a7 Ll AVE 
are here to remove every difficulty 
that might retard the discussion in 
question. With the resources that 
we possess, it is most assuredly not 
on our own account that we need 
fear a continuance of the war. Of 
all the nations of Europe, England, 
perhaps, is that which suffers the 
least by its prolongation; but we 
do not the less commisserate the 
misfortunes of others. 
Let us, then, do all in our power 
to terminate them, and let us endea- 
vour, if it be possible, to reconcile 
the respective interests and the 
glory of the two countries, with the 
tranquillity of Europe, and the 
happiness of the human race. 
Lam, &c. 
(Signed) C. J. Fox. 
No; VE, 
Letter from M. Talleyrand to Mr. 
Secretary Fox, dated Paris, April 
1st, 1806.— Received April 7. 
(Translation. ) 
Paris, April 1, 1806. 
Sir, 
The very instant I received your 
letter of the 26th March, I waited 
upon his majesty, and I am happy 
to inform you, that he has autho- 
rized me to send you, without de- 
day, the following answer :— 
The emperor covets nothing that 
England possesses. Peace with 
France is possible, and may be per- 
petual, provided there is no inter- 
ference in her internal affairs, and 
that no attempt is made to restrain 
her in the regulation of her custom 
duties; to cramp her commercial 
rigits ; or to offer any insult to her 
flag. 
It is not you, sir, who have dis- 
played in many public discussions, 
PAP. EB S. 711 
an exact knowledge of the general 
affairs of Europe and of France, 
who require to be convinced that 
Trance has nothing to desire except 
repose, and a situation such as may 
enable her, without obstruction, to 
give herself up entirely to the la. 
bours of her industry. 
The emperor does not imagine, that 
any particular article of the treaty of 
Amiens produced the war. He is 
convinced, that the true cause was 
the refusal to make a treaty of com. 
merce, which would necessarily 
have been prejudicial to the manu- 
factures and the industry of his 
subjects. Your predecessors ac- 
cused us of wishing universal con. 
quest. In France, England has - 
likewise her accusers. Very well! 
We only ask equality. We shall 
never require an account of what 
you do at home, provided that, on 
your side, you never require an ac- 
count of what we do at home. 
This principle is reciprocally just, 
reasonable, and mutually advanta~ 
geous. 
You express a desire that the ne- 
gotiation may not terminate in a 
short-lived peace. France is more 
interested than any other power 
that it should be permanent. It is 
not her interest to make a truce ; 
since a truce would only pave the 
way for fresh losses. You know 
very well that nations, similar in 
this respect to individuals, accustom 
themselves to a state of war, as well 
as to a state of peace. All the 
losses that France could sustain, she 
has sustained. This will ever be the 
case, in the first six months of war. 
At present, our commerce and our 
industry* have taken the channel 
dictated by the circumstances of our 
424 cauntry, 
¥ Se sont répli¢z sur eux mémes. 
