Milord,

No. 10.

Portman Square, le 25 Juillet 1802.

Il y a deja quelque tems que j'ai adreffé à Mr. Hammond un numero de Pelletier renfermant les Calomnies les plus groffières contre le Gouvernement François et contre la Nation entière; et j'ai obfervé que je reçevrois vraisemblablement l'Ordre de demander la Punition d'un pareil Abus de la Preffe. Cet Ordre eft effectivement arrivé, et je ne puis vous diffimuler, Milord, que les Infultes reiterées d'un petit Nombre d'Etrangers, reunis à Londres, pour confpirer contre le Gouvernement François, produifent les Effets les plus défavorables à la bonne Intelligence entre les deux Nations. Quand même l'Article Premier du Traité d'Amiens n'eut pourvu à la Confervation des Egards que fe doivent deux Nations independantes, les Maximes générales du Droit des Gens condamneroient formellement un Abus auffi revoltant de la Liberté de la Preffe. On ne fauroit fe perfuader que les Loix puiffent donner plus de Latitude à un Libellifte qu' à tout autre Individu, qui, fans Declaration de Guerre, fe permettroit de violer les Devoirs du bon Voifinage. Le Delit dont il s'agit eft d'autant plus grave qu'il a evidemment pour Objet de troubler la bonne Harmonie qui fubfifte entre les deux Gou

vernemens.

Ce n'eft pas feulement fur Peltier mais fur le Redacteur du Courier François de Londres, fur Cob. bett,

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bett, et fur d'autres Ecrivains qui leur reffemblent que je dois fixer l'Attention du Ministère de Sa Majefté. Les Publications perfides et haineufes de ces Hommes font en Contradiction ouverte avec les Principes de la Paix; et s'il pouvoit jamais entrer dans l'Efprit du Gouvernement François de permettre des Repréfailles, il fe trouveroit fans Doute en France des Ecrivains difpofés à venger leurs Compatriotes, en rempliffant leurs feuilles de Reflexions odieufes contre les Perfonnes les plus refpectables de la Grande Bretagne et contre les Inftitutions qui lui font chéres.

Le Defaut de Loix pofitives contre ces fortes de Delits ne fauroit pallier la Violation du Droit des Gens, d'aprés lequel la Paix doit mettre un Terme à toutes efpèces d'Hoftilités; et fans Doute celles qui bleffent l'Honneur et la Reputation d'un Gouvernement, et qui tendent à foulever le Peuple dont les Interets lui font confiés, font les plus propres à deteriorer les Avantages de la Paix, et à entretenir les Animofités nationales.

J'ai l'Honneur d'être, avec la plus refpectueufe Confideration, &c.

OTTO,

Son Excellence Milord Hawkesbury, Ministre et Sécrétaire d'Etat ayant le Departement des Affaires Etrangères,

Tranflation,

My Lord,

Tranflation.

Portman Square, July 25, 1802. I TRANSMITTED fome Time ago, to Mr. Hammond, a Number of Peltier, containing the most grofs Calumnies against the French Government, and against the whole Nation; and I obferved, that I fhould probably receive an Order to demand the Punishment of fuch an Abuse of the Prefs. That Order is actually arrived, and I cannot conceal from you, my Lord, that the reiterated Infults of a small Number of Foreigners, affembled in London to confpire against the French Government, produce the most unfavourable Effects on the good Understanding between the two Nations. Even though the First Article of the Treaty of Amiens had not provided for the Maintenance of that Refpect, which Two independent Nations owe to each other; the general Maxims of the Law of Nations would formally condemn fo revolting an Abuse of the Liberty of the Prefs. It cannot be believed, that the Law can give more Latitude to a Libellist than to any other Individual, who, without Declaration of War, should permit himself to violate the Duties of good Neighbourhood. The Offence in Question is fo much the more ferious, as its Object is evidently to disturb the Harmony which fubfifts between the Two Governments.

It is not to Peltier alone, but to the Editor of the "Courier François de Londres," to Cobbet, and to other Writers who refemble them, that I have to

direct the Attention of His Majesty's Government. The perfidious and malevolent Publications of these Men, are in open Contradiction to the Principles of Peace, and if it could ever enter into the Mind of the French Government to permit Retaliation, Wri, ters would doubtlefs be found in France, willing to avenge their Countrymen by filling their Pages with odious Reflections on the most refpectable Perfons, and on the dearest Institutions of Great Britain.

The Want of pofitive Laws against thefe Sorts of Offences cannot palliate the Violation of the Law of Nations, according to which Peace should put a Stop to all Species of Hoftilities; and doubtlefs those which wound the Honor and the Reputation of a Government, and which tend to caufe a Revolt of the People, whofe Interests are confided to that Government, are the most apt to leffen the Advantages of Peace, and to keep up national Refentments. I have the Honor to be, &c. (Signed)

To his Excellency Lord Hawkesbury,

Minister and Secretary of State for the Foreign Department.

OTTO.

: Sir,

No. II.

Downing Street, July 28, 1802, HAVE the Honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter on the Subject of the laft Number of Peltier. It is impoffible that His Majefty's Government could perufe the Article in Question without

without the greatest Displeasure, and without an anxious Defire that the Perfon who published it fhould fuffer the Punishment he fo juftly deferves The Calumnies however to which His Majesty's Government, and many of the best Subjects in this Country, are frequently expofed in the publick Prints, muft neceffarily convince all Foreign Governments of the Difficulties which exift in a Conftitution like that of Great Britain, in preventing the Abuse which is often unavoidably attendant on the greatest of all political Benefits; and though Publications of this Nature are, as they certainly ought to be, by the Law of England, fubject to Punishment, it is often difficult to prove the Guilt of an Individual fo fatisfactorily as to obtain the Judgement of a Court of Juftice; and the Inconvenience which arifes from Profecution, unless there is a reasonable Profpect of Succefs, is frequently fufficient to deter both the Government and Individuals from undertaking it. In the prefent Cafe I have thought it my Duty to refer the Article in Question to His Majefty's Attorney General, for his Opinion whether it is or is not a Libel, according to the Conftruction of the Law of England, and whether it is fuch a Libel as he would, under all the Circumftances, recommend for Profecution. As foon as I receive his Report, I fhall have the Honor of communicating

it to you.

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

M, Otto, &c. &c. &c.

HAWKESBURY.

No. 12,