formed the basis of the third coali- 
tion, Prussia, Denmark, the Porte, 
| Persia, and America, would pro- 
test against; those principles, and 
| would require equal laws for navi- 
gation and a just division of the 
empire of the seas. Doubtless in 
this discussion, the diminution of the 
power of France would be frequently 
yoted ; but as frequently would the 
diminution of the power of England 
also be voted. The balance of 
power in the south of Europe would 
be demanded by some, but others 
would demand the balance of power 
in the north. Many would bring 
forward the balance of power for 
Asia; all would feel an interest in 
the balance of power on the seas ; 
and if it were possible to hope that 
any result could be formed in the 
midst of such complicated and tur. 
bulent discussions, that result would 
be just because it would be com- 
“plete ; and certainly his majesty has 
declared, under every circumstance, 
that he would have no repugnance 
to make sacrifices for the public 
tranquillity, whenever England, 
Russia, and all the great powers 
Shall be disposed to recognize esta- 
plished rights, to protect the weaker 
_ states, and to adopt the principles 
_ of justice, moderation and equality ; 
_ but the emperor knows mankind 
_ too well to allow himself to be led 
_ away by chimerical ideas, and he 
 fecls that it would be in vain to seek 
_ for peace in a labyrinth of ten years 
_ of discussions, which during that 
_ period would perpetuate war, and 
_ would only have the effect of ren- 
dering its termination still more 
difficult and uncertain. It would 
then become necessary to change 
_ the system, and, as was done at 
Utrecht, leaving theallies to perplex 
S Tre PE UP A EE BS. 
9 
° 
717 
themselves in vain and endless dis. 
putes, to enter into a separate nego- 
tiation ; to discuss, as was then done, 
the interests of the two powers and 
of their respective allies; at last to 
make peace for ourselves, and to 
make it so equitable and so honour. 
able as to be immediately agreed to 
by all the powers concerned. This 
is the mode in which it becomes two 
such nations as England and France 
to terminate, not at the distance of 
ten years, but immediately, the dif- 
ferences which divide them, and at 
the same time to establish the regu. 
lation of their rights and of the 
interests of their allies. 
To resume, sir; I seein the pro- 
posed negotiation, only three possi. 
ble forms of discussion : 
Negotiation with England and 
the allies which she acquired at the 
time’ of the formation of the third 
coalition : 
Negotiation with all the powers 
of Kurope, with the addition of 
America : 
Negotiation with England alone. 
The first of these forms is inad- 
missible, because it would subject 
the emperor to the influence of the 
third coalition, which no longer 
exists. The emperor would have 
negotiated in this manner if he had 
been vanquished. ‘The second form 
of negotiation would eternalize the 
war, if the unavoidable occurrences 
to which it would at every instant 
give rise, and the passions which it 
would let loose without controul, 
did not cause the discussions to be 
broken off with violence a few 
years after they should have been 
entered into. ‘The third therefore is 
the only one which can be desired 
by those who really wish for peace. 
His majesty is confident, that the 
just 
