708 
Inclosure in No. 49. 
The undersigned, his majesty’s 
principal secretary of state for fo- 
reign affairs, has laid before the king 
the note of his excellency general 
Andreossy, of the 29th of last 
month. 
His majesty has been induced, by 
that spirit of moderation and for- 
bearance which have invariably go- 
verned his conduct in eyery part of 
his communications with the French 
government, to abstain from mak- 
ing many observations which the 
perusal of this note may naturally 
have suggested to his mind. 
His majesty has perceived, with 
great regret, that the French go- 
vernment continue to withhold all 
satisfaction and explanation on the 
points on which he has complained ; 
and that, at the time when they evade 
all discussion on the subject of his 
representations, they persist in their 
requisition that the island of Malta 
should be forthwith evacuated by his 
forces. 
His majesty can never so far for- 
get what is due to himself and to 
his people, as to acquiesce in such 
a course of proceeding; he has, 
therefore, judged it expedient to 
give instructions to his ambassador, 
at Paris, to ascertain, distin¢tly, 
from the French government, whe- 
ther they are determined to perse- 
yere in withholding all satisfaction 
and explanation on the points on 
which his majesty has complained ; 
or whether they are disposed, with- 
out delay, to give such satisfaction. 
and explanations upon the present 
state of affairs, as may lead to an 
arrangement which may be calcu- 
lated to adjust the differences at pre- 
sent subsisting between the two go- 
vernments, It is his majesty’s anx- 
ious desire that, by thismode of pro- 
1 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
ceeding, an end may be put to that 
state of suspense and irritation which 
must be so injurious to the inte- 
rests of both countries; and that the 
two governments, a¢étuated by the 
same principles of justice and mode- 
ration, may be led to concur in 
such measures as are most likely to 
conduce to their permanent tran- 
quillity. 
The undersigned requests general 
Andreossy to accept the assurances 
of his high consideration. 
Hawkesbury. 
Downing Street, April 3d, 1803. 
His Excellency General Andreossy, 
Sc. Fe. Sc. 
No. 50. 
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to 
Lord Whitworth, dated April 4, 
1803. 
My lord, 
It is become essential, that the 
discussions which have been for some 
time subsisting between his majesty 
and the French government, should 
be brought to an issue within as 
short a time as is consistent with 
the deliberation which must be given 
to objeéts of so much importance. 
The last note presented by general 
Andreossy, in the name of his go- 
vernment, in answer to my note of 
the 15th of last month, evades all 
explanation, and even all discussion, 
of the points on which complaint 
has been made by his majesty. _ 
If the French government should 
seriously intend to persist in this 
course of proceeding, there can be 
no hopes of a successful termination 
to the present negociation. It is 
important, therefore, that you should 
ascertain distinétly, in the first in- 
stance, whether they are disposed to 
enter into explanation on the points 
on which his majesty has complain- 
ed, 
