Sebastiani executed his mission was astonishing; he examined with a critical eye the existing situation of the places he visited; he penetrated into the arcana of the different governments; he obtained information of a military and political nature adequate to his wishes; and the sum of his researches which he transmitted to the consul was, That Egypt might, with a small disposable force, be again under the dominion of France; and that the majority of the inhabitants of the East wished to cultivate the friendship of the republic.

The conduct of the first consul had, in other instances, been flagrantly perfidious. It was expressly stipulated by the treaty, that the French troops should be withdrawn from Holland, but they still remained in possession of that country. The conduct of the French in Switzerland was still more atrocious: some of the Swiss Cantons had, from the first invasion of their country, opposed the French interest, and a dreadful slaughter of those virtuous and patriotic descendents of William Tell, had ensued. The spirit of liberty was not yet extinguished, and when, by the treaty of Amiens, Switzerland was made dependent upon France, the flames of discord broke out. The independent states were not inclined to give up their ancient form of government, and an insurrection took place at the latter end of the year, 1802, and a civil war broke out in consequence of the people refusing to submit to the new constitution; this opposition tended only to add to the miseries of the once happy and free Cantons of Switzerland, and to increase the power of France. General Ney was ordered by Bonaparte to march to suppress the insurrection, in which attempt he was too fortunate: the Swiss were compelled once more to bend their necks to a yoke more cruel than that their ancestors had borne, and the Helvetian republic, as organised by the French republic, was restored to the plenitude of its power.

;

An event so inimical to the very spirit of the late treaty, could not be passed over by the cabinet of St. James's a pointed remonstrance was presented by the English Ambassador, Lord Whitworth, to the French government, complaining of the outrage which had been lately committed; the first consul, who had smiled at the good natured credulity of Englishmen, some of whom had nauseated him with their flattery, was now less cau

tious in concealing his views and designs; the remonstrance was very cooly received, and the first consul sarcastically intimated, that Great Britain was liable to the same charge of infringing the treaty of Amiens, particularly as to the stipulations relative to Malta, which was still garrisoned with British troops; that when England, in that respect, performed her duty, then, and not until then, would the French government redress the supposed grievance of the French troops remaining in Holland. With respect to Switzerland, the answer was entirely evasive. Affairs now began to wear a very serious aspect, and at this moment the British cabinet was apprised of the whole of the nefarious transactions of Sebastiani in the East, at which a general burst of indignation was heard throughout the whole kingdom. Dispatches were immediately forwarded to Lord Whitworth, in which his lordship was instructed to demand of the first consul, an unequivocal explanation of his mysterious conduct. Talleyrand endeavored to vindicate the conduct of Sebastiani, and exculpate him, or the government which had employed him, from acting in any underhand manner: the discussion of the business was, at length, referred to the chief consul, with whom Lord Whitworth was invited to have a conference at the Thuilleries.

At the appointed time, the English Ambassador had an audience of Bonaparte. The consul touched on the various topics which had excited alarm and uneasiness at the British court; he renewed his protestations of political integrity, and the high regard he entertained for Great Britain. With respect to Malta, he was determined that it never should be wrested from France. In the course of conversation, Napoleon had more than once boasted much of the extraordinary power France had attained under the consular government; Lord Whitworth animadverted on this point, when the former abruptly interrupted him, exclaiming, "I suppose you refer to Piedmont, and Switzerland; those are mere trifles; trifles indeed, when it is considered, that France and England in strict union, might dictate the law to all the world!" He added, without any equivocation on the subject of Sebastiani's mission, "that Egypt must, sooner or later, belong to France, either by the dissolution of the Grand Seignior's dominions, or by some

arrangements for that purpose with the Ottoman

court.'

99

Unable to conceal his rage and indignation, the first consul, after menacing England, in case of a rupture, with an invasion, he closed by inveighing against a certain party in the British senate, (alluding to Mr. Windham, and others;) he declared, that while they persisted in their declamations, five hundred thousand men ought, and should be kept in readiness, to avenge her injuries; that whatever success intrigues might have in London, other powers would not be involved; and that England alone could not now maintain a struggle against France.

Such was the termination of the first interview of Lord Whitworth with Bonaparte. When advice was received of this extraordinary behaviour of the Ruler of France, a cabinet council was summoned; and it was agreed, that Talleyrand should be called upon to explain the conduct of his master, especially with respect to the threatenings he had denounced against England.

On March 11, 1805, there being a levee at the Thuilleries, Lord Whitworth attended, and was soon accosted by the first consul, who requested to know, if he had received any intelligence from England? He was then informed that Talleyrand had received a communication from Lord Hawkesbury. What, you are resolved upon war? rejoined Bonaparte. No; we are too sensible of the adyantages of peace, answered his lordship. The conversation then took the following turn:

Bonaparte. We have already made war during fifteen

years.

Lord Whitworth. That is already too much.

Bonaparte. But you wish to carry it on fifteen years longer.

Lord Whitworth. That is not his Majesty's intention. Bonaparte then addressed himself to Count Marcou, and the Chavalier D'Azara, saying, "The English wish for war; but if they are the first to draw the sword, I will be the last to sheath it."

The conversation with the English Ambassador was now renewed.

Bonaparte. "For what are your armaments? Against whom are these measures of precaution? I have not a single ship of the line in the ports of France; but if you

wish to arm, I will arm also. It is proper to respect treaties; woe to those who do not respect them; they will become responsible to all Europe." With these words, which the consul kept muttering with his lips, this curious political Tete a tete closed; and, with marked indignation, Bonaparte left the English Ambassador, "without bow, or nod, or scrape."

Lord Whitworth very appropriately remonstrated with M. Talleyrand, on the indecorous manner in which he had been treated at the Thuilleries. A conversation afterward took place between Lord Whitworth and Talleyrand, in which the latter insisted that if the war should be renewed, those countries most dependent upon, and connected with Great Britain, would essentially suffer. Lord Whitworth replied, that any hostile attack upon neutral powers, would only tend to render the conduct of France detested throughout Europe.

The court of St. James's, yet anxious to prevent the renewal of hostilities, ordered Lord Whitworth to make some conciliatory proposals to meet, as much as possible, the views of France, without acting derogatory to the power and dignity of the British empire. It was proposed, that Malta should ever remain in the hands of the English, a proper indemnity to the ci-devant knights being granted. Holland and Switzerland to be evacuated by the French forces. The island of Elba to be confirmed to France; and the new King of Etruria to be duly acknowledged; as also the republics of Italy and Ligure, by his Britannic Majesty, provided any arrangement was made in favor of the King of Sar

dinia.

Every thing in this proposal was agreeable to the first consul, Malta excepted; that alone caused the negociation to be suspended; yet, if possible, to prevent the renewal of hostilities, Lord Whitworth received instruc tions, "that by way of saving the point of honor to France, the civil government of the island of Malta should be given to the order of St. John, the Maltese enjoying therein the privileges which were reserved to them by the treaty of Amiens; and that the fortifications of the island should be garrisoned in perpetuity by the troops of his Britannic Majesty. But if neither of the two propositions already detailed were agreed to, on the VOL. II.-21.

part of France, that then his lordship might propose the occupation of Malta for a term of not less than ten years, provided that his Sicilian Majesty could, for a valuable consideration, be induced to cede Lampedosa to England. At the end of that period, Malta was to be surrendered to the inhabitants, and declared an independent state; and an arrangement was to be made in the interim, for the establishment of the order of St. John, in some other part of Europe."

After many days past in a state of suspence, Lord Whitworth received letters of recal; notwithstanding which, Talleyrand continued to allure his lordship by the idea of a contre projet, which the former promised to deliver to him; but not having received it, Lord Whitworth left Paris, and arrived in London on May 18, 1803.

The following was the projet drawn up by the British cabinet, and transmitted to Talleyrand: †

"1. The French government shall engage to make no opposition to the cession of the island of Lampedosa to his Majesty the King of the Two Sicilies.

"2. In consequence of the present state of the island of Lampedosa, his Majesty shall remain in possession of the island of Malta, until such arrangements shall be made by him as may enable his Majesty to occupy Lampedosa as a naval station; after which period the island of Malta shall be given up to the inhabitants, and acknowledged as an independent state.

"3. The territories of the Batavian republic shall be evacuated by the French forces within one' month after the conclusion of a convention founded on principles of this projet.

"4. The King of Etruria, and the Italian and Ligurean republics, shall be acknowledged by his Majesty.

5. Switzerland shall be evacuated by the French forces.

"6. A suitable territorial provision shall be assigned to the King of Sardinia in Italy.

"Secret Article. His Majesty shall not be required by the French government to evacuate the island of Malta, until after the expiration of ten years.

+ Collection of State Papers, 1803.