eations to which I have above re- 
ferred, have not appeared under any 
authority of the British government, 
and are disayowed and disapproved 
of by them; but the paragraph in 
the Moniteur has appeared in a pa- 
per avowedly official, for which the 
government are, therefore, consi- 
dered as responsible, as his majesty’s 
government is responsible for the 
contents of the London Gazette. 
And this retort is not ‘confined to 
the unauthorized English newspa- 
pers, or to the other publications of 
which complaint is now made, but 
is converted into, and made a pre- 
tence for a direct attack upon the 
government of his majesty. His 
majesty feels it beneath his dignity 
to make any formal complaint on 
this occasion; but it has been im- 
possible for me to proceed to the 
other parts of the subject, without 
pointing your attention to the con- 
duct of the French government in 
this respect, that you may observe 
upon it in the manner it deserves. 
Thepropositions in M.Otto’s offici- 
alnote, are six in number ; but may, 
in fact, be divided under two heads : 
_ the first, that which relates to the 
libels of all descriptions, which are 
_ alledged to be published against the 
_ French government ; the last, com- 
_ prehending the five complaints which 
relate to the emigrants resident in 
this country. On the first, T am 
_ sure you must be aware that his ma- 
_ jesty cannot, and never will, in con- 
" sequence of any representation or 
any menace from a foreign power, 
make any concession, which can be 
_ in the smallest degree dangerous to 
the liberty of the press, as secured 
_ by the constitution of this country. 
_ This liberty is justly dear to every 
_ British subject. The constitution 
admits of no previous restraints 
STATE PAPERS. 
66 
upon publications of any descrip. 
tion; but there exists judicatures, 
wholly independent of the executive 
government, capable of taking cog- 
nizance of such publications as the 
law deems to be criminal, and 
which are bound to inflict the pu- 
nishment the delinquents may de- 
serve; these judicatures may take 
cognizance, not only of libels against 
the government and the magistracy 
of this kingdom, but, as has been 
repeatedly experienced, of publica- 
tions defamatory of those in whose 
hands the administration of foreign 
governments is placed. That our 
government neither has, nor wants 
any other protection than what the 
laws of the country afford; and 
though they are willing and ready 
to give to every foreign government 
all the protection against offences of 
this nature, which the principle of 
their laws and constitution will ad- 
mit, they never can consent to 
new-model their laws, or to change 
their constitution, to gratify the 
wishes of any foreign power. If 
the present French government are 
dissatisfied with our laws on the sub. 
ject of libels, or entertain the opi- 
nion that the administration of jus- 
tice in our courts is too tardy and 
lenient, they have it in their power 
to redress themselves by punishing 
the venders and distributers of such 
publications within their own terri- 
tories, in any manner that they may 
think proper, and thereby prevent- 
ing the circulation of them. If 
they think their present laws are 
not sufficient for this purpose, they 
may enact new ones; or, if they - 
think it expedient, they may exer- 
cise the right which they have of 
prohibiting the importation of any 
foreign newspapers, or periodical 
publications, into the territories of 
the 
