of Lord Grenville inclofed therein. I fet off for Paris on the following day, where, after demanding an audience of Citizen Delacroix, minifter for foreign affairs, I prefented the note abovementioned, accompanied with another in my own name, in which I explained the motives that had induced me to undertake a measure for which I had no authority from my court, He promised to submit the two notes to the infpection of the government, and to return me an answer immediately. Having waited for three days without receiving an anfwer, I went a fecond time to wait upon the minifter, who, in a very dry tone, informed me, that the Executive Directory had not permitted him to return an answer in writing, but that he was directed to exprefs himself verbally to this effect: "That the Executive Directory of the French Republic would not, for the future, receive or answer any confidential overtures or papers tranfmitted through any intermediate channel from the enemies of the Republic; but that if they would fend perfons furnished with full powers and official papers, thefe might, upon the frontiers, demand the paffports neceffary for proceeding to Paris." Such, Sir, is the refult of a meafure which I have taken at your request. I wish, for the fake of humanity, that we may meet with better fuccefs at fome future period; but I fear that this period is still at a great distance. I have the honour to be, with respectful attachment, Sir, Your excellency's most humble, To his Excellency the Count Wedel KOENEMANN. No. 5. IN demanding of the Executive Directory of the French Republic, through the intervention of the minifters of a neutral power, a passport for a confidential perfon to be fent to Paris, the court of London accompanied this demand with the exprefs declaration, that this perfon fhould be commiffioned to difcufs with the government all the means the moft proper for conducing to the re-establishment of peace. The King, perfevering in the fame fentiments, which he has already fo unequivocally declared, will not leave to his enemies the smallest pretext for cluding a difcuffion, the result of which will neceffarily ferve either to produce the happiness of fo many nations, or at least to render evident the views and difpofitions of thofe who oppofe themselves to it. It is therefore in purfuance of these fentiments, that the underfigned is charged to declare, that as foon as the Executive Directory fhall think proper to tranfmit to the undersigned the neceffary paffports (of which he, by this note, renews the demand already made) his Britannic Majefty will fend to Paris a perfon furnished with full powers, and official inftructions, to negotiate with the Executive Directory on the means of terminating the prefent war, by a pacification juft, honourable, and folid, calculated to restore repose to Europe, and to enfure, for the time to come, the general tranquillity. (Signed) To the Minifter for Foreign Affairs, at Paris. No. 6. GRENVILLE, I HAVE the honour to tranfmit to Lord Grenville a copy of the decree of the Executive Directory of the French Republic, in answer to his note of the 27th September, 1796, (O. S.) He will there fee a proof of the earnest defire of the French government to profit of the overture that is made to them, in the hope that it may lead to peace with the government of England. I have the honour to fend him, at the fame time, the paffports required for the minifter plenipotentiary, whom his Britannic Majefty propofes to name to treat; and I requeft Lord Grenville to accept the affurance of my perfonal wifhes for the fuccefs of this negotiation, as well as that of my most perfect confideration. (Signed) CH. DELACROIX. Paris, 11 Vendemiaire, 5th year of the French Republic. No. 7. Extract from the Register of the Decrees of the Executive Directory. The 9th Vendemiaire, 5th year of the French Republic, one and indivifible. THE Executive Directory, upon confideration of the note addreffed to the minifter for foreign affairs by Lord Grenville, dated September 24, 1796, withing to give a proof of the * Sic Orig. defire which it entertains to make peace with England, decrees as follows: The minifter for foreign affairs is charged to deliver the neceffary paffports to the envoy of England, who fhall be furnished with full powers, not only for preparing and negotiating the peace between the French Republic and that power, but for concluding it definitively between them. True copy. (Signed) L.M. REVELLIERE LEPEAUX, prefident. (Signed) Certified true copy. The minifter for foreign affairs, LE TOURNEUR. CH. DELACROIX. By the minifter, J. GIRAUDET, fec. gen. No. 7. * LORD MALMESBURY, who is appointed by the King to treat with the French government for a juft and equitable peace, calculated to restore peace to Europe, and to enfure the public tranquillity for the time to come, will have the honour of delivering this letter from me to M. Delacroix. The diftinguished rank and merit of the minifter of whom his Majefty has made choice on this occafion, makes it unneceffary for me to fay any thing in his recommendation; at the fame time that it furnishes a fresh proof of the defire of his Majefty to contribute to the fuccefs of this negotiation: for which object I entertain the most fanguine wishes. Monfieur Delacroix will have the goodnefs to accept from me the affurance of my most perfect confideration. (Signed) Westminster, October 13, 1796. To the Minifter for Foreign Affairs, at Paris. GRENVILLE, No. 8. LORD MALMESBURY, named by his Britannic Majesty as his plenipotentiary to the French Republic, has the honour to announce, by his fecretary, to the minifter for foreign affairs, his arrival at Paris; and to request of him, at the fame time, to be fo good as to appoint the hour at which he may wait upon upon him, for the purpose of communicating to him the object of his miffion. Paris, October 22, 1796. To the Minifter for Foreign Affairs. No. 9. THE minifter for foreign affairs learns with fatisfaction the arrival of Lord Malmesbury, plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majefty. He will have the honour to receive him to-morrow at eleven o'clock in the morning, or at any later hour that may fuit him, till two o'clock. He hopes that Lord Malmesbury will forgive him for thus limiting the time, on account of the nature and the multiplicity of his occupations. 1ft Brumaire, An 5. (October 22, 1796.) To Lord Malmesbury, Minifter Plenipotentiary from his Britannic Majefty to the French Republic, at Paris. No. 10. LORD MALMESBURY has the honour to thank the minifter for foreign affairs for the obliging answer which he has just received from him. He accepts with pleafure the first moment propofed, and will wait upon him to-morrow morning, at eleven o'clock precifely. Paris, Oct. 22. To the Minifter for Foreign Affairs. No. 11. THE minifter for foreign affairs has the honour to apprize Lord Malmesbury, commiffioner plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majefty, that he has received from the Executive Directory the neceffary powers for negotiating and concluding peace between the Republic and his Majefty. To-morrow, if Lord Malmesbury pleases, the refpective powers fhall be exchanged. The minifter for foreign affairs will then be ready to receive the propofitions, which Lord Malmefbury is commiffioned to make to the Republic on the part of his Britannic Majefty. The The minifter for foreign affairs requests Lord Malmesbury te accept the affurances of his high confideration. (Signed) 2 Brumaire, An 5. (Oct. 22, 1796.) CH. DELACROIX. No. 12. LORD MALMESBURY has the honour to prefent his acknowledgements to the minifter for foreign affairs for the communication which he has juft made to him, and he will have the honour to wait upon him to-morrow, at the hour which he fhall have the goodness to appoint, to receive the copy of the full powers with which he is furnished on the part of the Executive Directory; and as foon as they fhall have been exchanged, he will be ready to commence the negotiation with which he is charged. He requests the minifter for foreign affairs to accept the affurances of his high confideration. (Signed) Paris, October 23d, 1796. MALMESBURY. No. 13. Extract from the Regifter of the Decrees of the Executive Directory. 2 Brumaire, (22 Nov.) 5th year of the French Republic, one and indivifible. THE Executive Directory, after having heard the report of the minifter for foreign affairs, The citizen Charles Delacroix, minifter for foreign affairs, is charged to negotiate with Lord Malmesbury, commiffioner plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majefty, furnished with full powers to prepare and negotiate peace between the French Republic and that power, and to conclude it definitively between them. The Directory gives to the faid minifter all powers neceffary for concluding and figning the treaty of peace to take place between the Republic and his Britannic Majefty. He thall conform himself to the inftructions which fhall be given him. He thall render a regular account, from time to time, of the progrefs and of the issue of the negotiation. The |