The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-15 00:00:00

. 'to Sir William Atotirt on the 13th instant, and requesting
him to transmit to his Government.
The object of this Note is, as your Excellency sees, to obtain
the good offices of his Majesty's Government with Prance, for
the Purpose of averting hostilities.
Itls needless to repeat to your Excellency, how anxiously
the King our 111 aster deprecates. a war between the two Powers,
whose colisiOn mist tio deeply affect the general tranquillity of
Europe ; or how confidently his Majesty infers from the desire
for peace, so repeatedly expressed by his Most Christian Ma-
Jesty's GovernMent, a disposition on their part to avail them-
seves of every opening for adjustment and explanation with
Spain.
I have therefore received his Majesty's commands to direct you
to request an audience of M. de Chateaubriand, so soon as this
dispatch shall reach you ; to read to him M. de San Miguel's
Note, and to inform hint that Mr. Jackson (who was the bearer
of Sir William A'Court's last dispatches, and by whom this
dispatch will be delivered to you), will wait at Paris, for the
result of the deliberations of his Most Christian Majesty's CA-
billet upon M. de San Illiguel'a Note', in order to convey to Sir
IVilliant A'Court your Excellency's report of that result.
In your conversation with M. de Chateaubriand, your Et-
cellency it not to over-rate the value of the concessions, implied,
rather than distinctly expressed, in the Note of M. de San Mi.
guel; nor to represent it as completely satisfactory, and as
leaving nothing to be desired :—but it is just and reasonable, at
the same time, to consider the circumstances under which it
wax written.
of he C
Ass uredly the more enlightened part of the Government, or
riot ortes of Spain, duct' not believe the Spanish Constitu-
ticable n of 11112 to be, in all its parts , usefully and permanently prac-
. But if there exist imperfection in the frame of the Go-
vernment of France, or of England respectively, should we con-
gent to reform those imperfections, on the DEAIAND of a FO.
REIGN Power, and unikr the menace of a foreign war as the
penalty of our refuXal ? ,
Even by the mode in which the demand was made by France,
that part of the Spanish Government or Nation, which might be
willing to undertake those ameliorations of the present Consti-
neitution of Spain, without which it is alleged to be unsafe to her
ghbours,
It i has been placed in a situation of great difficulty.
i s not plain that the same proposition completely changes its
nature, aceord'ing to the manner in which it is brought forward?
—ow one, which, if submitted through the regular channels
, of dilomacy, might be matter of wholesome advice or amicable
remonstrance; when addressed to a Nation aloud, and in the
presence, As it were, °fall the world, becomes a taunt and a de-
fiance 1 The publication of the dispatch to 111. Laganle, while,
it was yet on its road to Madrid, is, I know, defended by the
alleged necesaity of tranquillizing' the public mind at Paris.
But if the public mind at Paris required to be tranquillized,
Your
was not the public mind at Madrid liable to be inflamed ?
Excellency will not understand-these observations to be
made with any view of inculpating the proceedings of the French
Government, with which, abstractedly, we have no concern.
I would recap M. de Chateaubriand's attention to the situa-
. tion in which the French Government has placed itself towards
'ittiln, by the manner in which her first alternative for war has
beenpropounded—only for the purpose of impressing upon the
french Government the necessity of not omitting any fresh Portunity, however little
op-
ture of their demands. promiling they may deem it, foragam
atating to Spain the grounda of their dissatisfaction and the naa
The French Government desires to assure itself of the safety
of the Royal Family of Spain, and of a disposition in the lead-
ing Members of the Cortes, as well as of the Government, to
turn to advantage any occasion that may occur, or that can be
treated by a prudent and gradual course of measures, for the
.. !emedy of tined efects of the Spanish Constitution :—a channel
is now opto the I;'renclt Government for endeavouring to
arrive at those assurances. A precipitate removal of the Royal
k•wilily front Madrid would be the instant and infallible con-
sequence of the march of a French army across the frontier. If
the amendments on the Spanish Constitution arc absolutely ne-
colliery, and it is hopeless to bring about those amendntents
otherwise than by arms • has the French Government chalked
out to itself the (11161 W }r which a successful invasion is to be
repeated
made to lead to Me desired result :1 The occupancy of Madrid,
as
experience sliews is not the dominion of Spain. The
Ring and the Cortes will be 'established elsewhere, and what is
then to follow but a continuance of civil and foreign war, spread.
mg misery and devastation over the whole kingdom ?
Thei considerations your Excellency will suggest. to 111on-
aieur de Chateaubriand, in a tone of perfect amity and good
a'lll ; and with the assurance of the most entire persuasion, on
the part of' his Majesty's Government, that the prosperity and
the part
of France are objects in which Great Britain has,
andherself' the deepest concern.' It is seen and acknowledged here,
and acknowledged with no feelings but those of congratulation
aiatisfaction, that every year's continuance of peace to
,r.l Tice must •
more and more her political institu- '
`.1()", and Promote those improvements in her interior condi-
oon and.resources, which assure to her the high rank that she
Itliti.olda among Europeen nations. But in proportion as we feel
i!_tt sentiment sincerely, we deprecate the fearful experiment of
~,wara in which there is so little to gain by success and at a
",r•avtl which appears to us AN imminent as unnecessary.
de ishe itrirnediate object, however, of your' interview with 111.
ehl mateauhriand, is to bring before him the overture from M.
" San aligns.; to olfer his Majesty's :Minister at Madrid as a
of conm iunication with the Spanish Government; and
I, assure the French Government of the anxious desire of his
'LaJetitv to 4, '. promote, in that or any other way, the attain-
' ettt of such a settlement with Spain, as France may deem
coesistent not only with her safety but her honour.
nlst'hi'..,disPatch will be delivered to your Excellency, I hope,
ui-e„ungaY • so that you will have an opportunity of communi-
tji—g t° Al'. de Chateaubriand the Spanish note, the clay before
meeting of the Chambers.
rI trust the new opening which it affords for discussion and
rxesaiebille accommodation may be felt as some relief to the
pi)tiiou.Government, under the difficulties of their present
I am, &c.
(Signed) GEORGE CANNING.
. See Inclosure in No 15.
!lir William No. 18.
No. to Mr. Secretary Canning.-`.Received
January 26. .
...( Extract.)
Madrid, Jan. 15%1823.
.4a_,_°thilltt. of any material importance has occurred since Mr.
~,!son left Madrid.
bring
about hearty labouring hard at the present moment to
e., g about publication of a general aninesty. I shell do
terY thin I
3Ure, by gn my power to forward the 'adoption of this mea-
t° representing the favourable impression it will not fail
produce throughout Europe.
No 19
sir Chas Stuart to NIL secretary Ic9,
(Extract.) Jan. 26.
„ '
Paris, Jan. 23, 1823.
take of Al. te Chateaubriand Yesterday. lie told me that the
of San Lorenzo h 1
ti
at. communicate.. to
t'lls which had been laid before th Cod neshrthtahtehienSltTlMUCS;
'aspiiet the been
with which M. de San Lorenzo had
, ca!), respecting the situation of the two Governments; but
',„",111e, concilietory tone is assumed bv the agents of Spain,
7,11 ti does net prevent the adoption of" principles the most in.
conlaatible iv jth the trenquillity
"1 bY the of Europe, by the Government
the_ _ ~ tiegislature of that country • that at the moment
to jorrettoirlitaarnllethe defects of their Conitit'ution—their read. inns
the Publicadenuufres to produce a change—and their wish for
.tztoet active in. ho; a general amnesty, their societies are the
le *bibs, ~ I sir endeavours to organize revolt in France;
hot tole gat.. the enormity of the evils resulting from war is
from the sunProred with the consequences which must result
no means ofe,,-",„" intrigues which the French Ministers have
‘ltlt questior,c,„" -I,.atille. during. the continuance qfpeace. With.:
vernment I,'"g,lne sincerit -of the effints of his Majesty's Go-
sible -:"" irklataln peaceY he is convinced that it is impos-
rllleritie7l:l3? Of the Frenclttle.
to press the subject on the Spanish Government
to lead to the result we desire. The language
thei,,seivei r
.linisters thews that they would be glad to avail
"Y eh" °` how Publication of an aitntsty, accompanied by
atli.„ gel ever trifling, if brotight about BY THE
the,„,_DAITY or .„
''' W avoid 4. declaration of war. ' HE XING OF SPAIN, which might enable
.
Ate, Secret No. 20.
"tarY Canning to Sir William A'Court.
Xi. ..
Foreign Office, Jan. 26, 1823.
ais• '"*-111r. juk
Petehei•, son arrived here on Tuesday night with that
1) Io the 12th of this month • anti on Friday that
ii,barles Stuartw" re-diapatched to Paris with instructions to Sir
ntstitotlit, ,:aqtletiinfitoutnhdee::oodon
o.lifiLeseziofllilliitumela'sjesNtyotefoorf ;bee 1p2;11.
tolAtelien9erewi:r,`Yit France. A copy or pese instructions his
411%)ri,0, _ directed to transmit to you by Mr. Jackson, and
4 Atrati or they esult of his execution of them.
Patch . ' 'Jacsons departure for Paris, I have received your
(\la of the 15th instant, and therewith dispatches from Sir
Prear" Btlntrt ''i • , eel/alio,.
oil ve uch appear soinewhatmore favourable to the
„Is NI
will Peace than any of the late renorts from Paris. .
(live or
87211,, receive by Mr. Jackson intelligence from Pans
14 the lee(jitioays' later date, and so much the more important
s,.h. e imerregot. the French Chambers will have taken place
„.trl., wip betot is useless for me now to speculate on events,
":Ittye inform
you,'when tibia dispatch reaches you, matter of
ei,4hall r„m,,,t!`""'
ilit, •(! feno,_- Ore sit once proceed ta state the course which you
,t
.(esee.,,,wt In either of the two possible alternatives i—ltit, of
by, its ho'fnent of 'France 'having decided for war; or 2dly,
. 8414. cPoaentecl to avail itself of the
'e at, allgeep,i • . opening presented
Pr, ankh (i note , and to make known through you to
la)ared ,
_.,,overnment, the conditions on which it may be
`'sewlst
Fi;p:ltndrew its army of obaervation.
`.'/kt 114 4ilice't cpe, you have nothing to do but to profess
kittiet QV a fixed determination to Maintain during the
nripartial neutrality ; altrayif ready et the same

time to listen to any call for the renewed interposition of his
good offices ; if balanced success, or a reviving sense of com-
. mon danger and mutual interests, shall better incline the din-
. tending parties to accommodation.
In the other case, you Will probably receive from Sir Charles
Stuart a statement of the terms which the French Government
deem indispensable, either for their honour or for their safety,
in breaking up that system of precaution, the continuance of
which operates as a bar to pacification : and the time will then
be arrived, at which you can, without the suspicion of a dicta-
torial or an uncalled for interference, press earnestly upon M.
San Miguel a frank afld friendly opinion, in support of such of
those terms as appear to you to be not unreasonable. The am-
nesty which, if issued in the King's name, would, as it appears
from Sir Charles Stuart's dispatch of the 23d, be satisfactory to
the French Government, it is unnecessary for me to instruct
you to urge ; since you have informed me of your intention to
urge it to the utmost of your power. Neither you nor the
French Government have ever overrated the effect which such
an act would be likely to produce throughout Europe.
To liberate the person and family of the King not only from
danger, but from the appearance of restraint—to give some-
thing like force and freewill to the actions of the executive
power—to rescue the deliberations of the Cortes from the over-
awing influence of the clubs—are, next after the amnesty
(which shoold perhaps precede them all, the alterations the
mast desirable, and those which would give the greatest con-
fidence to foreign nations.
These and any other objects of the same sort and with the
same tendency, WE are now, after the clear and practical proofs
which WE have given of our indisposition to claim any thing AS
or nrottr,. or to enforce any thing by nieuace for the amend.
ment of the Spanish constitution, warranted to recommend with
all the earnestness which is prompted by our tried friendship
for the Spanish nation ' • by our experience of the practice of
free Government ; and by our conviction of the sufferings and
the perils which must be derived to Spain and to Europe froin I
war.

So lung as o voice might have been confounded- with those
of other poweis, who took a different measure of their right of
interference, or with that of France, whose exhortation wax ac-
companied with the denunciations of hostility, we abstained
from advising; rather than incur the imputation of attempting
to controul. But, now that the possibility of slch tnimicpr.wn-
tations is at an end, we cannot see the. obvious dangers into
which the present course of Spanish affairs is leading a brave
and gallant people and be silent, without abandoning the duty
which is prescribed, no less by the obligations which interna-
tional laws upon friendly states, than by the peculiar ties which
connect Great Britain with Spain.
You will keep Sir Charles Stuart constantly informed of the
course ofyour discussions with the Spanish Ministers. I am, &c.
(Signed) GEORGE CANNING.

No. 21.
Mr. Secretary Canning to Sir William A'Court.

Foreihrn Office, January 28, 1823.
Sir—l inclose to you a copy of the official answer* from his
Most Christian Majesty's Secretary of State to my note of the
•10th instant, a copy of which I inclosed to you in my dispatch
of the same date.

This note was delivered to me yesterday by 31. de Marcellus.
1 cannot better explain to you the opinions of his Majesty's
Government upon it, than by inclosing to you a copy of a dis-
patcht which I this day address to Sir Charles Stuart.
I am, &c.
(Signed) GEORGE CANNING.'
No. 14 of the Vetona and Paris Papers.
No. 15 of the Verona and Paris Papers.

No. 22.

Sir Charles Stuart to Mr. Secretary Canning.— Received
January 30. _ _ '

(Extract.) Paris, Jan. 28.
I received your dispatches of the 24th instant on Sunday
evening. I immediately called upon M. de Chateaubriand,
the purpose of communicating to his Excellency the Note of
M. de San Miguel under date the 12th instant ; and on the
following morning I went Over the reasoning contained in your
letter; with a view of pointing out to the French Minister the
necessity of not closing the door against an overture, which
offal the only remaining chance of Maintaining the tranquillity
of Europe.
The French Minister told me, that the substance of M. de
San Miguel's paper bad already been transmitted to him front
Madrid; but that it had not been communicated to him suffi.
ciently at length to show that M. de San Miguel merely de-
mends the dissolution of the Army of Observation, without
holding out any hope whatever of a concession upon, points
which menace the vital tranquillity of this country ; though he
must be well aware that, in the present situation of affairs, no
French Minister would he bold enough to propose such 'a melt•
sure, unless it should be justified by a corresponding conceit.
.sion on the part of Spain.
He added that, under these circumstances, the King is corn.
pelted to assume a decisive tone in his discourse tO the
tive bodies; and that in announcing the cessation of the dipla.
matic relations between the two Governments, it is necessary
to show that they cannot be re-established until th 9 origin of
the mischief, with which the Spanish revolution menaces neigh.
bnuring countries, has been removed, by assimilating their in-
stitutions to those of other limited monarchies, under an act
ow TUE i.AnT OF TFIE Krwo of Spain declaring the con-
stitution to emanate from the Crown.
We hoped the anxiety of my Government to maintain peace
wouldinduce you to instruct Sir Wrn..A'Court to convey these
sentiments to the knowledge of the Spanish Government, and to
impress upon the Ministers the expediency of not refusing to
admit the only measure of which it is possible, in the present
situation, to take advantage, with a view to the attainment of
that object.

No. 23. •
Sir Charles • Stuart to -31 r. Secretary Canning.—Received
January 30th.
,
Pa, January. 20 1023.
Sir,—.l inclose a printed copy of theth speech which his Ma-
jesty the King of France pronounced from the throne, upon
the assembly of the legislative bodies, this morning.._] have
the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) CHARLES STUART.
The Right Hon. George Canning.

No. 24.
Sir Charles Stuart to Mr. Secretary Canning.—Received Feb..2d.
(Extract.) • Paris,.January 30, 1823. •
Having sent off a messenger on Tuesday, at the moment a
printed copy of the speech from the Throne was put into my
hands, I was unable to make any observations upon that sub.
ject in my dispatch of the same day.
Monsieur de Villele, whom I accidentally met on Tuesday
evening, appeared surprised to find that I did not consider the
language of the speech perfectly in unison with the tenour of
his Excellency's former assurances.. lie said, that the violent
alternative to which' die King refers is mentioned In a condi.
tional sense.
I could not avoid expressing my regret, that this public ma.
nifestation of demands for such changes in the Spanish Consti.
tution as the leaders in that country would hardly be persuaded
to attempt, should. not • leave his Most Christian Majesty the
means of receding from .the position in which he has been
placed.
Notwithstanding the strong evidence of preparations for
hostilities, I find both this Minister and his Colleague, M. de
Cbateaubriand, continue to answer 'the representation of the
consequences which must result from a rupture, by assurances
that they do not participate' in my uneasiness upon the subject.,
because they yet continue to entertain hopes•that war will not
take place.

Mr. Secretary Canning' to, Sir Charles Stuart,
Foreign (Ace, Feb.. 3, 1823.
Sir—On the same day on which your Excellency's Dispatches
of the 28th, one of them enclosing the Speech of the King of
France at the opening of the 'Chambers, .arrived here, 81. de
Marcellus called uptin me for the purpose of communicating a
copy of that document.
In making this communication, M. de Marcellus took occa-
sion to declare the unabated desire of his Government for the
preservation of peace ; to renew in a more precise and formal
manner their request of his Majesty's good offices for that
object; and to express their hopes that our intervention at
Madrid might yet avert an extremity, which (it must be con.'
(eased) the language of the French Speech, unaccompanied by
such a commentary, might have.been understood to announce
as unavoidable.

Such an intimation from the French Ministry, at the moment
when the decision of the King of France for war is the subject
of general regret and alarm, places his Majesty's Government
in a situation of great embarrassment ; an embarrassment
which is the more sensibly felt by diem, on account of the ne.
cessity of making some disclosure of opinion in the speech to
be delivered from the throne,_ at the opening of the Session of'
Pailiament. On the one hand, his Majesty's Government
would not willingly. either risk the misfortune, or incur the re-
sponsibility, of closing, by any act of theirs, the door which.
the French Government declare to be still open. On the other
hand, the sense of the suspensive and conditional particle In the
speech of the King of France, on which the possibilities of peace
are supposed to hang, is so much obscured in, Me ambiguous
character of the condition with which it is .connected, that it is
very difficult to estimate its real value.
It has become necessary on this occasion to reconsider ma- •
turely the position in which his Majegy's Government stands
towards that of France. 1
The answer which has uniformly been given by the British.
Government to the questions put by France, as to the course
which his Alajesty.would pursue in a.war between France and
Spain-' has been, that no opinion could be formed on that point
in the ignorance in which his Majesty's Government were as to