tion et des Spoliations fans Nombre; nous man. quons d'Armes, de Munitions, d'Argent pour nous

en procurer.

Mr. Merry.

(Inclosure referred to in No. 16.)

Tranflation.

NOTE.

So long as Swifferland was occupied by the French Armies, the Wishes of the People could never be freely manifested. The petty Revolutions which took place in the Government were the mere Tricks of certain Factions, in which the Nation at large took but a very trifling Interest. Scarcely did Swifferland think herself independant when fhe was de firous of returning to her ancient Institutions, rendered still dearer to her by her late Misfortunes, and the arbitrary Acts of the Government furnished her with the Means of doing fo. Almoft the Whole of Swifferland, with unexampled Unanimity and Moderation, fhook off the Yoke. The Cantons formed themselves into Conftituent Bodies; and Twelve of the Thirteen Cantons of Swifferland fent their Reprefentatives to the Diet of Schwitz, in order there to organize a central Power which might be acceptable to the neighbouring Powers.

The Ariftocratical Cantons renounced their exclufive Rights; the Pays de Vaud was left at Li

berty

berty to form its own Constitution, as well as Thur govia and the other new Cantons.

The Government having taken Refuge at Laufanne, was by no Means fecure there, notwithstanding its regular Troops; perhaps even at the present Moment it no longer exists.

Who would not have thought that according to the Stipulation of the Treaty of Luneville, which grants Independance to Swifferland, and the Right of choofing its own Government, every Thing was fettled, and that this Nation might fee its former Happiness and Tranquillity revive?

Who could have thought that the First Conful would have iffued fuch a Decree as that of the 8th Vendemiaire (

)?

Is an independant Nation to be thus treated? Should Bonaparte perfist in his Determination, and the other Powers fhould not interpofe in our Fa. vour, it only remains for us either to bury ourselves in the Ruins of our Houses, although without Hope of Resistance, exhausted as we are by the Coloffus who is about to overwhelm us, or to debafe ourfelves in the Eyes of the whole Universe!

Will the Government of this generous Nation, which has at all Times afforded fo many Proofs of the Interest it takes in the Welfare of the Swifs, do nothing for us under Circumstances which are to decide, whether we are ftill to be ranked amongst free People?

We have only Men left us :-The Revolution,

and

and Spoliations without End, have exhaufted our Means: We are without Arms, without Ammunition, without Stores, and without Money to purchase them.

No. 17.

NOTE VERBALE.

LORD Hawkesbury has received His Majesty's Commands to communicate, through Mr. Otto, to the French Government, the Sentiments of deep Regret which have been excited in His Majesty's Mind by the Address of the First Conful to the Helvetic People, which was published by Authority in the Moniteur of the 1ft Inftant, and by the Reprefentations which have been made to His Majefty on this Subject, on Behalf of the Nation whofe Inte refts are fo immediately affected by it. His Majefty moft fincerely laments the Convulfions to which the Swifs Cantons have for fome Time past been exposed; but he can confider their late Exertions in no other Light than as the lawful Efforts of a brave and generous People to recover their antient Laws and Government, and to procure the Re-establishment of a Syftem which Experience has demonftrated, not only to be favourable to the Maintenance of their domestic Happiness, but to be perfectly confiftent with the Tranquillity and Security of other Powers.

The

The Cantons of Switzerland unquestionably poffefs, in the fame Degree as every other independent State, the Right of regulating their own internal Concerns; and this Right has moreover, in the present Instance, been formally and explicitly gua ranteed to the Swifs Nation by the French Government in the Treaty of Luneville conjointly with the other Powers who were Parties to that Engagement. His Majefty has no other Defire than that the People of Switzerland, who now appear to be fo generally united, fhould be left at Liberty to fettle their own internal Government without the Interpofition of any Foreign Powers; and with whatever Regret His Majefty may have perufed the late Proclamation of the French Government, He is yet unwilling to believe that they will farther attempt to controul that independent Nation in the Exercife of their undoubted Rights. His Majefty thinks Himself called upon by His Regard for the general Interests of Europe, and by His peculiar Solicitude for the Happinefs and Welfare of the Swifs Nation, to exprefs thefe His Sentiments with a Frankness and Sincerity which he feels to be due to His Character, and to the good Understanding which he is defirous of preferving with the Government of France.

Downing Street, October 10, 1802.

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

No. 18.

Sir,

No. 18.

Downing Street, October 10, 1802.

HIS M IS Majefty having deemed it expedient, that a confidential Perfon fhould be fent at the prefent Moment to Switzerland, in confequence of the Communication which he has received from the Swifs Confederacy, through their Representative at Paris, I am commanded to inform you that He has made Choice of you for that Purpose.

It is of the utmoft Confequence, confidering the Nature of the Business with which you are entrusted, that you should lofe no Time in taking your Departure from hence, and that you should make every practicable Exertion to arrive on the Frontiers of Switzerland with as little Delay as poffible. You will inform yourself there what is the actual Refidence of the Government of the Swiss Confederation, to which you will immediately repair. Having taken the proper Means to obtain a confidential Interview with the Perfons who may be entrusted with the principal Direction of Affairs, you will communicate to them a Copy of the Note Verbale which I delivered to M. Otto, and which is herewith inclofed; and you will take every Opportunity of impreffing upon their Minds the deep Intereft which His Majefty takes in the Succefs of their Exertions. You will ftate to them, that His Majesty entertains Hopes, that His Representation to the French Government may have the Effect of inducing the Firft Conful to abandon his Intention

F