The National Register.
London, England, 1809-02-05 00:00:00

ERFURTH COERESPONDENCE.

Mr. Secretary CANNING rose, .t;4 move an Address to his Ma-
jesty on the subject the Erfurt h propositions, relative to
the opening of a Negociation for Peace. Whatever doubts then:
might be as to the propriet:, i4f the steps taken by the Govermnem
in conducting this transaction, 110 one, he was convinced would
rise and say that if it had been other,vise conducted the result
would be negociat ion or peace. Ile thought it the duty of Govern-
ment to ascertain, beyond the possibility of a doubt, v.- hat were
the real intentions of the enemy. He and his *Colleagues pro-
posed to themselves two objects : first, to obtain a result, which
would make the intentions of the enemy manifest to all the
world ; and secondly, to bring the matter speedily to a point,
and meet the propositions in a way that could not lead to many
communications; but that, if possible, the first should be (loci-
tive. It was thought that the evacuation of Spain by the Flinch
troops, and tile restoration of the Spauish Royal Family, ought
to be made conditions of entering upon a Negociation—and he
agreed with those who thought so, in point of moral feeling.—
Yet in the situation in which he and his Colleagues stood, be
thought that they were bound _to rest upon other principles,
had it did. not occur to him that tfiey had any political right to
demand this atonement, and that there was no precedent in his-'
tory to authorize their to break off upon these grounds, and '
though he confessed, that in doing so, they would stand upon a
high and splendid fuundat on, yet he did not think that any risk
ought to he ran Sacrifscing the real interests of the country.
It was the duty of his Majesty's Government to ascertain the
real intentions of France—not only 'so as to satisfy thetmelves,
but to satisfy all mankind that _there was no „chance of a favuut-.
aide result. ' But the &maul he- and his Colleagues were
bound to make wat,lliat Spain•should be admitted a party to
the Negociation, and allowed to state its own demands, by
which a fUll
.opportunity would be afforded of claiming for
her that •to . which she was Justly entitled. Noiv, it was
not asked that Prince Ferdinand should be restored, but
that the Government-de facto, should be admitted as a pat ty.
It was not, only as a phta,e,but in the foil meaning that the lan
guage and the hope conveyed thai his Majesty i servants had, in
the Ueclarationof their Sovereign, communicated to the Court of,
St. Petersburgh their confidence' the example of Spain, in'
consequence of the unjustifiable aggression agttirisf its indepen-
de.ice, would arouse Rusgia froth its unaccountable* and dans
gerous subserviency to'the kheini.i •of the French Ruler.' 1
bad been stated that the introduction of'Spain as a prOimi•
• • necessarily produlcett. the &olive Of the B
hi di, aler nf Fr
itan&

had been staters tow. Li... ....•••-_______
nary, necessarily produted.the negative of the Rifler Of France ; 1,11154.7 .i. ----------0•
that it was ftnpossible that he, consistent with his dignit% , . lie maint:Ained tho proper course would have been to oner ire. .._
, iodation to Frauet• when the revolution first broke-oak in Spout; .. •
could subsequently accede to the continuance of a nfOciation ;
.and while the people called for Periliiiand Vil. they also c‘tiled'-.'..-!.:
but, %VAS it not possible to have admitted the • government of
Spain, acting in the name of ,Fertlinand the Seirentli, to the for the annelioratioo of their horrikliovernment, to whicb they ~+ , • .%
negociation, as a 'government de facto, whilst 4w could have iir• owed all their misery. lie did not require Mitristers lo'abandms.- • '. -
• •5 pain, but i f they wished g peace they inuta behave to Bonaparte;
cluded the claim of his brother oas the government de
jur 'ro this position,. justitied Joseph' tame,p in 'history and who was at the head of the greateat in they ever SIOV w ,
by the particular situatioa of Sgain, what was the air-wer re- iii a decorous manner. As for Bonaparte's Message to thttlesido. ._.....
turned by the Minister- of 'Burlap:int? That he never would tive Body it alfordedno defence far this note, as it could uot be
witted
any claim of the Spanishpeople,sbecallse they were wit known when it, Wasdispatched ; and at all) rate it was not to
State of rebellion. And 'when 'this country pressed uptiu he be .argiseo upon Rh many siutliar
.deelartions had in the
knifes Clovriaroeot the iutete,sts of •,Spaiu, • what 41111WCr cUatue or. aeouttattna been receded from by all pattios: —Ai •
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