The outline, the copy of which is likewife annexed, will show the refult of that converfation. The deputation of the Empire will then fee what diftinction the French plenipotentiaries wifhed to eftablish between that act of the Imperial commiffion on the one part, and the conftruction hitherto put on the conduct of the deputation of the Empire on the other part. This can only have arifen from their feeing in the faid note irrefragable reafons, and the preffing demand for a pofitive answer, which probably they conceived that they had never discovered in the notes hitherto given in. But the present state of the object, as well as of the negotiation in general, has at length rendered both neceffary. The more the deputation of the Empire confider the connexion of things, the more they will recognise the neceffity of preventing allegations and doubts to which they do not really wish to give rife, which are foreign from the nature of their own decifions, and which ought not therefore to have been formed. As from this moment it depends entirely on the deputation to manifeft how nearly it concerns the Empire and themselves, that during the negotiations the state of poffeffion fhould not be interrupted in a point fingularly effential, by the continuation of acts contrary to treaties, and to the manifeft prejudice of the Empire, the Imperial commiffion particularly refer this important object to the mature deliberation and decifion of the deputation. Raftadt, Oft. 17, 1798. F. G. C. COUNT DE METTERNICH Note fent the 19th of October by the Pruffian Legation to the Deputation of the Empire. THE underfigned minifters plenipotentiary of his Pruffian Majesty have not been able to learn, without feeling a lively folicitude, that the Imperial minifter plenipotentiary has been obliged to interfere in the most energetic manner with the minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic, both by a verbal note and private conference, relative to the final raifing of the blockade of the fortrefs of Ehrenbreitftein; that, according to the fummary of this difcourfe, tranfmitted by the Imperial minifter, the hope of fuccefs is not yet as fecure as might be expected, from the reasons of right and equity, fo manifeft and plain, that have been urged; and that therefore the deputation of the Empire have deemed it their duty to refume the confideration of this fubject in the fitting which they held this day. The underfigned are convinced that the deputation of the Empire, penetrated with a fenfe of the great importance of preserving, until the end of the negotiations, this poft fo honourably main tained, tained, will renew, conjointly with the Imperial minister plenipotentiary, in the most energetic manner, the reprefentations already made in preceding notes, and particularly in the laft, for the purpose of bringing, on this fubject, the French minifters to thofe fentiments of justice which we have remarked with pleasure in their declarations upon different points, though not yet carried fully into effect; the more fo, as a refufal on the prefent matter in difpute could not have any real fair motive or object, as the demolition of the fortrefs of Ehrenbreitftein has been agreed upon and decreed for the future. But until the very moment when this great facrifice fhould be made to the re-establishment of tranquillity, the prefervation of this poft is of the highest importance, particularly for the fafety of a part of Germany which is the object of the lively folicitude of his Imperial Majefty. The under figned confider themselves, in confequence, obliged to give the deputation of the Empire to understand how much they with to fee their glorious efforts on this fubject crowned with fuch fuccefs as may free them from all manner of anxiety. Raftadt, 19th Oa. (Signed) GORZ, JACOBI, DOHм. Conclufum of the Deputation of the Empire, of the 23d October. THE deputation of the Empire on the 19th of this month expreffed to the minifter plenipotentiary of his Imperial Majefty, that he had refolved, in a particular note on the execution of the conventions relative to the reftoration of Ehrenbreitftein, once more to infift on the demand which he had fo energetically renewed in his note of the 17th of this month, in cafe he had not an immediate answer, or the answer was not acceptable. As the minifters of the French republic had hitherto tranfmitted no counter-declaration on the fubject, the deputation of the Empire thought it its duty to addrefs thofe minifters by a note in the following terms: "The deputation of the Empire has already, by its notes of the 10th of Auguft and 11th and 23d of September, required of the minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic the execution of the military convention relative to the refloration of Ehrenbreitftein. Nevertheless, in the notes which the minifters plenipoten. tiary have transmitted in answer, there is contained no overture on the fubject, much lefs any fatisfactory declaration. It is in confequence compelled, by the importance and manifeft urgency of the object, to renew the demand made in this refpect by the deputation of the Empire in the detailed note, embracing all the objects of the negotiation, which was tranfmitted on the 17th of this month, and written in a manner calculated to inform the French ministers plenipotentiary of the particular price which the deputation attached to the exact and prompt execution of the military convention. "When "When the formal terms of an agreement acknowledged by both parties imperiously speak in favour of this demand, and after the confent given to the demolition of the fortifications of Ehrenbreitstein, it were to have been hoped that the French minifters plenipotentiary would have acted accordingly, and taken the ne ceffary measures, in order that the commander of the French troops on the right bank of the Rhine fhould not have opposed the restoration of the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein. But as to this moment nothing has confirmed this ftipulated agreement, the depu tation of the Empire is forced, by the extreme urgency of the object, to request the minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic to fatisfy the demand relative to the restoration of Ehrenbreitstein, contained in its note of the 17th of October; and to make a prompt and fatisfactory answer, even before the other points of the faid note are answered, in cafe the multiplicity of the objects which it embraces does not permit them to attend to all of them. "The deputation of the Empire truft, after fuch repeated applications, that at length an answer will be given, which will have the effect of obviating that honourable uneafinefs which the minifter plenipotentiary has fhown, and which the deputation of the Empire has conftantly experienced for a place fo important." Raftadt, Oct. 23. Notes from the Minifters Plenipotentiary of the French Republic te the Deputation of the Empire. FIRST NOTE. THE underfigned minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic for negotiating with the Germanic Empire, have received a note from the deputation of the Empire, communicated to them the 17th of October by the minifter plenipotentiary of the Emperor. It is difficult, after having read this aftonishing anfwer to the note of the under figned, dated the 3d of the fame month, to moderate the expreffion of the painful fentiments which it has excited. From the various and wholly unfounded difficulties with which it is filled, to the obvious affectation of inceffantly questioning what has already been refolved upon; from the ftudied ambiguity on points even confented to; from that series of interceffions, little fatisfactory, or wholly inadmiffible, which occupy its entire pages; we do not know how to fhut our eyes againft views obviously dilatory, or avoid entertaining serious doubts on the real intentions of the deputation of the Empire. The French republic does not with for war, but she does not fear it. She wishes to conclude a peace. Does the deputation only with to be always fpeaking of it? The generofity of the French republic has exceeded all expectations; further conceffions on her part muft not be looked for. The The underfigned perfift in every thing contained in their note of the 3d of October. They affure the minifter plenipotentiary of his Imperial Majefty of their fentiments of high confideration. Raftadt, Oct. 28. (Signed) SECOND NOTE. BONNIER. JEAN DEBRY. ROBERJOT. THE underfigned minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic for the negotiation with the Germanic Empire, have received the note tranfmitted to them the 23d October inft. by the minifter plenipotentiary of the Empire. Although the demand contained in this note, fo far as it relates to the military, is not within the competence of the under figned, they do not hesitate to refer on that fubject to what they have already declared touching the retreat of the troops, and to affure the deputation of the Empire that, arguing favourably of the part it means to take, they are difpofed on their fide to embrace every object fufceptible of modification or change: but they are forced to obferve that nothing could more plainly prove the abfence of a with for peace, or indicate more fenfibly further views, than that inquietude and continual folicitation on things, which peace alone can arrange completely, and to the reciprocal fatisfaction of the two powers. The minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic renew upon this occafion to the minifter plenipotentiary of his Majesty the Emperor, the affurance of their moft diftinguifhed confideration. Raftadt, Nov. 6. (Signed) BONNIER. Report prefented to the Houfe of Commons on the 9th May 1798, on the Treatment of Prisoners of War. THE Committee to whom the Report was recommitted, which was made from the Committee to whom the several papers which were prefented to the Houfe upon the twenty-first day of March last, by Mr. Whitbread, from the Tranfport Board, and by Mr. Stewart, from the Commiffioners for Sick and Wounded Seamen, refpecting the treatment of prifoners of war, were referred, and who were directed to examine the matters thereof, and report the fame, with their opinion thereupon, to the House, have, pursuant to the order of the Houfe, made fome alterations in the faid Report, and fome additions thereto, and have agreed upon the following Report, viz. From the multiplicity of papers and evidence which it has been neceffary to examine, your Committee have found it convenient, for the fake of perfpicuity, to arrange the fubject under the fol-. 2 lowing lowing heads: first, the treatment of the French prifoners of wat confined in England-fecondly, the treatment of British prifoners of war confined in France-thirdly, the steps taken by the British government for the establishment of a cartel of exchange; with the proceedings in both countries refpecting Sir Sidney Smith, and of prifoners on parole. After examining fuch of the papers and evidence as belong to the first head, it appears to your Committee that the British govern ment, actuated by the moft liberal motives, from the moment that the chance of war had made the prifoners of the enemy an abject of public attention, was careful to provide fuch places of confinement as were most confiftent with the internal fafety of this country, and the general accommodation of the prifoners themfelves; that in every inftance the most humane regulations were framed for their treatment, both in the prifons and the hofpitals; that medical attendence of every kind was provided in the moft ample manner; that every reafonable check was introduced against fraud and impofition; and that the prifoners themselves were permitted, without reftraint, to appoint infpectors of their own, with a view to the juft delivery of the allotted rations; that complaints were far from being difcouraged; and that the contractors, whenever liable to cenfure, were rigorously proceeded against and punished and as the beft proof that the prifoners had cause to be fatisfied with their treatment in most inftances, the fame contractors as were employed by our government, have been continued fince the fuperintendance has been transferred to agents appointed by the Directory of France. It appears that, from the commencement of the war to the ift of January 1796, the care of the French prifoners was vefted in the Commiffioners for Sick and Wounded Seamen. The principal prifons in England were, Portchester and Forton, near Portfmouth; Plymouth; Stapleton, near Briftol; Norman Crofs, near Stilton, was not built till April 1797; Liverpool; Rofkof and Kerguillack, between Penryn and Falmouth; befides other places of temporary confinement, and prifon-fhips at different ports. The regulations adopted were the fame as in the two laft wars, both with refpect to prifoners in health, and the fick. The daily rations of p. vifions for prifoners of the former defcription were, one quart of beer, one pound and half of bread, one third of an ounce of falt, three quarters of a pound of beef, except on Saturdays, when four ounces of butter or fix of cheese were fubftituted; half a pint of peafe four days a week. When greens were iffued in lieu of peafe, each man's allowance was one pound of cabbage, ftripped of the stalk, and fit for boiling. Thefe rations varied occafionally, as circumftances required. In May 1795, on account of a temporary scarcity of freth beef, it was withheld two days in the week, and falted provifions fup |