STATE »PAP ERS. 
The undersigned avails himself of 
this opportunity to renew to his 
excellency the English ambassador, 
the assurance of his high considera- 
tion. 
Ch. Mau. Talleyrand. 
Paris, 12 Floreal, Year 11, 
(2d May, 1803.) 
Second Inclosure referred toin No. 66. 
The undersigned, in answer to 
the note which M. de Talleyrand 
transmitted to him yesterday even- 
ing, has the honour to observe to 
him, that the king has had no other 
motive in seeking to accelerate the 
proceedings of the negotiation, than 
to relieve, as soon as possible, the 
two countries the most interested, 
and Europe in general, from the 
state of suspense in which they are 
placed. It is with great regret that 
he perceives nothing in his excel- 
lency’s note which can correspond 
with this intention, and consequently 
nothing that can justify him in de- 
laying to obey the orders of his 
court. It remains, therefore, only 
to request the minister for foreign 
affairs to give him the means of obey- 
ing them, by furnishing him with 
the necessary passports for his re- 
turn. It is, however, necessary for 
him to reétify a mistake which has 
_ ¢rept into M. de Talleyrand’s note. 
_ The undersigned did not say he 
was expressly forbidden to transmit 
_ any written note on the object of 
_ the discussion, but that he was not 
authorized to do it, and that he 
would not take that responsibility 
on himself. 
He ayails himself of this opportu- 
_ nity to renew to his excellency M. 
_ de Talleyrand the assurances of his 
highest consideration. 
(Signed) 
Paris, 3d May, 1803. 
Whitworth 
My lord, 
727 
Third Inclosure referred to in No. 66. 
Paris, May 3, 1803. 
Having to-morrow morning to 
make to you a communication of 
the greatest importance, | have the 
honour to inform you of it without 
delay, in order that you may not 
expect this evening the passports 
which you had demanded. I pro- 
pose that you should call to-mor- 
row, at half past four, at the foreign 
department. 
Receive, my lord, the assurance 
of my. high consideration. 
(Signed) | Ch, Mau.'Talleyrand. 
No. 67. 
Extract of a Dispatch from Lord 
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury,, 
dated Paris, May 4, 1803. 
I am this moment come from M. 
de Talleyrand. The inclosed note 
will shew your lordship, that the 
idea which has been thrown out, is 
to give Malta to Russia. 
My only inducement for haying 
undertaken to refer again to your 
lordship, is to avoid every reproach 
of precipitation. ‘The difference will 
be but five days, and I have de- 
clared, that I see so many objections 
to the plan, that, although I would 
not refuse their solicitation to send 
it, I could give no hope whatever of 
its being accepted as a ground of 
negotiation. 
Inclosure referred to in No. 67. 
The undersigned has submitted to 
the first consul his Britannic majes- 
ty’s note of the 3d instant. 
After the last communication, ads 
dressed to his excellency, it is more 
difficult than ever to conceive, how 
a great, powerful, and. enlightened 
nation can be willing to take upon 
itself to declare a war, which would 
be accompanied by such heavy cala- 
3A4 wities 
