STATE PAPERS. 



207 



dissolution, and dismemberment, 

 which were prepared against her, 

 and the execution of which was 

 several times attempted and pur- 

 sued, that France has a right to 

 impute the evils which she has suf- 

 fered, and those which have afflict- 

 ed Europe. Such projects, for a 

 long time without example, with 

 respect to so powerful a nation, 

 could not fail to bring on the most 

 fatal consequences. Assailed on all 

 sides, the republic could not but 

 extend universally the efforts of her 

 defence ; and it is only for the 

 maintenance of her own indepen- 

 dence that she has made use of those 

 means which she possessed, in her 

 own strength, and the courage of 

 her citizens. As long as she saw 

 that her enemies obstinately refused 

 to recognize her rights, she counted 

 only upon the energy of her resist- 

 ance ; but, as soon as they were 

 obliged to abandon the hope of in- 

 vasion, she sought for means of con- 

 ciliation, and manifested pacific in- 

 tentions: and, if these have not 

 always been efficacious ; if, in the 

 midst of the critical circumstances 

 of her internal situation, which the 

 revolution and the war have suc- 

 cessively brought on, the former 

 depositaries of the executive autho- 

 rity of France have not always 

 shewn as much moderation, as the 

 nation itself has shown courage ; 

 it must above all be imputed to the 

 fatal and persevering animosity 

 . with which the resources of Eng- 

 land have been lavished to accom- 

 plish the ruin of France. But if 

 the wishes of his Britannic majesty 

 (in conformity with his assurances), 

 are in unison with those of the 

 French republic, for the re-esta- 

 blishment of peace, why, instead 

 of attempting the apology of the 

 war, should not attention be rather 



paid to the means of terminating 

 it? And what obstacle can prevent 

 a mutual understanding, of which 

 the utility is reciprocal, and is felt, 

 especially when the first consul of 

 the French republic has personally 

 given so many proofs of his eager- 

 ness to put an end to the calamities 

 of war, and of his disposition to 

 maintain the rigid observance of all 

 treaties concluded ? The first con- 

 sul of the French republic could not 

 doubt that his Britannic majesty re- 

 cognized the right of nations to 

 choose the form of their govern- 

 ment, since it is from the exercise 

 of this right that he holds his crown: 

 but he has been unable to compre- 

 hend, how to this fundamental 

 principle, upon which rests the ex- 

 istence of political societies, the 

 minister of his majesty could annex 

 insinuations which tend to an inter- 

 ference in the internal affairs of the 

 republic, and which are no less in- 

 jurious to the French nation and to 

 its government, than it would be to 

 Englandandhismajesty, if a sort of 

 invitation were held out in favour 

 of that republican government of 

 which England adopted the forms 

 in the middle of the last century, or 

 an exhortation to recall to the throne 

 that family whom their birth had 

 placed there, and whom a revolu- 

 tion compelled to descend from it. 

 If at periods not far distant, when 

 the constitutional system of the re- 

 public presentedneitherthestrength 

 nor the solidity which it contains 

 at present, his Britannic majesty 

 thought himself enabled to invite a 

 negociation and pacific conferences; 

 how is it possible that he should not 

 be eager to renew negociations to 

 which the present and reciprocal 

 situation of affairs promises a rapid 

 progress ? On every side the voice 

 of nations and of humanity im- 



