tories, is not the fame with that which influenced the confifcation of the effects of the emigrants. Thus, under any point of view, the benefit of this difpofition cannot be applied to thofe parricides, with respect to whom France has converted into an irrevocable profcription that temporary banishment to which they were cowardly and traitorously devoted. This article must be confidered as the lefs liable to the interpretation which for a moment gave fome uneafness to your committee, that no pofitive expreflion in it clashes in the fmallest degree with the letter of the conftitution. This difpofition, therefore, must be confidered folely as an amneity granted to the inhabitants of the conquered countries, for their errors of opinion; it has not, and cannot have, any other object. What fill further juftifies the opinion of your committee, is the 19th Article, which is more amply explained. It is there faid, that the unalienated property, moveable and immoveable, of their royal highneffes the Archduke Charles and the Archduchefs Chriftiana, in the countries ceded to the French republic; that the property of the Archduke Ferdinand, contained in the territory of the Cifalpine republic, will be restored to these princes, under the condition of felling them within three years. There cannot, therefore, remain the fmalleft doubt in regard to the real meaning of thefe ftipulations. This explanation will, doubtlefs, be fufficient to remove every objection to a treaty which is on the whole advantageous and honourable to the French people. Now, not only does Europe no longer contest its own fovereignty, but it also recognises that of the people to whom the French nation has imparted that boon. Thus the French people have, at once, afferted their own liberty, and created that of others. Citizens colleagues, the number of our enemies, formerly fo confiderable, is now reduced to two-Portugal and England. The firft, in refufing to ratify the treaty which we had granted it, has rather yielded to the dread of military execution threatened by England, than to any fentiment of perfonal hatred, or that of vain refiftance. The Queen of Portugal well knows that it is beyond her power to alter the deftinies of the French republic, or to retard their courfe. In respect to England, we know which of the two, France or England, has molt reafon to dread the continuation of hoftilities. That oppreffive miniftry who retain her people in the chains of infupportable fervitude, and in the horrors of a diftrefs which is the forerunner of bankruptcy, fhall foon fee the free colours of the French nation floating on her Downs. Buonaparte, who has brilliantly fupported in Italy the characters of general and negotiator, is expected by the army of England. At that name, reprefentatives of the people! your hearts have often expanded with hope, and as often beat with gratitude. I do not imagine that the cabinet of St. James's will expose itself to the invasion which which menaces its territory. The valour of our foldiers, the talents of our generals, and the great number of the difcontented, who would lay open to us the road to London, will bring back the British minifter to a fyftem more adapted to the nature of exifting circumstances. But whatever be the epoch of a general peace, let us haften to prove, by the ratification of the treaty with the Emperor, that we lay down with pleasure thofe arms which we were compelled to take up. Speech of the Minifier of Marine to Mr. Swinburne, the Commiffary for English Prifoners at Paris, on his Audience of Leave. I Sir, AM as fenfibly affected as my colleagues, at not being able to terminate with you an operation that you have so well begun, and which has acquired for you claims to the esteem of the true friends of humanity. You have proved by your conduct and your proceedings, that the war which divides two nations, made to efteem each other, cannot diminish in your mind the neceffity of cherishing men, and of affifting the unhappy. Accept my thanks: I entreat you to accept them, both as citizen and as minifter. I fincerely hope, that upon your return to London, you will triumph over your enemies, and that your government will give you their confidence. It is for the caufe of humanity that I Sir, you carry with form this with. you our regret: and if the efteem of men, whofe principles you have been able to appreciate, can be any indemnity to you, you may rely upon mine and that of my colleagues, whofe organ I am pleafed with being. Frederick William the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Pruffia Margrave of Brandenburgh, Antichamberlain, and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, &c. to the French Republic, and in her Name to the Citizens who compofe the Executive Directory. Great and dear Friends, PROVIDENCE having difpofed of the days of the King, my father, who departed this life the 16th of this month, and having called me to the throne of my ancestors, I haften to announce to you this double event; perfuaded that you will take part in the lofs I have fuftained, and that you will intereft yourfelves in my advancement to the rule over the Pruffian ftates. I fhall take the greatest care to cultivate and cement the harmony which I find fo happily cftablished between the two nations; and upon upon this I pray God to keep you, great and dear friends, in his holy care. Your good friend, FREDERICK WILLIAM. Berlin, 17th Nov. 1797. GEORGE R. Additional Inftructions to the Commanders of all our Ships of War and Privateers that have or may have Letters of Marque against France, Spain, or the Subjects of the United Provinces, inhabiting within any of their Countries, Territories, and Dominions. Given at our Court at St. James's, the 20th Day of November 1797, in the thirty-eighth Year of our Reign. WHEREAS we have thought it expedient that permiffion fhould be given to veffels belonging to the fubjects of his Catholic Majefty, having not more than one deck, to trade between the free ports established in the island of Jamaica, and also in the Bahama islands, and the Spanish colonies in America, according to the regulations of the feveral acts for eftablishing free ports in our West India islands, notwithstanding the present hoftilities: And whereas we have thought it expedient, that notwithstanding the faid hoftilities, permiffion fhould likewife be given to any British veffels navigated according to the laws now in force, to trade between the faid free ports in the island of Jamaica and in the faid Bahama iflands, and the Spanish colonies in America, provided fuch British and Spanish veffels as fhall trade between the faid free ports in the ifland of Jamaica and the faid Spanish colonies, fhall have a licence from the governor or commander in chief of our island of Jamaica; and that such British and Spanish veffels as fhall trade between the free ports in the Bahama iflands and the faid Spanish colonies, fhall have a licence from the governor or commander in chief of the Bahama iflands; and provided fuch British and Spanish veffels fhall import into the free ports of Jamaica and the Bahama iflands, fuch goods only as are hereafter enumerated, viz. wool, cotton wool, indigo, cochineal, drugs of all forts, cocoa, tobacco, logwood, fuftick, and all forts of wood for dyer's ufe; hides, fkins, and tallow, beaver and all forts of furs, tortoife-fhells, hard wood, or mill timber; mahogany and all other woods for cabinet ware; horses, affes, mules, and cattle, being the growth and production of any of the colonies or plantations in America belonging to the crown of Spain; and all coin or bullion, diamonds, or precious ftones, coming from thence; and provided fuch British and Spanish veffels thall export from fuch free ports, only the faid goods and commodities; and alfo rum, the produce of any VOL. VII. · G British British island, and negroes, which fhall have been legally imported, and alfo all goods, wares, merchandifes, and manufactures, which fhall have been legally imported, except masts, yards, or bowfprits, pitch, tar, turpentine, and all other naval or military flores, and tobacco: The commanders of our fhips of war, and of thips commiffioned with letters of marque, are hereby required and enjoined not to detain or moleft any fuch Spanifh veffels or any British veffels trading between the free ports in the faid itlands and the Spanish colonies in America, provided they are bona fide employed in carrying on their trade conformably to the refpective regulations herein above defcribed, and have a licence for that purpofe from the governor or commander in chief of the faid iflands refpectively; and in cafe fuch fhip fo licenfed fhould be captured and brought into any port, through mifapprehenfion or breach of our order, our courts of admiralty and vice-admiralty are hereby required to liberate the fame, as being under the protection of our fpecial commiffion. By his Majesty's command. PORTLAND. Proclamation of the Executive Directory to the French People, dated the ft Frimaire (21 Nov.). THE HE interefts of the republic call you to a laft triumph. After the innumerable battles from which you have returned victorious, it yet remains for you to reduce the first, the most obftinate and cunning of all your enemies. The Executive Directory is defirous of a general peace; it wishes for it, for your fake, and for the fake of Europe. But during a year and more a faithlefs enemy has led aftray all the cabinets of Europe by vain projects, propofing peace in a loud voice, fecretly fomenting war, affecting to extinguifh with one hand the torch which it lights with the other; fending with parade pacificators, and repelling in effect all overtures which alone could tend to pacification. This enemy you know your indignation can devife and name it. It is the cabinet of St. James's. It is the most corrupting, and the most corrupted, of the governments of Europe: it is the English government. It is not alone against the liberty of France that that government directs her confpiracy; her confpiracy is against the whole world. Ah! too long has that perfidious cabinet troubled, fubjected, defolated all parts of the world. Speak, Americans! fay who are directly or indirectly your true rulers. Unfortunate Indians! fay by what deteftable art has that government eftablished her tyranny among you? And you, Europeans, more unfortunate ftill, innocent inhabitants of the plains of Franco nia, nia, and of the Noric Alps, innumerable victims of the flames of war! fay who has been the most ardent inftigator of this deftructive conteft, in which have been facrificed more than a million of men, in which treasures immenfe have been diffipated, which even at this time of peace leaves to the eye, on the fields of victory, the view only of general mifery, univerfal melancholy, and extenfive defpair. It is in thefe circumstances that the cabinet of St. James's avows to afflicted Europe that it alone has felt nothing of these frightful difafters. Listen to the fpeech delivered from the throne; "Our revenues," fays the King, "have continued highly productive, our national industry has been extended, and our commerce has furpaffed its former li mits." If the King of England has told the truth, powers of Europe, to you is not this a terrible leffon? What then, is that government interested in your diforders, which alone collects the fruits of them, which is nourished by your calamities, profpers by your diftreffes, accumulates in its treafures the tears and the blood of the people, and fattens upon their plunder? It is evident that that cabinet thould with for war, fince by war it is enriched. It is however that government which in its new manifeftoes, and in fimilar fpeeches, dares to accufe France of infatiable avarice! It is not faid, that the English, firft devaftators of St. Domingo, have taken the colonies of Holland without striking a blow, have taken them from Holland their ally; and the King of England fpeaks to Europe of the ambition of France! But the principles of the French towards other nations are at this time too manifeft to be obfcured by vague allegations. If the French republic takes the limits he has received from nature, if the repairs in this refpect the faults of the monarchy, fhe difdains conquefts foreign to that great object; fhe neither oppreffes fecondary ftates nor weak powers; fhe never thinks of defpoiling her allies; fhe is faithful to her friends; the punishes her enemies, but without hating them: naturally generous, the does not even hate the English nation. Never in France fhall any minifter be admired on account of his hatred of the English people; but every one in France is agreed in one point, in remembering what paffed at Toulon, at Dunkirk, at Quiberon, at La Vendée; they deteft, they execrate the cruelty, the perfidy, the fanguinary machiavelifm of the British minifter; and they at the fame time deplore the unaccountable blindnefs of the English in fuffering themselves to be made the horror of the world. The great nation will avenge the univerfe; and to enfure fuccefs, more than one means, Frenchmen, prefent themselves to you: the most important, and the moft fpeedy is, a defcent on England. Unexpected fuccefs has taught you to difregard all ob G2 ftacles. |