1804.] 
FRANCE | 
Continues to make an oftentation of great 
efforts and defigns againft the fafety of 
the. Britifh empire. Its internal go- 
vernment is ftill vigorous, orderly, and 
tranquil. The Firft Contul begins, how- 
ever, to experience difficulties in levying 
the fupplies for ‘he war, which all his ad- 
drefs and energy are required to fur- 
mount. The great fi rce of the army is 
in difpofitions toward the coafts, in which 
it is confiverably in readinefs for any en- 
terprize by fea. The gun-boats are, how- 
€ver, not in prepa:ation, in numbers fuf- 
ficient for that defcent upon the coalts of 
Great Britain, which the French, for fo 
many mon‘hs, have menaced. A fleet is 
ready at Breft to put to fea: and fome 
{quadrons may be foon fent out from the 
ports of Holland. 
RUSSIA 
Is awake to the importance of checking 
the ambition of France, before the Firit: 
Confu! thal! have plundered and enflaved 
all Germany, and extended his u‘urpations 
to the fhores of the Baltic. ‘The Ruffian 
Ambaflador has, by bis Sovereign’s or- 
ders, taken leave of the Firft Conful, 
though not with any demonftration of in- 
tentions of immediate hoitiliry. A new 
levy of 100,000 men has been ordered to 
recruit the Ruffian army. The Govern- 
ment has expre'sly declared, that it aug- 
ments its military force.on account of the 
prefent fituation of affairs in the other 
countries of Europe. To the court of 
Conftantinople, a declaration has been 
made trem the Emperor of Ruffia, that 
he had encouraged no defigns, fuch as are 
underitood to have been fuggelted from 
France, for the partition of its domi- 
nions, 
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL 
Have nut yet been f.rced into the war. 
Ther nuality has, however, been pur- 
chafed by humtiations and iarge fubfidies 
toFrauce. The lateft accounts relate, that 
theextoitions and the imperious commands 
of the French Government are enhanced 
above meafure ; and that Spain begins, from 
the example of Ruffia, and froin a deep 
fenfe, to meet the commands of France 
with fumewhat of a r-fractory {pirit. 
WFsT. INDIES. 
In the Welt Indies, the Dutch fettle- 
ment of Beibice was furrendered, on the 
25th of September, to the Briiifh forces 
vader Lieutenant Colonel Nichelfon. Tise 
French tioxps at Cape Nicola Mele, and 
at Port Dauphin, have alfo furvendcred. 
Nine or ven French cruizers have lately 
infeited the wit coaft of Trinadad. 
Royal Corre[pondence.~ 573 
THE AMERICAN 
Legiflature has affembled, and has pafled 
an aét, authorizing the Prefident to em- 
ploy the army and navy, with 80,000 of 
the militia, to take poffeflion of Louiliana. 
eee 
ROYAL CORRESPONDENCE. 
The following authentic CORRESPONDENCE 
on a Military Queffion of extreme delicacy, 
is fubmitied 10 the public, with every confides 
ration of refped? for the highly DISTINe 
GUISHED PARTIES, i” this important dif> 
cuffion, Whatever variance of opinion may 
arife upon the merits of the queftion irfelf, 
there can be but one BRITISH freling refpect= 
ing the heroic fentiments of the PRINCELY 
CLAIMANT, fo truly chara&eriftic of bis 
Mluftrious Race ! 
No. I, 
Carlton Haufe, ‘fu'y 18, 1803. 
Sir, 
HE fubjeé& on which I addrefs you, preffes 
_~ fo heavily on my mind, and daily acquires 
fuch additional importance, that notwithitand- 
ing my with to avoid any interference with the 
diipofitions made by his Majefty’s Minifters, 1 
find it impoffible to withhold, or delay an expli- 
cit {tatement of my feeiings, to which | would 
dire&t your moft ferious confideration, 
When it was officially communicated to Par- 
liament, that the avowed object of the enemy 
was a-def{cent on our Kingdoms, the queftion 
became fo obvious, that the circumitances of 
the times required the voluntary tender of per- 
fonal {€rvice ; when Parliament, in confequence 
ef this reprefentation, agreed to extraordinary 
meafures for the defence of thefe Realms alone, 
it was evident that the danger was not believed 
dubious, or remote. 
Animated by the fame fpirit which pervaded 
the Nation at large,—confcious of the duties 
which I owed to his Majefty, and the Country, 
I feized the earlieft opportunity to exprefs my 
defire of undertaking the refponfibility of a mi- 
litary command. 
I neither did nor do prefume on fuppofed ta- 
fents, as entitling me to fuch an appointment 3 
I am aware I do not poffefs the experience of 
attual warfare; at the fame time | cannot re~ 
gard myfelf as totally unqualified or deficient in- 
military feience, fince | have long made the 
fervice my particular ftudy; my chief preten- 
fions were founded on a fenfe,of thofe advan- 
tages which my example might produce to the 
State, by exciting the loyal energies of the Na 
tion, and a knowledge of thofe expeCtations 
which the public had a right to form, as to the 
perfonal exertions of they Princes, at a momént 
like the prefent. 
The more cievated my fituation, in fo much. 
the efforts of zeal became neceffarily greater ; 
and I confefs, that it duty had not been io para 
mount, a reflection dn the {plendid atchieve. 
ments of my predeceffors would have excited in 
me the fpirit of emulation ; when, however, in” 
addition to fuch recolleCtions, the nature of the 
conteft in which we are about to engage was 
impreiled on my confideration, I fhould, indeed, 
have been devoid of every virtuous fentiment,. 
re ie if 
