mean that the peace of Germany could take place, without adjusting the difference between France and England, and expreffes her confidence, that her allies will make neither peace nor treaty without her confent; obferving, that he meant only to feparate the discussion of the two wars. She obferves, alfo, that the basis of her propofition for the statu quo is neceflarily connected with the epochas propofed, becaufe if the epochas are diftant, fuch events may happen as may make it impoffible to acquiefce in the uti possidetis. France, therefore, recalls the whole propofition, if England rejects the epochas annexed to it. France alfo hopes England will fend a minifter to her court.

Mr. Pitt, in his anfwer to the duke, dated the 28th of April, acquaints him that England had nominated the earl of Egremont, lord vifcount Stormont, and fir Jofeph York, her ambaffadors at the congrefs; and that they were to repair to Augfburg in July.

In the memorial accompanying

this letter, and of the fame date, France is acquainted that Mr. Stanley will be fent to her when M. Buffy comes to England; and it is obferved, that the bafis of the propofition, uti possidetis, made by France, is not neceffarily connected with the epochas, or periods proposed, becaufe France, in the fame memorial in which the propofition is made, offers to negotiate about thofe very periods in thefe words: "Neverthelefs, as England may "think that the proposed periods are "too near, or too diftant, France "will enter into a negotiation on "that point when the intentions of

England fhall be known*." The memorial, therefore, contains an offer to treat about thefe epochas, and other matters relative to a peace.

After fome neceffary forms had been fettled, M. Buffy fet out for England, and Mr. Stanley for France, and both arrived in due tine.

The allies of France, though uneafy at this meafure, did not obftruct it.

1

M. Buffy's

M. Buffy's inftructions were in fubftance as follows;

lft. To demand whether the pe riods annexed to the propofition of statu quo, are accepted; if not, what others were propofed.

2d. To declare that the war of France with England was diftinct from that of Auftria with Pruffia; confequently that, except Wefel and Gueldres, which belonged to the emprefs, France was at liberty to evacuate Gottingen, Heffe, and the county of Hanau, but that this evacuation was to depend on two conditions, 1ft. That England fhould give fecurity that the army of prince Ferdinand fhould be dif banded, and not ferve against the allies. 2d. That England fhould agree to fome reftitution which fhould be judged reafonable as an equivalent for fuch evacuation.

Mr. Stanley, at his firft conference after his arrival in France, declared, in the name of his court, that England would fupport her allies with efficacy and good faith. The French Minifter anfwered him in a manner equally concife, that France would alfo fulfil her engagements with her allies; but that as the peace between the emprefs queen and Pruffia was to be negotiated at Augsburg, the differences between thofe powers was not the fubject on which the French and English minifters had been reciprocally difpatched.

The fubfequent conferences paffed in difcuffing the propofed epochas, but the English minifter, both at London and Paris, eluded giving a pofitive anfwer.

And England refolved on the enterprize againft Belleifle, after the memorial of France, dated March, in which the epochas were men

tioned; and the expectation of fuc cefs from that expedition retarded a categorical anfwer relating to them.

Belleifle, at length, was taken, and then Mr. Pitt gave M. Buffy a memorial, in which he fixes the epochas two months later than those propofed by France, viz. the first of July, September, and November following, and agrees that all fubfequent conquefts fhall be immediately restored; but obferves that as all epochas, which have no reference to the figning of fomething obligatory, are vain and illufive, England agrees to thefe only upon

condition: 1ft. That whatever shall be adjusted between the two crowns of England and France, relative to their particular war, fhall be made obligatory and conclufive, independent of the negotiations at Augfburg, for terminating the difputes of Germany.

2dly. That a definitive treaty be figned before the firft of next Auguft: what relates to prizes at fea, to Belleifle, and to compenfations, is referred to future negotiations.

The first of thefe conditions is contrary to the memorial of France, dated the 26th of March, which begins with this expreffion, "The most chriftian king is de"firous, that the particular peace "of France with England, fhould "be united with the general peace "of Europe."

The fecond was very difficult, as the war extended over the four quarters of the globe, and as it was not known to France till the end

of June.

with regard to the first, France required the confent of Auftria to conclude a feparate peace with England.

Auftria, to oblige France, confented, upon condition that, in the feparate accommodation, nothing fhould be ftipulated contrary to her interefts.

France then ordered a memorial to be prepared, including specific propofitions for compenfations, tho' England fhould firft have explained herself on that head, as France made the first propofition of uti possidetis. The epochas were not yet fettled.

The propofitions, or fchemes of a treaty exhibited by France, were in fubftance as follows, dated July 15.

France cedes and guarantees all Canada to England for ever, apon four conditions: 1ft. That the religion of Rome may be publickly profeffed and exercifed there. 2dly. That the French may retire to French colonies with their effects, and have means of tranfportation procured by the English as cheap as poffible. 3dly. That the limits of Canada and Louisiana be finally fettled; and 4thly. That the French fhall have the liberty to fifh and dry cod on the banks of Newfoundland, and as a neceflary thelter to their veffels, fhall have Cape Breton as an entire fovereignty; a value to be fixed on this reftitution, and France not to erect any fortification.

II. France fhall reftore Minorca as when taken.

III. England fhall. reftore Guadaloupe and Marigalante.

IV. Two of the neuter iflands, Dominica and St. Vincent, to remain as by treaty of 1560, St.

Lucia and Tabago referred to a negotiation, whether to remain neuter, or to be poffeffed by England, faving always the right of a third power.

V. The treaty concluded between Godeheu and Saunders fhall be a bafis for the establishment of peace in Afia.

VI. England fhall either reftore Goree or Senegal, which the pleafes; one being neceflary to France for Negroes, and it being no advantage to England to have both.

VII. Belleifle fhall be reftored.

VIII. In confideration thereof France will evacuate Heffe and Hanau; the evacuation to be preceded by a fufpenfion of arms between England and France, in all parts of the world, to take place on the day when the preliminaries are ratified.

IX. But, after this fufpenfion, neither fhall England affift Pruffa, nor France Auftria, with any part of their forces: France, however, cannot evacuate the countries which have been conquered, and are fill governed in the name of the empress queen, without her confent.

X. If any farther conqueft fhall be any where made before the execution of the treaty, it fhall be reflored without recompence.

XI. The captures made at fea by England before the declaration of war, except king's fhips, to be reftored, or recompence made for them, they having been taken contrary to the law of nations.

XII. France will guarantee the Proteftant fucceffion, if defired. XIII. Prifoners on both fides fent home without ransom.

This fketch of a treaty was accompanied with a private memorial in which France propofes, that England