Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1801-01-13

Ted over, might hereafter be eCnhdered az ADMIT
ted.
The article which au Aparian officer, charged
with NO lueh commidion, was periualed TO Ge..
Paris DO indeed appear 70 his niAjeiy iitie cal
culstcd To terminate the csiamities OF Europe
But whatever be the tendency the conditions
which the French government has there ipcclhed,
there can be presencc for representing them as
prcliminaries concluded by Auftria, snpul!ed by
the Intervention OF his n,ajs0y.
The engagements by which tho courts OF Lon
don and Vieuna have 7grced NOT to treat except
in coneer. with each other, were concluded before
there was any Guelion of tho;e pretended preliri-
naries OF peace. And the ira n,inatiois which
his majeGy received Of their iign,tures, were ac.
compared BY the cxprels declaration Of ME ally,
that tbey were wholly unauthorized, and mutt be
ccn!iiered as abfolutgly null.
The French government could indeed expect NJ
other determination TO Be taken by his Imperial
1,aiey. The want of all powers or inttruetions for
fuch treaty, on the part OF the Auttiin officer,
was at the time difinSly notified by him TO thotc
who treated with him and is declared even on the
very face Of the paper which he fignei
With refpe9 therefore TO the luprofed demand
Of hi msjety go he admitted rhoIc negotiations,
nothire ranre is neceiiary TO be fsd, The note de-
Gvcred 10 VI. De rhugu;, by lord MintoI iufiici.
emily explao' the Parr which his n'sjeity is really
difpoied TO take IN any negociation which may be
regularly fet on foot for general peace.
The king has Away. been perfusded> that the
refult of iuch negotiation alone elfeettualr
re,eiisbIifh the tranquility oil Europe.
Experience has confirmed this opinion, and il /,
only from the conviction of its truth that his
jeily has now been induced TO wave his objection
10 the fra propoiAl OF a naval srmiGiee. snd to
enter into the dfsufion OF the conditions which
it may be eitabihed.
He una;rftx tndr,;pr< f-oD, ,,r
many former negotiations, eonGdsrs iuch an ar
lniitice as in nc degree likely ei,hsr 90 expedite
or facilitate an arrangements OF the direct interelts
OF Great Britain and France
He views it in no other light than as temporary
advantage which it is proroied to him to yield 20
his enemy, in order prevent the renewal OF
continental hoailiyes, and thereby TO contribute
10 the conciufion Of gensrai peace.
And this ground Notwithstanding the many
Disadvantages which he is fenEble nun rsinlr TO
the country, from iuch a Ineaiure, he Is relolved
20 give has allies aud to Europe ths new pledge
OF the fentiments by which he>is a9uated, PROV.
ded that his enemies are dilpofed regulate the
conditions of fuch All aEniftice, far as the ma
ture OF the cafe will allow, in conformity to the
obvious snd ellsbliihed principle OF fuch arrange.
ments.
The principle is, that the REFLECTIVE potion of
the two parties lail remain during the continuance
of the srmifice, iuch as il was at its commence
nent; and that ncither of them hould by its
operation acquire freih advantages or rev uieans
OF annoying the enemy : fuch as ne could not O.
thcrwife obtain. The difficulty OF doing this with
the fame preriisu in the cafe of naval operations
rs by land mas already been sYtrted to ia former
note; and il eou(ti;utss leading objsGion 10 tho
onearure itlcf
But The French projet isliead of attempting 20
remove or lefen thefe difficulties, eparts at once,
and in every article from the principle itieif, al
though expressly recognized and Rsdiouly main
tanned in the continental acnnAiec. which is here
reverted TO the foundation and mod of this
traniacLion,
j; 5 propoied, in effca that thc blockade of the
naval ports and srfenals of the kings enemies
ihould be RATED chat they hculd be enabled 20
remove their dce>s 70 any o. her ftsticns Ind 60 d.
vide or eonece their forces they may fudge fnoi
advantageous TO their iutuT, plans; ihe importa.
sion both of PIovons and Of naval and military
fotea is 20 be wholly unreftraned. Even Malta
and the Ports Of Egypt, though sKprefslY Rated to
be now b!ockaded, are To be freely vi9sailsd and
for IN unlimited period, IN direa contradiction 70
the aiPolations o. the German armiiiiee refpeSing
Ulm and ingolftsdt TO which places it is nevcrths
lcis proi-fied TO ailina,e them and ths govern.
meet is er7eCd 20 bind ;tielf towards the allie, of
France even before any reciprocal engagement can
be received from them +; whil=, &c the fame time
al mention OF the kings alle5is, on the other hand
totally omitted.
To propofsl 70 manifellly repugnant 10 ;ur-
tice and equality and 20 injurious not only TO
MS masGy's iutcrcits, bat ALTO to shole OF his al
lies, it cannot be expected THAI any motive (hoah
iidpee the king to aeeede.
The cou.. err. proje. which che unierigned has
the honor TO tranimt 70 Va. O,to contains regu.
atons IN this refpsa more nearly eorrefponding
with that principle Of equality which alone his
majeity can content 20 treat.
Even thofs articles are, in many impor
tant points, aad particularly 10 VIVA, relates
TO the actual cations of his mscay's lqua.-
drons, very far ihoit Of what his maeAy
might iufly demand from . reference TO
the genera! principle above Rated, from
analogy to the conditions Of the continental
srmiaice, Oh from The relative h:uation Of
naval force aud confidence 10 repoled in
the good faith Of his enemiss, which, altho'
it can never be claimed ia ,ra0iaetions BIZ
tween beiiisereuI powers, bis naieay IS ne
verthelefs willing to hope he ihaIl not and
20 have been mlPIaced on the preient oeca-
lien.
IF M Oto is empowered 70 acccdc to
theie Gipula'ions, proper perlon viii i'm.
medid'eIy be authorized 20 iign Them on hi,
msjeay's pat; If not, he Is requeaed &c
trsnimis them, without delay, 70 his 20
verDment.
Signed, GRENvILLE.
Oo1o1igg;Rrcef, S(bf, =, 1900.