456 
thofe to which this note refers, and of the _mo- 
tives on which it is founded ; and it is to be 
hoped that fuch an explanation will have the 
effect of putting an end to a courfe of pro- 
ceeding which can lead only to perpetual 
irritation between the two Governments, and 
which might ultimately tend to the moft fe- 
rious confequences. 
The firf confideration that naturally arifes 
on this tranfaction, is that of the peculiar cir- 
cumftances under which the note of M. Otto 
has been prefented. It cannot be demied 
that fome very improper paragraphs have 
lately appeared in fome of the Englith news- 
papers againft the Government of France; 
it cannot be denied likewife, that publica- 
tions of a fill more improper and indecent 
nature have made their appearance in this 
cowitry, with the names of foreigners aflixed 
to them. Under thefe circumfances, the 
French Government would have been war- 
ranted in expecting every redrefs that the 
laws of this country could afford them ; but 
as, inftead of feeking it in the ordinary courie, 
they have thought fit to refort to recrimina- 
tion themfelves, or at leaft to authorize it in 
others, they could have no right to complain 
if their fubfequent appeal to his Majefty had 
failed to produce the effect that otherwife 
would have attended it. e 
Whatever may have been the nature of 
the prior injury, ‘they have in fact taken the 
law into their own hands: and what is this 
recrimination and retort ? The paragraphs in 
the Englifh newspapers, the publications to 
which I have above referred, have not ap- 
peared under any authority of the Britith 
Gevernment, and are difavowed and dilap- 
proved of by them»; but the paragraph in the 
Bfoniteur has appeared ‘In a paper avowediy 
official, for which the Government are there- 
fore confidered as refpontitle, as his Majetty’s 
Government is re{ponfible tor the contents of 
the London Gazette. And this retort is not 
eonfined to the wnauthorized Enelifh newfpa- 
pers, or to the other publications of which 
complaint is now made, but is converted into, 
and made a pretence for a direét attack upon 
the Government of his Majefiy. His Majefty 
feels it beneath his dignity to make any for- 
mal complaint on this occafion; but ‘it has 
been impoflible for me to proceed to the 
other parts of the fubject, without pointing 
your attention to the conduct of the French 
Government in this re{peét, that you may 
obferve upon it inthe manner it delerves. 
The propofitions in M. Otto's official note, 
are fix in mupber; but may in fact be divided 
under two heads: the firft, that which relates 
tothe libels of all deferiptions, which are al- 
leged te be publithed ucainf the Fren¢h Go- 
vernment ; the laf, comprehending the fire 
‘complaints which relate to the emigrants re- 
fident in this country. Onthe firit, Pam fure 
you muft be aware that his Majefty cannot, 
and-never will, in confequence of any repre- 
fentation er any menace from a foreign pow- 
er, make any conceflion which can be in the 
Correfpond:nce between Great Britain and France. 
[J une 1, 
fmalleft degree dangerous to the liberty of 
the prefs, as fecured by the conftitution of 
this country. This liberty is juftly dear to 
every Britifh fubject. The conftitution ad- 
mits of no previous reftraints upon publica. 
tions of any defcription ; but there exifts judi- 
catures, wholly independent of the Executive 
Government, capable of taking cognizance of 
fuch publications as the law deems to be cri- 
minal, and which are bound to infli¢t the pu- 
nifhment the delinquents may deferve ; thefe 
judicatures may take cognizance not only of 
libels againft the Government and the ma- 
giftracy of this kingdom, but, as has been re- 
peatedly experienced, of publications defa- 
matory of thofe in whofe hands the adini- 
nitration of foreign Governments is placed. 
That our Government neither has nor wants 
any othér protection than what the laws of 
the country afford: and though they are wil 
ling and ready to give to every foreign Go- 
vernment all the protection againft offences 
of this nature which the principle of their 
laws and conftitution will admit, they never 
can confent to new-model their laws, or to 
chanve their conftitution, to gratify the wifhes 
of any foreign power. If the prefent French 
Government are diffatisfied with our laws on 
the fubject of libels, or entertain the opinion 
that-the adminiftration of juftice in our courts 
is too tardy and lenient, they have it in their- 
power to redrefs themfelves by punithing the 
venders and diftributers of fuch publications 
within their own territories, im any manner 
that they may think proper, and thereby 
preventing the circulation of them. If they 
think their prefent laws are not fufficient for, 
this purpofe, they may enaét new ones ; or, 
if they think it expedient, they may exercife 
the right which they have of prohibiting the —— 
importation of any foreign newfpapers, or 
periodical publications, imto the territories — 
of the French Republic. His Majefty will not 
cofmplain of fuch a meafure, as it isnot his — 
intention to interfere in the manner in which 
the people or territories of France fhould be 
governed ; but he expects, on the other hand, 
that the French Government will not imter- 
fere in the manner in which the Government _ 
of his dominions is conduéted, or to call ter — 
a change in thofe laws with which his people b 
are perteGly fatisfied. With refpect to the 
diftinGtion which appears to be drawn in M 
Otto’s note, between the publications of Bri- — 
tifh fubjects and thofe of foreigners, and the — 
power which his Majefty is fuppoted to have — 
in confequence of the alien aét, of fending 
foreigners out of his dominions, it is impor- 
tant to obferve, that the provifions of that — 
att were imade for the purpofe of preventing — 
the refidence of foreigners, whofe numbers 
and principles had a tendency to diiturb the 
internal peace of his own dominions, and 
whom the fafety of thofe domimions might — 
require in many inftances to be gent ¢ 
Soper 
os 
even if their aétual conduct had not expot 
them to punifhment by law. It does not fol- — 
low that it would be a warrantable applica 
