The National Register.
London, England, 1812-07-19 00:00:00

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as.:siassalsmaaa
he into gists of his kingdom. She used the name oldie Prince of the
Asturias, and the tither was driven from his throne by the name of
the son. The enemies of France and the part sans of England tcok
aassessian of the Soy reign authority. His Majesty, called upon by
Charles IV. sent troops unto Spain, and war was counnenoed in the
By otiv of the stipulations of Tilsit, Russia was to evacuate Walla-
t and Moldavia. This evacuation was de:erred—new revolutions,
winch had taken place at Constantinople, had several t mes lied
in
aloud the walls of the Seraalia. Thus scarcely a year had elapsed
!tom the peace of Tilsit—the affairs of Copenhagen, ot Constantinople,
and the Ordars in Council, publishad !VOL in Eagland, had placed
Europe in so unlooked for a situation, that the two Sovereigns thought
proper to come to an understanding, and the interview at Erfurth took
place. With the same designs, and inspired by the same spirit which
had directed their proceedings at Tilsit, they agreed as to what exacted
from them such considerable changes. The Emperor consented to
withdraw his Ur:rips train Russia, and at the same time consented that
Russia should not only r.ot evaewee Wallachia and Moldavia, but that
she should unite these provinces to her empire.
The two Sovereigns, inspired with one and the same desire of re•
establishing a maritime peace, and then as much disposed as at '1 ilsit
to def. nd those principles far the defence of which they had entered
into an alliance, resolved to make a solenui apphcation to Er gland.
'You, Count, came, in consequence, to Pans, and a correspondence
ensued between yon and the British Government. But the cabinet of
la actor, which had perceived that war was about to be re. kindled on
the Continent, rejected all overtures towards negotiation. Sweden
had refused to shut her ports against England ; and Russia, in confor-
mity with the stipulations of Tilsit, had declared war against her.
The result to her was the loss of Finland, which was united to the
- Russian empire; and at the same time the Russian armies °cen-
t led the fortresses on the Danube, and made war with ellect upon the
Turks.
Nevertheless, the system of England was triumphant. Her Orders
in Council threatened to produce the most important results, and the
tribute which wal• to furnish the means of supporting the perpetual
war which she had declared, was perceptible upon the seas. Holland
and the Hanseatic Towns. continued to trade with her, theit commerce
frustrated the salutary anddecisive regulations of the Decrees ot Berlin
and Milan, which alone Wm calculated dr:eta:llly to resist the princi-
ples of the British Orders in Council. The execution ot these Decrees
could not be assure.', but by the daily exorcist ot a firm and vigilant ad-
ministration. Unexposed to the influence of the enemy, Holland and
the Hanseatic Towns, it was necessary should be united. But while
the sentiments dearest to the heart of his Majesty yielded to the jute-
' rests of his people and. that of the Continent, great changes were
taking -place. Russia abandoned the principle to whlch she had
pledged herself at Tilsit, viz. to make coinnton cause with France,
which she had proclaimed in her Declaration of War against England,
arul which had dictated the Decrees of Berlin and Milan. They were
ended by the Ukase which opened the ports of Russia to all i:rgiish
ships laden with colonial produce, English propel ty, providad that
they were under a foreign flag. This unexpected blow annuhed the
'Treaty of Tilsit, and those important transactions which had put at;
end to the struggle between the two greatest Empties of the world,
and which had afforded to Europe a probability of obtaining a mari-
time peace. Approaching commotions and biota-1y wars vcre of
course to be immediately expected.
(To be concluded in our next.)

OVERTURES FOR PEACE.

COPY OP A LETTETt AD-BRESiI•D BY Tilt,. MINI3TER UP YOBBIGN

At FA.ItS, TO 1.01t1) CASILEREAGOI SECRL'i ILY OF tiT,Va k. rep,

- - ,
VOREIGN AkrAras TO HIS BUITANNIC mAstsrv.
Path, April 17, IBlt2.
Str.—llis Majesty, constantly actuated by sentiments friendly to
moderation and peace, is pleased again to make a solemn and sincere
attempt to put un end to the miseries of war. The awful circumstances
in which the world is at present placed, have induced a resolution in the
mind of his Majesty, the result a which has been, to aiolunise me to
explain to you, Sir, his views and intentions. Many changes have
taken place in Europe for the last ten years, which have beet, the ne-
cessary con,equence (Arlie war between France and England, and many
more chantey will be effected by tlie same cause. The particular cha-
racter which the war has assumed, may add to the extent and duration
of these results. Exclusive and arbitrary principles cannot be com-
bated but by an opposition with.dit measure or end; and the s'etem of
preservation and resistance should have the same character of univer-
sality, perseverance, and vigour. The peace of Amiens, if it had been
Observed, would have prevented much confusion. I heartily wish that
the exi lerience of the past may not be lost for the future•
His Majesty has often stopped when the most certain triumphs lay
before him, and turned found to invoke peace. In 1805, secure as he
was by the advantages of his silualiott, alit! spite of the confidence which
he might reasonably feel in anticipations whicla Furtune wag RIAQut to

JULY lg.

realize, he made proposals to his Britannic Alajest., which were reject.
ed, on the ground that Russia should be consulted. In 1801 new pro-
posals were made in concert with Itweris. England alleged the ne-
cessity of an lute, vet-Mon, which could be no more than the result of
the ne,:ociation itself. In 1810. his I\litesty having c early &seemed
that the British Orders in Council of 1807, rendered the conduit of the
weir ineompatib!c with the independence of Holland, caused indirett
overture,. to be made towards procuring the return of peace. They
were fruitless, mid the consequence was, that view Provinces were united
to the empire. In the present time are to be fount' united all the cif.
cumstances of the various periods at which his Majesty manilested the
pacific st ntimcnts which he now orders me again to declare that he i;
actuated by. The calamities under which Spam, atai the vast regioni
of Spanish America suffer, should natural:y excite the intere,t ut
all nations, and inspire them with an equal anxiety fur their ter.

minatien.
I will express myself, Sir, in a manner which your Excellency will
And conform:lWe to the sincerity of the step which I am authorised to
take.; and nothing will better evince the sincer:ty and sublimity of it
than the precise terms of the language which I have been directed to
use. What views and motives should induce me to envelope myself in
formalities suitable to weakness, which alone can flail its interest in de.
cell ? The affairs of the Peninsula, and the Two Sic;lies, are the points
of difference which uppers least to admit of being adjusted. lam au-
thorised to propose to you an arrangement of them on the following
basis :—The integrity of Spain shall be guaranteed. France shall re-
nounee all idea of exteeding her dominions beyond the Pyreonees.
Time present Dynasty shall be declared independent, and Spain shall be
governed by a National Constitution of her Comes. The independence
and integrity of Portugal shall be also guaranteed, and the Hou
Brogan:of shall have the Sovereign authority. be
The kingdom of Naples shall remain in possession of the present
Monarch, and the kingdom of Sicily shall be guaranteed to the present
Family of Sicily. As a consequence of these stipulations, Spain, Poo
tugal, and Sicily shall be evacuated by the French and Eugli,b land
aced naval forces. With respect to the other objects of discussion, they
may he negociated upon this basis, that each Power shall retain that of
which the other could not deprive it by war.
Such are, Sir, the grounds of conciliation offered by his Majesty to
I his Royal Highness the Prince Regent. His Majesty the &sperm and
i King, in taking this step, does not look either to the advantages r losow
i which this empire may derive from the n ar, if it should be prolonged;
he is inttnenced simply by the considerations of the interests of human.
I ity, and the peace of his people ; and if-this fourth attempt should not
be ntten'led with success, like those which have preceded it, France
11 will at least have the coesolation of thinlsieg, that whatever blood may
I! yet flow, will be lastly-imputable to England alone.
ilI have the Inthotir to be, . &c.
(Signed) The Duke of BASSANO.

COPY Mr TUE ANSWEtt OW !Alan CASTI.III.}:AOiIf SlCT.tritY
b: ATE FOR 1.0111'1(1N vvAins or. ITIS ISnrriiwsic MAJMiVt TO
Tnk t.r.TrlX:or 111 E MINISTLP. I un FOLMION RELATIONS, or Int
1. ; Ti OW APUIT., 1312.

Foreign 007'e, ApiAM 18
St re- Your .E.;eellerte? 's letter of the lith inst. has Leen received,
and NW before the Princv. Regent.
His 11oyal Highness feels it due to Iris own honour, before he
authorise me to enter into es:it:mations on the overture which your Ex-
cellency has transmitted, to a:certain the. precise meaning attached by
the Government of France to the following passage in your-Excelleneye
leter---" La. Dynastic aril:elle strait declarce indcpendente, et
l'Espagne mg? par tine Conqittaiun National c.e/ Cortes."
If, as his Royal Highness apprehends, the meaning of this Pre-
position is, that the Royal authority of Spain, and the Corerronent
thereof, shall be recoLorzed as reidirrg in the brother of the Ruler 01
France, and of n Cortes forrued under los authority, and not as resiii
ing in the legitimate Sovereign FEr.DINAND it
and his heir,,
and tite General and Extr Loritinary Cones, now representing the Sin.
nisi' nation—l am iiireered, frankly and esplicitly to dc.l4lc to vita
F:xcelleney, that obligations of good faith preclude his Itoyul 110-
,ness from eau:it:titling a proposition for peace founded upon such I
basis.
If, however, the expressions referred to apply to the exiEtiag Go.'
ail
verutnent of Spain, acting in the name of Ferdinand VII upon
sofa:tee from sour Excellency to that effect, his Itoya
be prepared fully to explain himself open the basis that has been trat-ii
witted for Irk /lila) Highness's consideration; it being his l"'ta
Highness's euttest desire, in concert %%Hi his Allies, to contribute
.e
the repose of Europe, by bringing about a solid and permanent pew-it,
4.. which way .be at once honourable, nut only for Great Whim 'I"