236 
government might be to concede to 
the imperious dictates of that part 
wf the representation, which aimed 
fat the proscription of the French 
princes, and had even, as we have 
seen, expressed the most anxious 
desire (when urged on this subject 
on a former occasion) to sacrifice 
M,. Peltier (a foreigner) to the 
offended majesty of Bonaparte, 
the direct demand upon it, * to 
take eflectual measures for the sup- 
pression of publications obnoxious 
to France, with which the newspapers 
and other writings, printed in En- 
gland, were filled,” gave it pause— 
and the tone of direct submission, 
was for a season suspended. 
To acquiesce under the repeated 
insults offered to our flag and com- 
merce; to allow of the iniraction 
of that article of the treaty of peace, 
by which the sequestrations on 
British property in France, were to 
be taken off; to permit the most 
insulting demands on their govern- 
ment, respecting the unfortunate 
emigrants; and to have hitherto 
multipled concession with eager fa- 
cility, had marked progressively the 
line of conduct adopted by minis- 
ters, trom the period of the treaty 
of Amicus; and it is possible they 
might have expected, that so 
much submission would have se- 
cured them from farther eneroach- 
ments; but here, as in other in- 
stances, they grossly miscalculated. 
—And this direct measure of the 
ruier of France, to interfere with, 
and overawe Great Britain in the 
administration of her domestic 
concerns, must have been to them 
a galling proof, that no concession: 
ANNUAL REGISTER, | 1803. 
could appease, no submission avert 
his insulting rapacity. But how- 
ever well disposed they might have 
been to level this last bulwark of 
british liberty at his feet, it was a 
task far beyond their power to ac- 
complish ; they well knew, that but 
to touch this shrine of freedom, to 
violate this sacred ark, was death ; 
and they accordingly gave a tardy 
and reluctant negative to the im- 
perious demand, 
In a separate division of out 
work, the whole of the original do- 
cuments respecting this part of the 
negociation, may be found*, and on 
which it would be superfluous and. 
impertinent in us here to ofier any 
farther comment. Jt may however 
be observed, that no remonstrance 
was made by the English govern- 
ment to the French court, on this 
unprecedented, unauthorized, and 
insolent spirit of dictation. — No 
positive requisition of the discon- 
tinuance of such degrading demands, 
—No specific declaration of the in- 
violability ef the English law and 
constitution, and no menace held 
out of avenging the insult, if again 
offered or repeated, At thismoment, 
such a tone and such a remon- 
strance, must have had its effect, , 
for the conquests from France and 
her allies were yet in the hands of 
Great Britain. It is, however, but 
justice to add, that lord Hawkes- 
bury reasons the matter very ably 
and excursively, in his reply of the 
28th of August; and that he al- 
lows that ‘t M. Otto’s note is by ne 
means conciliatory.” 
Hitherto it must have appeared, 
in the view which we have taken of 
* Vide State Papers, from No, 7 to No. 13, inclusive, of The Official Corres 
dence. 
thie 
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