672 
only cease by the extermination of 
every virtuous and brave man in the 
country. He then put into my hand 
a note, which he had drawn up in 
a hurry, and of which L enclose a 
copy. Whilst, my lord, it was out 
of my power to give him any encou- 
ragement to expect from his ma- 
jesty’s government the assistance 
which his petition expresses, I have 
thought it my duty to lose no time 
in making you acquainted with a 
state of things which may shortly be 
attended with yery important con- 
sequences. 
Note referred to in No. 16. 
So long as Switzerland was oc- 
cupied by the French armies, the 
wishes of the people could never be 
freely manifested. The petty revo- 
Jutions which took place in the go- 
vernment were the mere tricks of 
certain factions, in which the nation 
at large took but. a very trifling in- 
terest. Scarcely did Switzerland 
think herself independent when she 
was desirous of returning to her an- 
cient institutions, rendered still dear- 
er to her by her late misfortunes, 
and the arbitrary acts of the govern- 
ment furnished her with the means 
of doing so, Almost the whole of 
Switzerland, with unexampled una- 
nimity and moderation, shook off 
the yoke. The cantons formed them- 
selves into constituent bodies, and 
twelve of the thirteen cantons of 
Switzerland sent their representa- 
tives to the diet of Schwitz, in order 
there to organize a central power 
which might be acceptable to the 
neighbouring powers. 
The © aristecratical cantons re- 
nounced their exclusive rights; the 
Pays de Vaud was Jeft at liberty 
fo form its own constitution, as well 
as Thurgovia and the other new can- 
tons. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
The government having taken re, 
fuge at Lausanne, was by no means 
secure there, notwithstanding its 
regular troops; perhaps even at 
the present moment it no longer 
exists. 
Who would not have thought 
that, according to the stipulation of 
the treaty of Luneville, which grants 
independence to Switzerland and the 
right of choosing its own govern- 
ment, every thing was settled, and 
that this nation might see its former 
happiness and tranquillity revive ? 
Who could have thought that 
the first consul would have issued 
such a decree as that of the 8th 
Vendemiaire ? 
Is an independent nation to be 
thus treated? Should Bonaparte per- 
sist in his determination, and the 
other powers should not interpose 
in our favour, it only remains for 
us either to bury ourselves in the 
ruins of our houses, although with- 
out hope of resistance, exhausted 
as we are by the Colossus who 
is about to overwhelm us, or to 
debase ourselves in the eyes of the 
whole universe! 
Will the government of this ge- 
nerous nation, which has at all 
times afforded so many proofs of 
the interest it takes in the welfare 
of the Swiss, do nothing for us un- 
der circumstances which are to de- 
cide whether we are still to be ranked 
amongst free people? 
We have only men left us :—the 
reyolution, and spoliations without 
end, have exhausted our means; we 
are without arms, without ammuni- 
tion, without stores, and without 
money to purchase them. 
No. 17. 
Note from Lord Hawkesbury to M. 
Oito, dated October 10, 1802. 
Lord Hawkesbury has received 
his 
