Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-04-07
Tranaation of the Note referred to in No. I.

40 ne D1nyier for fors.gn HDa"s az London.
Tran1afion of the Note referred to in No. I.
The Official Note, under date of the I4th
Nivole, the 9Th year, addrehed by the Minifer
of his Britannia Majelfy, having been laid be-
fore the FRA Conlul of the French Republic,
he obierved with furpriie, that it reaed upon
an opinion which is not exact refpeefing the
origin and consequences of the prelent war
Very far from its being France which provoked
it, The had, it mutt be remembered, from the
commencement of her revolution, folemnly
proclaimed her love of peace, and her dilincli-
nation to conqueas, her refpeet for the indepen-
dence of all governments /; and it is nc, to be
doubted that, occupied at that time entirely
with her own internal affairs, the would have
avoided taking part in .hofe of Europe, and
would have remained faithful to her declara
tons.
But from an oppoGsc dfpo(ition, as foon as
the French revolution had broken out, almott
all Europe entered into league for its deHruc.
tion. The aggreaion was real, long before it
was public internal refilance was excited its
opponents were favourably received; their ex-
travagant declamations were fuPported the
French nation was infulted in the peIfon of its
agents and England fet particularly this ex-
ample by the difmiflal Of the mini(ter accredit.
ed to her. Finally, France was in faet, attack.
ed in her Independence, in her honour, and in
her fafe,y, long time before The war was de.
clared.
Thus il is to the projects Of bjeaon, diGo-
luton, and difmemberment, which were pre-
pared againit her, and the execution of which
was feveral times attempted and purified, that
France has right to impute the evils which
fhe has fafered, and thoie which have afflicted
Europe. Such projects, for long time with
out example, with refpea to 70 powerful ma
ton, could not fail to bring on the mott fatal
consequences.
Aaailed on allfides, the Republic could not
but extend universally the efforts her defence
and il il only for the maintenance of her own in
dependence that fhe has made uie of thoie means
which fbe poaeiied, in her own Rreng'h and
the courage of her citizens. As long as fhe
fawthat her enemies ultimately rcfufedto recog-
nfe her rights fhe counted only upon the
energy of her relifance but as foon as they
were obliged to abandon the hope Of nvaion,
fhe fought for means of cancellation, and mani
fefted pacific intentions and il thefe have not
always been eAicacious if, in the midft of the
critical circumstances of her internal fituation,
which the revolution and the war have fuccef
Gvely brought on, the former depoGtaries of
the executive authority in France, have not al.
ways hewn as much moderation, as the nation
itfelfhas fhewn courage, it mutt, above all, be
imputed to the fatal and perfevering animoGry
with which the refources of England have been
iaviihed to accomplish the ruin of France.
But if the wi(hes of his Britannia Maieay Tin
conformity with his aIurances) are, in union
with the French Republic, for the rc-eaablith.
ment of peace, why, initead of attempting the
apology of the war, ihoult not attention be
rather paid to the means of terminating it p
And what obltaclc can prevent mutual un.
deraanding, of which the utility is reciprocal,
and is felt, Especially when the fra Coaful of