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can molest the Batavian camp in any manner.

XI. In case of any doubts or difficulties arising concerning the true meaning of the present agreement, they shall be explained in the most advantageous manner for carrying into effect the salutary motives which have induced their excellencies and the commissarygeneral of the Batavian republic to enter into it; and more especially for ensuring to the commissary-general, the governor, and general in chief, and the officers civil and military, the greatest security, liberty, and independence; the whole in order to cement more strongly the good intelligence so happily established between their excellencies and the commissarygeneral of the Batavian republic. (Signed)

J. DEKKER,
Schout by Nagt.
In dienst der Bataafsche Repub.
JOHN PRINGLE,
Com.-Gen.

Ratified 3d Jan. 1803.
(Signed)

F. DUNDAS,
Lieutenant-Gen.
J. A. MIST,
Com.-Gen.
(Signed) J. HAMILTON, Col.
Dep. Quar.-Mast.-Gen.
P. G. HENRY, Col. Com. les
Troupes Bataves au Cap.
Ratified.

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order of St. John of Jerusalem commissioned me to execute at Malta.

To this explanation your excellency answered that no orders had been received for the evacuation of the island by the English garrison, and you gave me to understand that the grand master would do well not to take up his residence there for some time. After reflecting on the answer of your excellency, I have thought that it is not only unsatisfactory, but that it required some further explanation.

As the answer of your excellency seemed to involve a refusal to give up the island of Malta to the order of St. John of Jerusalem, conformably to the tenth article of the treaty of Amiens, and as such a violation of that treaty of peace might be attended with the most important consequences -consequences fatal indeed to the repose of Europe-I cannot rest contented with the verbal answer which your excellency has thought proper to give me; and I should be deficient in confidence to the grand master, as well as in the dignity and duty suited to the character with which he has invested me, if I did not invite you, minister plenipotentiary, clearly to explain, in distinct form, the motives of so unexpected a refusal.

I have therefore the honour to remind your excellency, that, conformably to the fourth paragraph of the tenth article of the treaty of Amiens, the forces of his Britan nic majesty were to evacuate the island and its dependencies within the space of three months after the ratifications were exchanged, or earlier, if possible.

That period has long since expired. The treaty adds, that the island shall be given up to the

order

order in its present state, provided Answer of the English Minister to

that the grand master or his commissaries, fully authorised according to the statutes of the order, should be in the said island to take possession of it, and the troops to be furnished by his Sicilian majesty should have arrived.

These troops have long since arrived; there remained only one condition to be fulfilled, which was the presence of the grand master, or his commissaries, to take possession. I have the honour to observe to your excellency that by my arrival in the island that condition is fulfilled. His august eminence the grand master has been pleased to appoint me his ambassador and minister plenipotentiary extraordinary, in his name to treat of, follow up, finish, accomplish, and concert with the English and French ministers plenipotentiary, and with the existing English government of the island, all the articles relative to the restorution of religion at Malta, and particularly whatever relates to the return of the order to the island, and the evacuation of the place, &c. Such are the terms of the full powers with which I am invested, and of which I have the honour to subjoin a copy for the perusal of your excellency.

Agreeably to the tenor of these full powers, and the fulfilment of the different conditions stipulated by the treaty of Amiens, for the surrender of the island of Malta to the order of St. John of Jerusalem, I formally demand of your excellency the execution of the fourth paragraph of the tenth article of the said treaty; and I call upon you to give me, on this point, a categorical answer.

I request you to accept the assurance of my high consideration. (Signed) Busy.

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M. Busy.

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I have just received the letter which your excellency did me the honour of writing to me yesterday; in which letter your excellency expresses how far you are from being satisfied with the verbal communication respecting the object of your mission. Your excellency likewise calls upon me to set down, in writing, the reasons which induce me to refuse surrendering the government of those islands, on the arrival of his eminence the grand master of the order of St. John of Jerusalem.

In answer, I beg leave to observe, that, as some of the powers invited by the tenth article of the treaty of Amiens, to guarantee the independence of Malta, have not as yet acceded to that measure, I do not hold myself authorised to give up the dominion of his Britannic majesty over these islands, until I shall have received from my court special instructions to that effect.

Your excellency observes, that I am anxious to dissuade the grand master from coming to reside here: your excellency may recollect my conversation on that subject was to the following purpost:

On your excellency having observed that the grand master expected the immediate possession of the government palace in Fort Valette, I replied, that, under the present circumstances, I could not comply with the wishes of his eminence; for it is absolutely necessary that his excellency general Villette and myself continue to occupy that palace, for the dispatch of the official business be

longing

longing to our respective depart- against your majesty's sacred person and government.

ments.

I am moreover desirous to recall to your excellency's recollection, that I at the same time offered the palace of the Boschetta for the residence of the grand master, a situation which, in every respect, I thought suitable to his eminence, until the time arrived for his assuming the direction of government.

But as the palace of the Boschetta is not at present furnished, I took the liberty of suggesting that it might be more convenient for his eminence to remain some time in Sicily, the more so, as his residing there would keep his eminence only a day's journey distant from this island.

For the rest, his eminence may be assured that as soon as I shall deem myself authorised to give up the government, I shall give his eminence immediate information of it.

We beg leave to express to your majesty our horror and detestation of so atrocious and unnatural a design to destroy our free and happy constitution, by an attempt against your majesty's most sacred life; a life endeared to us by your majesty's uniform and constant endeavours to preserve that constitution inviolate, and by the manifold blessings derived to all your people from your majesty's mild and beneficent reign; an attempt which furnishes a fresh proof of those flagitious principles which are alike subversive of all the duties of private life, of legitimate authority, of public order, and of civil liberty.

Whilst we trust that the punishment which has been inflicted upon the conspirators will have the effect of preventing traitorous machinations in future, we acknowledge, with the utmost thankfulness and humility, the interposition of Al

I have the honour to be, with mighty God, who, in detecting the highest consideration,

Sir, Your excellency's most obedient,

Very humble servant, (Signed) ALEX. J. BALL.

Address of the House of Lords, on the Discovery of the treasonable Plot of Colonel Despard and his Accomplices.

Most Gracious Sovereign, We, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the lords spiritual and temporal in parliament assembled, humbly beg leave to approach your majesty with our warmest congratulations upon the discovery and failure of a wicked and treasonable conspiracy formed

and defeating these wicked designs, has afforded your majesty a fresh instance of that all-powerful protection upon which your majesty has invariably placed your reliance.

Your majesty may be assured that it is our fixed resolution, as it is our sacred duty, to defend and protect your majesty's, person, to second your majesty's uniform endeavours to maintain and preserve that excellent constitution under which this kingdom has so long flourished, and to transmit it unimpaired to our posterity.

His Majesty's most gracious Answer.

My Lords,

I receive, with peculiar satisfac

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tion, this dutiful and loyal address, in addition to the many signal proofs which you have given me of your cordial attachment to my person and government.

The strong and just sentiments of hatred and indignation which you have expressed against this conspiracy, will, I doubt not, produce the most salutary effects, in preventing the renewal of such desperate and wicked attempts against our common interests.

The warm, steady, and unshaken loyalty of my people will, I trust, through the continuation of the Divine protection hitherto vouchsafed to me, render effectual my endeavours to maintain and to transmit to the latest posterity, that freedom, security, and happiness, which experience has shown us to be inseparably connected with the preservation of our established constitution.

Convention between the Commanders of the French and Hanoverian Armics.

The king of England having refused to ratify the convention of Suhlingen, the French general found himself under the necessity of declaring that convention null and void. In consequence of this, lieutenant-general Mortier, commander in chief of the French army, and his excellency count de Walmoden, commander in chief of the Hanoverians, have agreed on the following capitulation, which shall be put into immediate execution without being submitted to the two governments.

Art. I. The Hanoverian army shall give up their arms; they shall, with the artillery, be put into the hands of the French army.

II. All the horses belonging to the Hanoverian cavalry and artil. lery shall be given up to the French army by one of the ministers of state; for this purpose, there shall be nominated, by the general in chief, a commission, whose business it shall be to ascer tain their present situation and description.

III. The Hanoverian army shall be dissolved. The troops shall repass the Elbe, and return to their homes. They shall previously engage, on their parole, not to carry arms against France, or her allies, unless exchanged for an equal number of French soldiers, taken by the English in the course of the present war.

IV. The Hanoverian generals and officers shall retire, on their parole, to whatever place they choose to take up their residence, provided they do not leave the continent; they shall be permitted to keep their swords, and take with them their horses, baggage, and effects.

V. There shall be sent, with the least possible delay, to the French commander in chief, a muster-roll of the Hanoverian army.

VI. The Hanoverian soldiers sent home shall not be allowed to wear their uniforms.

VII. The Hanoverian troops shall be allowed subsistence till they return to their homes. The officers shall also be allowed forage for their horses.

VIII. The 16th and 17th ar ticles of the convention of Suhlingen shall be applicable to the Hanoverian army.

IX. The French troops shall immediately occupy that part of the electorate of Hanover which is situated in the district of Lau enburg.

Exchanged

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CITY ADDRESS. June 9.

To the King's most excellent Majesty.

The humble Address of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled.

May it please your Majesty, We, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London in common council assembled, beg leave to approach the throne, at this important crisis, with our renewed sentiments of fidelity and allegiance to your majesty's person, crown, and government.

We are fully persuaded of the necessity for the decisive and dignified measures adopted by your majesty, by the recal of your majesty's ambassador from France, and the vigorous posture of defence of the united kingdom to repel the designs of that government, whose inordinate and insatiable views of restless ambition are manifestly directed to overthrow the glorious constitution of

these realms, and give a mortal stab to our existence as a free and independent nation. The justice of your majesty's cause, and the moderation of your claims, must be felt and acknowledged by every surrounding power; and we are convinced that the brave and hap py people of this land, conscious of the purity of their freedom, and the inestimable privileges they enjoy under your majesty's mild and paternal rule, will, with one hand and heart, resolve to defend and maintain them. Your majesty's faithful citizens of London feel a grateful pride in this assurance of kindred loyalty throughout your majesty's dominions, and deeply sensible of the eminent by this opportunity of testifying distinction they are invested with, their fidelity and attachment to their beloved sovereign. It is their earnest prayer that every blessing may attend and prosper your majesty's zeal and exertions for the welfare of your people; and should substantial peace not be attainable but by the decision of the sword, may the calamities of a war not to be averted be lost in the success and glory of its achievements.

are

Your majesty's faithful citizens cannot, however, refrain from expressing their satisfaction at the disposition manifested by your majesty, of availing yourself of any favourable circumstance of terminating the subsisting differences, whenever it can be done consistently with the honour and dignity of your majesty's crown, and the security and welfare of the British empire.

Signed, by order of court,
HENRY WOODTHORPE.

To which his majesty was
pleased

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