-the one to retain conquefts made at a time when it was fupported by a great number of allies, now detached from the coalition; and the other, to recover them at a time when thole who were at first its enemies, have, almolt all, either become its Allies, or neuter.

Nevertheless, the Executive Directory, animated with an ardent de. fire of putting a stop to the fcourge of war, and to prove that they will not reject any means of reconciliation, declare that as foon as Lord Malmesbury fhall exhibit to the Minifter for Foreign Affairs fufficient powers from the Allies of Great Britain, to ftipulate for their reípestive interests, accompanied by a promife on their part to fubfcribe to whatever fhall be concluded in their names, the Executive Directory will give a speedy antwer to the specific propofitions which fhall be fubmitted to them, and that the difficulties fhall be removed, as far as may be confiftent with the fafety and dignity of the French Republic.

(Signed)

REVEILLERE-LEPEAUX, Prefident.
LA GARDE, General Secretary.

Tranflation of the Credentials given to Lord Malmesbury.
(The Original are in Latin)

George Rex.

EORGE, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, prefents fhall come greeting. Seeing that the flame of war has for a long time raged in different parts of the globe; deeply occupied with the project of terminating regularly fo many quarrels and diffentions; of reitoring and confolidating the public tranquillity; refolved for this purpofe to chufe a man capable of a negotiation of this importance, and tǝ inveft him with full authority to complete fo great a work, be it known, that the fidelity, talents, genius, perfpicuity, and experience of our faithful and dear Counfellor, James Baron Malmefbury, Knight of the Moft Honourable Order of the Bath, infpiring us with full confidence, we have named him, and he is appointed and conftituted our true, certain, and accredited Commiflioner and Plenipotentiary, giving and conceding him, in all refpects, full and entire power, faculty and authority; charging him beides with our general and special orders to confer on our part, and in our name, with the Minitter or Minifters, Commiffioners and Plenipotentiaries of the French Republic, fufici. ently inverted with equal authority, as well as with the Ministers, Commioners, or Plenipotentiaries of the other Princes and States who may take part in the prefent Negotiation, alfo invetted with the fame authority; to treat either feparately or together; to confer upon the means of establishing a folid and durable peace, amity and fincere concord; and to adopt all refolutions and conclufions; to fign for us, and in our name, all the faid conventions or conclufions; to make, in confequence, every treaty or treaties, and all other acts as he fhall judge necefary; to deliver and receive mutually all other objects relative to the fortunate execution of the above-mentioned work; to tranfact with the fame force and the fame effect as we fhould be able to do if we affifted in perfon; guaranteeing, and on our royal word promising, that all and each of the traniations and conclusions which fhall be made and determined by our faid Plenipotentiary fhall be made and agreed upon, ratified, accepted, and adopted with the best faith; that we shall never fuffer any one, either in whole or in part, to infringe and a&t contrary to them; and in order to give to every thing more fecurity and force, we have figned the prefent with our royal hand, and affixed to it the Great Seal of Great Britain.

"Given in our Palace at St. James's, 13th October, year of Grace 1796, and of our Reign the 37th."

Note

Note transmitted to the Minifter for Foreign Affairs by Lord Malmefbury, Envoy form the British Cabinet.

THE

HE Underfigned has not neglected to tranfmit to his Court the an fwer of the Executive Directory, to the propofitions which he was charged to make as the basis of a negotiation for Peace.

As to the offendive and injurious infinuations which were made in that answer, and which are only calculated to raise new obftacles to the ne. gotiation which the French Government proff d fo much to desire, the King has judged it far beneath his dignity to give them any fort of reply. The progrefs, and the refult of the Negotiation will fufficiently prove the principles upon which it shall have been conducted by ei her pary. It is not by revolting accufations, deftitute of all foundation, nor by reciprocal reproaches, that the work of Peace can be fincerely forwarded.

The Underfigned proceeds then to the object placed first in discussion by the Ex-Directory, viz. A feparate negotiation; to which it has, without any foundation, been fuppofed, that the Underfigned was authorifed to accede. His full powers, expedited in the ufual form, gave him every neceflary authority for negotiating and concluding a Peace; but thefe powers did not prefcribe the form, the nature, nor the conditions of any future treaty. On thefe fubjects he was to conform himself according to the customs established and acknowledged long fince in Europe, and to the intructions which he should receive from his Court; and, therefore, he did not fail to inform the Min fter for Foreign Affairs, upon his first conference, that the King, his master, had exprefsly enjoined him not to listen to any propofitions tending to feparate the interefts of His Majelty from thofe of his Allies.

There has only then been propofed a Negotiation which fhall comprehend the interefts and the claims of all the powers who make a common caule with the King in the prefent War. In the progrefs of fuch a Negotiation, the intervention, or at leaft the participation, of thefe powers will doubtless become abfolutely neceffary; and His Majesty hopes to find at all times the fame difpostions for treating on a just and equitable bafis, of which His Majefty, the Emperor and King, gave fo illuftrious a proof to the French Government, even at the opening of the prefent campaign.

But it appeared to be a very unneceffary delay to wait for formal and definitive Powers, from the Allies of the King, before that Great Britain and France fhould merely commence the provifional difcuffion of the principles of the Negotiation. A conduct altogether different has been followed by thefe two Powers, upon almost all fimilar occafions; and His Majesty thought that the bet proof they could, at this moment, give to all Europe, of their mutual defire to terminate, as foon as poffible, the calamities of War, was to agree, without delay, to the bans of a comprehensive Negotiation, by inviting their Allies to concur thereto in the manner the most proper for accelerating a general pacification.

It is with this view that the Underigned was charged to propofe at the commencement of the Negotiation, a principle which the generosity and good faith of His Majefty could alone dictate, which was to compenfate France by proportional restitutions, for the arrangements to which the fhould confent in fatisfying the claims of the Allies of the King, and preferving the balance of Europe. The Ex-Directory have not explained themfelves with precision, neither as to the admiffion of this principle, nor the changes or modifications which they defire to intro. duce into it. Neither have they propofed any other principle whatfoever

for the attainment of the fame object. The Underfigned is therefore ordered to recur to this fubject, and to demand a frank and precife explication, for the purpose of abridging the delays which will neceflarily refult from the difficulty, with regard to form, at first started by the Executive Directory.

He is deared to add to this demand the exprefs declaration, that His M jefty, in informing his auguit Allies of all his fucceffive proceedings relative to the object of the pr. fent negotiation, and in fulfilling towards theie Sovereigns, in the moft efficac ous manner, all the duties of a goo and faithful Ally, wil omit nothing on his part, as weil for dif poling them to concur in this nego ia ior, by every means the most proper for ta ilita ing its progrefs, and affuring its fuccefs; as for maintain nith ein entimen's always agreeable to the wifhes which they havxpreffed for the r folution of a General Peace, upon just, honourab' and permanen. condit.ons. Paris, Nov. 12.

T

(Signed)

MALMESBURY.

Answer of the Miniter for Foreign Affairs to Lord Malmesbury's Note. THE Under gned is charged by the Executive Directory to invite you topoint out, as foon as poffible, firit, "The objects of reciprocal "Com pt nfa ion which you propose."

He is tur her charged to demand of you, "What are the difpofi❝tions for treating upon a juft and equitable basis, of which His Majesty "the Emperor and King gave fo illuftrious a proof to the French Go"vernment, even at the moment of the opening of this campaign.” Of thefe difpofitions the Executive Directory is ignorant-It was the Emperor and King who broke the Armistice.

Paris, 22d Brumaire,

Νον. 12.

(Signed)

CHARLES DELACROIX.

Note addrelfed by Lord Malmesbury to the Minifter for Foreign Affairs.

"T

HE Undersigned does not hesitate a moment to answer to the two quations which you have been charged to make to him on the part of the Executive Dire ory.

"The Memor al prefented this morning by the Underfigned, propofes, in expreis terms, on the part of his Majesty the King of Great Britain," to compenfate France, by proportional reftitutions, for "thole arrangem nts to which the fhall be called upon to confent,in or"der to fatis y he just pretentions of his Majesty's Allies, and to preferve the political balance of Europe.

"Until this principle be formally recognized, or fome other propofed, on the part of the Executive Directory, which may serve equally as a ba s on which to negotiate a general peace, the Undersigned cannot be author fed to point out the obest of reciprocal compenfations.

"As to the proof of pacific fentiments given to the French Government by his Majesty the Emperor and King, at the opening of the campaign, the Underigned thinks it fufficient to quote the following words, which are to be found in the Note of Baron Degelman, dated the 4th June laft.

"The operations of the war fhall by no means prevent his Imperial "Majelty from being inclined, at all times, to concur, according to fuch "form of negotiation as thail be adopted in concert with the other Bel"ligerent powers, in the difcuffion of the proper means for terminating "the farther effusion of human blood.

"This Note was prefented after the breaking of the Armistice. Paris, Nov. 12. MALMESBURY."

Answer

Anfwer of the Minifter for Foreign Affairs to the preceding Note. HE Underfigned, in reply to your fecond Note of yesterday, is declare,

thing to add o the Anfwer which he has already addressed t you. He is alto charged to enquire, whether, on each official communication which fhall take place between him and you, it will be deemed neceffary that you dispatch a courier in order to receive special inftructions?

23th Bruma re, Nov. 13.

"CH. DELACROIX."

Letter addressed to the Minifter for Foreign Affairs, by Lord Malmefbury, Envoy from the British Cabinet.

HE Minifter Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majefty addresses him

Affairs, and informed,

whether he is to regard the official note which he received, on his part, yesterday evenin, as an anfwer to that which Lord Malmesbury tranfmitted yesterday morning to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by order of his Court. he makes this request, that he may not ufelefsly retard the departure of his courier.

Paris, Nov. 13, 1796.

"MALMESBURY."

Anfwer of the Minifter for Foreign Affairs to the preceding Letter of Lord Malmesbury.

HE Unterfigned Minifter of Foreign Affairs declares to Lord ntiary his Britann C Majetty,

he is to regard the Official Note which was tranfmitted to him yefterday, as the an wer to hat which Lord Malm bury had addreffed to him on the morning of the fame day. 23 Brumaire, Nov. 13.

(Signed) "CH. DELACROIX."

Second Letter of Lord Malmesbury to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"LORD Malmesbury has just received the answer of the Miniter of

Foreign Affairs, in which he declares that the Official Note tranfmitted by him yesterday is to be regarded as an Answer to that which Lord Malmesbury had addreffed to him on the morning of the fame day.

"Lord Malmesbury will communicate the fame this day to his Court. Pairs, Nov. 13. "MALMESBURY."

The following is a Copy of a Circular Letter to the Lieutenants of Counties on the Sea Coast, dated, Whitehall, Nov. 5, 1796. "My Lord,

S it would materially add to the difficulties which already oppofe

A themselves to any attemp's which it is poffible the Enemy may

be induced to make upon our coat, if the live and dead ftock of individuals refiding near the Sea Coat, was capable of being inftantly removed and fecured for the benefit of the proprietors, I am commanded to recommend it to your Lordship to exert you influence in causing to be made out, as fpeedily as poffible, an account of the live and dead stock, in fuch of the parishes of the county of Suffex, as are within ten or twelve miles of the Sea.

With refpect to the mode of making out the account required, I take this opportunity of tranfmitting to your Lordship the form in which it has been executed by the voluntary exertions of the gentlemen of the county of Dorfet; and fhall beg to fubmit it for your Lordship's confideration and adoption, unlels where it may be found neceffary to deviate from it, in confequence of local circumstances and fituations.

"With respect to the mode in which it is propofed to remove fuch tive and dead stock, in case it should be necessary, your Lordthip will communicate

Communicate with the Commander in Chief of the District in which the County of Suffex lies, and will concert with him fuch previous measures for this purpofe as may be judged requifite.

"The meeting, which I have defired your Lordship to call on the fubject of my circular letter of this day's date, will afford you an opportu nity of fubmitting this letter to the confideration of the Deputy Lieutenants, and Magiltracy of the county of Suffex, and will confequently lead to the immediate adoption of fuch meatures as fhall be necellary to enable the Return to be made, which I am perfuaded your Lordship will be of opinion is fo much to be wifhed for.

*k

"I am further to inform your Lordship, that the Lords Comiffioners of the Treasury have received His Majefty's pleasure, that they should take fuch previous measures as may be necellary for defraying any expences which may arife, in confequence of fuch poffible removal of live and dead ftock as I have fuppofed, as well as of any particular loffes which may eventually be occationed thereby.

"Although this circumitance is fuch as muft obviate every possible objection to the meature, I am neverthelefs confident, that all those whom it may concern would, exclusively of every perfonal consideration or motives, join with the utmolt alacrity in the execution of a meafure which has for its objet the general fatety of the Country.

"I have the honour to be, &c.

"PORTLAND." A Letter to the People of the United States of America, from General Washington, on his Refignation of the office of Prefident of the United States.

Friends and Fellow Citizens,

THE period for a new Election of a Citizen to adminifter the Execu

time actually arrived, when your thoughts must be employed in defignating the perfon who is to be cloathed with that important truft, it appears to me proper, efpecially as it may conduce to a more diftinct expreffion of the public voice, that I fhould now apprize you of the refolution I have formed, to decline being confidered among the number of thole out of whom a choice is to be made.

I beg you, at the fame time, to do me the juftice to be affured, that this refolution has not been taken, without a firict regard to all the confiderations appertaining to the relations which bind a dutiful Citizen to his Country, and that, in withdrawing the tender of fervice which filence in my fituation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future intereft; no deficiency of grateful refpe&t for your palt kindness; but am fupported by a full conviction that the step is compatible with both.

The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in the office to which your fuffrages have twice called me, have been an uniform iacrifice of incl nation to the opinion of duty, and to a deference for what appeared to be your defire. I conftantly hoped, that it would have been much earlier in my power, confitently with motives, which I was not at liberty to difregard, to return to that retirement, from which I had been reluctantly drawn. The frength of my inclination to do this, previous to the lait election, had even led to the preparation of an addrefs to declare it to you; bu mature refle&ion on the then perplexed and critical poliure of our affairs with foreign nations, and the unanimous advice of perfons en itled to my confidence, inpelled me to abandon the idea.

I rejoice that the ftare of your concerns, external as well as internal, no longer renders the purfuit of inclination incompatible with the fenti

ment