Star.
London, England, 1813-10-23 00:00:00

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FRENCH PAPERS.

(piplentstic Correspondence, continued from yesterdays Sv*a.)
NO. 38.—NOTE FROM THE PLENIPOTENTIARIES OF
FRANCE TO COUNT DE METTERNICH.
• Prague August 9,1813.
. .
The undersigned Plenipotentiaries 'from his Ma-
jesty the Emperor of the French have received, to-
gether with the two Notes which his Excellency
Count de Metternich, Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs, and Plenipotentiary of the Mediating Court,
has done them the honour of addressing to them yes.
terday, the copies of those of the Russian and Prus-
sian Plenipotentiaries. Penetrated with the sacred
obligation, which the natuiv itself of their mission
imposes on them, that of banishing discussion which
does not tend to the realizing the dearest hopes of
nations, the undersired.will not consider 'any thing
in the Notes transmitted to them, but those points
which have a direct tendency to the Works of pacifi-
cation. They will likewise avoid. enlarging in pro-
testations of their desire of peace ; because, however
natural it may be to do ourselves that honour, this
desire may regulate the spirit ofnegociations, but'not
the progress of affairs, which ought to be treated ac-
cording to established usages in their proper order,
and in removing difficulties as they may occur.
It is with equal surprise and regret, that the un-
dersigned perceive that the Notes which have been-
transmitted to them had for their aim the rejection
of a proposal, which had to them appeared, and
which in fact is, the only proper one for conciliating
the diversity of opinions which has arisen concerning
the form of the negociations.
In this state of affairs, they address themselves
with confidence to the Mediator, to represent to him
what it is impossible not to acknowledge, that the
only overture which has actually tended to commence
the negociation was made by them.
In tact, the contrariety of sentiment of the two
patties, leaving the question undecided, and the opi-
nion of the Mediator, whatever weight his wisdom
and enlightened knowledge may give him, not hav-
ing been able to decide it, the undersigned, influenc-
ed as much' by deference to the Mediator, as by the
desire of smoothing all difficulties, have consented to
adopt entirely the mode- which he had proposed,'
merely demanding that their proposal should be like-
wise admitted.
This would then be one step forwards, for it would
be unjust not to consider as such, in a negociation,
the oral sacrifice of the pretensions of one party to
the other. They were authorised to hope that after
this step on their part, taken in the form desired by
the Mediator, he would at length have decided on
• giving effect to those motives, not less founded on
reason than on custom, with which they have sup,
ported their proposal in the frequent official confer.
ences that they have had with Count de Metternich
on this subject.
They nevertheless see that the Allied Plenipoten-
tiariei, without combating this proposal, without re-
. plying to the cons.derations which have dictatedit,
and even Withoutalledging any other reason than
their own will, persist in their pretensions, and that
the Pknipotentiary, of the Mediating Court ranges
himself entirely on their side, although it cannot be,
dissembled that the only motive he has been able to
.adduce in justification of this preference has no longer
. any tOundati,in, since that the undersigned have ad
'flitted the'forms proposed by him.•
All the objections which could be made against
the mode which they have pointed out by their Note
of the 6th will fell to the ground of themselves if we
reflPct that it conciliates all pretensions, thAt it unites,
all rue adiantages of the different forms, the authen-1
ticity of negnciatthg in writing, with the facility and
celerity of a verbal negociation.
It would be superfluous to attend, to the strange,
assertion that this mode is unusual, as the most sim-
ple ex.truination of facts would be sufficient to destroy
that objection. No person can be ignorant that in
Cte principal Congresses of which history makes
mention, in those in which, as at present, interests
equally complicated and various were to be discussed
at Munster, at Nimegueni at ltyswick, this double
form was always employed. Would not to refuse it,
at this present time be evidently to shew chat the pa-
cific intentions, which so much pains are taken to
announce, are nor those which are actually meant ?
It is affected continually, to instance Teschen, and to
take fur a rule that which has been an exception, and
constantly to appeal to the result of this negociation,
as if those which have been cited had had a less fa-1
vourable issue, 'and as if they had not equally regu-
laced ih~ interests of Sovereigns, and the tranquillity
of States.
Whatever it may be, we ask again for the motive
which gives preference tO a form which was solely
followed under a circumstance where there was
only one object to treat upon, and of which even
the basis had already been settled beforehand It is
easy to judge, from the actual state of the question,
who ought to be accused of the delays occasioned to
the negociation, those who by raising a pretension
opposed to the received usage, reject a proposal which
insures to them all the advantages they desire; or
those who having on their side the usage universally
followed, consent to adopt entirely the form adopted
by the adverse party, and confine themselves to de-
manding, that a mode of treating, which in despite
of all allegations to the contrary, can alone produce
speedy results, should not be excluded.
The Undersigsed flatter themselves that these con-
siderations will be so. much the more felt by his Ex-
cellency Count Metternich, as it cannot have escaped
him, that if the exclusive form of written negociations
offer st me ausantages, h is not, at least it we may
judge fr m the notes which he has communicated to
the undt signed, that which will assist in conciliating
all niitid— He will n doubt likewise remark, that
the pri posals rit mit by the.undersigned, have on the
contr.ny been a fresh proof of their constant desire •
to.remove all Uiilictilties in the way. of peace, even
wia.n thi it adversaries appear to have renounced it.
They therefore renew the proi:osAls which they
bar, not ceased to make, of exchanging their full
powers, in order immediately to open the ne_gocia-
trons, according to the form proposed by the Media-
. ting Power, without, however, eicluding the form of
coilereuces, in order to preserve the means of explain-
ing themselves verbally. The undersigned have, acc.
(Signed) CAULADICOURT, Dime of Viceaza,
L. NAItDONNE.
(To be sontbuted.)