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Power of His Majefty to controul), have not been found capable of Execution. The Refufal of Ruffia to accede to the Arrangement, except on Condition that the Maltefe Langue fhould be abolifhed-the Silence of the Court of Berlin with respect to the Invitation that has been made to it, in confequence of the Treaty, to become a guarantying Power ;-the Abolition of the Spanish Priories, in Defiance of the Treaty to which the King of Spain was a Party ;-the Declaration of the Portuguese Government of their Intention to fequeftrate the Property of the Portuguese Priory, as forming a Part of the Spanish Langue, unless the Property of the Spanish Priories is reftored to them; the Non-election of a Grand Mafter :Thefe Circumftances would have been fufficient, without any other special Grounds, to have warranted His Majefty in fufpending the Evacuation of the Island, until fome new Arrangement could be adjufted for it's Security and Independence. But when it is confidered how greatly the Dominion, Power, and Influence of France have of late been extended, His Majefty must feel, that He has an inconteftible Right, conformably to the Principles on which the Treaty of Peace was negociated and concluded, to demand additional Securities in any new Arrangement which it might be neceffary to make with a View of effecting the real Objects of that Treaty. And these Confiderations, fufficient as they might be in themselves to justify the Line of Conduct which His Majefty had determined to

adopt,

adopt, have received additional Force from the Views which have been recently and unreservedly manifefted by the French Government, respecting the Turkith Dominions, and the flands in the Adriatic (and which have been in a great Degree admitted by the First Conful, in his Interview with your Excellency),Views which are directly repugnant, not only to the Spirit, but to the Letter of the Treaty of Amiens.

From the Poftfcript in your Excellency's Letter, it appears that a Project was in Contemplation, by which, according to the Declaration of Mr. Talleyrand, the Integrity of the Turkish Territory would be fecured fo as to do away every Cause of Doubt or Uneafiness either with regard to Egypt or to any other Part of the Turkish Dominions. His Majefty will confider the Communication of fuch a Project as indicating a Difpofition on the Part of the French Government, to afford him Explanation and Satisfaction refpecting fome of the Points which have been the Subject of His Representations. But after all that has paffed, His Majefty cannot consent that His Troops fhould evacuate the Island of Malta, until fubftantial Security has been provided for those Objects, which, under the prefent Circumftances, might be materially endangered by their Removal. I am, &c.

His Excellency Lord Whitworth,

HAWKESBURY.

&c. &c. &c.

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No. 40.

I

No. 40.

My Lord, Paris, 5th March, 1803. SAW M. de Talleyrand Yesterday, and acquitted myfelf of your Lordship's Inftructions. I recapitulated the feveral Arguments therein contained, dwelling particularly on the open Avowal of the First Conful's Views in Egypt; and concluding with the Refolution of His Majefty not to withdraw His Troops from Malta, until fome Secu rity fhould be given, that by fo doing His Majefty fhould not expofe the Safety of His own Do

minions.

He heard me with great Patience, and in Answer endeavoured, as before, to convince me that there was no Reafon whatever for the Apprehenfions which we entertained. That it was true, the Acquifition of Egypt had been, and perhaps ftill was, a favourite Object of the First Conful, but that it was not fo much fo as to allow him to go to War for its Attainment.

I then told him that what had in a particular Manner excited the Attention of your Lordship, in my Iaft Report, was the Affurance he had given me of fome Project being in Contemplation, whereby the Integrity of the Turkish Empire would be fo infured, in all its Parts, as to remove every Doubt or Apprehenfion. I begged him, therefore, to explain himself on this Subject, which I conceived to be of the utmost Importance; fince it was only by fuch Means that both Parties could be fatisfied. He then

gave me to understand, that what he had termed a Project was nothing more than what had been expreffed in the First Conful's Meffage to the Legiflative Body, when he fays, that there is a French Ambaffador at Conftantinople, who is charged to give every Affurance of the Difpofition of France to strengthen, inftead of to weaken, that Government. I expreffed a Doubt whether this, or any other parole Security, would be confidered as fufficient in fuch a Tranfaction. Hereupon he repeated the Question-What then is the Security which you require, and which the First Conful can give? This, I told him, must be the Subject of the Negctiation on which we were willing to enter; and I trufted that the French Government would bring into it the fame Temper, and the fame real Desire to conciliate, which was manifefted by His Majes ty's Ministers.

M. de Talleyrand now informed me, that the First Conful had, Five or Six Days ago, ordered Instructions to be fent to General Andreoffy, by which he was to require an immediate and categorical Answer to the plain Queftion-Whether His Majefty would, or would not, cause Malta to be evacuated by the British Troops? That he concluded this Communication was already made, and that he expected to learn the Refult of it in a very few Days; adding, that all the Firft Conful wanted was to know precifely on what he had to depend.

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I could not help lamenting this precipitate Meafure, fince it could anfwer no good Purpose, and would only tend to introduce into the Difcuffion Ill-humour and offended Dignity, in the Place of difpaffionate Reasoning. I begged him, however, to be prepared, and to prepare the First Conful, to meet with more Oppofition to his Will than he had been accustomed to on fimilar Occafions.

I told him, that His Majefty was willing to dif cufs the Point in Difpute with Fairnefs and Candour, but certainly never would be intimidated into Acquiefcence; and I repeatedly urged, that if he wifhed well to the Peace of the two Countries, he fhould prepare the First Conful for the Confequences which might naturally be expected from this Step, and thus prevent the Effect of any fud den Guft of Ill-humour. He was unwilling to admit that there could be any Chance of fatisfying the First Conful fhort of a Compliance with his Wishes, founded as he pretended on Good-Faith.

Our Converfation ended here, and I wait the Refult of General Andreoffy's Communication with the utmost Impatience.

I have the Honor to be, &c.
(Signed)

WHITWORTH.

P. S. In the Interval between the writing and the tranfcribing the above Dispatch, I have taken another Opportunity of feeing M. de Talleyrand, and I am glad to find, that (for what Purpose I know not), he had reprefented the Inftructions to

General

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