consistent with his majesty’s dignity 
and honour, as well as with the 
common laws of hospitality, which 
he could not but observe towards 
foreigners within his dominions, 
until they should have forfeited 
that protection by their miscon- 
duct. 
M. Talleyrand expressed to me, in 
reply, that the first consul had soli- 
cited no more than the British go- 
vernment itself had, at the time, de- 
manded of France, when the pre- 
- tender was in this country, and than 
had been practised between other 
governments, under similar circum- 
_ stances: that he could not sce any 
humiliation in the measure which he 
had intimated to me; that he could 
assure me it had not been suggested 
with any such idea; and that he 
could only repeat, that the adop- 
tion of it would be, in the highest 
degree, agreeable and satisfactory to 
the first consul, and be considered 
by him as the most convincing proof 
of his majesty’s disposition to see a 
cordial good understanding esta- 
blished between the two countries ; 
concluding his answer with a request 
that I would report it to your lord- 
ship. 
J rejoined upon the subject, by 
observing to the French minister, 
that even without adverting to the 
_ serious consideration of the king’s 
_ dignity and honour, the feelings of 
_ the people of England were to be 
_ taken into account on the occasion ; 
that he must be sensible the relative 
situation, hitherto, of the two 
_ countries, especially in regard to 
trade, afforded his majesty’s sub- 
_ jects no room to reap those advan- 
_ tages which were common to, and 
_ which were always expected from a 
state of peace; and that it, there- 
_ fove, appeared to me, that the first 
STATE ‘PAP ERS. ; 
; 
659 
consul would equally give a proof 
of his disposition to see harmony, 
and a friendly intercourse, re-esta- 
blished between the two nations, by 
not repeating his wish upon a mat- 
ter which would operate in the 
strongest manner against such an ap- 
proximation and reconciliation of 
sentiments, were it eyen only to 
come to the knowledge of his ma- 
jesty’s subjects. 
I am happy, my lord, to say, 
that M. ‘'Talleyrand shewed ne 
warmth, or any very marked eager- 
ness, in his manner of replying to 
my communication ; and that our 
conversation on this head termi- 
nated with the last remarks I made 
to him, when he changed it to anos 
ther subject. 
I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) Anth. Merry. 
Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury, 
&c. &e. &c. 
No. 10. 
Letter from M. Otto to Lord 
Hawkesbury, dated July 25, 1802. 
My lord, 
I transmitted, some time ago, to 
Mr. Hammond, a number of Pel- 
tier, containing the most gross ca- 
lumnies against the French govern- 
ment, and against the whole na- 
tion ; and J observed that I should 
probably receive an order to demand 
the punishment of such an abuse of 
the press. That order is actually 
arrived, and I cannot conceal from 
you, my lord, that the reiterated 
insults of a anit number of foreign- 
ers, assembled in London, to corf- 
spire against the. French govern- 
ment, produce the most unfavour- 
able effects on the good understand- 
ing between the two nations. Even 
though the first article of the treaty 
of Amiens had not provided for the 
Uu2 maintenance 
