Monthly Chronicle.

merely gratifying them on a point insisted on peevishly , and that the doing it would put them still more in the wrong . » - As to the strange demand of an ultimatum , it was perfectly clear what it became me to say , and I hope that in the inclosed answer B . ( which I sent yesterday morning at twelve o ' clock ) to M . Delacroix , I shall be found to have adhered as closely as possible to the spirit of my instructions . Yesterday evening , at half past nine , M . Guiraudet brought me the note C . to which I immediately replied by the Note D . They require no comment ; and

as I intend leaving Paris to-morrow , and travelling with all convenient speed , I shall soon have it in my power to say the little which remains to say relative to this sudden , though perhaps not unlocked for close to my mission , that I need not trespass any further on your Lordship ' s patience . MALMESBURY . P . s . T thought it would be proper for his Majesty ' s Minister at Vienna to receive the earliestintciiigence of the negotiation beingbrofeen off ; I therefore have dispatched a messenger to Vienna with a copy of the several papers which have passed between rae -and Moniieur Delacroix since OUT conference , and also a

succinct account of what passed on it . M . SIR , Paris , Dec . lS The Executive Directory has heard the reading of the Official Note , signed by you , and of two confidential memorials , without signatures , which were annexed to it , ana which you gave in to me yesterday . I am charged expressly by the Directory to declare to you , that it cannot listen to any confidential note without a signature , and to require of you to give in to me officially , within fourand twenty hours , your Ultimatum , signed by you . en . DELACROIX .

Paris , tg . ' / j Dec . 1796 . Lord Malmesbury , in answer to Ihe letter which the Minister for Foreign Affairs had the goodness to transmit to him through the hands of the Secretary General of his department , must remark , that in signing the Official Note , which he gave in to that Minister , by order of his court , he thought he had complied with all the usual formalities , aud had given the necessary authenticity to the two confidential memorials which were annexed to it . Nevertheless , to remove all

difficulties , as far as lies in his power , he willingly adopts the forms which are pointed out by the resolution of the Executive Directory , and hastens to send to the Mirnisier for Foreign Affairs the ( wo memorials signed by his hand . With re ? p : ct to the positive demand of an Uilimalum , Lord Malmesbury observes , that insisting on that point in so peremptory a manner , before the two Powers shall have communicated to each other their respective pretensions , and the articles of the future treaty shall have been submitted to the discussions , which the different interests which are to be adjusted , necessarily demand , is to shut the door

against all Negotiation . Pie therefore can add nothing to the assurances which he has already given to the Minister for Foreign Affairs , as well by word of mouth , as in his Official Note ; and he repeats that he is ready to enter with that Minister into every espl- ' . mticii of which ihe state and progress of the Negotiation may admit , and that he will not fail to enter into the discussion of the proposals of his court , or of any counter project w & ici may he delivered to him , on Ihe part of the Executive Directory , with that candour and lhat spirit of conciliation which correspond with the j > : 3 t and pacific sentiments of his court . ParisDec . 19

, . The undersigned Minister for Foreign Affairs is charged by the Executive Directory toanswer to Lord Mii ' meibury ' s two notes of . the 17 th and . 19 th Dec . that the Executive Directory will listen to 110 proposals , contrary to the Constitution , to the Laws , and to ' the Treaties which bind the Republic . And as Lord Malmesbury announces at every communication , that he is i : i want of ihe advice of his Court , from which it results that he acts a part merely passive in the Negotiation , which renders his presence at Paris useless ; the undersigned is further charged to give him notice to depart from Paris in eight and forty hours

, with all the persons who have accompanied and followed him , and to quit , as expeditiously ns possible , Ihe territory of the Republic . The Undersigned declare .,, moreover , in the name of the Executive Directory , that if tlie British Cabinet is desirous of peace , the Executive Directory is ready to follow the Negotiations , according lo ihe basis laid down in the present note , by the reciprocal channel of couriers . en . DELACROIX .