The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-02-24

21cyI!foH, mas aiftaUy INFORMED tnS puoNS OF
what was necetfary to be knowa. and ofmuch
more than is contained in the French official
CORE spondenc.. The public, however, have
now an opportunity of Judging from the two
accounts before them. The facts are the fame
ia both, but the manner in ttating them, which
is in fact every thing. is very different. The
French papers are evidently varnilhed 10 is the
" State ofthe Negotiation" Each endeavours
TO make good it's own part, and by compar'ioa
of the two, the public will have no difficulty to
come at a fair judgment.
The Mi, literal papers have, indeed, difclara-
cd SrocxDALE's Pamphlet in the name of
Government--tbis wac, perhaps necefiary, but
if any thing more were wanting than the ltroug
internal evidence of the publication itte'f, it is
now given in the French papers. The docu-
ments, ufed in the one, are evidently transcripts
from the fame originals. We mall, therefore,
in our confederation of the Negotiation as now
before us, regard the one as the French, and
The other, far as it goes, as the Engliih tate
ments and by fair comparifon endeavour to
form juft Judgment. If the ftate of the Ne
gociation be not. written by Miniters, it is at
lean, not ritten without their knowledge.
Sanctioned or unfanefioned, of one thing there
can be now no douht-that It is written by one,
who well knew the contents of the Official Pa.
pers in the ofice-With this remark we dilmiis
II.
The publication of the Englilh M'nifty in
formed US, that the Negotiation commenced in
February. Accordingly, the fri paper in the
French collection is letter from MIR. Fox, bear
ing date the goth of that month. The con-
terts of this letter are in fubhsnce civil over.
ture to the French Government. MIR. Fox a.
walls hinfelf of /" that fome,h hing approaching
to private friendfhip" between him and the
French Cabinet, and informs them ola Propo-
fal that had been made TO afai!inate the French
Emperor.
TALtEyRAND replies tn this in the fame
complimentary ftyle I'VE repea. perfonal
compliment paid to MIR. Fox by BeNAPARTE.
The words are remarkable" Whether quar-
rel, 70 ufelsfs TO the caufr of humanity, fhall
have a conclufion as fpeedy as the two nations
ought to defire, thank MIR. Fox" SC.
The reply of Mr.. Fox, as it would feem, con-
tains an overture for negotiation.
Here, however, is point of much difficulty.
By this document it would appear that the
Britiih Government made the hrt overture.
On the other hand, his Majety'S declaration
poGtively afferts, that the evertures were hrt
made by the French Government.
How is thisto be reconciled? Let us refer
to the " State of the Negotiation" and the
matter is cleared up. "Ihc overture was hrit
made BY the French government. in an indirete
Mininry in their eagernefs to give repofe to
Europe. Let us connect with this Bona
Parties word--s Wbet5cr quarrel 70 utrleis
TO the caufe of humanity Giall have concluGou
as fpcedy as the nations ought to with" Is
not the Inference plain ?-That previous open
ing, which does not appear in the French pa
pers, had been attempted, and perhaps at that
time ex;fted. France for more evident rsaions
would not publiih it (; but we have no doubt
that direct evide1ce of it will be given before
Parliament. II is necefaryto the honour of
the Britinh Cabinet for, according to the
French papers, as now pubIihed, the overtures
commenced OIL the part of Euglands and not on
that OF France.
This reply of MIR. Fox, WHICH is No. 5, of
the French papers, enters upon the immediate
fubirct of the negotiation, which, as fad above,
we might fuppofe to have been previouily open
ed by fome indirect communication, which Ia
ken together with TALLEYRAND'S aniwer TO
Mr.. Fox's isn note, confituied a iufiicicDt
ground for commenc ement. This previous
Communication is, we think, evident on the
very face Of this note mo. 81 II is maniteftly
fomeihing more than reply to the note OF
TALLEYsAND. Mr.. Fox, however, IN this note
prpoies, as the frt preliminary OF the pro-
pofed negotiation ihould be, that each party
mould acknowledge that delirabe peace
would be fuch az was honorable to both natl
ons and their REFLECTIVE allies. This principle,
as applied to England, was'intended to inciude
Rufiia and accordingly Mr.. Fox exPreTes
manly decifion, that he would not treat with
out the Emperor ALEXANDER. He ADDS,
however, that, till the arrival of Rufiian pIen.
potentiary, the provhonal erg'sements and
conferences may fill bc commenced and con-
tinued.
In Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the coutsl is carried
on with great fpirit between Mr.. Fox and Tall
leyrand, upon the fuhjctt Of treating in concert
with Rufiia. The French Minifer refoutely
relifts the introduction Of the Emperor of Ruff.
Ga in the negotiation. IN one of thefe Notes
very important point is communicated, or
rather confirmed. The greater part Of the daily
prints attacked the Miniferial pamphlet, the
State of the Negotiation" for its aRertion
that RuiIia was in treaty with France without
the knowledge, or at leaf the knowledge Off
cialIy communicated, of the Cabinet of Eng
land. This faa is afceitaiDed in the Note No.
o, from TALLETRAND to Me Fox the fo-mtr
Eating it as notorious fact, that Rufiia at that
time 1.-THE beginning of Apri) had made diret
propofai Of negotiation with France. Mr.. Fox,
in his anf~er, avows his ignorance of it. 1t
feems, however, to have bad mott coniider-
able weight with him, for his fubfsquent letters
are lefs decifive on the point Of treating in con-
cert. This iubeciiity Of Ruff is imputable TO
the Rate of her Cabinet at that period ftate
which is mon ably explained in the Miniferial
Pamphlet. The knowledge Of this is mof
important point, and the NOT valuable contain