possidetis. He is commanded to express the hope, that, not losing sight of the inevitable results of the force of states, it will be remembered, that, between great powers, there is no solid peace but that which is at the same time equal and honourable for all parties. The undersigned requests his excellency Mr Canning to accept the assurances of his highest consideration. CHAMPAGNY.

No. XVI.-Letter from Mr Canning to Count Nicolas de Romanzoff Dec. 7, 1808.

SIR,—I shall lose no time in transmitting to your excellency, by an English courier, the answer which the king my master shall command

me to return to the official note annexed to the letter of your excellency, dated the 16-2 th of last month, of which I have the honour to acknow. ledge the receipt. I seize with avidity this opportunity of renewing to your excellency the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honour to be, &c.

GEORGE CANNING.

No. XVII.-Official Note, Dec. 9.

The undersigned, his majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, has laid before the king, his master, the note transmitted to him by his excellency the Count Nicolas de Romanzoff, minister for foreign affairs of his majesty the emperor of all the Russias, dated on the 16-25th of November. The king learns with astonishment and regret the expectation which appears to have been entertained that his majesty should consent to commence negociation for a general peace by the previous abandonment of the cause of the Spanish nation, and of

a

the legitimate monarchy of Spain, in deference to an usurpation which has no parallel in the history of the world. His majesty had hoped that the participation of the emperor of Russia in the overtures made to his majesty would have afforded a security to his majesty against the proposal of a condition so unjust in its effect, and so fatal in its example.

Nor can his majesty conceive by what obligation of duty or of interest, or by what principle of Russian policy, his imperial majesty can have found himself compelled to acknowledge the rights assumed by France, to depose and imprison friendly sovereigns, and forcibly to transfer to herself the allegiance of loyal and independent nations.

If these be indeed the principles to which the emperor of Russia has inviolably attached himself; to which his imperial majesty has pledged the

character and resources of his empire; which he has united himself with France to establish by war, and to maintain in peace, deeply does his majesty lament a determination by which the sufferings of Europe must be aggravated and prolonged: but not to his majesty is to be attributed the continuance of the calamities of war, by the disappointment of all hope of such a peace as would be compatible with justice and with hoGEORGE CANNING.

nour.

No. XVIII.-Letter from Mr Canning to M. de Champagny, Dec. 7. SIR, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's letter of the 28th of last month, and of the official note therein inclosed. As soon as I shall have received the king's commands upon the subject of that note, I shall not fail to transmit to your excellency,

enable France to sow distrust and jealousy in the councils of those who are combined to resist her oppression and if, among the nations which groan under the tyranny of French alliance, or among those which maintain against France a doubtful and precarious independence, there should be any which even are balancing between the certain ruin of a prolonged inactivity and the contingent dangers of an effort to save themselves from that ruin,-to nations so situated, the delusive prospect of a peace between Great Britain and France could not fail to be peculiarly injurious. Their preparations might be relaxed, by the vain hope of returning tranquillity, or their purpose shaken, by the apprehension of being left to contend alone. That such was, in-fact, the main object of France in the proposals transmitted to his majesty from Erfurth, his majesty entertained a strong persuasion. But at a moment when results so awful from their importance, and so tremendous from their uncertainty, might be depending upon the decision of peace or war, the king felt it due to himself to ascertain, beyond the possibility of doubt, the views and intentions of his enemies.

It was difficult for his majesty to believe that the emperor of Russia had devoted himself so blindly and fatally to the violence and ambition of the power with which his imperial majesty had unfortunately become allied, as to be prepared openly to abet the usurpation of the Spanish monarchy, and to acknowledge and maintain the right assumed by France to depose and imprison friendly sovereigns, and forcibly to transfer to herself the allegiance of independent nations.

When, therefore, it was proposed to his majesty to enter into negociation for a general peace, in concert with his majesty's allies, and to treat either on the basis of the uti possidetis (heretofore the subject of so much controversy) or on any other basis consistent with justice, honour, and equality, his majesty determined to meet this seeming fairness and moderation with fairness and moderation on his majesty's part, real and sincere. The king professed his readiness to enter into such negociation in concurrence with his allies, and undertook forthwith to communicate to them the proposals which his majesty had received. But as his majesty was not connected with Spain by a formal treaty of alliance, his majesty thought it necessary to declare that the engagements which he had contracted, in the face of the world, with that nation, were considered by his majesty as no less sacred, and no less binding upon his majesty, than the most solemn treaties; and to express his majesty's just confidence that the government of Spain, acting in the name of his catholic majesty, Ferdinand the Seventh, was understood to be a party to the negociation. The reply returned by France to this proposition of his majesty casts off at once the thin disguise, which had been assumed for a momentary purpose, and displays, with less than ordinary reserve, the arrogance and injustice of that government. The universal Spanish nation is described by the degrading appellation of " the Spanish insurgents;" and the demand for the admission of the government of Spain as a party to any negociation is rejected, as inadmissible and insulting. With astonishment, as well as with grief, his majesty has recei、

ved from the emperor of Russia a reply similar in effect, although less indecorous in tone and manner. The emperor of Russia also stigmatizes, as "insurrection" the glorious efforts, of the Spanish people in behalf of their legitimate sovereign, and in defence of the independence of their country; thus giving the sanction of his imperial majesty's authority to an usurpation which has no parallel in the history of the world. The king would readily have embraced an opportunity of negociation which might have afforded any hopes or prospect of a peace compatible with justice

and with honour. His majesty deeply laments an issue by which the sufferings of Europe are aggravated and prolonged. But neither the honour of his majesty, nor the generosity of the British nation, would admit of his majesty's consenting to commence a negociation by the abandonment of a brave and loyal people, who are contending for the preservation of all that is dear to man, and whose exertions, in a cause so unquestionably just, his majesty has solemnly pledged himself to sustain.

Westminster, Dec. 15, 1808.

EDINBURGH : Printed by James Ballantyne & Co.