STATE PAPERS. 



653 



for the person of the first consul, 

 the rcspect.which I know he enter- 

 tains for him, in consideration of 

 the important services he has ren- 

 dered to religion, and the special 

 protection he has extended to the 

 church, the gratitude which, not 

 only French catholics, but likewise 

 those of neighbouring countries, 

 owe him, have excited in roe the 

 nio'it lively sorrow when I learn- 

 ed that his life was in danger, and 

 riij public tranquillity had been 

 bu near being disturbed. I was then 

 very far from thinking that any of 

 the diplomatic agents could be im- 

 plicated in this conspiracy ; the 

 ])ublic and sacred character with 

 which they are clothed, shelter them 

 from such a suspicion. I perceive 

 with great regret, by tlie corres- 

 pondence which your excellency 

 has transmitted to me, that one 

 of these agents has permitted him- 

 self to address to the enemies of 

 the French government in the in- 

 terior, instructions, means, and 

 plans. I am persuaded that his ho- 

 liness will feel as sensibly as myself 

 this melancholy intelligence. Deign 

 to assure the first consul that the 

 pontiff has viewed, and will always 

 continue to view, with horror, what- 

 ever shall tend to disturb the inte- 

 rior peace of his government, on 

 which rests the entire edifice for the 

 re-esiablishment of the catholic re- 

 ligion in France. Every attempt 

 against his precious life will be view- 

 ed by his holiness as a crime as 

 atrocious in itself as it is fatal to the 

 church and to the repose and tran- 

 quillity of France. 1 have no doubt 

 but that the diplomatic corps of 

 Europe will participate with me in 

 these sentiments, and thaf they will 

 openly disavow whosoever, among 

 tJae members that compose it, shall 



abuse his -character to propagate 

 discord, and foment disturbances. 



(Signed) J. B. Cardinal Caprara. 

 Paris, March 20, 1804. 



Anszcer of /he Mmisfer of Saxoni/, 

 Citizen Minister, 



I hare received the note which 

 your excellency did me tiie honour 

 to address to me, of the date of 3d 

 Germinal, with a copy of the report 

 which has been presented to the first 

 consul by the grand judge on the 

 conrpiraey formed by Mr. Drake, 

 minister of his Britannic majesty at 

 the court of Munich ; al.-o the 

 printed copies of letters and other 

 authentic papers of the said Mr. 

 Drake, and I have hastened to 

 transmit the whole to my court. 

 There is- no one, citizen minister, 

 who will not learn with grief that 

 Mr. Drake, invested with the most 

 honourable public character, should 

 descend to such a profanation of 

 it. 



(Signed) Ct. De Bunau. 

 Paris, March 26, 1804. 



Ansv:cr of the Minister of the Jrch 

 Chanctilor of the German Em- 

 pire. 

 Citizen ^Minister, 



The undersigned minister pleni- 

 potentiary of his highness the elector 

 and .vch chancellor of the Germanic 

 empire, having received with res- 

 pectful acknowledgment the letter 

 which your excellency had been 

 pleased to address to him, of the 

 date of the 3d instant, in which is 

 enclosed a copy of the report pre- 

 sented to the first consul on the con- 

 spiracy formed in France bv Mr. 

 Drake, minister of liis Britannic 

 majesty at the court of Alunich, 

 he has hastened to scud the above 

 pieces to his highness the elector. 



Tiia 



