206 | 
to find repose, anda secure asylum 
against the cruelty of their persecu- 
tors. 
It is with extreme concern, 
magnificent lords, that I find my- 
self obliged to refuse their request, 
aud to declare to all of them that 
J cannot grant a passporttoary of 
them until I have received orders 
from my court. I think it neces- 
sary, magnificent lords, to commu- 
nicate to you my resolution upon 
this subjeét, in order that the per- 
sons, to whom it relates, may not 
be suspected of any negleét or tar- 
diness in obeying the ordonnance 
made respecting them. God for- 
bid that, in taking such a resolue 
tion, Ishould pretend to set bounds 
to the munificence of my sovereign, 
or the generosity of his subjects, 
which I hope will exist as long as 
the monarchy itself. We have 
always, magnificent lords, a con- 
fidence that our means will be in- 
creased by divine favour, in pro- 
portion as they are employed in 
assisting the unfortunate. 
But it is my duty, in this unfore- 
seen case, to take no steps without 
having previously communicated 
to my court all the circumstances 
which have preceded, accompa- 
nied, and followed this measure, 
and entreated his Majesty to give 
me the most distinct orders for the 
regulation of my conduct in all 
that relates to this business. 
I do not hesitate to avow that T 
have not been without hope that 
the delay, which might be caused 
by my resolution in the execution 
of the order against those who have 
no other asylum but England, 
would have offered to your lord- 
ships an opportunity of considering 
of every mitigating circumstance, of 
which this case is capable. Perhaps 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
also this delay may lead those 
persons, who have urged this mea 
sure, to think deliberately both up- 
on its nature and the consequences 
which may ensue from it. 
Whatever may be the event, 
magnificent lords, in adopting and 
communicating this resolution to 
your lordships, if I can be the 
means of saving any one of those | 
respectable families from exbaust- 
ing their Jast resources in taking a 
long and dangerous voyage, 1 shall 
think that 1 have performed my 
duty to my God and my king ; and 
I dare answer, that whatever may 
be the affection and friendship 
which the king, my master (after 
the example of his august prede- 
cessors) feels for your lordships, 
these sentiments must be much 
strengthened, when I shall have 
laid before hima fresh act of your’s 
—of that generous and enlarged 
humanity which forms the distin- 
guished character of his reign, and 
which our two nations have former- 
ly exercised to the unhappy refugees 
from that same country. 
With thé sincerest wishes for 
the prosperity and happiness of 
your state, I am, 
Magnificent and powerful lords, 
your lordship’s most devoted 
servant, 
(Sigued) W. Wicknam. 
Articles of the Concordat agreed 
upon among the different Parties 
in Geneva, as well as the Resolu- 
tion taken by the Syndics and 
Council on this Subject. 
‘Art. 1. RESPECT to the law, 
obédience to the magistrate, en- 
gage both parties united, to main- 
tam the government at'the risk of 
their lives, with dispatch, and en- 
tire readiness, as oftenas necessity 
shall 
ee eee ee ee 
ee eee 
oe! 
