STATE PAPERS. 
closed paper, which he drew up in 
my presence. I told him that we 
were only losing time by such a re- 
ference; that my instructions were 
positive, and had certainly not been 
sent me without the fullest considera- 
tion. I could not, however, refuse 
what he so earnestly required ; and 
“oa lordship will see, by the paper, 
ow the matter rests after this con- 
ference. I will confess to your 
lordship, that my motive for con- 
senting to forward this sort of pro- 
posal is, that supposing we should 
find the first consul as obstinate as 
he now appears to be, on the point 
of abandoning Malta to us in per- 
petuity, and that a temporary pos- 
session might be considered as the 
next best thing, something of this 
kind might derive from it. 
I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) Whitworth. 
The Right Hon, Lord Hawkes« 
bury, &c, &c. &c. 
Inclosure referred to in No. 53. 
The conversation with M. Tal- 
leyrand to-day has led us to this re- 
sult. Eyery thing which may tend 
to violate the independence of the 
order of Malta, will never be con- 
sented to by the French govern- 
ment. Every thing which may tend 
to put an end to the present difficul- 
ties, or be agreeable to the English 
government, and which shall not be 
contrary to the treaty of Amiens, 
_ the French government have no ob- 
_ jection to make a particular conyen- 
_ tion respecting it?’ The motives of 
this convention shall be inserted in 
the preamble, and shall relate to 
the respective grievances concerning 
which the two governmeuts shall 
think it adyiseable to come to an 
understanding with cach other. 
713 
No. 54. 
Extract of a Dispatch from Lord 
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, 
dated April 14, 1803. 
Since my last, the negotiation is at 
a stand, in the expectation, I sup- 
pose, of the answer which may ar. 
rive, to the overture which I com. 
municated to your lordship on the 
9th instant, and which is expected 
here to produce a good effect, not- 
withstanding the little hope I have 
given. ‘To-morrow, I shall, in all 
probability, be in possession of this 
answer from your lordship, and be 
enabled to speak still more posi- 
tively. 
No. 55. 
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to 
Lord Whitworth, dated April 13, 
1803. 
My tord, 
His majesty has received from his 
charge d’affaires at Hamburgh, the 
most extraordinary account of the 
. conduct of Monsieur Rheinhardt, the 
French minister at that place, with 
respect to a most gross and unwar- 
rantable libel upon his majesty’s go- 
vernment. He has been assured 
that the French minister, -having 
proposed the insertion of that libel 
in the official gazette of the town of 
Hamburgh, and the insertion of it 
having, in the first instance, been 
refused, the French minister went 
so far as to demand, in his official 
capacity, the insertion of that arti- 
cle by order of the senate. His 
majesty is unwilling to believe that 
the French government could have 
authorized so outrageous an attack 
upon his majesty and his govern- 
ment, and so daring a violation of 
the independence of a neutral state. 
It is his majesty’s pleasure, that 
you should communicate these eir- 
cumstances 
