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of England, when I learnt the frequent landing from her fhips upon the coafts of Chili, in order to carry on a contraband trade, and to reconnoitre the fhore under the pretence of fishing for whales, a privilege which the pretended to have granted her by the convention of Nootka. Such were the proceedings of the British minifter to cement the ties of friendship and reciprocal confidence, which he had engaged to maintain according to our convention of the 25th May, 1793.

Since I have made peace with the French Republic, not only have I had ftronger motives for fuppofing an intention on the part of England to attack my poffeffions in America, but I have alfo received direct infults which perfuade me that the English minifter wishes to oblige me to adopt a part contrary to the interefts of humanity, torn by the bloody war which ravages Europe, for the termination of which I have not ceafed to offer my good offices, and to testify my conftant folicitude.

In fact, England has developed her intentions, has clearly evinced her project of getting poffeffion of my territories, by fending to the Antilles a confiderable force, and particularly defined against St. Domingo, as the proclamations of her general in that ifland clearly demonftrate. She has alfo made known her intentions by the eftablishments which her commercial companies have formed upon the banks of the Mifiouri, in South America, with a defign of penetrating through thofe countries to the South Sea. Finally, by the

conqueft which fhe has made of the colony of Demerary, belonging to the Dutch, and whofe advantageous pofition puts her in a condition to get poffeffion of posts ftill more important.

But there can no longer remain any doubt of the hoftile nature of thefe projects, when I confider the frequent infults to my flag, the acts of violence committed in the Mediterranean by her frigates, which have carried away foldiers coming from Genoa to Barcelona, on board Spanish fhips, to complete my armies; the piracies and vexations which the Corfican and Anglo-Corfican corfairs, protected by the English government of that ifland, exercise against the Spanish trade in the Mediterranean, and even upon the coafts of Catalonia, and the detention of different Spanish fhips, laden with Spanish property, and carried to England, under the moft frivolous pretences, and efpecially the rich cargo of the Spanish thip the Minerva, on which an embargo was laid in the most infulting manner to my flag, and the removal of which could not be obtained, though it was demonfrated before the competent tribunals that this rich cargo was Spanish property.

The attack committed upon my ambaffador, Don Simon de las Cafas, by a tribunal of London, which decreed his arreft, founded upon the demand of a very small fum, which was claimed by the undertaker of an embarkation, Finally, the Spanish territory has been violated in an intolerable manner upon the coafts of Galicia and Alicant by the English fhips the Cameleon and the Kanguroo. Moreover,CaptainGeorge Vaughan,

commodore

commodore of the Alarm, behaved in a manner equally infolent and fcandalous in the island of Trindad, where he landed with druins beating and flags flying, to attack the French, and to avenge the injuries which he pretended to have received, difturbing, by the viola tion of the rights of my fovereignty, the tranquillity of the inhabitants of the island.

By all these infults, equally deep and unparalleled, that nation has proved to the univerfe, that the recognizes no other laws than the aggrandifement of her commerce; and by her defpotifm, which has exhaufted my patience and moderation fhe has forced me, as well to fupport the honour of my crown, as to protect my people against her attacks, to declare war against the King of England, his kingdom and vaffals, and to give orders to take the neceifary measures for the defence of my domains and my subjects, and to repulfe the enemy. Signed by the King, and the Secretary of the Council of War. Done at the Palace of St. Lau

renza, O. 5, 1796. On Saturday, the 8th of October, war was proclaimed at Madrid in the ufual form.

Letter of General Beaulieu, fent to the Genoefe Government on entering the Genoefe Territory.

Head Quarters, March 30, 1796. Moft Serene Republic,

THE circumstances of the war, and, above all, the infolence of an enemy whofe unjuft 'pretenfions know no bounds, compel me, at length, to enter your territory, with a part of that force which has been entrusted to my command by his Imperial Majesty.

I am perfuaded, that after what has paffed at Genoa, your Republic will confider the Imperial troops as friends. Far be it that they should do you the leaft injury; their object is only to prevent the enemies of good order from invading your ftates, the defence of which is committed to me.

The republic may be affured that I fhall confider its territories as a friendly country, and that the ftricteft difcipline fhall be maintained. All provifions, wood, and ftraw, fhall be paid for in ready money. I require only quarters and a free patiage for my troops; and I truft the moft Serene Republic will iffue proper orders that the troops of his Imperial Majefty may meet with no obftacle, and that every occafion of dispute may be avoided.

(Signed) BARON BEAULIEU, General of Artillery.

Addrefs of the French Minifter Faypoult, at Genca,

Moft Serene Doge,

THE executive directory of the French Republic have made choice of me to refide at the Republic of Genoa in quality of minifter plenipotentiary.

On their part I affure the moft ferene government of Genoa, of the lively intereft the Republic of France takes in the profperity and fafety of the Genoefe nation.

This fentiment is merely the confequence of the natural and reciprocal efteem of two people fig nalized by their courage and en, ergy in the defence, and for the recovery of their liberty. Other powerful confiderations ought to contribute to cement for ever the good harmony that fubfifts between Genoa

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Genoa and France; the proximity alone, but also to extend them to

of the two countries, the induftrious activity of the inhabitants, the antiquity of their commercial and political connection, and, in fine, the remarkable fituation of the Genoefe territory, bordering on two nations who have long meditated to divide it between them, and France who could reap no advantage in aggrandizement at her expence.

The Genoefe nation, and its moft ferene government, may rely on a conftant fucceflion of good offices on the part of the French nation, and reciprocally the French nation has a right to expect a loyal and fincere return on the part of the moft ferene government of Genoa. They have a right to think the latter will never give protection to thofe perfidious French, who are the contempt of the whole univerfe, to thofe emigrants who cowardly fled their country to confpire against it. The executive directory feel the full extent of the duty impofed on them by the confidence of a great nation, from a free, a generous, and magnanimous people.

The executive directory are about to cruth the remains of thofe enemies who disturb the tranquillity of France, while their energetic measures have already guaranteed to Europe their immovable ftability, and announce to all that the national power confided to them, ought and will be faithful and fincere in refpect to foreign nations.

Truth and justice are the only bafis of their diplomatica. In fine, they truft they are worthy of that greatnefs and national generofity, not merely to limit their cares to the intereft of France

the happinefs of those nations which have thewn themfelves the fincere friends of the French. They may henceforward regard their equity and power, as forming the tutelary guide of their prefervation.

I have the honour to present my credentials to the moft Serene Doge, and to affure him, that in the exercife of my function, I fhall ever be animated with an ardent defire to be perfonally agreeable to the ferene government of Genoa, and to obtain the confidence and the esteem of the Genoefe nation.

Copy of the Note of the Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic, dated 22 Midor (July 10,) fourth year, to the Secretary of State.

FOR feveral days past movements have manifefted themtelves among the inhabitants of Genoa and its environs, the caufe of which could not efcape the undersigned, because it is injurious to the French Republic. It is falfely infinuated to the people, that the French with to take away their property, their arms, their churches.

Under the eyes of the moft ferene government the priests deviate from the fpirit of peace, which fhould be peculiarly characteriftic of their fpeeches and actions; they inflame the imaginations of the people by religious ceremonies, grounded on the danger which the Genoefe nation is fuppofed to run. The women collect in great numbers, and repair in crowds to the churches, praying Heaven to protect them against the banditti who are come from the mountains. Thefe movements have been di

rected

rected against the French, in fuch a manner, that last Wednesday, July 6, a band of women affailed, on the bridge of Lavignano, two Frenchmen, who were peaceably taking a fketch of the bridge.

The underfigned cannot believe that the moft ferene government is provoking by any particular meature this alarm, which has no foundation, fince the French Republic is the friend of nations that are at peace with her; fince the refpects their liberty, their commerce, and their prop.rty. Thefe truths must be demonftrated to the fenate of Genoa; and it cannot but be by fome bafe perfidy that the inftigators of the prefent ferment fpeak to the people of the jutt fate of Arquata, and divers places which the infurrection in Lombardy had changed into dens of affaffins and robbers.

As it is important to ftop in its growth an evil which might prove fatal in its confequences, the underfigned requests the moft ferene government to take the measures in its power to undeceive the people, refpecting the falfe impreffions endeavoured to be made on them. The men who miflead them are known; the Genoefe government can no longer fuffer their plots and infolent declamations against the French, without offending the French Republic, and becoming refponfible for the misfortunes which might attend upon a reciprocal irritation of minds. It ought to deprive the impoftors of the faculty of deceiving, by all the exaggerations which they do not ceafe to devife and to circulate, by informing the people of the demands which General Buonaparte and the underfigned have really ad

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Letter from the Commiffary Director
Sucy, to the Commandant of Fort La
Lauterne.

St. Pierre d'Arena, 25 Fructidor.
SIR,

THE agents of the government here have guaranteed our landing goods in the harbour of St Pierre d'Arena, nevertheless two English floops have gone out of port, and paffed before your poft,, in order to carry off our veffel, and it was not till the floops were at a diftance with their prize that you menced firing, which you did not keep up, and which you difcontinued when the English fhips were within reach. Yet you cannot be ignorant of the fact, because we fired more than thirty times before you were difpofed to oppofe this violation of neutrality.

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You will, Sir, acknowledge the receipt of the present. (Signed)

REPLY.

S. SUCY.

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bour would be guilty of a violation of neutrality, and the rather, as they had given their wo d of honour not to make reprifa s for 24 hours after their departure; and even then not within cannon fhot of the garrifon.

For these reasons I could not interdict the departure of the floop alluded to from this harbour.

As foon as I received the accounts of the violence committed on the French tartan, I gave directions for my batteries to prevent the accomplishment of the attempt began on the faid tartan, and at the fame time to maintain our neutrality.

If the effect of these directions has not answered my expectation, the miscarriage is not to be afcribed to any neglect of mine.

I have the honour to be,
With the moft fincere efteem,
fir,

Your obedient humble fervant,
BEDIANI, lieutenant-coln. L

Fort Lauterne, 12tḥ Sept. 1795.

Letter from his Excellency M. Bar. thelemy, Ambajador of the French Republic, to the Burgimafers, Chief Magiftrates, Landamman, and Council of the Twelve Swijs Can

tons.

Magnificent lords,

THE executive directory having thought proper to renew the credentials of feveral of the envoys of the French republic to foreign powers, has juft tranfmitted to me thofe by which it has been pleafed to accredit me to the very refpectable Helvetic body, in quality of ambailador of the French republic. I enclose them in this.

I flatter myself, magnificent lords, that the knowledge you already

have of my fentiments for all the members of the illuftrious Helvetic confederation, will leave you no doubt of my zeal to cultivate the confidence of which you have already given me fuch fatisfactory, proofs; and I alfo hope, magnificent lords, that you will be perfuaded beforehand, that, as the faithful interpreter of the constantly amicable difpofitions of the French government to your country, I thall not ceafe to exert myfelf zealoufy in concurring to the fuccefs of its views, in whatever may be the best calculated to strengthen the indiffoluble ties which conftitute the happiness of the two nations, and to fecure the tranquillity and profperity of the Helvetic body.

I pray God, &c. (Signed) Bafle, March 2, 1796.

BARTHELEMY.

Letter of the Executive Directory to the Highly Respectable Helvetic Body. Very dear, great friends, allies, and confederates,

THE with we entertain to keep up and cultivate a friendship and good understanding with you, induces us to appoint citizen Barthelemy to refide in Switzerland in quality of ambaffador of the French republic.

The knowledge we have of the principles and fentiments of citizen Barthelemy, authorifes us to think that the choice we have made of him to fill this important poft, cannot but be agreeable to you. It is with this perfuafion that we pray you, very dear great friends, allies, and confederates, to grant him a full confidence in whatever he may be charged to fay to you from us, and more particu

larly

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