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nearly correfponding with that principle of equality on which alone his Majesty can confent to treat.

Even those articles are in many important points, and particularly in what relates to the actual ftations of his Majesty's fquadrons, very far fhort of what his Majefty might justly demand from a reference to the general principle above ftated, from analogy to the conditions of the continental armiftice, or from the relative fituation of naval force; and a confidence is repofed in the good faith of his enemies, which, although it can never be claimed in transactions between belligerent powers, his Majefty is, nevertheless, willing to hope he fhall not find to have been misplaced on the prefent occafion.

If M. Otto is empowered to accede to thefe ftipulations, a proper perfon will immediately be authorized to fign them on his Majefty's part; if not, he is requefted to tranfmit them, without delay, to his government.

(Signed)

Downing Street, Sept. 7, 1800.

(No. 25.)

COUNTER-PROJET.

GRENVILLE,

IT having been agreed that negotiations for a general peace fhall be immediately set on foot between the Emperor of Germany, his Britannic Majefty, and the French republic, and an armistice having already been concluded between the forces of his Imperial Majefty and those of the French republic, it is agreed that an armistice fhall also take place between the forces of his Britannic Majefty and thofe of the French republic, on the terms and in the manner following: that is to fay

Art. I. All hoftilities, both by fea and land, between the forces of the two contracting parties, fhall be fufpended, and fhall not be renewed until after fourteen days notice given of the termination of the armistice. This notice, in fo far as relates to the parts of Europe north of Cape St. Vincent, must be given by one of the two governments to the other, and is to be reckoned from the day in which the fame fhall be received by the government to whom it is given. In the Mediterranean or other parts of the world, the notice must be given by the refpective commanding officers. But in cafe of the renewal of hoftilities between Auftria and France, the armistice between Great Britain and France is likewife to be confidered as terminated, so foon as fuch renewal of hoftilities fhall be known to the officer commanding the British forces; except only in fo far as relates

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to prizes of merchant-veffels, which fhall be regulated by the third article of this convention.

II. Orders fhall immediately be fent by the two governments to their officers in the different parts of the world, to conform themselves to this agreement; fea-paffes fhall be given to the fhips which are to carry thefe orders; and his Britannic Majesty's officers to be fent for that purpose through France, shall be furnished with the neceffary paffports and facilities to expedite their journey.

III. All prizes made in any part of the world during the continuance and operation of the armistice, by any officers having actually received due notice of this agreement, fhall be restored; and generally, whether fuch notice fhall have been received or not, all prizes made in the Channel, or in the North Seas, after twelve days (to be reckoned from the exchange of the ratifications of this convention), fhall be restored; and the fame periods fhall be allowed in this refpect for the other parts of the world, as were ftipulated by the 22d article of the preliminaries of the laft peace.

IV. Malta, and the maritime towns and ports of Egypt, fhall be placed on the fame footing as thofe places which, though comprised within the demarkation of the French army in Germany, are occupied by the Austrian troops; confequently, nothing shall be admitted by sea which can give additional means of defence; and provisions only for fourteen days at a time, in proportion to the confumption, as it fhall be afcertained by commiffaries to be named for the purpose, who shall have power to establish the neceffary regulations for giving effect to this ftipulation, conformably to the principles of the 4th article of the convention concluded between the Auftrian and French generals in Germany.

V. The blockade of Breft, Toulon, and any other of the ports of France by his Majefty's fleets, fhall be discontinued; and all British fhips fhall be inftructed not to interrupt or obstruct the trade or navigation of any ships failing to or from the coasts of France, except in the article of naval or military stores, which are not to be brought thither by fea during the prefent ar miftice. None of the fhips of war now stationed in the faid ports refpectively fhall, before the renewal of hostilities, be removed to any other station.

VI. The allies of the two parties fhall feverally be at liberty to accede to this armiftice, if they so think fit; provided that they also engage to obferve a like armiftice, on conditions fimilar to those here specified, towards fuch of the allies on the other fide as fhall alfo accede to it.

The periods or terms to be fixed for the commencement of the armistice in the different quarters of the world as with refpect

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to each of the faid allies, are to be regulated in conformity to the ftipulations contained in the 3d article of this convention as between Great Britain and France; and the faid periods or terms are to be reckoned from the day on which the acceffion of fuch power to the armistice hall have been duly notified by fuch power to the party with whom it is at war. Such notification, duly authenticated by the government on whofe part it is made, may either be tranfmitted directly by couriers or flags of truce, or through the channel of the two contracting parties, to each other reciprocally. The naval ports and arfenals of the allies of France are, during fuch armiftice, to be placed on the fame footing with thofe of France; and the notices which are to precede the renewal of hoftilities, as well as all other matters relating to fuch armistice, are to be regulated according to the terms of this convention.

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VII. This convention fhall be ratified, and the ratifications fhall be exchanged within the term of ten days, or sooner, if the fame be practicable.

Milord,

(No. 26.)

Hereford Street, 21 Fruct. An 8 (8 Sept. 1800).

J'AI reçu hier à onze heures du foir la note et le contre-projet que votre Excellence m'a fait l'honneur de m'adreffer. Les principes renfermés dans ces deux pièces font à plufieurs egards fi peu analogues aux propofitions que j'ai été chargé de faire, et qui avaient pour objet de compenfer par un armistice Britannique les inconvéniens qui pourraient réfulter pour la France de la prolongation eventuelle de l'armiftice Allemand, que je ne puis pren-" dre fur moi de les admettre avant d'avoir reçu des inftructions ultérieures. Je me fuis donc conformé aux intentions de votre Excellence en envoyant ces deux pièces à mon gouvernement le plus promptement poffible."

J'ai l'honneur d'être, avec la confidération la plus respectueufe,

Milord,

De votre Excellence

Le très-humble et très-obeiffant ferviteur,

(Signé)

Отто.

(No.

(No. 26.) Tranflation.

My Lord,

Hereford Street, 2x Fru. 8 (Sept. 8, 1800). I RECEIVED yesterday, at eleven o'clock at night, the note and the counter-projet which your Excellency did me the honour to addrefs to me. The principles contained in thefe two pieces arc, in feveral refpects, fo little analogous to the propo fals which I have been directed to make, and the object of which was to compenfate by a British armiftice the inconveniences which might refult to France from the eventual prolongation of the German armistice, that I cannot take upon myself to admit them without previously receiving farther inftructions. I have, therefore, complied with your Excellency's intentions, by tranfmitting to my government thofe two pieces with as little delay as poffible.

I have the honour to be,

With the maft refpectful confideration, &c.

(Signed)

OTTO.

1

Milord,

(No. 27.)

Hereford Street, le 29 Fructidor, An &.

(16 Sept. 1800).

J'AI l'honneur d'adreffer à votre Excellence la réponse que mon gouvernement m'a chargé de faire à la note que vous m'avez fait l'honneur d'adreffer.

Le Premier Conful, efpérant qu'il eft encore poffible de rapprocher les intérêts des deux gouvernemens et leur voeux pour une paix prompte et folide, et voulant donner de fon côté une nouvelle preuve de fes difpofitions pacifiques, a expédié l'ordre de retarder encore pour quelques jours l'attaque que l'armée Française avait été chargé de faire fur toute la ligne.

Je donnerai verbalement foit à votre Excellence elle même foit à la perfonne qu'elle jugera à-propos de nommer pour cet effet, des explications fatisfaifantes fur les principales objections renfermées dans votre note de 7 de ce mois; et je me flatte qu'elles produiront le réfultat que votre Excellence a eu en vue en me faifant connoître les intentions de fa Majesté. La haute importance de ces communications m'autorife à vous fuppléer de les faciliter autant qu'il dépendra de vous.

J'ai l'honneur d'être avec la plus refpectueufe confidération,

Milord,

De votre Excellence

Le très-humble et très-obéiffant ferviteur,

(Signé)

Отто.
(No.

(No. 27.)

Tranflation.

My Lord,

Hereford Street, Sept. 16, 1800 (29 Fruc. 8).

I HAVE the honour to addrefs to your Excellency the answer which my government has directed me to make to the note which you did me the honour to addrefs to me.

The First Conful, hoping that it is ftill poffible to approximate the interests of the two governments, and their wishes for a fpeedy and folid peace, and being willing to give, on his part, a fresh proof of his pacific difpofitions, has difpatched orders for deferring, for fome days longer, the attack which the French army had been directed to make upon the whole line.

I fhall give verbally, either to your Excellency yourself, or to fuch perfon as you thall judge proper to appoint for that purpofe, fatisfactory explanations refpecting the principal objections contained in your note of the 7th of this month; and I flatter myfelf that they will produce the effect which your Excellency had in view, by making known to me the intentions of his Majefty. The high importance of thofe communications authorizes me to entreat that you would give them every facility in your power.

I have the honour to be, with the most respectful confideration,

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LE fouffigné a tranfmis à fon gouvernement la note de fon Excellence Milord Grenville, en date du 7 Septembre. Le contreprojet qui y était joint, ayant été placé fous les yeux du Premier Conful, il a reconnû que cet armiftice, tel qu'il était propofé, ne préfentait aucun avantage pour la république Françaife, et dèslors ne pouvait pas la compenfer des inconveniens graves qu'entrainerait pour elle la continuation de l'armistice continentale; d'où il réfulte que le contre-projet ne pourrait être admis qu'autant qu'il ferait fimplement queftion de préluder à un arrangement particulier entre la France et l'Angleterre par une trève également particulière aux deux états; mais l'effet de la trève maritime propofée devant être de fervir à la république Française

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