remains an isolated measure, being neither more nor less than the natural confequence of circumftances, and an additional proof of the complete and truly impartial neutrality of the king. February, 1796.

Citizen Grouvelle, Minifter Plenipotentiary from the French Republic in Denmark, to his Excellency Count de Bernstorff, Minifier of the Council of State to his Danish Majefty, and of the Department for Foreign Affairs.

Copenhagen, 27 Ventose, 4th Year of the Republic. THE German papers, fir, have inferted the extract of an inftruction, which appears to have been addreffed in a circular manner by you to the minifiers of Denmark, at the different courts, and which concerns the refolutions adopted by his majefty, to give to the character of minifter plenipotentiary from the French republic, in which character I have refided for two years and a half at this court, a fuitable publicity by admitting me to a private audience. I have every reason to confider this extract as authentic, and in this character I feel myself bourd to addrefs you. Of whatever reflections the principle and fpirit of that extract may be fufceptible, my defign is not to comment upon it all. The government, whofe reprefentative I am, poffeffes, as well as myfelf, a fcrupulous refpect for the independence of governments, and even a regard for their private convenience. The tyrannical and intriguing fyftem of atking on every fubject official explanations, would be as contrary to their principles as to my own charact er. To make an

incident of a phrafe, to attach a diplomatic importance to each word, to render the flighteft difcuffion perfonal, to feafon with arrogance the ennui of a laborious epiftolary controverfy, is a part which we have lately feen played by certain agents, who quarrel for want of butinefs, who know not how to ferve their courts, but by infulting others, and who reprefent nothing more than the vices of their nations; ridicule and contempt are attached to them; their example is fit to be recollected, only becaufe it is proper to be avoided. As the French republic makes it her glory to fol-. low a contrary fyftem to that of the powers who acknowledge fuch minifters, I honour my felf for being a contrast to them in all my proceedings.

But, fir, I cannot difpenfe with fixing my attention upon the conclufion of the extract of your inftruction above mentioned, and feeing that the refult is announced in terms which, by their too general acceptation, may lead to abufive interpretation. I have thought that it is neceffary to have an amicable underftanding with you.

In fpeaking of my admiffion; and of the public acknowledgment of my character, you fay, that this ftep is ifolated, and means nothing but what it is in itself. Do you not apprehend that the difaffected will fee, in this mode of expreffion, a fort of reftriction, of implicit referve; that they may go fo far as to fuppofe that it alludes to I know not what other declaration or anterior meafure which my have been adopted to the fame courts to which your minifters may have held this official language? That even attributing the publication to you,

they

they may give a fort of credit to the inductions? Undoubtedly you will fee with pain that the public receives them; for however forced they may be, they injure the idea which the court of Denmark wifhes always to give of the franknefs of its proceedings. That after having to long delayed a meafure, become neceffary to her own confideration, as well as to the dignity of the republic, the might be again fufpected of withing to deftroy the good effect fecretly, and to weaken whatever advantage the meafure might produce to France. Would not this be a real incouvenience? I only wish to point out what in this concerns your own reputation.

On the other hand, fir, the French government, now eftablished on a new constitution, refumes its rank among the other European powers. It will of courfe be extremely cautious not to incur the charge of inconfiftency, nor to fuffer any ftain to attach on its dignity, nor in any respect to sanction by injuftice the detraction of its calumniators. The government well know the influence of public opinion, and will not fail to fet themselves right in the eftimation of the world, when their adverfa ries are bufily employed in corrupting it.

Although they feel themfelves far superior to flottery and oitentation, and direct their operations with that c niidence which arifes from the wildom of their councils, and the enemy of their meatures; yet the value they let upon their connection with Denmark, renders it impoflible for them to beho'd with an eye of indifference, a vireumti ince which conveys a barth VOL. XXVIII.

reflection on their conduct. The abufe that might be made of your note, gave them much concern, and it was with extreme fatisfaction that they received a teftimony of the re&titude of your intentions. A loyal government ftoops not to a difavowal, because it afferts nothing but the truth. A wife government ought to contemn falfe reports, but a benevolent government, or only an impartial one, will not reject overtures to an explanation, efpecially if it is demanded with amicable views.

It is with this view, fir, that I now difcharge this important duty, a duty which, though painful, is ftill neceffary to prevent an interruption of the exiting harmony between our refpective ftates, which ought to be united more clofely' than ever. If perfonal confideration were of any weight I thould give my opinion that this is not an unimportant object, and perhaps the occurrences, which preceded my admition, were not of the most conciliatory nature, and may produce fome embarratinents in the event, at leaft with refpect to this court. The firft obfervation I fub.nit to your wildom, and the latter remark to your delicacy. (Signed) GROUVELLE.

objects which do not admit of minifterial difcuffions. The inftructions which I gave to fome of the king's minifters at different foreign courts are of this kind: it is become public without our knowledge; it is nothing like a declaration to these courts. We have made no declaration; it is a fimple official inftruction, only defigned for the information of thofe to whom it is addreffed, and which relates to the anterior correfpondence, and which breathing only the justice rendered to the prefent French conftitution, could not furely involve us in a difpute with her, but rather with thofe who do not love that conftitution. This is fo clearly evident, that I fhould only weaken it by further expla

nation.

You know, befides, that your admittion has been without the fmallest referve, abfolutely in the ufual and moft folemn forms that we know. We never do things by half, and as you are witness of our conduct and proceedings, I fhould love to chufe you youriclf as judge, and I depend upon your impartiality. In the fame manner I intreat you to believe in the high confideration with which I am, &c. BERNSTORFF.

Copenhagen, March 19, 1796.

Proclamation of the Queen of Portugal

for making Liban a tree Port. Donna Maria, by the Grace of God, Queen of Portugal and the Algarves, &c. &c.

BE it known to all to whom this law fhall come, that taking into my royal confideration the many and very important advantages which would neceffarily refult to the commerce of the fubjects of thefe kingdoms and their dominions, by the

4

eftablishment of a free port; and well aware, that the port of Lisbon from its fituation, fecurity, and facility of navigation with the ocean, is preferable to those of other nations which have adopted fimilar eftablishments; conforming myself to the opinion of my royal board of commerce, agriculture, manufactures, and navigation, of thofe kingdoms and their dominions, and of others of my council, very learned and zealous for the good of my royal fervice, and of the public utility-It is my will, and I am pleafed to create and etablifh, at Junquiera, joining to the city of Lisbon, a free port, to take entire and due effect from the first day of January, in the year next enfuing of 1797, having deftined for its exercife and the depofit, the boutes and warehouses of Fort St. John, with the ground adjoining, whereon to build the further neceffary accommodations, there to receive and depofit all goods and merchandize, of whatever quality or kind they may be, as well for foreign countries, (except for the prefent fugar and tobacco) as from national ports fituate beyond the Cape of Good Hope, for the purpofe, at the option of the proprietors of the faid goods, of difpofing of them for the internal confumption of the kingdom, provided they are entitled to lawful entry, and on paying the customary duties, at the refpective cuftomhoufes; or to be exported to foreign ports, or national ones beyond the faid Cape of Good Hope, on paying only towards the benefit of my royal revenue, for protection and depofit, the duty of 1 per cent. on the amount of their value, calculated on the invoice to be produced by the captains of the

that all commercial tranfactions had alio been fufpended: her majetty has therefore refolved, under the prefent circumstances, to fufpend in a like manner, on her part, all commerce with the ftates general of the Netherlands, to prohibit her fubjects all tranfactions, of mercantile connections, with the fubjects of the republic, and to forbid them all navigation to the harbours of the faid fiates.

Her majefty has been farther pleafed to ordain, that all tranfactions in the interior of her dominions with the fubjects of the United Provinces be fufpended; and that their capitals fhall, under no pretence, be carried out of the kingdom.

The departure of all Dutch fhips, which are in the harbours under the dominion of her majefty, is alfo entirely ftopped, becante there they muft remain under embargo till further orders.

That this refolution may reach the knowledge of every one, and be put in force, it has been pubHickly potted up.

The fecretary of the tribunal of commerce,

republic; that the hoped there subfitted no other cause of difagreement between both ftates, and that the Dutch government would obferve reciprocity with regard to the commercial connections; and that the temporary embargo had. been occafioned by the meafures manifefted in Holland against Portugal, and her majefty thought it very ftrange that Portugal thould not have been confidered like other friends of France who were at peace with the Batavian republic."

Copy of the Letter fent by the King of Naples to the Marquis del Vajo, who, after the receipt of it, fet out for Rame as Ambajador Extraordinary, and concluded there the offenfive and defenfive Treaty betwien Naples and the Pope.

HIS holiness acquaints me by letter of his determination to reject the unjust and execrable conditions of the French, on which account he demands of me, though rather late, fpeedy fuccour.0 Not-" withfunding this is againfi doriginal plan, I hefitate not a moment! to grant it to him, as it concenig our holy religion, to which I have conftantly been devoted. As his holinets demands of me, at the fame time, to fend fome perfon with whom he may confult on our common affairs, I have appointed you, the marquis del Vatto, for this purpose. Depart immediately, and have at heart the honour of God and the holy church, the good of the state, and the tranquillity of my fubjects, who daily give trefh proofs. of their attachment and fidelity to me.

Done in the camp of
St. Germano.

FERDINANDO REX. Proclamation