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reftored to the Dutch. M. Delacroix converfation had now been extremely launched forth on this into a mot la- long, and M. Delacroix ended by saying, boured differtation on the value of the that, although he had taken upon himCape of Good Hope, which he did not felf to enter thus far with me upon the confider at all as a port de relache, but as fubject, yet I muft not confider any a poffeffion which, in our hands, would thing he faid as binding, or as pledging become one of the moft fertile and moft the Republic, till fuch time as he had productive colonies in the Eaft; and, laid the papers I had given him before according to his eftimation of it, he did the Directory; and, in order to do this not fcruple to affert, that it would ulti- with more accuracy, he again asked me," mately be an acquifition of much greater Whether, in his report, he was to ftate importance to Eugland than that of the the difuniting Belgium from France as a Netherlands to France; and, if acquief- fine qua non from which his Majefty ced in, fhould be reckoned as a full and would not depart? I replied, it moit ample compenfation for them. certainly was a fine qua non from which his Majesty would not depart; and that any proposal which would leave the Netherlands annexed to France, would be attended with much greater benefit to that power, and lofs to the allies, than the prefent relative fituation of the belligerent powers could entitle the French Government to expect.

He added, “If you are masters of the Cape and Trincomale, we shall hold all our fettlements in India, and the islands of France and Bourbon, entirely at the tenure of your will and pleafure; they will be ours only as long as you chufe we should retain them. You will be fole mafters of India, and we fhall be entirely dependent upon you." I repeated to him, that it was as a means of defence, not of offence, that thefe pof feffions would be infifted on; and that, if the matter was fairly and difpaffionately difcuffed, he would find that they afforded us a great additional fecurity, but no additional power of attack, even if we were difpofed to disturb the peace of that part of the world. If these, and perhaps fome few other not very material fettlements belonging to the Dutch, were to be infifted upon, and if he would be pleased to enumerate all we fhould ftill have to restore to them, while they had nothing to reftore to England, it was impoffible not to confider the terms on which his Majefty propofed peace to Holland as generous and liberal.

M. Delacroix repeated his concern at the peremptory way in which I made this affertion; and afked, whether it would admit of no modification? I replied, if France could, in a contre-projets point out a practicable and adequate one, ftill keeping in view, that the Netherlands muft not be French, or likely again to fall into the hands of France, fuch a proposal might certainly be taken into confideration.

M. Delacroix by no means encouraged me to explain myself more fully; he repeatedly faid, that this difficulty relative to the Netherlands, was one which could not be overcome.

Juft as I was taking leave of him, he begged me to explain what was meant by the words in the memoire (A) in the 4th paragraph, beginning, “de s'entendre mutuellement fur les moyens d'affurer," and ending at "leurs poffeffions refpectives." I told him it referred to the deftructive system adopted by France in the Weft Indies, and went to exprefs a wish, that the two powers should agree on fome general and uniform fyftem of internal police in the fettlements there, which would contribute to the fecurity of these poffeffions to the ref pective countries, and at the fame time to the happinefs of every description of inhabitants in them.

M. Delacroix was not at all difpofed to agree with me on this point; and faid, Holland, ftript of thefe poffeffions would be ruined; he then held out, but as if the hint had croffed his mind, the poffibility of indemnifying the Dutch for their loffes in India, by giving them a tract of territory towards the Meufe (I could not find out whether he meant Aix-la-Chapelle, Liege, or the countries of Juliers and Berg), and hinted, that if this was not to be done, an additional fugar ifland might, perhaps, be ceded to the Dutch Republic. I told him all this might become a subject of future M. Delacroix, a little hurt at my exdifcuffion; and I concluded, that if we preffion relative to the system adopted could agree upon the moft effential by France, endeavoured to recriminate points, the treaty would not break off on us; but he ended by faying, that en thefe fecondary confiderations. Our they fhould certainly be willing to cqn

cur

cur in any arrangement relative to the the firft propofals; and I was a little negroes, which did not militate against surprised at receiving, on Sunday, at the principles of their conftitution. three P. M. the inclofed letter (A) from Here our conference ended; and, as M. Delacroix; he fent it by the princiduring the whole courfe of it, I bore in pal fecretary of his department (M. my mind the poffibility, that although Guiraudet), who communicated to me this our firt might be the only favour the original of the arrete of the Direcable opportunity I should ever have of tory, of which this letter, abating the Speaking on the general principles on alteration in the form, is a literal copy.: which his Majefty was difpofed to treat, I endeavoured, by adverting more or lefs to almost every point in my inftructions, to enable M. Delacroix (if he report faithfully) to ftate to the Directory what I faid, in fuch a manner, as to put it out of their power to mifconceive what were his Majefty's intentions, to remove all poffibility of cavil on this cafe, and to bring them to a clear and distinct answer whether they would agree to open a negociation on the principle of the ftatus ante bellum, or on one differing from it only in form, not in fubitance. I hope, in attempting to do this, I did not, in the first inftance, com mit myself, or difcover more of my inftructions than it became me to do, and that in the conversation with M. Delacroix nothing efcaped me which might, at fome fubfequent period, hurt the progrefs of the negociation. I have, I believe, given this conference nearly verbatim to your Lordship; and I was par ticularly anxious to do this correctly and minutely, as well that you may judge on the propriety of what I faid myself, as that what M. Delacroix faid to me may be accurately known, and remain on record.

It muft, however, be remembered, (as I obferved in the beginning of this dispatch,) that he spoke from himself, as minister indeed, but not under the immediate instructions of the Directory; and this confideration will take away from the fingularity of fome of the pofitions he advanced.

I confefs, my Lord, from the civility of his manners, and from his apparent readiness to difcufs the fubject, the impreffion which remained on my mind on leaving him was, that the negotiation would go on, but be liable to fo many difficulties, and fome of them fo nearly infurmountable, that, knowing as I do the opinion of the Directory, I faw little profpect of its terminating with fuccefs. But I did not expect the conduct of the Directory would immediately be fuch as to evince a manifeft inclination, and even determination, to break off on

After perusing it, I asked M. Guirau det whether he was informed of its contents, and this led to a fhort converfation on them. I told him, that both the demands were fo unexpected that I could not reply to them off hand: That, as to the firft, it was quite unusual to fign memorials which were annexed to a note a&ually figned, and that I fcarcely felt myfelf authorised to depart from what was, I believe, an invariable rule: That as to the second demand, made in fo peremptory and unprecedented a way, I could, without much helitation, fay at once, that it could not be complied with. M. Guiraudet lamented this much, and faid, that, this being the cafe, he feared our principles of negoti ation would never coincide. I agreed with him in my expreffions of concern. We converted together afterwards for fome time, but nothing paffed at all worthy remark. I told him I fhould fend my anfwer the next day. On reflecting more attentively on the request that I would fign the two memorials which I had given in, it ftruck me that the complying with it pledged me to nothing; that it was merely gratifying them upon a point infifted on peevishly, and that the doing of it would put them ftill more in the wrong.

As to the ftrange demand of an ultimatum, it was perfectly clear what it became me to say, and I hope that in the inclofed anfwer B. (which I fent yefterday morning, at twelve o'clock, to M. Delacroix), 1 fhall be found to have adhered as clofely as poffible to the spirit of my instructions.

1

Yefterday evening, at half paat nine, M. Guiraudet brought me the note C. to which I immediately replied by the note D. They require no comment; and as I intend leaving Paris to-morrow, and travelling with all convenient speed, I fhall foon have it in my power to say the little which remains relative to this fudden, though perhaps not unlookedfor close to my miffion, that I need not trefpafs any further on your Lordship's patience. I have the honour to be, &c.

P. S.

P. S. I thought it would be proper for his Majesty's minilter at Vienna to receive the earlieft intelligence of the negotiation being broken off, I therefore have difpatched a meffenger to Vienna, with a copy of the feveral papers which have paffed between me and M. Delacroix fince our conference, and alfo a fuccinct account of what pafied on it. The meffenger left this place to-day, at three P. M. MALMESBURY. Right Hon. Lord Grenville, &c. &c.

(A.)

SIR, Paris, Dec. 18. The Executive Directory has heard the reading of the official note, figned by you, and of two confidential memorials, without fignatures, which were annexed to it, and which you gave in to me yefterday. I am charged expressly by the Directory to declare to you, that it cannot liften to any confidential note without a fignature, and to require of you to give in to me, officially, within four and twenty hours, your ultimatum, figned by you.

Accept, Sir, the affurance of my high confideration. CH. DELACROIX.

Copy. (B.) Paris, Dec. 19. Lord Malmesbury, in answer to the letter which the minifter for Foreign Affairs had the goodness to tranfmit to him, through the hands of the fecretary general of his department, muft remark, that in figning the official note, which he gave in to that minifter, by order of his Court, he thought he had complied with all the ufual formalities, and had given the neceffary authenticity to the two confidential memorials annexed to it. Nevertheless, to remove all difficulties as far as lies in his power, he will ingly adopts the forms which are pointed out by the refolution of the Executive Directory, and haftens to fend to the minifter for Foreign affairs, the two memorials figned by his hand.

With refpect to the pofitive demand of an ultimatum, Lord Malmesbury obferves, that infilling in fo peremptory a manner, before the two powers fhall have communicated to each other their refpective pretenfions, and that the articles of the future treaty fhall have fubmitted to the difcuffions, which the different interefts which are to be adjusted neceffarily demand, is to fhut the door against all negotiation. He therefore can add nothing to the affurances

which he has already given to the minif ter for Foreign Affairs, as well by word of mouth, as in his official note; and he repeats that he is ready to enter with that minifter, into every explanation of which the state and progress of the ne gotiation will admit, and that he wil not fail to enter into the difcuffion of the propofals of his Court, or of any counterproject which may be delivered to him, c the part of the Executive Directory, with that candour and that spirit of concilia tion which correspond with the juft and pacific fentiments of his Court.

Lord Malmesbury requefts the minifter for Foreign Affairs to accept the af furances of his high confideration.

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The undersigned minifter for Foreign Affairs is charged by the Executive Di rectory, to answer to Lord Malmesbury's two notes of the the 27th and 29th Eri maire (17th and 19th December 0. S.), that the Executive Directory will liften to no propofals, contrary to the conftitution, to the laws, and to the treaties which bind the Republic.

And as Lord Malmesbury announces at every communication, that he is in want of the advice of his Court, from which it refults, that he, acts a part merely paffive in the negotiation, which renders his prefence at Paris ufelefs; the undersigned is further charged to give, him notice to depart from Paris in eight and forty hours, with all the perfons who have accompanied and followed him, and to quit as expeditiously as poffible the territory of the Republic.— The underfigned declares moreover, in the name of the Executive Directory, that if the British Cabinet is defirous of peace, the Executive Directory is ready to follow the negotiations, according to the bafis laid down in the prefent note, by the reciprocal channel of couriers.

(D.)

CH. DELACROIX.

Paris, Dec. 20 Lord Malmesbury haftens to acknow. ledge the receipt of the note of the mi nifter for Foreign Affairs, dated yefterday. He is preparing to quit Paris to morrow, and demands, in confequence, the neceffary paffports for himself and his fuite.

He requefts the minister for Foreign affairs to accept the affurances of his high confideration.

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ALBERT AND EMMA. CONCLUDED FROM PAGE 821.

THE confufion and furprise of Emma, at the humble posture of the Baron, could only be heightened by his addrefs. She had inftantly retreated a few paces from the door, which the had vainly attempted to open, and fupported herself with difficulty against a book-cafe. "Be not alarmed, charming Emma," faid the Baron, in a voice of affumed softness, you fee before you a man, who, till he beheld your incomparable beauty, never completely loft his liberty. Regard me no longer as the master of your father, but as the flave and lover of his daughter, and who only waits her commands to fhew by his obedience the truth and generofity of his fentiments." During this fpeech, Emma's gentle frame was agitated by a variety of inexpreffible e motions. Amazement, fear, and indigpation prevented her interrupting the Baron; but when, on his rifing and advancing to her at the close of his fpeech, he attempted to take her hand," My Lord," faid the, shrinking from his touch, you must permit me to affure you, that I have no wish but to return to my father: in his cottage all my ideas of happiness are centered. Condescend to open this door, or to admit my departure through that colonnade : my intrufion here was entirely owing to Madame de Chalons, who propofed to fhew me the castle." "How much indebted am I then to her," replied the Baron," for this interview, which gives me an opportunity to unfold the fentiments of a heart devoted to you alone. No longer shall fuch beauty, formed to thine in palaces, be concealed in a cottage. Accept my affections, and command my fortune."

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Indignant blushes dyed the cheeks of Emma, at a propofal, which he could not mifconceive, and all the pride of wounded delicacy rufhing into her bofom, fufpended for a moment its natural timidity, and animated her to pronounce thefe words: "That fortune, my Lord, from which you affume the privilege thus to infult the daughter of a peafant, can VOL. LVIII.

neither dazzle my vanity, nor tempt my ambition; my humble birth inspires in me no pride, but that of virtue, and the poffeffion of no dignity, but that of con fcious innocence." "Your father, forward beauty, waits my pleasure in the caftle," returned the Baron, with a look of anger, "your compliance or rejection of my generous offers will decide his future fate. Recollect, Emma, the extent of my power; dread my refentment, or deserve my gratitude; they each fhall be unbounded. If you reward my paffion, your father will refide in this caftle, freed from the toils of fervitude, the witnefs and partaker of those benefits which my love fhall heap upon you receive this cafket of jewls, as a trifling carnest of a liberality, which fhall know no limits." While the Baron difplayed the fparkling treafure to the eyes of the unambitious Emma, fhe pushed them from her with difdain. "Once more,

my Lord," faid fhe, "let me affure you, that I have a heart impenetrable to vanity, or to any grandeur, to which the power of wealth could raise me:" "But," cried the Baron, interrupting her, softening the natural ferocity of his features, and gazing tenderly on her, "is your heart impenetrable to love, and cannot it be moved to yield a generous return to fentiments fo fincere?" Let me owe

my

to mutual affection that, which you deny to ambition; and accept the honours which fhall be offered you, as tributes due from my gratitude, rather than as bribes to allure your compliance." "Never, never," replied Emma: “ heart will ever continue as untouched by love, as by your proffered gifts: it is proof againft every fentiment, that would injure my bonour and debase my virtue !" "I understand you, prefumptuous girl," returned the Baron," you would raise your daring hopes to fhare by legal ties my name and rank."-" No," exclaimed Emma, "could you stoop so low as to demand my hand in an honourable alliance, my heart would reject the of6 G

fer

the commands of his Lord, who had fome defigns to communicate to him, greatly to his advantage. The good old man, who never yet had formed a wifh, beyond the fufficiency which his humble station had always allowed him, heard this circumftance with cold indifference; but, out of refpect to the Baron, waited his pleasure. He was introduced into a pavilion in the garden, and requested not to quit it till the Baron, who propofed to join him there, fhould difmifs him.

fer, and my tongue difclaim an union, the purpose of entrapping his daughter which, no intreaties could induce, no au- in the fnare laid for her. As he paffed thority compel me to accept! After this the caftle, in the morning, he had been honest confeffion, my Lord, you will met by Monfieur Du Val, the steward, fuffer me to quit your prefence." The and requested to wait there to receive enraged Baron was now raised to a pitch of refentment, which banished at the moment every paffion but that of anger. Mortified pride ftung him to the quick; and viewing her with a look of contempt, "Tis well," faid he, " your audacity has difpelled the charm of beauty: unworthy of a prepoffeffion, which covers me with difgrace, you may return to that obfcurity and indigence, which befit the meanness of your birth, and the groveling fentiments of your foul."-Uttering these words he took a key from his pocket, and throwing it on the ground left her at liberty; the inftantly feized the opportunity to unfaften the door, and to efcape; haftening through the hall, inftead of turning toward the offices by which fhe had entered it, fhe took advantage of the great door, that flood open, and defcending a flight of fteps with a celerity urged by her fears of detention, fhe flew across the court, darted through the iron gates, and gained the end of the front avenue in a few moments. She then stopped, for want of breath, and funk, almost spent, under the fhade of a lofty elm: recollecting, however, that she was not beyond the reach of purfuit, should the enraged Baron change his mind, and attempt to recall her, the arofe, and caffing an apprehenfive look toward the castle, fhe perceived her father advancing toward her with flow fteps: affured by his prefence, the hefitated not to wait his approach; and he had no fooner reached the spot, where the ftood trembling to receive him, than they clafped each other in a filent embrace but Emma, urged by the dread of a moment's delay, entreated her father to fufpend all interrogations till they fhould have regained their cottage, which they had no fooner reached, than they each gave vent to the agitations, which mutually-oppreffed them.

The ftory of Bernard's illness had been a fabrication, invented merely for

He remained above two hours, in vain expectation; the fteward at length entered, and informed him that he had liberty to depart, as the Baron's fentiments were changed in regard to him, from the ungrateful rejection, which Emma had prefumed to offer to propofals that did her but too much honour, and would have raised her and her family to a situation which must have rendered them the objects of envy to the furrounding peafantry. Bernard, ftrongly agi tated, replied to this harangue," then may I truly glory in my child, whofe fteady virtue teaches her to refift the treacherous arts of feduction, and to fpurn at an elevation, which would fink her far beneath her lowly birth and humble education Let me haften from a spot once the refidence of worth and honour, but now become the fcene of infamy and fhame."- "Have a care, old man," replied Du Val, how you tempt the vengeance of your mafter, by fuch daring language." "I fear no danger," interrupted Bernard, "but the lofs of honour, and own no real master but that Power Omnipotent, who guarding the innocent, forfakes only the guilty!"Having thus faid, he reached the lodge the porter opened a private gate which admitted him through the avenue, where he join ed, as we before related, his beloved daughter.

The

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