STATE PAPERS. 



717 



" In order to ward oft' the incon- 

 veniences with which the state of 

 things threatened her commerce, 

 America laid' an embargo in all her 

 harbours ; and although France 

 had done nothing more than used 

 the right of retaliation, its wants, 

 and those of its colonies, suffered 

 much from this measure ; yet did 

 the emperor magnanimously con- 

 nive at the proceeding, in order 

 rather to endure the privation of 

 commerce than to acknowledge the 

 authority of the usurpers of the sea. 



*' The embargo was raised, and a 

 system of non-intercourse was sub- 

 stituted for it. The powers on the 

 continent in alliance with England 

 having the same object in view, 

 made a common cause with her, 

 that they might derive the same 

 advantages. The harbours of Hol- 

 land, of the Elbe, of the Weser, of 

 Italy, and of Spain, were to enjoy 

 thole benefits from which France 

 was to be excluded ; and the one 

 and the other were to be opened 

 or closed to commerce as cir- 

 cumstances rendered expedient, so 

 as France was bereft of it. 



" Thus, Sir, in point of princi- 

 ple, France recognises the freedom 

 of neutral commerce, and the inde- 

 pendence of the maritime powers, 

 which she respected up to the mo- 

 ment when the maritime tyranny of 

 England, that respects nothing, and 

 the arbitrary proceedings of its go- 

 vernment, compelled her to adopt 

 measures of retaliation, to which 

 she resorted with regret. Let Eng- 

 land revoke her blockade with 

 France, and France will recall her 

 declaration of blockadeagainst Eng- 

 land. Let England revoke her cabi- 

 net orders of the 11th November, 

 1807, and the Milan decree will ex- 

 pire of itself. The American com- 



merce will then recover its com- 

 plete freedom, and be assured of 

 finding in the harbours of France 

 favour and protection. But it be- 

 longs to the United States to at- 

 tain this happy object by their 

 firmness. Can a nation, resolved 

 to remain free, hesitate between 

 certain momentary interests, and 

 the great cause of maintaining 

 her independence, her honour, her 

 sovereignty, and her dignity ? 

 (Signed) " M. Champagny." 



Royal Order, directed to his Ex- 

 cellency the Marquis de Jtoniana, 

 and transmitted to him by Dos 

 Maiiin Garay, dated Badajcs 

 Aus. SI st. 



In the midst of the great cares 

 and attentions which the supreme 

 governing junta of the kingdom has 

 taken, to follow with activity and 

 firmness the defence of the country, 

 it has never lost sight of the 

 salutary reforms which the nation 

 earnestly expects, which its actual 

 situation requires, and which must 

 be the foundation of its future 

 prosperity. 0.ie of the greatest 

 objects which now claim its at- 

 tention, and which ought to oc- 

 cupy it with the greatest activity, 

 is the convocation of the Cortes, 

 the most important object which 

 can, or ought, to employ the 

 supreme junta. The more im- 

 portant this object is,*, the more 

 necessary are the knowledge, the 

 observations, and the experience 

 of those who compose that as- 

 sembly ; and as, in a discussion 

 of such magnitude, it will be ex- 

 pected by the nation, that all 

 should concur, his majesty has 

 been pleased to grant, that all the 



deputies 



