162] ANNUAL 
the executive directory declare, 
that, yielding to the ardent desire 
by which it is animated to procure 
peace for the French republic, and 
for all nations, it will not fear to 
Geclare itself cpenty. Charged by 
‘the constitution with the execution 
of the laws, it cannot make, or 
“listen to any ‘proposals that would 
be contrary to them. . The consti- 
tutional.act dces not permit it to 
cousent to any alienation of that, 
which, according to the existing 
laws, oonstitutes the territory of 
the republic. 
‘That it is impossible his majes- 
" ty’s ministers could have misunder- 
_ Stood this declaration ; for in the 
note, siened Downing-street, there 
are these words: § To a demand 
such as this is added an expressed 
declaration, that no proposal con- 
trary to it will be made, or even 
listened to.’ 
«That six monthsafter this hisma- 
jesty’s ministers aghin made an over- 
ture cf peace, but in so ungracious 
*amanner that doubts might have 
been reasonably enter tained of their 
sincerity ; and after a variety of 
trifling disputes, unworthy a great 
nation, when the happiness of mil- 
lions were depending, “his majes- 
“ty’s ministers demanded, and made, 
as their sine qua non, those very 
terms, which, before they began 
their negociation, they knew would 
not be mace, or even listened to. 
‘© That under all these circum- 
stances, this. house humbly, and 
most earnestly entreats “his majesty 
to enter into an inunediate nego- 
ciation, upon such, terms: as France 
is likely to listen and accede to, 
acd in such manner and through 
the medium of such men, as shall 
leave no room. to doubt the pacific 
intentions of his majesty. 
REGISTER, 1797. 
«« And this house begs leave hum- 
bly to assure his majesty, that it 
entertains no doubt of the success 
of such a negociation, and that it 
feels confident, that after his majesty 
shall have been graciously pleased 
to restore to his people the bles- 
sing of peace, such retrenchments, 
and wise regulations may be adopt- 
ed, by the legislature, as will relieve 
the people from their burdens, re- 
move every cause of complaint, of 
their being unequally represented ; 
restore to them their ancient, vene- 
rable, and. free. constitution; and 
thereby re-establish public spirit, 
and public confidence; and insure 
to his majesty the affections of his 
subjects, the glory, prosperity, and 
happiness of his future reign.” 
The question being put, lord 
Grenville observed that it was 
guite unnecessary to reply, in de- 
tail, to the extraordinary string of © 
propositions which their Jordships 
had just heard.. He moved that the 
address of the thirtieth of Decem- 
ber Jast might be read, which econ- 
tained sufficient arguments against 
that part of the motion suggested 
by his lordship, and from which it 
would be scen, that so far from 
the negociation being terminated by 
this country, it had been abruptly 
and insolently broken off by the 
l'rench republic.—That address be- 
ing read, the duke of Norfolk said, 
that he wished that the present ad- 
dress might go to the throne, as, 
without the adoption of such .a mo- 
tion, there was little probability ‘of 
cbtaining peace. The secretary of 
state had grounded his opposition 
to the motion of theirslerdships on ~ 
its inconsistency, with the address 
of December last. But, was there 
any thing to prev enr a grave assem 
bly from 1 reconsidering itsformer ré- 
‘solutions ; 
