Citizen Barthelemy had been established, on the part of the new republic, at Basle,—­where, with his proconsulate of Switzerland and the adjacent parts of Germany, he was appointed as a sort of factor to deal in the degradation of the crowned heads of Europe.  At Basle it was thought proper, in order to keep others, I suppose, in countenance, that Great Britain should appear at this market, and bid with the rest for the mercy of the People-King.

On the 6th of March, 1796, Mr. Wickham, in consequence of authority, was desired to sound France on her disposition towards a general pacification,—­to know whether she would consent to send ministers to a congress at such a place as might be hereafter agreed upon,—­whether there would be a disposition to communicate the general grounds of a pacification, such as France (the diplomatic name of the Regicide power) would be willing to propose, as a foundation for a negotiation for peace with his Majesty and his allies, or to suggest any other way of arriving at the same end of a general pacification:  but he had no authority to enter into any negotiation or discussion with Citizen Barthelemy upon these subjects.

On the part of Great Britain this measure was a voluntary act, wholly uncalled for on the part of Regicide.  Suits of this sort are at least strong indications of a desire for accommodation.  Any other body of men but the Directory would be somewhat soothed with such advances.  They could not, however, begin their answer, which was given without much delay, and communicated on the 28th of the same month, without a preamble of insult and reproach.  “They doubt the sincerity of the pacific intentions of this court.”  She did not begin, say they, yet to “know her real interests.”  “She did not seek peace with good faith.”  This, or something to this effect, has been the constant preliminary observation (now grown into a sort of office form) on all our overtures to this power:  a perpetual charge on the British government of fraud, evasion, and habitual perfidy.

It might be asked, From whence did these opinions of our insincerity and ill faith arise?  It was because the British ministry (leaving to the Directory, however, to propose a better mode) proposed a congress for the purpose of a general pacification, and this they said “would render negotiation endless.”  From hence they immediately inferred a fraudulent intention in the offer.  Unquestionably their mode of giving the law would bring matters to a more speedy conclusion.  As to any other method more agreeable to them than a congress, an alternative expressly proposed to them, they did not condescend to signify their pleasure.