Copy of a Difpatch from Count Ofterman, Chancellor to the Empress of Ruffia, to M. Bulzow, Ruffian Chargé d'Affaires at Madrid, dated Petersburgh, December 25, 1795.

SIR,

THE Emprefs was already informed, through the public prints, of the treaty of peace concluded between Spain and the French, and the unpleafant fenfations which this unexpected and difagreeable tranfaction had produced in her Imperial Majefty's mind, were greatly increafed when this intelligence was confirmed by the minister of his Catholic Majefty. The Empress, however, has during the new connection which fo happily fubfifted between her and his Catholic Majefty, met with too many opportunities of learning the true fentiments of that prince, not to be thoroughly convinced that the concurrence of the most imperious circumstances can alone have determined him to act in direct oppofition to his principles. No doubt it has been for him a task infinitely hard, to enter into negociations with thofe, who with their own hands murdered the chief of his illuftrious family, and to conclude a peace with thofe difturbers of the tranquillity and safety of all Europe. No one knows better than her Imperial Majefty to value and appreciate all the difficulties and obitacles, which his Catholic Majefty must have had to furmount, before he could prevail upon himself to adopt a meafure, which to all appearance has been brought about through the most urgent neceffity, and the moft threatening danger.

Her Imperial Majefty being at a lofs to account for the motives which can have determined his Catholic Majesty thus to infulate his intereft from that of the coalition, cannot but perfevere in the opinion, that notwithstanding this fudden change, his Catholic Majefty will continue fincerely to intereft himfelf in the fuccefs of the operations of the evangelic powers; and fo far from throwing any obftacle in the way of the new measures which thofe powers may find it neceffary to purfue, rather fupport them by every means, which the fyftem of neutrality he may, perhaps, think proper to adopt, does not preclude.

His Catholic Majefty cannot yet have forgotten the high importance of the caufe for which the coalefced powers are contending to restore order and tranquillity, to lead the nations back to a fenfe of their duty, and to thield all Europe from the most dangerous infection.-Thefe are the important motives which have induced the coalefced powers to unite their counsels, and exert their joint efforts to render them triumphant.

It is for this purpofe, that the three courts have just now, by means of a folemn treaty of alliance, ftrengthened the ties by which they were united. Their reciprocal intereft is therefore fo intimately connected and interwoven, and their determination fo

firm, that it would be impoffible to obftruct the operations of one of them, without forcing the others most warmly to embrace his caufe. Of this defcription is especially the fituation of her Imperial Majefty with refpect to the King of Great Britain; so that in cafe of need, her Imperial Majefty would be obliged to affift and fupport him to the utmoft extent of her power; but fortunately fuch connections fubfift between his Catholic Majefty and the King of Great Britain, in confequence of feveral treaties renewed in the year 1793, as can never ceafe to be dear to his Catholic Majefty, and neither the conveniency nor ufefulness of which can have been leffened by a change of affairs produced by the most imperious circumstances.

This important confideration, in addition to that which proceeds from the favourable difpofition of his Catholic Majefty towards the common caufe, cannot but render her Imperial Majefty perfectly eafy with refpect to the conduct which his Catholic Majefty is likely to purfue. Her Imperial Majefty is of opinion, that it will be both candid and fincere, and it would be painful for her to fuppofe, that in any cafe whatever, his Catholic Majefty could favour measures, tending to obstruct and oppose the avowed purposes of the three allied courts.

You, Sir, will adopt the most proper means officially to communicate to the miniftry of his Catholic Majefty the honour of this difpatch, and to make it the fubject of a conference you are to request of the Prince of Peace.

The Anfwer of his Excellency the Prince of Peace to M. de Bulzow, dated Santa Cruz, March 17, 1796.

I HAVE received your Letter of the 22d of February, with a copy of the difpatch, which you, Sir, have received from your court by the laft courier from London, and must return you in anfwer, that the King, my mafter, has with much pleasure learned the friendly terms, in which, on the part of her Imperial Maj ty, he has been acquainted with the clofe alliance concluded with the courts of Vienna and London, which certainly cannot have been the refult of the circumftances which exifted in Poland, at a time when the forces of her Imperial Majefty might have been employed at a point, where all thofe monarchs who united for the prefervation of their exiftence, and the mutual fupport of their rights, rallied. At that period, the King, my mafter, gave the strongest proofs of his grief at the misfortune of a beloved coufin, and forefaw that his dominions were drawing near that univerfal corruption, which refults from madnefs without bounds.

He

He waged war against tyrants, but was unable to learn who they were, for he did not know, following the capricious dictates of their levity, who were the good Frenchmen that defended the caufe of their king. He was only able to difcern, that but a few, victims of their fenfe of honour, were his true adherents, who followed him to the grave. The defire of the King, my my mafter, was, however, fo earnest, that notwithstanding the ill-founded hopes held out by the combined powers, he profecuted the moft vigorous and moft expenfive war. There was no fovereign but the King endeavoured to prevail upon him, by the moft advantageous propofals, to join his Majefty; notwithstanding this request was addretled to the Emprefs at different times, fince the last months of 1791, and during the year 1792 by M. de Galvez, Spanish minifter in Ruffia, and M. de Zinowief, who refided in the fame quality at Madrid, but efpecially in October 1792, and December 1793, when M. de Amat, then Spanish chargé d'affaires at Petersburgh, and foon after M. de Oris, minifter of his Catholic Majefty, had long conferences on this fubject, the former with Count Ofterman, and the latter with Count Befborodko. Notwithstanding all this, there did not exift the leaft circumftance which promifed an active co-operation on the part of the Emprefs, nor does it appear that the occupation of Poland could have prevented her from co-operating in favour of the common caufe. It was under thefe circumstances that the King, my mafter, no doubt from fear and apprehenfion of finifter confequences for his kingdom, refolved to make peace, convinced, that if he were left without affiftance in the war, that fupport, which might be promifed him for the attainment of peace, would prove ftill lefs efficacious. This is the true fituation of Spain, and his Catholic Majesty obliges himself to fulfil whatever he has promifed for the benefit of the common cause, in which at the fame time he muft, for the future, decline participation in any meafure, which has no certain and confiftent object. (Signed) THE PRINCE DE LA PAZ.

Edict of his Majefly the King of Naples and the Two Sicilies, addreffed to his Subjects.

We, FERDINAND IV. by the Grace of God, &c. &c. SINCE the time when peace was interrupted in Europe, we redoubled our care to preferve the public tranquillity, and to put the ftate in a fafe condition of defence. We were, therefore, difpofed to augment our land and fea forces, and to raise a confiderable hoft of brave warriors on the frontiers of this kingdom. We afterwards put ourselves at the head of our courageous troops, firmly refolved to ufe all the means in our power, and even to

I

facrifice

facrifice our royal perfon. These effective preparations, added to lawful and becoming fteps to obtain peace, give us hopes that our dominions will forthwith enjoy tranquillity. At the fame. time we ought not to conceal, that in order to gain the propofed end of our defigns, it is abfolutely neceffary to double the faid preparations for the defence of the ftate, and the acceleration of a lafting and honourable peace, and to station a still greater force than the prefent on the frontiers of our kingdom. We addrefs ourfelves to all claffes of our beloved fubjects, and hereby do require them to contribute with all their power to the speedy augmentation of the army ftationed in cantonments. We expect, amongst others, that the brave young men who have enrolled themselves for the defence of religion, the throne, and the country, will now repair without delay to the frontiers, in order të put themselves under our immediate and perfonal command, with their brave comrades; and we hope that in confequence of this, other volunteers will, in greater number, repair to the cantonments, that we may bring together a formidable army, and be enabled to fecure the fafety and tranquillity of the state, either by a permanent peace or by brilliant victories.

Done at Naples, September 12, 1796.

Subflance of a Decree published at Lisbon.

ON the 20th of September, 1796, a decree was published at L.ifbon prohibiting the admittance of the privateers of the belligerent powers, or the prizes made by them, men of war, frigates, or any other fhip of war, except in cafes of extreme neceflity or diftrefs.

Declaration delivered to the Magiftrates of Nuremberg on the 29th of September, 1796, by the Pruffian Minifter, Baron Von Hardenberg, relative to the Propofal of its being united with the King's Dominions.

THE underfigned has the honour, in the name of the King, his moft gracious mafter, to declare to the moft worshipful the magiftrates and burghers of the city of Nuremberg, that the proof of confidence and attachment which it gave to his Majefty, by the voluntary offer of fubmitting to his fceptre, made in fo folemn and decided a manner, has been received by his Majefty with true pleafure and grateful approbation, and will be efteemed in its full value; but that his Majefty, according to the fituation of matters, cannot as yet refolve himself to accept of that voluntary subVOL. V. miflion

miffion, and to ratify the annexed agreement of fubjection and exemption, but that his Majefty will nevertheless find fufficient motives in that unequivocal mark of the confidential attachınent of the city, to make it experience, by preference, his favour and benevolence, and is already prepared to do every thing in his power to promote the welfare and fafety of the city; while his Majefty, after a farther developement of circumstances and events, will alfo never have any objection to anfwer as much as poffible to the farther wishes of the city.

The faid minifter delivered a fimilar declaration to the cities of Weiffenberg and Windheim.

Reply of Buonaparte in October, 1796, to the Entreaties of the Inhabitants of Reggio that they might be armed and fight for the French.

BE

E encouraged, brave inhabitants of Reggio, organize yourfelves, fly to arms. It is time, at length, that Italy alfo fhould be comprehended among the free and powerful nations. Do you fupply the example, and merit the gratitude of posterity.

ORDER OF COUNCIL.

At the Court at St. James's, the 12th of October, 1796, prefent, the King's Moft Excellent Majefty in Council.

WHEREAS his Majefty has received intelligence, that fome

fhips belonging to his Majesty's fubjects have been, and are detained in the port of Genoa; his Majefty, with the advice of his privy council, is thereupon pleased to order, and it is hereby ordered, that no fhips or veffels belonging to any of his Majefty's fubjects be permitted to enter or clear out for Genoa, or any port within the territory of the republic of Genoa, until further orders: and his Majesty is further pleafed to order, that a general embargo, or ftop, be made of all Genoefe fhips or veffels whatfoever, now within, or which hereafter shall come into any of the ports, harbours, or roads, within the kingdom of Great Britain, together with all perfons and effects on board the faid fhips and veffels; but that the utmost care be taken for the prefervation of all and every part of the cargoes on board any of the faid ships, fo that no damage or embezzlement whatever be fultained,

And the right honourable the lords commiffioners of his Majesty's treasury, the lords commiffioners of the Admiralty, and the lord warden of the Cinque Ports, are to give the neceffary directions herein as to them may refpectively appertain.

(Signed)

W. FAWKENER.
Manifefte