I here interrupted him, expressing my surprise, after the full explanation I had with M. Talleyrand on that very point, that the possibility of our giving up Sicily should be mentioned again; that the guarantee of it to the king of the Two Sicilies was as much an object with England as M. Talleyrand knew it to be with Russia; and that I was happy to take that opportunity of stating to him fairly, that I felt myself bound to consider the obtaining for Russia the arrangement which she desired, as an object more interesting if possible to England, than those points which might be considered as peculiarly connected with her own interests. He informed me, that there was no clause in his instructions empowering him to hear me on the part of Russia: but that he had even seen M. Talleyrand's note to me, and, being satisfied that this was an accidental omission, which would be forthwith remedied, he had no objection to proceed, as if such a clause had been inserted. It was agreed that I should go to him to-day at two o'clock, to renew the conference. First Inclosure (A.)-Is a Copy of a Note from M. Talleyrand to the Earl of Lauderdale, dated September 22d, 1806, announcing the intention of General Clarke and himself to follow the Emperor, and proposes to correspond with Lord L. Second Inclosure (B.)-Is a Copy of a Note from the Earl of Lauderdale, dated September 22, 1806, requesting to be furnished with passports, &c. for messengers in the absence of M. Talleyrand. Third Inclosure (C.)-Is a Copy of a Note from the Earl of Lander. dale to M. de Champagny, dated September 23, 1806, requesting the appointment of a meeting. Fourth Inclosure (D.)-Is a Copy of a note from M. de Champagny to the earl of Lauderdale, dated September 23, 1806. Appoints Thursday next as the first day M. Champagny would have leisure. Fifth Inclosure (E.)-Is a Copy of a note from M. Talleyrand to the earl of Lauderdale, dated September 24, 1806. Formal, containing passports, &c. No. LII. Copy of a Dispatch from the Earl of Lauderdale to Earl Spencer, dated September 26, 1806.-Received September 28. Paris, September 26, 1806. MY LORD, In conformity with my engagement made yesterday, which I had the honour of mentioning to your lordship in my former dispatch of this date, I waited on M. Champagny this afternoon at two o'clock. He informed me, that the accidental omission in his instructious had been remedied, and that he had now powers to talk with me on the inte rests of Russia, with a view to arrange the conditions on which France would make peace with that country but he, at the same time, proposed, that we should, in the first instance, talk over the terms of peace between France and England. I observed, that as the greatest difficulties in our last conference seemed to arise from the conditions that I had proposed as necessary to be granted to Russia; and, as Eng land land was resolved not to make peace without obtaining for Russia all the objects on which she insisted, I thought the more natural order would be, to resume our conversation on these last topics. A long discussion accordingly en. sued, which ended in his informing me, that on the subject of concession to Russia, he was authorised to communicate to me, that the govern. ment of France was willing, in addition to the treaty made by M. d'Oubril, to cede to that power the full sovereignty of the island of Corfu, but that he had no authority to go any farther. I then informed him, that I was sorry to learn that the negotiation was at an end, for that my instructions were precise, and that I should feel it my duty, the moment I left him, to state to M. Talleyrand, that all hopes having vanished of bringing the negotiation to a favourable issue, I had only now to request passports for my return to England. After strong expressions of mutual regard, he attended me to the outer room, where he again proposed a renewal of our conferences, in case his government should give him new instructions. My answer was, that I had no choice in immediately applying for passports; but that, as long as 1 remained in this country, I never would refuse to see him ; and that if, before my departure, he should come with powers to grant all the objects on which I had explained myself, I should feel the greatest satisfaction, though at that moment, I thought any appointment perfectly unnecessary. On my return home I sent to M. Talleyrand a letter demanding my passports, a copy of which (marked A.) I enclose; and I understand VOL. XLVIII. First Inclosure (A.) Copy of a note from the Earl of Lauderdale to M. Talleyrand, dated September 26, 1806. Demands passports to return, as the conference with M. Champagny, "unfortunately leaves me no hope of being able to bring the negotiations, on the part of Great Britain and of Russia, to a favourable issue." Second Inclosure (B.) Copy of a note from M. de Champagny to the earl of Lauderdale, dated September 26th, 1806. "He thinks it may tend to advance that very desirable object, peace, to converse again on the subject with his excellency, and he has the honour to propose to his excellency to receive him at his house on Monday next." Third Inclosure (C.) Copy of a note from the carl of Lauderdale to M. de Champagny, dated September 26th, 1806. Accepts the appointment. earl of Lauderdale, dated Septem- pensable to your continuance at ber 26th, 1806. Immaterial. Paris. No. LIII. Extract from a Dispatch from Viscount Howick to the Earl of Lauderdale, dated Downing-Street, October 1, 1806. Downing-Street, October 1st. 1806. MY LORD, Your dispatches of the 26th ult. brought by the messenger Johnson, have been laid before the king. His majesty has seen, with great regret, that after more than six months spent in negotiation, the French government still hesitates upon the admission of points constantly urged by his majesty, as the only grounds on, which he could consent to peace, and that in so unsatisfactory a state of things, the chief of that government, together with his principal minister, has suddenly left Paris,* creating thereby new obstacles to the progress of the .negotiation. No. LIV. Extract from a dispatch No. LV. Copy of a Dispatch from the Earl of MY LORD, Late last night M. de Champag. ny's principal secretary called upon me with a letter from him, inclosing a letter from M. Talleyrand, both of which I have the honour of transmitting to your lordship, (marked A. and B.) From these your lordship will perceive, that the negotiation is now at an end, and that M. de Champag. ny has been authorised to give we the passports I required. I have this day accordingly renewed my demand to him in a letter, a copy of which I enclose (marked C.) On considering M. Talleyrand's note, it seemed to me necessary that I should not take the step of asking my passports from M. de Champag ny, without accompanying my de mand with a reply to some of the observations made by the minister for foreign aflairs. Your lordship will accordingly find inclosed a copy (marked D.) of an official note addressed by me to that minister. Whatever views the French government may have, in keeping up this state of suspense and uncertainty, his majesty feels that it is equally prejudicial to the interests of his subjects, and to those of Europe. If the professions of France are sincere, there can be no reason why she should not give a plain and decisive answer to demands which have been. I have sent the courier Lyell, for so long under consideration; and the purpose of conveying this infor the time is now come, when such an mation, and I have given him a let. answer must be required, as indis- ter to admiral Holloway, desiring him *The chief of the French government left Paris on the night of the 24th September, and was followed by M. Talleyrand on the 26th. him instantly to announce by the telegraph, that I shall leave Paris on Thursday morning. I have taken this step, because it occurred to me that government being thus in possession of the intelligence, that the negotiation is at an end, ten hours before it can reach London, they may have it in their power to take the most prudent means to make the fact public. I have the honour to be, &c. First Inclosure (A.) Copy of a note from M. de Champagny to the earl of Lauderdale, dated October 5th, 1806. Formal. Second Inclosure (B.) Copy of a Note from M. Talleyrand to the Earl of Lauderdale, dated Mentz, October 1, 1806. (Translation.) The undersigned, minister for foreign affairs, has laid before his majesty, the emperor, king of Italy, the note which his excellency the earl of Lauderdale, minister plenipoten tiary from his Britannic majesty, did him the honour to address to him on the 26th of this month. His majesty, after having, from a desire of peace, listened to every proposition which could have rendered it durable, and of reciprocal advantage to the two contracting powers, and to their allies, will see with pain the rupture of a negotia tion, to which his own disposition had led him to hope a more favourable conclusion. If the English cabinet is resolved to forego the pros. pect of a peace, and, if his Britannic majesty's minister plenipotentiary must depart from France, his majesty still flatters himself, that the English cabinet, and lord Lauderdale will, when they shall measuretheextent of the sacrifices which he was disposed to make, in order to facilitate the return of a sincere reconciliation, be convinced that his majesty, in order to promote the happiness of the world, would not hesitate between any advantages, in comparison with those to be expected from peace, and that the desire to insure its benefits to his people, could alone have determined his paternal heart to make sacrifices, not only of self love but of power, more considerable than even the opinion of the English nation could have pointed out in the midst of a war, in which he had ob tained constant advantages, without any mixture of reverse. If, however, it is the destiny of the emperor, and of the French nation, still to live in the midst of the wars and tumults, which the policy and influence of England have raised, his majesty, having done every thing to put a stop to the calamities of war, finding himself deceived in his dearest hopes, relies on the justice of his cause, on the courage, the affection, the power of his people. At the same time calling to mind the dispositions which he has expressed throughout the negotiation, his majesty cannot see but with regret, that England, who might have strengthened and confirmed her vast power by the blessings of peace, the want of which is felt by the present generation, and by the English peo. ple, as well as all others, willingly suifers the most favourable opportu nity of concluding it to pass by:The event will disclose whether a new coalition will be more disadvan tageous to France than those which have preceded it. The event will also disclose, whether those who complain of the grandeur and ambi3 E 2 tion tion of France, should not impute to their own hatred and injustice, this very grandeur and ambition of which they accuse her. The power of France has only been increased by the reiterated efforts to oppress her. Nevertheless, whatever inferences for the future may be drawn from the examples of the past, his majesty will be ready, should the negotiations with England be broken off, to renew them in the midst of any events. He will be ready to replace them on the basis laid in concert with the illustrious minister whom England has lost, who, having nothing to add to his glory, except the reconcilia. tion of the two nations, had conceived the hope of accomplishing it, but was snatched from the world in the midst of his work. The undersigned has the honour to inform his excellency the earl of Lauderdale, that M. de Champagny has been authorised to deliver to him the passports which he has demanded. The undersigned is desirous of renewing to his excellency the earl of Lauderdale, the assurance of his high consideration. (Signed) Ch. Mau. Talleyrand, Third Inclosure (C.) Copy of a note from the earl of Lauderdale to M. de Champagny, dated October 6, 1806. A formal demand of pass. ports. Fourth Inclosure (D.) Copy of a Note from the Earl of Landerdale to M. Talleyrand, dated October 6, 1806. (Translation.) Paris, 6th October, 1806. The undersigned minister plenipotentiary of his Britannic majesty received late last night the note which his excellency the minister for foreign affairs, did him the honour to address to him on the first of this month. The undersigned, learning that his excellency M. de Champagny is authorised to grant him the pass. ports which he has demanded, and which he is on the point of receiv ing, cannot refrain from ebserving to his excellency the minister for foreign affairs, in answer to his note, that he has some difficulty in ima. gining from what circumstances his excellency has been able to infer, "that the British government have resolved to forego the prospect of peace." The undersigned was sent to France to negotiate a peace, at a time when the illustrious minister, to whom his excellency has paid so just a tribute of praise, presided over the department for foreign affairs. This great man then acted under the full conviction, that he had received from France an offer of peace on the basis of uti possidetis, with the sole exception of Hanover and of its dependencies; in favour of his Britannic majesty: And, notwithstanding the success of the arms of his Britannic majesty, as well in Italy as on the continent of South America; and the refusal of his majesty the emperor of all the Russias to ratify that treaty, which in the eyes of the French govern. ment, was equivalent to the most splendid victory; not one new pro. position has been advanced on the part of his majesty, incompatible with the principle which was at first proposed by the French government, through the channel of the earl of Yarmouth, as the basis of the negotiation. It is not, surely, from |