Genoa and France; the proximity alone, but alfo to extend them to of the two conntries, the induftrious activity of the inhabitants, the antiquity of their commercial and political connection, and, in fine, the remarkable fituation of the Genoese 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 Genoese nation, and its moft ferene government, may rely on a constant 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 most serene government of Genoa. They have a right to think the latter will never give protection to those perfidious French, who are the contempt of the whole universe, to those emigrants who cowardly fled their country to confpire against it. The executive directory feel the full extent of the duty imposed on them by the confidence of a great nation, from a free, a generous, and magnanimous people. The executive directory are about to crush the remains of those enemies who disturb the tranquillity of France, while their energetic measures have already gua ranteed 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. the happiness of those 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. Truth and justice are the only bafis of their diplomatica. In fine, they truft they are worthy of that greatness and national generofity, not merely to limit theit cares to the interest of France I have the honour to present my credentials to the most Serene Doge, and to affure him, that in the exercise 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 esteem of the Genoefe nation. Copy of the Note of the Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic, dated 22 Mofficior (July 10,) fourth year, to the Secretary of State. FOR several days past movements have manifefted themselves among the inhabitants of Genoa and its environs, the cause of which could not escape the undersigned, because it is injurious to the French Republic. It is falsely infinuated to the people, that the French with to take away their property, their arms, their churches. Under the eyes of the most serene government the priests deviate from the spirit of peace, which should 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. These movements have been directed 1 rected against the French, in such a manser, that lait Wednesday, July, a band of women assailed, on Le brige of Lavignano, two Fret chien, who were peaceably tak à sketch of the bridge. The undertigned cannot believe that the moft ferene government is revoking by any particular neative this alarm, which has no f andation, fince the French Republic is the friend of nations il at are at peace with her; fince the respects their liberty, their commerce, and their prop rty. Thefe truths must be demonftrated to the fe nate of Genoa; and it cannot but be by fome base perfidy that the inftigators of the present ferment speak to the people of the just fate of Arquata, and divers places which the insurrection in Lombardy had changed into dens of affaffins and robbers. As it is important to stop in its growth an evil which might prove fatal in its confequences, the underfigned requests the most serene government to take the measures in its power to undeceive the people, respecting the false impressions endeavoured to be made on them. The men who mislead them are known; the Genoese government can no longer fuffer their plots and infolent declamations against the French, without offending the French Republic, and becoming responsible for the misfortunes which might attend upon a reciprocal irritation of minds. It ought to deprive the impoftors of the faculty of deceiving, by all the exaggerations which they do not confe to devise and to circulate, by informing the people of the demands which General Buonaparte and the undersigned have really ad dressed to the fenate, and of the general motives on which they were founded The undersigned begs the most ferene government to communicate to him the effective measures which, in its wisdom, it thall refolve on, to prevent the consequences of the present ferment, in order that he may be able to acquaint the Executive Directory, and the general of the army of Italy, with its real difpofitions. (Signed) FAYPOULT. Letter from the Commissary Director St. Pierre d'Arena, 25 Fructider. THE agents of the government here have guaranteed our landing goods in the harbour of St. Pierre d'Arena, nevertheless two Englith floops have gone out of port, and passed before your poft, in order to carry off our vetiel, and it was not till the floops were at a diftance with their prize that you menced firing, which you did not keep up, and which you difcontinued when the English ships were within reach. Yet you cannot be ignorant of the fact, because we fired more than thirty times be fore you were disposed to oppofe this violation of neutrality. com You will, Sir, acknowledge the receipt of the present. (Signed) REPLY. S. SUCY. COMMISSARY DIRECTOR, THE commandant of Fort Lauterne bas the honour to acquaint you that he could never have imagined that the English floops of war which came out of the har04 bour bour would be guilty of a violation of neutrality, and the rather, as they had given their wod of honour not to make reprifa's for 24 hours after their departure; and even then not within cannon shot of the garrifon, For these reasons 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 said tartan, and at the fame time to maintain our neutrality. If the effect of these directions has not anfwered my expectation, the miscarriage is not to be afcribed to any neglect of mine. I have the honour to be, With the most fincere esteem, Your obedient humble servant, Fort Lauterne, 12th Sept. 1796. Letter from his Excellency M. Barthelemy, Ambassador of the French Republic, to the Burgomasters, Chief Magistrates, Landamman, and Council of the Twelve Swiss Can 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 just tranfmitted to me those by which it has been pleased to accredit me to the very refpectable Helvetic body, in quality of ambaffador of the French 'republic. I enclose them in this. I flatter myself, magnificent lords, that the knowledge you already have of my fentiments for all the members of the illustrious 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 persuaded beforehand, that, as the faithful interpreter of the conftantly amicable dispositions of the French government to your country, I shall not cease to exert myfelf zealously in concurring to the success 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 secure the tranquillity and profperity of the Helvetic body. I pray God, &c. (Signed) BARTHELEMY. Bafle, March 2, 1796. Letter of the Executive Directory to the Highly Respectable Helvetic Body. Very 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 reside in Switzerland in quality of ambaffador of the French republic. The knowledge we have of the principles and sentiments of citizen Barthelemy, authorifes us to think that the choice we have made of him to fill this important post, 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 particularly larly when he shall express to you our withes for the profperity of the Helvetic body, our anxiousness 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 pluviose, fourth year of the French republic, one and indivifible. REUBEL, President. By the minister of external relations, CH. DELACROIX. Declaration of the Executive Directory, dated Paris the 16th Germinal (5 April) to the Senate of Basle. 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 several inhabitants of Switzerland, who employ all their interest 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 appease 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 shew predilection for what ever concerns the Imperial armies, and the interest of the emperor. Thus it must be supposed, that if, in the execution of that plan, the enemy violated the territory of the canton of Bafle, the magiftrates who compose the government of this city, would endeavour, by pleading the impoffibility of refiftance, to ward off the confequences of the violated neutrality of the canton; of course, there does not exift at present, fufficient security that its neutrality will be respected. 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 step 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 consequences that may refult from the military operations which circumstances may require. Letter from the Sovereign Council of Bafle to bis Excellency M. Barthelemy, Ambassador from the French Republic in Switzerland. and indispensable to the execution of hoftilities. intention of the directory was foleJy to tranfmit to us, though the medium of the minifter for foreign affairs, the refult of their deliberations. But if the form surprised us, the contents of the paper excited our furprise 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 question the proofs which the directory say they have received; we shall confine ourselves 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 decisive success, 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 short, we can affure you that at present the danger, if danger does exist, does not appear to be imminent. The corps of emigrants is at too great a distance from our frontiers; it does not form a fufficient force to dare to attempt an invafion, and we do not perceive yet preparations which are the forerunners of hoftilities, The second 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, with their fortreffes, their arms, their efforts in every fenfe, cannot procure the guarantee, that their territory shall not be violated, much less can a neutral ftate procure and affemble forces, whose mass would perhaps afford more umbrage than it would inspire security. Befides the expence of fuch a force, and the provifions that it would require, are above our means, which the circumstances of the times weaken more and more. But there is another kind of guarantee, which we deem more fure than a great affemblage of troops; it is the firm resolution of all the governments of Switzerland, not to depart from the principles of neutrality which they have inherited from their ancestors, and of which all our neighbours have a positive conviction; it is the facred word, which the members of the Helvetic body, either separately or united, in folemn diet, have given. It is the local difficulties that would attend a passage through our territory, without being exposed to a certain lofs from the measures of prudence, which the attacked canton might take, and without renouncing every hope of retreat, by the arrival of contingents from our confederates as zealous to avenge the outrages offered to neutrality, as religious in the obfervance of the duties of neutrality. It is the difpofitions taken to be warned |