French Government on the Subject of the Evacua tion of Malta, Lord Whitworth was inftructed to accompany this Representation by a Declaration on the Part of His Majesty, that before he could enter into any further Difeuffions relative to that Ifland, it was expected, that fatisfactory Explanations fhould be given upon the various Points refpecting which His Majefty had complained. This Representation and this Claim, founded on Principles inconteftably juft, and couched in Terms the most temperate, appear to have been wholly disregarded by the French Government; no Satisfaction has been afforded, no Explanation whatever has been given; but on the contrary, His Majefty's Sufpicions of the Views of the French Government with refpect to the Turkish Empire have been confirmed and ftrengthened by fubfequent Events. Under these Circumstances His Majefty feels that he has no Alternative, and that a juft Regard to His own Honor and to the Interefts of His People, makes it neceffary for Him to declare, that He cannot confent that His Troops should evacuate the Island of Malta, until substantial Security has been provided for those Objects which, under the present Circumftances, might be materially endangered by their Removal.

With refpect to feveral of the Pofitions ftated in the Note, and grounded on the Idea of the 10th Article being executed in its literal Sense, they call for fome Obfervations. By the 10th Article of the Treaty of Amiens, the Island of Malta was to be reftored by His Majefty to the Order of St. John, upon

certain

certain Conditions. The Evacuation of the Ifland, at a specified Period, formed a Part of thefe Conditions; and if the other Stipulations had been in a due Courfe of Execution, His Majefty would have been bound, by the Terms of the Treaty, to have ordered His Forces to evacuate the Island: but thefe Conditions must be confidered as being all of equal Effect; and if any material Parts of them fhould have been found incapable of Execution, or if the Execution of them should from any Circumftances have been retarded, His Majefty would be warranted in deferring the Evacuation of the Island until fuch Time as the other Conditions of the Article could be effected; or until fome new Arrangement could be concluded which should be judged fatisfactory by the contracting Parties. The Refufal of Ruffia to accede to the Arrangement, except on Condition that the Maltese Langue fhould be abolifhed; the Silence of the Court of Berlin, with refpect to the Invitation that has been made to it, in confequence of the Treaty, to become a guaranty. ing 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 was restored to them,-these Circumftances would have been fufficient, without any other special Grounds, to have warranted His Majefty in fufpending the Evacuation of the Island.

The

The Evacuation of Tarentum and Brundufium is in no Respect connected with that of Malta. The French Government were bound to evacuate the Kingdom of Naples by their Treaty of Peace with the King of Naples, at a Period antecedent to that at which this Stipulation was carried into Effect.

The French Government were bound likewife, by Engagements with the Emperor of Ruffia, to refpect the Independence of the Kingdom of Naples; but even admitting that the Departure of the French Troops from Tarentum depended folely on the Article of the Treaty of Amiens, their Departure is, by the Terms of the Treaty, to take place at the fame Period as the other Evacuations in Europe; namely, One Month after the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty; at which Period both Porto Ferrajo and Minorca were evacuated by His Majefty's Forces; whereas the Troops of His Majesty were in no Cafe bound to evacuate the Island of Malta antecedent to the Period of Three Months after the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty; and even in that Event, it must be confidered as depending upon the other Parts of the Arrangement being in a Course of Execution. With respect to the Affertion in the Note, that the Neapolitan Troops were to form the Garrison of Malta until the Period when the Arrangements relative to the Order could be carried into Effect, it will appear, by a Reference to the Article, that by the Prelimipary Paragraph, the Ifland was to be restored to the

Order

Order upon the Condition of the fucceeding Stipulations, and that it was only from the Period when the Reftitution to the Order had actually taken place, that by the 12th Paragraph the Neapolitan Troops were to form a Part of the Garrifon.

The Underfigned has thus ftated, with all the Franknefs which the Importance of the Subject appears to require, the Sentiments of His Majefty on the Note delivered to him by General Andreoffy, and on the Points in Difcuffion between the Two Countries.

His Majefty is willing to indulge the Hope, that the Conduct of the French Government on this Occafion may be influenced by Principles fimilar to those which have invariably influenced His own. That as far as poffible all Caufes of Diftruft, and every Impediment to a good Understanding between the Two Countries, may be completely and effectually removed, and that the Peace may be confolidated on a secure and lafting Foundation.

The Underfigned requests General Andreoffy to accept the Affurances of his high Confideration. Downing Street, March 15, 1803.

(Signed)

HAWKESBURY.

His Excellency General Andréoffy,

&c. &c. &c.

No. 46,

My Lord,

No. 46.

Paris, March 17, 1803.

I CALLED Yesterday on M. de Talleyrand, to converfe with him on the Subject of what had paffed on Sunday last at the Thuilleries. He had been fince that Day so fully occupied with his Expeditions to different Foreign Courts, that I had no Opportunity of feeing him fooner. I told him, that I had been placed by the First Conful in a Situation which could neither fuit my public nor my private Feelings. That I went to the Thuilleries to pay my Respects to the First Conful, and to prefent my Countrymen, but not to treat of political Subjects; and that unless I had the Affurance from him, that I fhould not be expofed to a Repetition of the fame disagreeable Circumstances, I should be under the Neceffity of difcontinuing my Vifits to the Thuilleries. M. de Talleyrand affured me, that it was very far from the First Conful's Intention to distress me; but he had felt himself perfonally infulted by the Charges which were brought against him by the English Government; and that it was incumbent upon him to take the First Opportunity of exculpating himself in the Prefence of the Minifters of the different Powers of Europe. He affured me that nothing fimilar would occur.

(Signed)

WHITWORTH.

The Right Honorable Lord Hawkefbury,

&c. &c. &c.

No. 47.