3797] 
Oe 
STATE or PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 
‘ 
GreaT BRITAIN. 
Ww. concluded our laft Sketch of the Par- 
¥*  jiamentary Proceedings with notic- 
ing the important determmation of the 
Committee of the Commons, appointed to 
decide upon the Southwark eleétion. 
The next bufinefs which came before 
the Houfe was the fudden termination of the 
negociation for peace. Mr. SECRETARY 
Dunpas, on the twenty-fixth of Decem- 
ber, brought from his Majefty a meffage, 
importing —T hat it was with the utmoft 
concern that his Majefty acquainted the 
Houfe, that his earneft endeavours to ef- 
fect the reftoration of peace had been un- 
happily fruftrated—That the neyvcciation 
in which he was engaged was abruptly 
broken off, by the peremptory refulai of 
the French government to treat, except 
upon a bafis inadmiihble, &c. : 
This meflage was taken into confidera- 
tion, by both aoufes, on the 30th of De- 
cember ; the papers and memorials relative 
tothe negociation for peace having been 
previoufly printed and laid before the mem- 
bers. (See our laft Number.) 
On that day, his Majefty’s meffage be- 
ing read, the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
began the debate, by ftating that various 
and important confiderations would arife 
from the difcuffion of this fubject, and. a 
variety of opinions would no doubt pre- 
~ vail; but all muft concur in fentiments of 
regret, at the abrupt failure of the nego- 
ciation, and at the necetlity of perfevering. 
in an expenfive war, undertaken, how- 
ever, in confequence of agereflions on the 
part of the enemy, for the independence 
of Great Britain, and the general fecurity 
of Europe. Lhefe, he added, were un-, 
doubtedly the feelings of the Houfe, but 
they were feelings of reyret, unaccompa- 
nied by defpondency ov difappointment, 
unaccompanied by dejeCtion, for there was 
nothing to regret but the obftinacy of the 
enemy.— That if it fhould appear that mi- 
nifters were fincere and defirous for peace, 
and that they had attempted it on prin- 
ciples which ought to render it adequate 
and permanent, the attempt, though, un- 
fuccefsful, would not be loft. It would 
prove to Europe that the enemy was the 
caufe of the prolongation of the war ; it 
would tend to unite England, and to di- 
vide France. Mr. Pitt next proceeded 
to ftate the rife and progrefs the negocia- 
tion, reprehending the conduét of the 
French Direétory at every ftage of it. He 
commended the fkill of Lonp MaLmse 
dn Fanuary, 1797 
BURY, in propofing the principle of mus 
tual compenfations as a bafis for negocia- 
tion. The Freneh negociator, he obferv~ 
ed, at firft refufed to confent to this prin- 
ciple, but after fome days it was agreed to 
by the Direétory. ‘It is a point well 
underftood,” faid Mr. Pitt, ** that the final 
terms to be confidered as binding upon the 
parties, never forms a part of the original 
propofition. But when the firft advances 
were made by this country, they were met 
by no correfponding offers by the Direc- 
tory ; every difficulry that was ftarted and 
removed, prepared only new cavils; the 
demands made by England were accom- 
panied by no difclofure of the terms ta 
which France would accede. After a re- 
luétant admiffion of the bafis, they iniifted 
upon a {pecific ftatement of the objects of 
compeniation,”’ 
Mr. Pirr next defended the terms of- 
fered by this country, in the confidential 
memorial delivered by Lord Malmfbury 
to M. Delacroix, and cenfured the con- 
duét of the French Dire¢tory, for theif. 
behaviour in the fubfequent part of the 
negociation. ‘ After the delivery of this 
memorial or note, containing the propo~ 
fals of this country,” faid Mr. Pitt, ‘¢a cap- 
tious demand was made tu have it figned 
by Lord Malmfbury, which was complied 
with, to deprive them of every pretence 
to break off the negociation; they then 
demanded an wltimatum in twenty-four 
hours. Was it poflible to reconcile dif= 
cordances, to fmooth oppofitions, or pro- 
mote good underftanding in this manner ? 
Does it come within the feope of the ne- 
gociation? Is an w/timatum, which means 
that demand which is to come the neareft 
to the views of all parties, and to ftate the 
loweft terms which could be offered, thus 
to be made out atrandom, without know- 
ing what the enemy would concede on 
their part, or what they would prefer on 
our’s? Itis a demand contrary to all rea- 
{on and to all principle. With fuch a de- 
mand, therefore, it was impoflible to com- 
ply 5 and, in confequence of this, Lord 
Maimfbury received orders to quit Paris 
in forty-eight hours, and the territories of 
the republic as foon as poflible.” 
Having expatiated on the topics of the 
negociation, from its origin to the propos 
fition of renewing it by couriers, he faid, 
“he was convinced there was not a hand 
in the Britifh Cabinet who would fign fuch 
a propofition, nor a heart in the een 
Whe 







