Monthly Chronicle.

he repeatedly said , that this difficulty relative to the Netherlands was one which could not be overcome . Just as I was taking leave of him , he begged me to explain what was meant by the words in the Memoire ( A ) in the 4 th paragraph , beginning , " de s ' entendre mitlucllematl stir les Moyens d ' assurcr , " and ending at " huts possessions respective ! . " I told him it referred to the destructive system adopted by France in the West Indies , and went to express a wish , that the two Powers should agree on some general and uniform system of internal Police in the settlements there , which countries

would contribute to the security of those possessions to the respective , and , at the same time , the happiness of every description of inhabitants in them . M . Delacroix , a little hurt at my expression relative to the system adopted by France , endeavoured to recriminate on us ; but he ended by saying , that they should certainly be willing to concur in any arrangement relative to the Negroes , which did not militate against the principles of their Constitution . Here our conference ended ; and as , during the whole course of it , I bore in mind the possibilitythatalthough this our first miht be the only

favourmy , , g able opportunity , I should ever have of speaking on the general principles on which his Majesty was disposed to treat , I endeavoured , by adverting more or less to almost every point in my instructions , to enable M . Delacroix ( if he reports faithfully ) to ' state to the " Directory what I said , in such a manner as to put it out of their power to misconceive what were his Majesty ' s intentions , to remove all possibility of cavil on this case , and to bring them to a clear and distinct answer , whether they would agree to open a Negotiation on the principle not 111 sub

of the status ante helium , or on one differing from it only in form , - stance . I hope in attempting ( 0 do ihis I did nor , in ' the first instance , commit myself , or discover more of my instructions than it became me to do , and that in the conversation with M . Delacroix ,-nothing escaped me which might , at some subsequent period , hurt the progress of the Negotiation . I have , I believe , given this conference nearly verbatim 10 your Lordship ; and I was particularly anxious to do this correctly and minutely , as well that you may the propriety of what I said myselfas that that which MDelacroix

judge on , . ' safe ? to me , mav be accurately known , and remain on record . It must , however , be remembered ( as I observed in the beginning of this dispatch ) that he spoke from himself , as Minister indeed , but not under the immediate instructions of the Directory : and ' . his consideration will take - a little away from the singularity of some of the positions he had advanced . I confess , my Lord , from the civility of his maimers , and from Iris apparent readiness to discuss the subject , the impression which remained on my mind would but be liable to

on leaving him was , that the Negotiation go on , so many difficulties , and some of them so nearly insurmountable , that , knowing as I do the opinion of the Directory , I saw little prospect of iis terminating with success . But I did not expect the " conduct of the Directory would immediately be such r . s to evince a manifest inclination , and even determination to break off on the first proposals ; and I was a little surprised at receiving , en Sunday , at three p . M . the inclosed letter ( A ) from M . Delacroix ; Sic sent it by the principal Secretary of his Department ( M . Guiraudet ) , who communicated to me the original of the Arr-ete of the Directory , of which this letter , excepting the

alteration in the form , is a literal Copy . After perusing it , I asked M . Guiraudet , whether he was informed of its contents ; and this ' led to a short conversation on them . I told him that both th-j demands were so unexpected , that I could not reply to them off hand : That as to the first , it was quite unusual to sign Memorials which were annexed lo a Note actually signed , and that I scarcely felt myself authorised to depart from what was , I believe , an invariable rule : That as to the second demand , made in peremptory and unprecedented a I couldwithout much hesitation ,

so way , , say at once , that it could net be complied with . M , Guiraudet lamented this much , and said , that this being the case , he feared our principles of Negotiation would never coincide . " - I agreed with him in my expressions of concern . Yy ' e conversed together afterwards for some time , but nothing parsed at all worthy remark . I told him I should send m ; , ' answer the next day . On refieeling more attentively on the request , that I would sign the two memorials wliich I had given in , it struck me thai the complying with it pledged me to nothing ; thai it -. vj-