This refusal of treating conjointly with the powers allied against this republic furnishes matter for a great deal of serious reflection.  They have hitherto constantly declined any other than a treaty with a single power.  By thus dissociating every state from every other, like deer separated from the herd, each power is treated with on the merit of his being a deserter from the common cause.  In that light, the Regicide power, finding each of them insulated and unprotected, with great facility gives the law to them all.  By this system, for the present an incurable distrust is sown amongst confederates, and in future all alliance is rendered impracticable.  It is thus they have treated with Prussia, with Spain, with Sardinia, with Bavaria, with the Ecclesiastical State, with Saxony; and here we see them refuse to treat with Great Britain in any other mode.  They must be worse than blind who do not see with what undeviating regularity of system, in this case and in all cases, they pursue their scheme for the utter destruction of every independent power,—­especially the smaller, who cannot find any refuge whatever but in some common cause.

Renewing their taunts and reflections, they tell Mr. Wickham, “that their policy has no guides but openness and good faith, and that their conduct shall be conformable to these principles.”  They say concerning their government, that, “yielding to the ardent desire by which it is animated to procure peace for the French Republic and for all nations, it will not fear to declare itself openly.  Charged by the Constitution with the execution of the laws, it cannot make or listen to any proposal that would be contrary to them.  The constitutional act does not permit it to consent to any alienation of that which, according to the existing laws, constitutes the territory of the Republic.”

“With respect to the countries occupied by the French armies, and which have not been united to France, they, as well as other interests, political and commercial, may become the subject of a negotiation, which will present to the Directory the means of proving how much it desires to attain speedily to a happy pacification.”  That “the Directory is ready to receive, in this respect, any overtures that shall be just, reasonable, and compatible with the dignity of the Republic.”

On the head of what is not to be the subject of negotiation, the Directory is clear and open.  As to what may be a matter of treaty, all this open dealing is gone.  She retires into her shell.  There she expects overtures from you:  and you are to guess what she shall judge just, reasonable, and, above all, compatible with her dignity.