The Sun.
London, England, 1805-10-16 00:00:00

STATE PAPER.

The following is a C,,py of a Memorial Wit to have been
presented on the part of the French aovernment to the
several Continental Slates, on the annexation of Genoa
to the Gallic 'Empire. It is plain, from the tenor of this
Memarial, that the FreoLli 'Usurper had reason to expett
'that the incorporation, or rather seizure, at' Genoa, would
excite the resentment of other Powers, and most probably
occasion a Continental War. Indeed it is known that this,
as-well as orlicr encroachments at France* would be re.
Solutely T;ppubeci by Austria ; ;'et the Usurper persevered
in grat;fying his ambition and j rapacity.. The following
Paper ts art/tiny-drawn up, and is intended to conceal the
designs of France under a preteruidd declaration of the
*pinions, sentiments, inicidestres bf the Genoese.

a After many vain attempts of the Genoese Peo-
ple to maintain the independent existence which
France had guaranteed them, already on the brink
of destruCtion, they unanimously resolve upen the
only measure left them for their preservation ; they
decree, in the most solerim manner, their union
with the French Empire, and earnestly implore the
Emperor NAPOLEON to receive them into the num-
ber of his faithful SubjeCll,,.by a Deputation, the
Members of which were4ireeted mit:lotleave Milan
till they had, at leaSt, &fa:lned I,inlinise of his
Imperial and Royal Majesty; thathe'woUld Comply
with their desire.
", The most. urgent motives induced ill the Citi-
zens of that Republic to Make st.,mpesal which en
tirely changes their' political sit Won. important
reasons invited France not to oppeiSelthiS 'wish..
• the Naval Powers • could not but .Savour au
which, without aumeraing the Continental strength
of France, enables her, for the benefit of the Com,
merce of all Nations, to avenge the
.maritime en-
croachments and insults of England. It may
.not be
amiss to Consider, in various points of view.' au
currence which Will soon .be placed in a fillse light
by the panegyrists of that Government by whose.
condua it war; rendered iudispensibly accessary. • -
The Senate and People of Genoa had made va-
rioes efforts to give themselves a Constitution, but
without success. France herself had sincerely wished
that this State might preserve its rank among the
Powers of gurope. She had defended it during th©
War ;° she had re-conquered it from Austria; she
had 'endeavotired in various negotiations to stipulate
for its advantage ; she had increased its territory, to
afford it new means of prosperity, and had sucees-
sively ceded :to it the Imperial Fiefs, the Valley of
Oneglia, Loano, Setravalle, and other distriCts., in-
closed by its territory, which belonged to France,
prevented a free communication, and were injurious
to its trade. It is 30 fresh in the memory of every
one, that France, after she had, in. the Bth year of
the Republic, re-conquered Genoa and her dependen-
cies from the Power which. had taken possession.
of them, did not insist on those rights to which
she was entitled by this event. She withstood the
wish uttered even at that time by those who were
best acquainted with the situation of their Countrjr,
and rejected the proposal of an union, which wenid
indeed have contributed more diet:Wally to the van?:
quality "and Security, pt Genoa, but: which would
then have appeased to be merely the effett of gran-.
tude, and the recolleCtion of the calauiities sew had
endured.

"Since that period; Genoa has, been convinced
that her welfare is no longer compatible with her
dependence, and that, in consequence of the change
in the state of all Europe, she had becotne too weak
to make head against the
.external attacks of armies
or fleets, and to suppress internal
.counnotions.--;
After many years of difficulty and inqnl'etude, she
implored his Imperial and' Royal 11Iaj es v , who had
alreadyiindertaken to preside over the 'destinies. of
,France, likewise to dire& those; of the Ligurian Re-
public, and to unite all, parties under a.Constitution
better adapted to the state of the Country and its
old inhabitants. Genoa, accordingly, received a Go-
vernment whose form and regulations were sitne-
tioned by the experience of many centuries, - and
whose flinch Mental principles were carefully exa-
Mined and approved by the Representatives of the
State of Genoa, who were charged to take upon
theMselVes that labour. But tills new attempt, Made
with the concurrence of all,. was.not attended with
any better success. Genoa was incapable of having
either a Government, a Marine, Foreign Commerce,
or Internal Police. She possessed not even the power
to exterminate a Banditti, who are still plundering
portion of her territories, and who: even kept the
inhabitants of the adjoining i?rench Departments in
a continual state of alarm.

" From all these fruitless exertions to improve her
internal situation, Genoa learned that the causes of
her imbecility, and the means of preventing her
total annihilation, were to be sought abroad. Genoa,
which subsisted entirely by Commerce, has lost it
in consequence ,of the aggrandizement of all • the
Commercial Powers. Numerous Ports) which 0,0
years alto were scarcely known, acid otheri which
boast the peculiar proteaion of their respative,Go-
vernments, have vied with each other in diminish-
ing the prosperity of the Port of Qetioa.
" New Maritime States were created by the late
War. Venice, whole trade had fallen to decay, is
new the depot of the commodities gre#gmpire..
The. sanu,t Power has acquired.. a great eitent of
Coast, and gives animation to the Ports which Na-.
tore has so richly flistributed, alonc, it. The Har-
bours in the Republic of the SaVen°lslands will soon
be of far greater importance than they were under
the Government of Venice: , The now
masters of India;' have made Malta a new depot for
their mercha d ze

While this competition arose round Genoa, she
beheld the remnant of her commerce exposed to the
depredations of pirates,.and excited the ciwy of Eng-
land, which not only refused to consider Genoa as
an independent State, but employed every possible
measure to drive her to despair; which incessantly
insulted her; which, during the late war, cut out of
the harbour two French Frigates, and massacred
their crows, and treated
.her just as she pleased dur-
ing the blockade.

round Liguria, found himself necessitated to ad'opt a
system for the whole of those Frontiers, which,
while it prevented the importation of English com-
modities into the departments of France, likewise
cut oti all communication between Liguria and the
Continent, and-consequently put a stop to the only
trade which England had left. the Republic.
" Alarmed at .a situation 'which could not fail, in
a short time, to involve her in utter ruin, Genoa was
long convinced that she had no other resource than
to unite herself more closely with France. She
daily renounced, from necossity, a portion of her in-
dependence, and was prote6ted only by a corps of
French Troops, for which she had applied. By the'
depredations of the Barbary Corsairs that hovered
about the Island of Caprea, in order the' better to
molest lier•trade, she was, at length; compelled to
cede that Island to France.
" G&Ioa, unable fo equip vessels for the protec-
tion of her coasts, possessing dock-yards and maga-
zines, unserviceable in her exhausted state, hav-
ing merchant vessels, which her marine and her flag
were incapable of prote6ting, and which, were obliged
to sail under that of another Power, to escape the.
Privateers, Genoa could no longer procure bread for
her numerous population, depending for subsistence
on maritime' enterprise and, the industry that pre-
vails in her Ports.:.

" Not being in a, condition to carry on, in a dire&
manner, the war . its
.which ',England had involved.
m
her, she covad do no ore than send her Segmenon
board the French Stitiadrims, and implore the French
• Government to Make use in France of her labourers
for whom She could not tied enrployment _
petual apprehension of civil commotions, from the
discontent of parties, on account of the general tio-
verty, which was continually increasing; and the
becility of the Government, which could not firm-
ly establish itself, she was persnaded,of the neceSsity.
'of tbrming a corps of Gens &Armes, to be corn,
mended by French. Officers.
Thus the union of Genoa was imperceptibly
ell-ea:led by her situation. This measure .was.desired
by her- inlnizitants. Nothing more was therefore
necessary than that it shBuld be taken into consider-
ation by those parts cif the Government which suffer-
ed the most from this- state of uncertainty, the .ex-
pences and berthens of which rendered the condi-
tion of Liguria still 'more oppressive. Hencopro-
ceeded the sudden enthusiastn,. the e:, ;per zeal, of
the people of Genoa, to subscribe to the wish for an
incorporation ; when the Senate,.after mature Con-
sideration, thought it their duty to .propose it, and
regarded that as the firvourable moment, in which
His Imperial and Royal Majesty could behold, with
his own eyes, the distresses of a Country to-which
arms had restored its independence, but Which, in
spite of all its etforts, could not again recover its for-
mer prosperity.
As Piedmont, Parma, and Piacenza, by which
Liguria is ineompassed, form a part of the donii7
nionS of his Majesty ; as the Kingdom of Italy is in ,
.;
his hands, and has received a Sovereign from him
as the Republic of Genoa, Which was forgotten by'
England in the' Treaty of Amiens; perceives that
both the sect 'arid the land are shut against her, she
could not have 'formed a resolution better adapted
to her interest and her dignity, than to 'incorporate
henielf with a great Nation, and that with an impe-
tuosity so `enthusiastic as perfealy answered tor the
sucaess of the measure.
." His Imperial' and Royal Majesty, affeeled by
the motives which induced Genoa to adopt this
solution, .was obliged proVisorily to comply with a
wish that N*as the result of long experience and he
most mature deliberation. The annihilation of the
hopes of a People. who Were determined no lorver.
to be
.denied might have been produCtive of the
most serious consequences. ,
" The Continental PoWer of France'has net, in
fad, been augmented. by this 'Union. A narrow traet,
so cooped up by the sea and by mountains, as to
leave a free communication only at a few points,
which does not produce corn sufficient to support its
5100,000 inhabitants, which is exposed to the havoc-
of annual inundation in. its must fertile distrias, and
•oppressed by the burthen offs prodigious debt, with-
-out any probability of its everobeing paid off ; tt)e•
incorporation with his ,Imperial and Royal Majesty's
State of such a Country', which has but little corn-
Trtunication with the Continenti. and is ineaptible of
restoring. its naval power, on account of the altera-
tion which has taken place in the' situation of -all
other States, eannot afibrd any pretext fir Conti:
nental discussions; and its union with France cannot
sessibly produce any remonstrances by. which Peace
likely to be endangmed. Should England succeed
in creating discord on this subject, no alterndtive will
be left His Imperial and Royal Majesty bUt to pro-
Sectite with vigour the unjust war that will be. de-
dared against him.
" Entoying the satisfa(lion of having rescued a
State which threw itself into his arms, tie will have
in his favour the goodness of its Cause, the public
opinion,. and all the motives of dignity, neighbour-
hood, and benevolence, Which 'have hitherto induc.,
ed him to prone Genoa, •
',Far more important considarations;of great in-
- 'Wrest to all Europe, excepting England, en-operated
' on this occasion in the resolves -of Ills Majesty.'--
France, which, by her political and geographical si,
tuation on the Atlantic and Mediterranean Seas, is
destined to check the usurpation of the ocean, and,
to vindicate, the rights and independeece of. the
ritime PoWers, has not coasts so eAtemive a. Eng-
land. Without enlarging her Continental Po,sces-
siOns, she will obtain, by the union of Unto 6000
seamen to supply the place. of these whom she 104 •
during the late war, and will thus he 'enabled the
better to cope with a 'State, the sole object Of 1s hose
is to usurp the dominion of the sea, which
.ekercises en universal 'monopoly, which .strives to
make: with every nation commercial treaties in her
own way; which is 'extending her power in bait*
only. -with a, view to - employ it against Europa ;
which violates all the rights of Neutrals, -and which
will not conduet • herself with more :moderation to-*
Wards -them. Frdnce shall have acquired a formid—
able navy.
- "'Were the English to restore Goa to thefOrtn-
Pose, Ceylon to the. Dutch, the vast Possessions of
Tippoo barb to heirs,. and the Empire of the
- Msthrattas to itS indepeudence,it would better beeeme
them than to .remOnstrate against the unienr.
a
narrow tray -of coast, which is already saridonde&
* by the :French territory. But these. exaeet nine*:
•

ekitt
alarmists, wile Will infallibly raise a prodigious
cry against a measure which they have themselves
ten arced necessary for Genoa, for France, and for
the . urity of Europe, will, it is to he hoped; not
make ~, impression CO the wiser Cabinets of the
Contint ~ To all the States of Europe the situa-
tion of Liguria must be a matter q. indiArence.-
7'heY have long seen that_this Country is separated
from their territorie-
.6 iiiti,taninis of Efts Wipe-
rial and Royal AO *and; Corn its position, , eau r 1
hare no commum -, 1.7.. ' 4114 thorn but by sea.--.!
-.ltioilnesY sarOeS3isitreinagdYbe.;;ei. slil:
,44:4,14)entilyelesiiIn'tainnIdaFterarteiceja-;: ..
to the mutual interests ,and . iitieilktations whicii,.
.hare rendered the two natiOn'i indivisible. Theit . 1
union must appear to all Europa the inevitable result
of their position. . It cannot excite any mistrust in
the Continental, Powers, as it will not add
lu: a sing
bd
la
battalion to the French army ; as the graid deay
of Liguria forbids the annexiltifl of its territory to
ascribed to wishes of ambition, so there is !iota
Court that ought .to entertain any alarm coneernig.
Cntitil:r:eod.‘is‘ellointeiulottlitlititilniotta:lbstye:otrn.-I(il:a4isetsisli\'lmlbisalauclittleibht!irtmicesdleiti'olaers:l Itd'ltil.e)ace_ t'rcPaeriPiiqltlaicniillg'lit)it'll:eit
England imagined, that while she Wa3 Ceti
. ing ludia, and plundering_tlie Sovereigns olextensive,
and opulent king4,olus, the .distance of tbOe 111;ei.
a,nlPled usurpations would escape the altati°' 't.
Europe. 'l'o France alone, destined b!'
to
to
Preserve the' rights of Neutral States 4) Ran
who has always exerted all her poiret, and 00e
her glory in proteaing their-- to her alor,eit bakail
tore Aote the' balance of the seas. A few ,t115'143,1 ~ i •
more seamen will be sufficient for the eiltupneo,:i
ten ships which France is buiiding ia Lk 01.64_,
war, and, will be the best girirainee tor the ertii",
'til of any. future Treaty between her awl eaggl'i'lie'r.
al
i s
Spanish
t, ti 0
France has succeeded in placing her Marine on a,tiri-
to— ciwnitilmoi:neche°asgatiliintfisiesuntrslFlt‘i.'n:Dliiiiicejil• Fi:nivf‘lfaal)l,a,. ttirtil'io'tfP:l:Pc:4l,'
disturbed" Europe w
st.sii:E
Expedition
looting,
:tan:led:o,r
l'itbhte'reth:,tillibicattiolial:;:tf:ui tr'eri:i°-:
favourillet,ssantly endeavouring to arm Oa (-343,_`1;13'1,1).i i
of iti design upon the seas, and Ivt'otc" '7,fl,
vain granted 5,000,0001, sterling to proale, a" "
ance. -
• ,
iti nsh e 1 airyNT. measureehiiolco iu• sv- i ewc:ivt lif I°l
IP:sPhG 3°
is :LI I.
: e.lb -cis e.
5.
is: Nine' s)ottvi °otbsi Is' ett ''''rr2le::f'
" jr.Ari(tilLie essentials of. an
by t hiellenJutr t?eloi ;ill' lars 131
1111GtrilLiirlk)::Iler agid.li:eidlinucb:::ll):tu'irl;li'eFi°:::.:ll:ii
pourable Peace still subsist i and if it were alloWev
.it
rni l't
compare trifles with' objects of ' importance, fitto
be s.ud, that England has no right to comPtiln 4:e ,i
wish for a union between LigUtia ' and Fra""v
lirance,has made no cutnplaint concerniiii; the
strat iot ' mil... secure,.olt;
. . lof the Mahratta Einpire:l______:____,.....
. .. .... . -

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