Genoa and France; the proximity alone, but also to extend them to of the two contries, the induftrious activity of the inhabitants, the antiquity of their commercial and political connection, and, in fine, the remarkable fituation of the Genoefe territory, bordering on two nations who have long meditated to divide it between them, and France who could reap no advantage in aggrandizement at her expence. The Genoefe nation, and its moft ferene government, may rely on a conftant fucceffion of good offices on the part of the French nation, and reciprocally the French nation has a right to expect a loyal and fincere return on the part of the moft ferene government of Genoa. They have a right to think the latter will never give protection to thofe perfidious French, who are the contempt of the whole univerfe, to thofe emigrants who cowardly fled their country to confpire against it. The executive directory feel the full extent of the duty impofed on them by the confidence of a great nation, from a free, a generous, and magnanimous people. The executive directory are about to cruth the remains of thofe enemies who disturb the tranquillity of France, while their energetic measures have already guaranteed to Europe their immovable ftability, and announce to all that the national power confided to them, ought and will be faithful and fincere in refpect to foreign nations. Truth and justice are the only bafis of their diplomatica. In fine, they truft they are worthy of that greatnefs and national generofity, not merely to limit theit Cares to the intereft of France the happinefs of thofe nations which have thewn themselves the fincere friends of the French. They may henceforward regard their equity and power, as forming the tutelary guide of their prefervation. I have the honour to prefent my credentials to the moft Serene Doge, and to affure him, that in the exercife of my function, I shall ever be animated with an ardent defire to be perfonally agreeable to the ferene government of Genoa, and to obtain the confidence and the cfteem of the Genoefe nation. Copy of the Note of the Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic, dated 22 Midor (July 10,) fourth year, to the Secretary of State. FOR feveral days paft movements have manifefted themselves among the inhabitants of Genoa and its environs, the caufe of which could not efcape the undersigned, because it is injurious to the French Republic. It is falfely infinuated to the people, that the French with to take away their property, their arms, their churches. Under the eyes of the moft ferene government the pricfts deviate from the fpirit of peace, which fhould be peculiarly characteristic of their speeches and actions; they inflame the imaginations of the people by religious ceremonies, grounded on the danger which the Genoefe nation is fuppofed to run. The women collect in great numbers, and repair in crowds to the churches, praying Heaven to protect them against the banditti who are come from the mountains. Thefe movements have been di rected rected again the French, in fuch a manner, that last Wednesday, July, a band of women affailed, on le brige of Lavignano, two Frechnen, who were peaceably tak, a keich of the bridge. The und eigned cannot believe that the moft ferene government is provoking by any particular - nature this alarm, which has no fandation, fince the French Republic is the friend of nations il it are at peace with her; fince there pects their liberty, their commerce, and their prop rty. Thefe truths must be demontirated to the ft nate of Genoa; and it cannot but be by fome bafe perfidy that the inftigators of the prefent ferment fpeak to the people of the jut fate of Arquata, and divers places which the infurrection in Lombardy had changed into dens of affallins and robbers. As it is important to ftop in its growth an evil which might prove fatal in its confequences, the underfigned requefts the moft ferene government to take the measures in its power to undeceive the people, refpecting the falfe impreffions endeavoured to be made on them. The men who mislead them are known; the Genoefe government can no longer fuffer their plots and infolent declamations against the French, without offending the French Republic, and becoming refponfible for the misfortunes which might attend upon a reci. procal irritation of minds. It ought to deprive the impoftors of the faculty of deceiving, by all the exaggerations which they do not ceafe to devife and to circulate, by informing the people of the demands which General Buonaparte and the undersigned have really ad Letter from the Commiffary Director St. Pierre d'Arena, 25 Fructidor. THE agents of the government here have guaranteed our landing goods in the harbour of St. Pierre d'Arena, neverthelefs two Englith floops have gone out of port, and paffed before your poft, in order to carry off our vefiel, and it was not till the floops were at a diftance with their prize that you commenced firing, which you did not keep up, and which you difcontinued when the English hips were within reach. Yet you cannot be ignorant of the fact, because we fired more than thirty times be▾ fore you were difpofed to oppofe this violation of neutrality. You will, Sir, acknowledge the receipt of the prefent. (Signed) REPLY. S. Sucy. bour would be guilty of a violation of neutrality, and the rather, as they had given their wo d of honour not to make reprifa's for 24 hours after their departure; and even then not within cannon fhot of the garrison. For thefe reafons I could not interdict the departure of the floop alluded to from this harbour. As foon as I received the accounts of the violence committed on the French tartan, I gave directions for my batteries to prevent the accomplishment of the attempt began of the faid tartan, and at the fame time to maintain our neutrality. If the effect of thefe directions has not answered my expectation, the mifcarriage is not to be afcribed to any neglect of mine. I have the honour to be, Your obedient humble fervant, tons. Magnificent lords, THE executive directory having thought proper to renew the credentials of feveral of the envoys of the French republic to foreign powers, has juft tranfmitted to me thofe by which it has been pleafed to accredit me to the very refpectable Helvetic body, in quality of ambaffador of the French republic. I enclose them in this. I fatter myself, magnificent lords, that the knowledge you already have of my fentiments for all the members of the illuttrious Helvetic confederation, will leave you no doubt of my zeal to cultivate the confidence of which you have already given me fuch fatisfactory proofs; and I alfo hope, magnificent lords, that you will be perfuaded beforehand, that, as the faithful interpreter of the conftantly amicable difpofitions of the French government to your country, I thall not ceafe to exert myfelf zealously in concurring to the fuccefs of its views, in whatever may be the best calculated to ftrengthen the indiffoluble ties which conftitute the happiness of the two nations, and to fecure the tranquillity and profperity of the Helvetic body. I pray God, &c. (Signed) Bafle, March 2, 1796. BARTHELEMY. Letter of the Executive Directory to the Highly Respectable Helvetic Body, Vely dear, great friends, allies, and confederates, THE with we entertain to keep up and cultivate a friendship and good understanding with you, induces us to appoint citizen Barthelemy to retide in Switzerland in quality of ambaffador of the French republic. The knowledge we have of the principles and fentiments of citizen Barthelemy, authorifes us to think that the choice we have made of him to fill this important poft, cannot but be agreeable to you. It is with this perfuafion that we pray you, very dear great friends, allies, and confederates, to grant him a full confidence in whatever he may be charged to fay to you from us, and more particu larly larly when he fhall exprefs to you our withes for the profperity of the Helvetic body, our anxioufnels to concur in whatever may contribute to its fatisfaction, and to ftrengthen the bonds which unite the two republics. Given at Paris under the feal of the French republic, 15 pluviofe, fourth year of the French republic, one and indivifible. REUBEL, Prefident. By the minifter of external relations, CH. DELACROIX. Declaration of the Executive Directory, dated Paris the 16th Germinal (5 April) to the Senate of Bafle. THE executive directory is credibly informed, that last year a plan was formed to attack the French frontiers, by marching the corps of emigrants commanded by the prince of Conde, first into the Frickthal, and from thence through the territory from Bafle, against the department of the Upper Rhine, the Mont-Terrible, Doubs, and Jura; that this plan, fo far from being laid afide, is again refumed; and that preparations are actually making to carry it into effect. This plan is fupported by feveral inhabitants of Switzerland, who employ all their intereft and influence to facilitate its execution. The known fentiments of feveral magiftrates of Bafle, and other inhabitants of note, are by no means qualified to appeafe the folicitude of the directory on this head, it being notorious that they treat with as much averfion the friends of the French republic, as they fhew predilection for what ever concerns the Imperial armies, and the interest of the emperor. Thus it must be fuppofed, that if, in the execution of that plan, the enemy violated the territory of the canton of Bafle, the magiftrates who compofe the government of this city, would endeavour, by pleading the impoflibility of refiftance, to ward off the confequences of the violated neutrality of the canton; of course, there does not exift at prefent, fufficient fecurity that its neutrality will be refpected. Under thele circumstances, the directory finds itself obliged to declare to the magiftrates of the city and canton of Baile, that, unless they adopt vigorous, fufficient, and unfufpicious measures for the defence of their own territory, and the maintenance of the respect due to their neutrality, it is refolved to take every ftep that thall be requifite for the protection of the frontier departments against every kind of infult; and the directory renders them answerable for all the unhappy confequences that may refult from the military operations which circumtances may require. Letter from the Sovereign Council of Bafle to his Excellency M. Barthelemy, Ambafador from the French Republic in Switzerland. and indifpenfable to the execution of hoftilities. intention of the directory was folely to tranfmit to us, though the medium of the minifter for foreign affairs, the refult of their deliberations. But if the form furprifed us, the contents of the paper excited our furprife in a much great-rantee. No people can give fuch a er degree; of this our reply will convince your excellency. The executive directory announce to us, that the corps of emigrants meditates an invafion of our territory. It does not belong to us to call in queftion the proofs which the directory fay they have received; we fhall confine ourfelves to obferve, that at the opening of each campaign mention has always been made of a project of this kind, and that nevertheless it has never been carried into execution; fo that we are still to know, whether the reports that are spread are merely a trick of war, or whether fuch a defign has been renounced either from the uncertainty of decifive fuccefs, or the want of accordance with other events that were to concur with it; or finally, whether, and much more probably, it be, because the emperor, faithful to his engagement to refpect our neutrality, has forbidden the peace of an independent people to be disturbed, who for feveral ages, contented with their limits, have taken no part in the diffenfions of the great powers of Europe. In fhort, we can affure you that at prefent the danger, if danger does exift, does not appear to be imminent. The corps of emigrants is at too great a diftance from our frontiers; it does not form a fufficient force to dare to attempt an invation, and we do not perceive yet preparations which are the forerunners of hoftilities, The fecond point of the note of the executive directory concerns the defence of our territorry and the demand of a fufficient gua guarantee. If belligerent powers, warned |