78) 
nagement, and the jssue of which 
had been so advantageous to the re- 
public. 
To this gentleman application 
was made, on the eighth of March, 
by Mr. Wickham, the British envoy 
to the Swiss Cantons, in order tu 
sound the real dispositions of the 
French government. The object 
in communicating the propositions 
directed to the French agent, was, 
to ascertain, by his answer, whether 
the directory were desirous to nego- 
ciate with Great Britain, and its 
allies, on moderate and honourable 
conditions, and would agree to the 
meeting of acongress for this pur- 
pose, and whetlier, at the same time, 
yt would specify the conditions on 
which it would treat, or point out 
any other method of treating. 
The answer received from M. 
Barthelemy, in the name of the di- 
rectory, was, that it felt the sincerest 
desire to terminate the war on such 
conditions as France could reason- 
ably accept, and which were speci- 
tied in the answer; but one of these 
positively insisted on the retention 
of the Austrian dominions in the 
low countries; assigning, as a reason, 
their formal annexation to the re- 
‘public, by a constitutional decree 
that could not be revoked. 
A reply, founded upon an argu- 
ment, which proved no more than 
a decided resolution never to part 
with these acquisitions, without al- 
leging in fact any other mouve 
than their will, displayed an arro- 
gance in the directory, in the opi- 
nion of their enemies, that instantly 
put a stop to all farther attempts to 
negociate. No alternative, it was 
now said, remained to these but to 
yield, unconditionally to their de- 
mands, or to try the fortune of 
arms. Were this to prove adverse, 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1796. 
they could hardly insist upon more 
mortifying terms, nor the allies be 
more disgraced. 
The directory seemed at this pes 
riod resolutely determined to act 
with a bigh hand, and to set all the 
enemies of the republic at defiance. 
It intimated to the magistracy of 
Basle, that a rumour was spread, 
purporting a design in that city 
and canton to favour the irruption 
of the imperialists through its terri- 
tories, and that a great part of the 
helvetic body concurred in this de- 
sign; which wasa manifest infrac- 
tion of the neutrality they had en- 
gaged to observe between France 
and its aggressors. An explanation 
was demanded in so haughty and 
peremptory astyle, that the regency 
of Basle felt itselt highly offended, 
and returned so spirited an answer 
to the directory, that they dispateb- 
ed another message much more se+ 
vere than the first, requiring an im- 
mediate explanation of the rumour 
in question, and accompanied with 
menacing insinuations in case all 
hostile intentions were not disavow- 
ed. The cantons were so deeply 
involved in this business, that being, 
unwilling to come toa formal rup- 
ture with 39 formidable an antago- 
nist as the French republic, they 
judged it prudent to give them the 
completest assurance of their deter- 
mination to preserve the strictest 
neutrality. A minister of an. ace 
ceptable character was deputed to 
Paris: this was Mr. Ochs, a geu- 
tleman of principles favourable to 
the revolution. He settled all dif- 
ferences to the satisfaction of both 
parties; and Switzerland was de- 
livered from apprehensions of hosti- 
lity. 
This transaction took place to- 
wards the end of March and bee 
ginning 
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