WHITWORTH.

that the French minister, having proposed the insertion of that libel in the official gazette of the town of Hamburgh, and the insertion of it having in the first instance been refused, the French minister went so far as to demand, in his official capacity, the insertion of that article by order of the senate. His Majesty is unwilling to believe that the French government could have authorised so outrageous an attack upon his Majesty and his government, and so daring a violation of the independence of a neutral state. It is his Majesty's pleasure, that you should communicate these circumstances to the French government, and state at the same time the impossibility of bringing the present discussions to an amicable conclusion, unless some satisfaction shall be given to his Majesty for the indignity which has thus been offered to him in the face of all Europe by the French minister at Hamburgh. I have the honour to be, &c.

HAWKESBURY.

His Excellency Lord Whitworth, K. B. &c.

Downing-Street, April 13, 1803.

The Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury, &c. No. 56.--My lord, your excellency's dis(Translation of Inclosure referred to in No. patches have been received, and laid before 53.) The conversation with M. Talleyrand the King. His Majesty has observed, with to-day has led us to this result: every thing great satisfaction, the admission by the French which may tend to violate the independance government of the justice of his claim to some of the order of Malta, will never be consented compensation in consequence of the increased to by the French government. Every thing power and influence of France, since the pewhich may tend to put an end to the present riod of the conclusion of the definitive treaty. difficulties, or be agreeable to the English go- Although, under the circumstances of your vernment, and which shall not be contrary to conversation with M. Talleyrand, and partithe Treaty of Amiens, the French govern- cularly alter the note verbale which he gave ment have no objection to make a particular to you, it might have been expedient that convention respecting it. The motives of you should have deferred presenting the prothis convention shall be inserted in the pre-ject contained in my dispatch No. 7, in the amble, and shall relate to the respective form of a project, it is desirable that should grievances concerning which the two govern- communicate without delay in some mode or ments shail think it adviseable to come to another, the contents of that project, for the purunderstanding with each other.

you

pose of ascertaining distinctly whether the No. 54-Extract of a Dispatch from Lord conditions are such as to induce the French Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris, government to give way upon the question April 14, 1803.--Since my last the negocia of Malta. These conditions appear to his tion is at a stand, in the expectation, I suppose, Majesty so well calculated to save the honour of the answer which may arrive, to the over- of the French government on the subject of ture which I communicated to your lordship Malta-if the question of Malta is principally on the 9th instant, and which is expected here considered by them as a question of honour to produce a good effect, notwithstanding--and at the same time hold out to them

1

(Signed) HAWKESBURY. His Excellency Lord Whitworth, K. B. &c.

such important advantages, that the success | sideration. If this proposition is admitted, of the proposition is at least worth trying, the Island of Malta should be given up to the particularly as the result of it might be pro- inhabitants at the end of that period, and ductive of the most easy means of adjusting should be acknowledged as an independent the most material of our present differences. state. In this case, his Majesty would be With respect to the assertion so often ad- ready to concur in any arrangement for the vanced and repeated by M. Talleyrand in establishment of the Order of St. John in your last conversation of the non-execution some other part of Europe. You will not of the Treaty of Amiens relative to Malta, I refuse to listen to any proposition which the have only to observe again, that the execu- French government may be disposed to make tion of that article is become impracticable to you with a view to an equivalent security from causes which it has not been in the for those objects in regard to which his Mapower of his Majesty to controul. That the jesty claims the possession or occupation of greatest part of the funds assigned to the sup- Malta; but the three propositions to which port of the order, and indispensably necessary I have above alluded, appear, at the present for the independence of the order and defence moment, to furnish the only basis for a satisof the island, have been sequestrated since factory arrangement; and you will decline the conclusion of the definitive treaty, in receiving any proposition which does not apdirect repugnance to the spirit and letter of pear to you to offer advantages to his Mathat treaty; and that two of the principal jesty as substantial as that which I have last powers who were invited to accede as gua- stated. It is very desirable that you should rantees to the arrangement, have refused bring the negotiation to an issue, if possible, their accession, except on the conditions that without referring to his Majesty's governthe part of the arrangement which was deem- ment for further instructions, after the reed so material relative to the Maltese inha- ceipt of this dispatch; and if you should be bitants should be entirely cancelled. The of opinion, that there is no hopes of bringing conduct of the French government since the it to a favourable conclusion, you may inconclusion of the definitive treaty, gives his form M. Talleyrand of the necessity you will Majesty a right, which is now at length ad- be under, after a certain time, to leave mitted by themselves, to demand some com- Paris. I have the honour to be, &c. pensation for the past, and security for the future. Such compensation could never be considered as obtained by the possession of an island, which would entail a very heavy expence on this country;--and the degree of security which would be provided by these means, would only be such as his Majesty, under the present circumstances, is entitled to demand. I observe in the note verbale of Monsieur Talleyrand, he makes use of the expression, the independence of the order of Malta. If this is meant to apply to the order exclusively, his Majesty would be willing, for the preservatian of peace, that the civil government of the island should be given to the order of St. John; the Maltese enjoying the privileges which were stipulated in their favour in the Treaty of Amiens; and that, conformably to principles which have been adopted on other occasions, the fortifications of the island should be garrisoned for ever by the troops of his Majesty. In the event of either of these propositions being found unattainable, his Majesty might be disposed to consent to an arrangement by which the island of Malta would remain in his possession for a limited number of years, and to waive in consequence his demand for a perpetual occupation, provided that the number of years was not less than ten, and that his Sicilian Majesty could be induced to cede the sovereignty of the island of Lampedosa for a valuable con

Paris, April 18, 1803.

No. 57.-My Lord, I did not fail to put into immediate execution the instructions contained in your lordship's dispatch (No. 11.) on the subject of the libel inserted by the French Minister in the Hamburgh Gazette. Irepresented the outrageous and unprecedented conduct of M. Rheinhardt in such terms as it deserves; and fairly declared to M. de Talleyrand, that, until satisfaction shall be given to his Majesty for the indignity which has been offered him by the French minister in his official character, there could be no possibility whatever of bringing the present discussion to an amicable issue. M. de Talleyrand assured me, that the French government saw the conduct of M. de Rheinhardt in the same light as his Majesty's ministers, and that they could not be more surprised than the First Consul had been at seeing such an article inserted by authority; that an immediate explanation had been required of M. Rheinhardt, five days ago, and if his conduct had been such as had been represented, he would, doubtless, feel the effect of the First Consul's displeasure; and that, in the mean time, I might inform your lordship that he was completely disavowed. I told M. de Talleyrand, that, as the insult had been public, it would be