i70]) ANNUAL “REGISTER, 179%. 
ealamities which are at. present 
abroad in the world? He trust- 
ed, that, on the contrary, Eng- 
Jand would be made to vindicate 
her charaeterin the face of Europe, 
and that it would be shewn to the 
present and to the future age, that 
the aspersion, in this instance, is as 
untrueas it is contradictoey to her 
past Iustory; and that even her 
enemies“ will be taught to lock to 
her asthe source of their advan- 
tages. Butit was not merely our 
character, but eur interests which 
Were at stake. Public credit was 
shaken to its yery foundation, and 
peace alone could restore it. It 
might be said, that the French na- 
tion were not sufficiently tranquil- 
ized, and that their government 
was not possessed of stability enough 
to insure the blessings of a perma~ 
nent peace. His majesty had de- 
elared it to be capable of main- 
taining the relations of peace and 
amity ; and if there were any who 
could not adopt this’ opinion, he 
would ask, if they wished to perse- 
vere in the contest either till the 
present government of France was 
completely consolidated, or till a 
system, in which they could repose 
greater confidence, was established 
upon its overthrow? He advised 
gentlemen to read the debates in the 
council of five hundred, and to 
learn moderation from the speeches 
of Dumas and Dumolard. As a 
specimen of the just and proper no~ 
tions, which obtained m that assem- 
bly, he referred to the message, 
which was lately sent to the direc- 
tory, demanding, of that body, an 
explauation of what they called an 
incendiary debarkation of prisoners 
upon our coasts ; a measyre which 
they justly reprobated asinconsistent 
with the laws of war. And, if these 
were the sentiments of moderation 
and justice, by which a French as- 
sembly was guided, would the house 
of.commons of Great Britair be less 
inclined to the exercise of these 
dispositions ? He trusted not.” 
Mr. Pollen proceeded to read an 
abstract, from a’ paper, contained in 
the Redacteur, of December, 3799. 
which he considered as the official 
sentiments of the French directory, 
on the late negociation for peace ; 
the arguments contained in which, 
tended to prove, on one hand, the 
insincerity and ambition of England 
in the late negociation ; and,on the 
other, to prove how sincerely de- 
sirous the directory were of peace, 
on moderate terms.* Myr. Pollen, 
after reading this paper, observed, 
-* Taken from the Redacteur, Dec. 14, 1796, three days after lord Malmesbury’s 
departure from Paris. 
«« The directory sets out with asserting positively, that the war has been, on their 
part, a defensive, and not an offensive one ; and that peace is the only object of their 
vows and wishes. 
*¢ Jn enumerating the strong reasons they had for suspecting the sincerity of lord 
Malmesbury’s mission, they particularly specify the perfidy of England, in exciting and 
supporting mterior troubles, both in La Vendée and elsewhere. They mention like- 
wise the forgeryand fabrication of false assignats, the studied slowness and want of con- 
ciliation, as well as of candour and openness in the mode adopted by lord Malmesbury, 
.for commiencing a treaty ; his want of authority on one hand, from any of the powers 
allicd with Great Britain, while, on the other hand, he affected to include, not only 
Austria, but even Russia, among the parties to be consulted. It miglit, therefore, they 
say, be necessary to send couriers as far as to St. Petersburgh, which, at that season of 
the year, could not be accomplished, with the answers returned, in less than five ~ 
' _ “- “* - * 
weeks. 
