256, 
same moment that they hesitated 
to evacuate Malta, the most valua- 
ble acquisitions in every other por- 
tion of the globe. In excuse for 
this part of ‘their conduct however, 
it may be urged, that having passed 
ever without resentment or remon- 
strance, the different grounds of war, 
which the first consul had afforded 
since the peace, no pretence re- 
mained for not executing the condi- 
tions of the treaty of Amiens, which ° 
related to the restoration of the con- 
quered colonies; but that France 
herself having delayed by her con- 
duct with respect to the guaranty, 
the evacuation of Malta, she could 
not now complain, if diplomatic in- 
genuity protracted it a little longer: 
while (did the dreaded events come 
toa favorable issue) the surrender of 
the keys ofthe East and West Indies 
and the other conquests, evinced suf- 
ficiently the disposition of giving up 
every object, to the desire of concili- 
ating, and Ofremaining in all events, 
on good terms with Bonaparte. 
No farther discussion or event of 
consequence occurred, during the 
remainder of the last years. We 
have carefully detailed, in their natu- 
ral arrangement, the circumstances 
which connect them with the actual 
situation of France and England, 
during the period’ of the present; 
and shall now commence our ac- 
count of the transactions of / 1803, 
to the moment of the king’s decla- 
ration of war; which producing very 
few events, will occupy but a small 
poruon of our labour; every ground 
thereof, with the exception of one’ 
or two being to be found in the pre- 
ceding part of this chapter. It may 
however be observed, that independ- 
* Vide State Papers, aad page 38. 
5 ' 
- evening, to 
ANNUAL REGISTER, » 803. 
ently of sie solemn de-laration in, 
parliament, of the chancellor of the 
exchequer; 0: on the opening of the 
session, that no hostile discussion 
existed between the two countries: 
he thought proper, on the same 
state, that in no 
one instance, since their appoint- 
ment to office, had his majesty’s 
ministers committed the honour or 
credit of their country. 
A year of irritation and painful 
solicitude had now passed over, and 
disposed the majority of the English 
nation to consider that which was 
about to commence, with fearful 
apprehension. However silent mi- 
nisters had been, on the actual 
state of the discussions with France ; 
whatever confidence might have 
been placed in their assertions, of 
there existing no grounds to appre- 
hend a speedy rupture; _ still, the 
alarm, which the speech from the 
throne, at the opening of the  ses- 
sion, with the military force demand- 
ed by the secretary at war,on the 8th 
of December*, had spread, greatly 
predominated : and the general 
gloom manilested itselfin the stagnas 
tionof commerce, and the low price 
of the public funds. A speedy war, 
undercircumstances the most inaus-= 
picious, was universally looked for, 
and dejection and dissatisfaction 
were marked on every countenance ; 
a striking reverse to the state of 
public ORIN, at the beginning of 
the last year! 
As it was on the detention of 
Malta, that (for the reasens we 
have already given), the government 
of England determined to take 
itsstand, till it should be. ascer- 
tained whether it had not actually 
invotred 
~~ 
