^6 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



valry has been remounied at the ex- 

 pence of that of the enemy ; and a 

 possession which was dear to the 

 king ol Kngland. is in our hands, a 

 pledge of tliat justice which he will 

 be compelled to render to us. — On 

 the seas, British despotism daily 

 adds to its usurpation : in the last 

 ■war it struck terror into the neutral 

 nations, by arrogating to itself an 

 inimical and revolting pretension of 

 declaring whole coasts in a state of 

 siege : in the present war, it has 

 augmented its monstrous code by 

 the pretended right of blockading 

 rivers and canals. — If the king of 

 England has sworn to continue the 

 ■war till he shall have reduced 

 France to sin;n such dishonourable 

 treaties as ill fortune and weakness 

 formerly signed, then the war will 

 be long. France consented in the 

 treaty of Amiens to moderate con- 

 ditions ; she will never acknow- 

 ledge any less faronrable — nay more, 

 she will never acknowledge in the 

 British government the right of ful- 

 filling its engagements only as may 

 suit the progressive calculations of 

 its ambition, nor the right of re- 

 quiring further guarantees after the 

 guarantee of Jaith plighted. But if 

 the treaty of Amiens has not been 

 executed, how can we expect, in 

 regard to a new one, a faith more 

 holy, or oaths more sacred ? Loui- 

 siana is heficcforth united to the 

 American states ; we shall preserve 

 friends there whose remembrance of 

 a common origin will always attach 

 them to our interest, while favour- 

 able commercial relations will unite 

 their prosperity with ours. The 

 United States are indebted to France 

 for their independence ; they w ill 

 henceforth owe to us their strength 

 and grandeur, Spain remains neu- 

 tral. Helvetia is re-established in 



her constitution, which has suflfered 

 no change, but what has been ren- 

 dered necessary by lapse of time, 

 and change of opinions. The re- 

 treat of our troops from that coun- 

 try is a proof of it§ internal security, 

 and of the end of its disscntions. 

 The ancient treaties have been re- 

 newed, and France has regained 

 her oldest and most faithful ally. 

 Peace reigns in Italy : a division 

 of the army of the Italian republic 

 is at this time crossing France to 

 encamp with our own on the sea 

 coast. These battalions will there 

 meet with innumerable vestiges of 

 that patience, bravery, and heroism 

 which distinguished their ancestors. 

 The Ottoman euipire, fatigued by 

 undermining intrigues, will gain 

 by the interests of France the sup- 

 port which ancient alliances, 9, re- 

 cent treaty, and its geograjfliic«l 

 position give it a right to demand. 

 The trancjuillity given to the Conti- 

 nent by the treaty of Luneville is 

 secured by the last acts of the diet 

 of Katisbon. The enlightened in- 

 terest of the great powers, the fide- 

 lity of the French governmemt, in 

 cultivating with them relations of 

 good will and friendship; the jus- 

 tice, the energy of the nation, and 

 the forces of the republic, will 

 guarantee it. 



(Signed) Buonaparte. 

 By order of the First Consul, 



H. B, Maret. 



Report of the GraiidJiidge, Minhter 

 of Justice^ to the Government^ 

 17 th February, 1804. 



Citizen First Consul, 



New plots have been hatched bj 

 England ; this was the case even 

 amidst the peace which she swore 



to 



