Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-07-07
CIRCULAR NOTE,
addressed to tie Foreign MINISTERS resident at TIE
Court Of London.
Downing street. April so, 1904.

fhe conduct of the French government, would
nave induced his majesty to pass over in silence,
and 10 treat with contempt all the accusations
which that government might have made against
his malesty's government, if the very extraordi.
nary and unauthorized replies which several of
the ministers OF the foreign powers have tho't
proper to make to a recent communication from
,he minister of foreign affairs AT Paris had not
given to the subject of tla, communication 4
greater Importance than it would otherwise have
possessed. Ana his majesty has, in consequence,
directed me 70 declae that he hopes he shall not
be reduced to the necessity of repeiling with me-
rited scorn and Indignation, the atrUcious and
utterly unfounded calurnny shat, the government
OF his majesty have been party in plans Of as
sassinalion An accusation already made with
equal falshood and calumny by the same luthor-
iiy against the members of his ma jesty's goveth-
ment during The last war an accusation imcom-
patible with the honor of his mlIesty, and the
known character of the British nation, and so
completely devoid OF any shadow of proof that
II may be reasonably presumed to have becnbro't
forward ~ the present moment, for other pur-
pose than thar of divertipg the attention of Eu-
rope from the con;emrla ion of the sangunary
deed which has recently been perpetra ed by the
direct order OF the first consul in France, in vo-
lation fthe law of nations, and in contempt of
the mcsy simple laws Of humanity and honor.
That his majesty's government should disre-
gard the feelings of such of the nhabi ants of
FRANCE a. are justly discon ented with the exist
ing government Of that country. that they should
refuse TO listen 10 their designs Of delivering their
country from the degrading yoke of bondage un.
der which 1t groans, or TO give them aid or as
sis,anee, as far those designs are fair and JUS
titiab!e, would be TO refuse fulfilling those
'Iu'ies which every wise and JUST government
owes to itself and 10 the world in general under
I11Il IL, Dail
powers have an acknowledged right to avail them
selves of all discontents that may exist in coun-
tIes with which they may be at war. The ex
ercIse of that right (even if in any degree doubt
ful) would be fully sanctioned in the present case
nor only b. the present state of the French mari
on, but by the conduct of the government Of that
country, which, since the CONNIE nccmen mt Of the
present war, has constantly kept up communica
Mons with the disaffeaed in the territories of his
majesty, particularly in Ireland, and which has
assembled al this present moment on the coasts
OF France corps OF Irish rebels, destined to sc
cond them in their designs against that part of
the United Kingio ON.
Upon these circumstances, his maiesty's 20.
vernment would be uniusthable, if they neglected
the right they have TO support, as far as is conf
patible with the principles of the law of nations,
which civilized governments have hitherto &C
knowledged the efforts of such of The inhabitants
ment. They ardenily desire, as well a. all Eu
rope, to see an order of things established in that
country more compatible with its own happiness,
and with the security Of the surrounding nations
bur II that wish cannot be accomplished, they are
fully authorised by the stittest principles Of per-
sonal defen:e, to endeavor to cripple the exerti-
ons todistrad the operations and TO conf and the
plans OF government whose system of warfare
as acknowledged by itself, is not only to distress
fi.ar ~ :.
bridge the dominions of It's enemy but also 10 car.
ny devastation and ruin into the very heart ofthe
British empire
In the application of these principles Isis ma
jesty has commanded me- TO dec'ar b. sides that
ms government have never authorised a single a6i
which could not stand the of he striQes prin-
cipes of justice and usages recognised and prae-
hssd in all ages. - ,.ny minister accredited bv
his majesty AZ foreign court had kept uD CORES
pOndenGe with persons resident in France wi
view to obtain information upon the designs Of
the French government, or for any other legiti.
mate Object, he has done nothing more than what
ministers, uRder similar circums ances, nave al
ways been considered as having a right TO do
with respeel TO the countries with which their SO
vereigns were at war and he has done much less
than that which it could be proved the ministers
and commercial agents Of France have done TO
wards the disaBeded in different par,c Of his ma
leSiy'S territories thus, IN carr ing on such
correspondence, he would nor have in any man
ner violated his duty minister any foreign
country IS obliged, by the nature of his Office and
the duties of hs situation to abstain from all COM
municaton with the hisane6ed OF the country
where he is accredited. as well as from every o.
ther at injurious 70 the interests o. that conn,ry
bu he is not subjcd 10 the same restraints. with
respett to countries with which his sovereign IS N
war. His atlions to them may be p,aise-wYrthy
or blamahe, according to the nature of tine a0i.
ons themselves but they do not constitute any
violation Of hrs public character except in as far
as they initiate against the country, or the secu-
MY OF the country, where he is accredited
But OF all the governments which pretend 10 be
civilized governments, that Of France is the one
which has .He least right TO appeal TO the law Of
nations. With hat confidence can it apueal 70
that law government which from the com
menccmcnt ofh'stilities, has never ceased 70 vio-
late II l. proni ed projection IN the British Sub.
Jeti5 resident IN France, and who might be dcsi-
rous ol'emaining there after the rcca, Of his ma
Jesy's ambassador. lt revoked tha promise
without any previous notice IL condemned hose
same persons 60 be prisoners Of war; and i, de-
taus them still in thai quality, in contempt Of Tvs
own engagement, and of he usages uuivcr slIy
observed by al civilized nations. It has aptlied
that new and baTbarous law, even 10 individuals
who had The authority and protection of tie
french ambassadors am ministers It foreign