STATIEY PA PERS. 
had rejected in the outset, and 
which he could still less admit of at a 
time when the conduct of Russia 
had imposed on him an increased 
obligation not to separate his in- 
terests from those of so faithful an 
ally. To these insidious overtures, 
his majesty steadily refused to 
listen ; but he took the most effec- 
tual method to avoid all appearance 
of delay, and to accelerate, if pos- 
sible, the favourable issue of the 
negotiation. The confidential in- 
tercourse which he had constantly 
maintained with Russia,’ enabled 
his majesty to specify the terms on 
which peace with that power might 
be obtained; and his minister was 
accordingly instructed to state to 
France, in addition to his own de- 
mands, those of his ally, to reduce 
them into distinct articles, and 
even to conclude on those grounds 
a provisional treaty, to take effect 
whenever Russia should signify her 
accession, 
This form of negotiating was, af- 
ter some objection, acceded to by 
France. Terms were now offered 
to his majesty more nearly ap- 
proaching than before to the origi- 
nal basis of negotiation; but they 
were still far short of what his ma- 
jesty had uniformly insisted. on, 
and was now more than ever en- 
titled to expect; and the decisive 
rejection of the just demands of 
‘Russia, as well as of the conditions 
proposed by his majesty, iv behalf 
of his other allies, left to his ma- 
jesty no other course than that of 
ordering his minister to terminate 
the discussion and returu to Eng- 
Jand. 
The foregoing short and simple 
exposition of facts stands in need 
ofnocomment, ‘he first overtures 
793 
which led to negotiation were made 
by the enemy, and they were acs 
cepted by his majesty in the sin- 
cerest spirit of peace. very open- 
ing which seemed to afford the 
most distant prospect of accommo- 
dation has been anxiously embraced, 
nor was the negotiation finally 
broken off while any hope of a 
favourable issue could be entertain- 
ed. His majesty’s demands were 
uniformably just and reasonable : 
directed to nm objects of personal 
aggrandizemeat, but to such only 
as were indispensibly required by 
the honour of his crown, his en- 
gagements to his allies, and a due 
consideration of the general interests 
of Kurope. ; 
It is with heartfelt concern that 
his majesty contemplates the con- 
tinuance of those evils always in. 
separable from a state of war; but 
it is with his enemies that this awful 
responsibility rests; and for the 
issue of the contest his majesty 
trusts, with confidence, to the jus. 
tice of his cause; to the resources 
and bravery of his people; to the 
fidelity of his allies; and, above all, 
to the protection and support: ef 
the divine providence. 
In contributing to the great ef- 
forts which such a contest must 
unavoidably require, his faithful 
and affectionate subjects will not 
forget that all their dearest interests 
are at stake; that no sacrifices 
they can be called upon to make, 
are to be compared with the cer~ 
tain disgrace and ruin of yielding 
to the injurious pretensions of the 
enemy; that with the inviolable 
maintenance of the good faith and 
public honour of their country, 
its prosperity, its strength, and its 
independence, are essentially cons 
nected ; 
