156] 
and to preserve the political balance 
of Europe. 
The executive direétory has not 
explained itself in a precise man- 
ner, either as to the acceptance of 
this principle, or as to the changes 
or modifications which it may de- 
sire to be made in it; nor has it, in 
short, proposed any other principle 
whatever to answer the same end. 
The undersigned, then, has or- 
ders to recur to this point, and to 
demand, on that head, a frank and 
precise explanation, in order to 
abridge the delays which must ne- 
cessarily result from the difficulty of 
form which has been started by the 
executive direétory. 
Ile is authorized to add to this 
demand the express declaration, 
that his majesty in communicating 
to his august allies every, successive 
step which he may take, relative to 
the object of the present negotia- 
tion, and in fulfilling, towards 
these sovereigns, in the mest effica- 
cious manier, all the duties of a 
good and faithful ally, will omit 
nothing on his part, as well to dis- 
pose them to concur in this nego- 
uation, by the means the most pro- 
per to facilitate its progress, and 
insure its sucecess, asto induce them 
always to persist in sentiments con- 
formable to the wishes which he 
entertains for the return of a gene- 
ral peace, upon just, honourable, 
and permanent conditions. 
(Signed) MAtmEsBuRY; 
Paris, November, 12, 1796. 
Now Ze 
THE undersigned is charged, by 
the executive directory, to invite 
you to point out, without the small- 
est delay, and expressly, the ob- 
jects of reciprocal compensation 
which you propose. 
He is, moreover, charged to de. 
ANNUAL REGISTER,’ 1796. 
mand of you, what are the dispo- 
sitions to treat, on a just and equi- 
table basis, of which his majesty, 
the emperor and king, gave to the 
French government so striking a 
proof at the very commencement of 
the campaign. The executive di- 
rectory is unacquainted with it. 
It was the emperor and king who 
broke the armistice. 
(Signed) Cu. DELAcrorx, 
Paris, 22 Brumaire, (Nov. 12,) 
5th year of the French re= 
public. 
No. 18. 
THE undersigned does not hesi- 
tate a moment to answer the two 
. questions . which you have been in- 
structed by the executive directory 
to put to him. 
‘The memorial presented this morn- 
ing by the undersigned proposes, 
in express terms, on the part of bis 
majesty the king of Great Britain, 
to compensate I'rance, by propor- 
tionable restitutions, for the ar- 
rangements to which she will be 
called upon to consent, in order to 
satisfy the just pretentions of the 
king?s allies, and to preserve the 
political balance of Europe. 
Before the formal acceptation of 
this principle, or the proposal, on 
the part of the executive directory, 
of some other principles which 
might equally serve as the basis of 
a negociation for a general peace, 
the undersigned cannot be autho- 
rized to designate the objects of re- 
ciprocal compensation. 
As to the proof of the pacific dise 
position given to the French gow 
vernment by his majesty, the empe- 
ror and king, at the opening of the © 
campaign, the undersigned con- 
tents himself with a reference to 
the following words contained in 
the note of baron Degelman, on 
the 4th of June last. ’ 
The 
