accelerating the conclufion of peace, it would not be, without doubt, when her demands are oppofed by a refiftance without motive, and contrary to the true direction which the force of things ought, at this day, to give to the politics of the princes of the Empire. They demand, and they hope it is for the laft time, a categorical and prompt anfwer. They give notice to the deputation of the Empire, that that anfwer will govern their future conduct. The minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic affure the minifters plenipotentiary of his Imperial Majefty of their most diftinguished confideration. Raftadt, 15 Fructidor, 6th year of the French republic. BONNIER. Note from the Imperial Commiffion to the Deputation of the Empire at Raftadt, 3d September. THE Imperial commiffion annexed to the deputation of the Empire, approve of the offer of the demolition of the fortifications of Ehrenbreitftein, contained in the conclufum of the deputation of the 7th and 29th Auguft, upon the conditions expreffed in the faid decifions. As the minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic have replied to the note of the deputation of the 31st Auguft, by a counter note of the 1ft September, a copy of which is annexed, the Imperial legation expects the decifion which the deputation of the Empire will adopt upon that fubject. Decree of the Imperial Commiffion to the Deputation of the Empire at Raftadt, 4th September. THE Imperial commiffion annexed to the deputation of the Empire for the conclufion of peace, acquaint the deputation by the fubfequent copy of the note tranfmitted yesterday to the minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic, with the manner in which they have been informed of the fanction given to the 3d article of the conclufum of the 7th of Auguft. Note addressed to the Minifiers Plenipotentiary of the French Republic. In the two notes that were tranfmitted on the 21ft and 310 Auguft, to the minifters plenipotentiary of the French repub the undersigned referved to himself the giving his decifi fpecting the demolition of the fortifications of Ehrenbr confented to by the deputation of the Empire upon condi 32 cannot be separated from it. He has juft informed the deputation of this decifion, upon giving it his approbation. It is only by that fanction, and from the moment it was given, that the propofition of the deputation of the Empire could have the form of an effective and formal offer from ftate to ftate; and it only begins to poffefs all its validity from the inftant that the undersigned, as he hereby docs, informs the minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic of it. He reiterates the affurance of his diftinguifhed confideration. Rafladt, 3d Sept. 1798. F. G. C. COUNT DE METTERNICH Subfiance of the Conclufum of the Deputation of the Empire, on the 10th of September. THE deputation confents to cede the island of Peter fave, but requires the refloration of Kehl and Caffel. [A fecond note was drawn up by the deputation of the Empire, on the 10th of September, in which they demanded the recall of the republican troops on the right bank of the Rhine.] Notes tranfmitted by the French Plenipotentiaries to the Imperial Minifier at Raftadt. THE underfigned minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic for negotiating a peace with the German Empire, have received the note of the deputation of the Empire, which was com municated to them on the 25th Fructidor (September 11), by the minifter plenipotentiary of his Imperial Majesty. Whatever may be the fatisfaction which the undersigned may derive from the pacific language of the deputation of the Empire; whatever may be the confidence they are difpofed to place in it, they are neverthelefs compelled to obferve, that after more than nine months spent in negotiation, words, and even intentions, are not fufficient; realities are neceffary, in order to prove a fincere defire for peace. Peace must be concluded, and the undersigned are unremitting in their endeavours to obtain it. It is true, indeed, that the deputation feems at prefent difpofed to emerge from that state of indecifion in which it has been held; it has recently affented to one of the important demands which have been made in the name of the French republic; (to wit) the demolition of the fortifications of Ehrenbreitfein; and this affent, which it this day renews, is expreffed in a manner which fhows that the undersigned were not deceived when they made the uncontradicted declaration, that they regarded and accepted that affent as pure and fimple. But But why permit to remain in one of the preceding conclufums, the conditional difpofition that had crept into it? Why fruftrate the good effects of a revocation, which, by obviating difficulties, and by reftoring to the facrifice made by the deputation the whole of its merit, might have given to the French government an additional affurance of the reciprocal loyalty of the negotiations, and a firmer folidity to future engagements? It is alfo true that the deputation of the Empire fhows itfelf fully difpofed to cede to the French republic the fortified island of St. Peter; but it seems to set an exaggerated price upon that ceffion, which would confiderably reduce its value, and even the mere propofal of it would induce a belief that the deputation too eafily forget the many facrifices which the French government has already made, with a wish to reftore peace to the Empire. It is in general a mistake, and one can, and one ought to repeat it, to think of eftablifhing between two contracting powers a reciprocity of advantages rigorously exact. That nice balance is fcarcely ever to be found, either in the nature of things, or the refpective pofition of perfons; and if it could be admitted in the prefent negotiation, it is evident that there would refult from it a real inequality for the French republic, which in that cafe would not only lose a confiderable part of the proportional fatisfaction which is due to it, but which fhould alfo fee diminished in its hands the important advantages which it might have preferved, and which diminution would arife from the effect of that reciprocity. Such a fyftem, utterly irreconcilable with any place whatever, and much more unfounded when contrafted with the fplendour of the French victories, could never be feriously infifted on by fincere and judicious negotiators. Notwithstanding thefe obfervations, which were deemed neceffary, the undersigned will not deny but that the note of the deputation of the Empire has offered them fome melioration in the state of affairs, and the happy though tardy poffibility of a refult impatiently looked for by both nations. It appears indeed, from the analyfis of that note, that at leaft all the effential difficulties are now reducible to thefe three questions: ift. The retaining by the French, or the reftitution to the Empire, of the fortified places Kehl and Caffel. 2d. The transfer upon the countries given in exchange on the right bank of the Rhine, of the debts which fhall fall upon thofe ceded on the left bank. 3d. The application or exemption of the French laws concerning the emigrants. All the reft, as the deputation obferve, will be cafily adjusted when the great obftacles are removed. The attention of the underfigned is then wholly directed to thefe three questions; and the examination they have given to them has been the more fcrupulous, becaufe the two laft f nearly to affect the welfare, the liberty, and the fortune of 4 number of families in the two ftates; objects which the French government holds facred in its political relations with other countries, as well as in its internal adminiftration: accordingly they do not hesitate to make the following proclamations and declarations, but under the exprefs refervation that the fortified island of St. Peter thall immediately be ceded to the French republic; and at the fame time all the claufes and conditions annexed to the demolition of Ehrenbreitstein, and other demands of the underfigned, thall be annulled. Ift. It would be ufelefs here to reftate the well-known reafons which fo powerfully induce the French republic to retain poffeffion of Caffel and Kehl, with their dependencies. The fame reafons fill prevent them from agreeing totally to abandon thefe poffef fions. It is natural to believe that the princes and other ftates of the Empire fhould confider this point in a political view; that they should ultimately regret their not having fufficiently perceived or properly appreciated this object. But instead of a falutary confidence, in feeing feveral fortified places in the hands of the French, they seem to have experienced an oppofite feeling. In order to difpel all apprehenfions, the French republic gives up the fortreffes of Kehl and Caffel, which fhall be demolished, and thall only retain the territories. 2d. With regard to the debts, the deputation furely have not prefumed that the French government could agree to any arrangement which fhould be calculated too fenfibly to depreciate the ceffion of the left bank of the Rhine; to perpetuate between the two nations the feeds of intricate difcuffions, and to transfer to a territory united to France the expenfes of the war, which the Empire itfelf has incurred. The debts of the countries ceded, as the underfigned have uniformly faid, thall be transferred to the countries on the right bank, given by way of indemnification; but the republic will confent that the provincial and communal debts, with the exception of thofe which may have been contracted on account of and for the expenfes of the war, fhall be and continue to affect the ceded territories: the rights of third creditors are reserved. 3d, The undersigned declare that the laws refpecting emigration are not applicable to countries ceded and not united, not even to Mentz. They make this confolatory declaration with pleafure; but as the article to which this forms a reply is enumerated among the eighteen articles annexed to the note of the deputation of the 3d March, and this article is connected with articles mentioned in the note of the 11th of the fame month, it is proper here to explain this point precifely. The undersigned declare then that they have now answered thofe articles and prefuppofitions in every point capable of difcuffion, farther referring themselves to their note of the 19th Germinal, and declaring that the French legation does not, and never can, regard thefe articles and prefup pofitions pofitions but as infulated, diftinct from one another, and independent of all others; and that they will oppofe every application of them employed to invalidate or elude the point agreed upon. The minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic prefent this note as the pledge of peace. France and Germany being now the judges of the affair, the French legation flatter themfelves that the deputation of the Empire will unite with them in this opinion, and that they will not take upon them the refponfibility of being the first to produce a rupture. They give the minifter plenipotentiary of his Majefty the Emperor their affurances of the moft diftinguifhed confideration. (Signed) Rafladt, 28th Fructidor (Sept. 14), year 6 of the French republic. BONNIER. THE underfigned minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic for the negotiation of peace with the Germanic Empire, received on the 25th (Sept. 10), a fecond note from the deputation of the Empire, tranfmitted to them by the minifter plenipotentiary of his Majesty the Emperor. The particular object of this note is to demand the recall of the republican troops on the right bank. The underfigned invite the deputation of the Empire to weigh well this truth, fo clearly demonstrated since the opening of the conferences, that the Executive Directory of the French republic is fincerely defirous of peace, and a speedy and perfect reconciliation between the two ftates; that it defires nothing fo much as to fee not merely diminished, but entirely fuperfeded by the happy inutility of defenfive precautions, the circumftances connected with the prefent fituation of affairs, and that this anxiety for precaution may utterly cease. The deputation of the Empire cannot, upon its fide, fail to perceive that the demand which it renews at prefent is premature; that the abandoning the military pofitions being neceffarily the first confequence of an effectual pacification, there is no peremptory reason why the troops of the republic fhould be withdrawn from the other fide of the Rhine. By repeating an observation thus effentially juft, the underfigned will avail themselves of it, in order to destroy a very bold and ungrounded affertion, propagated far and near, and which the enemies of the French nation will doubtless not be backward to circulate and enforce. It had been faid that the republican troops had tranfgreffed the line marked by the amnesty. The minifters plenipotentiary of the French republic gave a formal and full contradiction to this pretended fact. They affert that the republican troops have not |