720 
should be at the point of entering 
Picardy, by the mouth of the 
Somme. 
I must, sir, again repeat to you, 
that his majesty is truly desirous of 
peace; and why should not [ add, 
what we might have said, what we 
veally have said at the rupture of 
“every negotiation for peace, that 
the continuance of the war has never 
been prejudicial to the grandeur of 
France, and that, in time of peace, 
agreat nation can use its power 
only to maintain itself, and preserve 
in their present state its relations 
with the neighbouring countries. 
France, sir, does not object to 
your right of chusing and. preserving 
your allies, In war she has not the 
choice of her enemies, and she must 
fight them sepasatcly or united, as it 
may suit their convenience to con- 
cert among themselves, for the ac- 
complishment of their views of ag- 
gression and resistance, and for the 
formation of alliances so little con- 
formable to the real interests of 
their respective countries, that the 
first clause of them has always been 
a condition of secresy. 
Because we wish, in this case, to 
follow the form of negotiation which 
has been customary at all times and 
in all countries, you conclude that 
we desire that you should have no 
connection with the continent. I 
do not conceive that we ever gave 
you any reason for drawing suchan 
inference, ‘We cannot hinder any 
government from forming an alliance 
with you, and we cannot wish 
either what is unjust, or what is ab- 
surd. It is one thing, that you 
should form alliances according to 
your own choice, but it is another 
that we should concur in them, and 
aid youin contracting them. But 
to consent to treat upon the princi- 
ANNUAL: REGISTER, 
1806. 
ple of your alliances, and to intro- 
duce them into the discussion of the 
directand immediate interests that — 
divide us, is doing much more than 
suffering and acknowledging them ; 
it is in a manner consecrating, 
cementing, and guarantying them, 
I have already, sir, observed to you, 
that we cannot yield upon this 
point, because the principle is in our 
favour. 
To leaye, however, from hence- 
forward, no room for any misunder- 
standing, I think it my duty to pro- 
pose to you, Ist, To negociate in 
the same preliminary forms which 
were adopted during the administra. 
tion of the marquis of Rockingham, 
in 1782; forms, which were not re- 
newed with so much advantage in 
the negotiations of Lisle, but which 
were perfectly successful in the ne- 
gotiations which preceded the treaty 
of Amiens: 2dly, To establish as a 
basis, two fundamental principles, 
the first, which I take from your 
letter of the 26th of March, namely, 
“¢ That the two states should have for 
their object that the peace be ho- 
nourable for them and their respec- 
tive allies, and at the same tune of a 
nature to secure, as far as in their 
power, the future tranquillity of — 
Europe.’ ‘The second principle 
shall be, an acknowledgment on 
the part of the two powers of their 
mutual right of intervention and 
guarantee in continental and mari- 
time affairs. His majesty, far from 
being unwilling to make thisavowal, 
delights in raising it to a principle ; 
and, in thus explaining his real in- 
tentions, I think I havegiven you a 
decisive proof of his pacific disposi- 
tions. His majesty is at the same 
time persuaded, that, in preventing 
for ever all subject of complaint, 
uneasiness, and remenstrance on 
this 
