(who also sent a Meffenger to the Hague upon this Occafion). In these M. de Talleyrand entered into confiderable Detail on the Subject of the Plots fuppofed to be formed in this Country against the Administration, mentioned the Names of the Chiefs, and ended by making an Offer, on the Part of the First Conful, to come to the Affiftance of the Government (fhould Circumftances render it neceffary) with all his Forces. No. 22. My Lord, Hague, October 29, 1802. THE recent Attack made by Bonaparte upon the Liberties and Independence of the Swifs Cantons, has naturally made a strong Impreffion on the Inhabitants of this Country; and the public Anxiety has been much augmented by certain Symptoms in the Conduct of the Confular Government, which seem to indicate an Intention not to withdraw the French Troops, which have been kept in the Batavian Republic for fome Time paft, under the Title of Auxiliaries, and paid and maintained at the Expence of the Dutch Nation. Thefe Troops (amounting to between Ten and Eleven thousand Men) were to remain here till the Conclufion of the Definitive Treaty with Great Britain. It was afterwards formally promised on the Part of France, that they should evacuate the Territories of the Republic at the latest, on the Expiration F 4 piration of the last French Year (the 23d of September). They accordingly began their March to the Southward a few Days before that Period; and the Government and the People rejoiced at the Profpect of being finally relieved from a Load which has become extremely irksome to them. But, on Pretence that a great Proportion of the Corps were to be embarked at Flushing for Louisiana, and that there was a Want of Shipping for their Accommodation, they took up their Quarters on the Frontiers of the Country (at Bois-le-Duc, Breda, and Bergen-op-Zoom), where they ftill remain; and Demands have continued to be made for their Pay and Maintenance. Hopes were, however, entertained from Day to Day, that their Departure would take place; when, to the Astonishment of the Batavian Government, official Notice was (laft Week) transmitted from France to the Department of War at the Hague, (which has been charged with the Support of these Corps), that the First Conful has been pleased to appoint a new Commander in Chief, (General Montrichard), and a new Staff, for the auxiliary Troops in this Country; and the Notice was given that Government might provide for the Pay of the Offi cers in Question. The Administration appear refolved to oppofe all the Refiftance in their Power to this unexpected and oppreffive Extortion. An Exprefs has been fent off to the Dutch Ambaffador at Paris, charging him to claim, in the most urgent Terms, the Accomplishment complishment of the Treaties fubfifting between the Two Republics, and the Fulfilment of the repeated and recent Promifes made by the French Government upon this Subject. And in cafe of the Failure of this Application, they talk of addreffing themselves to the principal Powers of Europe who had any Share or Influence in the Conclufion of the Peace, to intreat their Intervention and good Offices, with a View to the Maintenance of the Independence of the Republic. I have the Honor to be, &c. ROBERT LISTON. Right Honourable Lord Hawkesbury, &c. &c. &c. No. 23. Extract of a Dispatch from Lord Hawkefbury, to Lord Whitworth, dated November 30th, 1802. HIS Majefty's Government have learnt with some Surprize from the Communications from General Stuart, that that Officer had fignified to Co lonel Sebastiani his Inability to evacuate Egypt, until he should receive specific Orders for that Pur pofe. It is certainly true that no Warrant has been tranfmitted to General Stuart, or to his Predeceffor the Earl of Cavan, for the Evacuation of Egypt; neither was it confidered to be neceffary, in as much as His Majesty's Government had already expreffed their Intention to General Stuart, in his Inftructions, that, except in a Cafe of abfolute Neceffity, the King's Troops fhould remain in Egypt no longer than the Month of July laft. In all the Inftances of Places which had been conquered by the King's Forces, and of which Poffeffion had been taken in His Majesty's Name, it has been usual when they have been restored to the French Republic, or its Allies, that the Commanding Officer should be furnished with a regular Warrant under the King's Sign Manual, authorifing him to make fuch Reftoration. But the Cafe of Egypt is different, as that Country had never been taken Poffeffion of in His Majesty's Name, as it had been actually restored to the Ottoman Porte, and as certain Stations in it were continued to be occupied merely as Military Pofts, until the Means of removing the Troops should be provided. It is probable, that in the present Inftance, General Stuart may have been misled by a Doubt as to the Extent of his own Power, and by the Opinion that he required a Warrant to evacuate Egypt, fimilar to that which had been granted to Officers who fuperintended the Reftitution of Conquefts of which Poffeffion had been taken in His Majesty's Name. In order, however, to obviate any farther Difficulties, Inftructions have now been fent to General Stuart directing him to remove the King's Troops from Egypt with as little Delay as poffible, and Information has been given to this Effect to General Andreoffy, No. 24. No. 24 Extract of a Difpatch from Lord St. Helens I HAVE since renewed my Applications to this I No. 25. Extract of a Dispatch from Lord St. Helens MUST not omit to acquaint your Lordship, that although in order to prevent any further Wafte of Time, I have thought it right to endeavour to obtain a definitive Explanation of the Intentions of this Court, with relation to the proposed Guaranty, I have not yet been enabled to demand it officially, according to the Terms of the Treaty of Amiens, as the French Minister here is ftill without Inftructions authorizing him to join with me in that Inftance. No. 26, |