as I have declared, the British isles in a state of blockade, in order to see if that measure would reduce the British cabinet to abdicate its unjust supremacy over the seas, and to conclude a solid and durable peace.Far from that, the English government has not only rejected the propositions which were made on the part of my intimate ally the emperor of the French and king of Italy, whether directly or by the mediation of different powers friendly to England, but also having committed the most enormous of atrocities and injuries, by its scandalous attack on the city and harbour of Copenhagen, it has thrown off the mask; and no person can any longer doubt that its insatiable ambition aspires to the exclusive commerce and navigation of the seas. Nothing can prove this more evidently than the measures which that government has just adopted by its orders of the 14th of November last; by which it not only declares the coast of France, Spain, and their allies, and all those occupied by the armies of either power, in a state of blockade, but has even subjected the ships of neutral powers, the friends, and even the allies of England, to the visits of English cruizers, and to be forcibly carried into an English port, where they are to be obliged to pay a tax on their cargoes, the quantity of which is to be determined by the English legislature. Authorised by a just right of reprisal to take the measures which shall appear to me proper to prevent the abuse which the British cabinet makes of its power, with respect to neutral flags, and to see if we cannot force it to renounce so unjust a tyranny, I have resolved to adopt, and do hereby require there shall be adopted, in all my states, the same measures which have been taken by my intimate ally, the emperor of the French and king of Italy, and which are of the following tenor.-[Here follows a literal copy of the decree of the 26th December, issued on this subject by his majesty the emperor and king.] No. 12.-Convention between his Majesty and the King of Sweden, signed at Stockholm on the 18th of February, 1808. The consequences of the Treaty of Tilsit between Russia and France unfolding themselves more and more, in such a manner as to threaten Sweden with a speedy invasion, for the purpose of forcing her to accede to the French system; and his Swe dish majesty finding himself therefore under the necessity of bringing forward, to resist its effects, a greater force than he has at his ordinary disposal, his Britannic majesty, animated with the constant desire of contributing to the defence and security of his ally, and of supporting him by every means in a war undertaken for the mutual interests of both states, has determined to give to his Swedish majesty an immediate aid in money, as being the most prompt and efficacious, to be paid from time to time at fixed periods; and their majesties having judged it expedient, that a formal Convention with regard to their reciprocal intentions in this respect, should be concluded, they have, for this purpose, named and authorised their respective plenipotentiaries; that is to say, in the name and on the part of his majesty the king of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Edward Thornton, Esq. his envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to his majesty the king of Sweden; and in the name and on the part of his majesty the king of Sweden, the Baron d'Ehrenheim president of his chancery, and commander of his order of the polar star, who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, have agreed upon the following articles;-Art. 1. His majesty the king of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland engages that there shall be paid to his majesty the king of Sweden, the sum of 1,200,000l. in equal instalments of 100,000l. sterling each per month, beginning with the month of January of the present year inclusively, and to continue successively in the course of each month, the first of which instalments shall be paid on the ratification of the present convention by his Swedish majesty.— 2. His majesty the king of Sweden engages on his part to employ the said sum in putting into motion, and kceping on a respectable establishment, all his land forces, and such part as shall be necessary of his Heets, and particularly his flotilla, in order to oppose the most effectual resistance to the common enemies. -3. Their said majesties moreover engage to conclude no peace or truce, or convention of neutrality with the enemy, but in concert and by mutual agreement.-4. The prescnt convention shall be ratified by the two high contracting parties, and its ratifications shall be exchanged at London within the space of six weeks after the signature of the said convention, or sooner if it can be done. In faith whereof, we the undersigned plenipotentiaries of their said majesties, have signed the present convention, and have caused the seal of our arms to be affixed thereto. Done at Stockholm, the 8th of Fe- EDW. THORNton. Separate Article.-The two high contracting parties have agreed to concert, as soon as possible, the mea. sures to be taken, and the auxiliary succours to be stipulated for, in the case of a war actually taking place between Sweden and the powers her neighbours; and the stipulations which may thence result shall be considered as separate and additional articles to this convention, and shall have the same force as if they were word for word inserted therein. In faith of which, we the undersigncd plenipotentiaries of their said majesties, have signed this separate article, and have caused the seal of our arms to be affixed thereto. Done at Stockholm, the 8th of Fe- EDW. THORNTON. No. 13.-Treaty of Alliance and Subsidy between his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and his Majesty the King of the Two Sicilies, signed at Palermo, on the 30th of March, 1808. His majesty the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and his majesty the king of the Two Sicilies, being equally animated by a sincere desire of strengthening more and more the ties of friendship and good understanding which so happily subsist between them, have judged that nothing could contribute more efficaciously to that salutary end, than the conclusion of a treaty of alliance and subsidy. For this purpose their said majesties have named their respective plenipotentiaries, viz. his Britan nic majesty, the right hon. William Drummond, one of his majesty's most hon. privy council, and his envoy extraordinary and minister ple nipotentiary at the court of his said Sicilian majesty-and his majesty the king of the Two Sicilies, the right illustrious and right excellent Thomas de Somma, marquis of Circello, his gentleman of the chamber, field-marshal of his armies, knight of his royal order of St Januarius, his counsellor of state, secretary of state for the department of foreign affairs, and superintendant general of the ports; who, after having communicated their respective full powers, have agreed upon the following articles : Art. I. There shall be a continuance of the sincere and constant friendship between his Britannic majesty and his majesty the king of the Two Sicilies, their heirs and successors, which has always subsisted up to the present time. II. The two high contracting parties shall afford to each other, during the present war with France, every succour and assistance, in proportion to their respective forces, and shall prevent, by common consent, every thing that can cause them trouble or detriment. III. His majesty the king of the Two Sicilies engages to grant to the troops of his Britannic majesty, stationed in the fortresses of Sicily, and to all British ships of war, an exemption from all duties belonging to him, upon every thing of which the British squadron in the Mediterranean, and the troops in that nation may stand in need, and which the country can furnish, in provisions, food, and in military and naval stores. IV. His Sicilian majesty being desirous of giving an additional proof of the sentiments by which he is animated, also engages to exempt from all duties belonging to him upon such provisions as may be requi site for the British ships of war at Malta, as well as all military stores which are to be found in the coun-. try, on condition however, that each vessel or vessels of war be furnished with a requisition from the governor of the said island, which shall specify the articles, and the quantity required. V. His Sicilian majesty further engages, in virtue of the present treaty, never to allow the enemies of Great Britain to bring into any of his ports, during the present war, any British ships taken by the enemies of Great Britain. VI. His Sicilian majesty also engages to open the ports of the Two Sicilies during the present war, to British squadrons, as well as to all merchant and other ships belonging to British subjects, without any restriction whatever, referring to the third article, with respect to exemption from duties. VII. His Britannic majesty enga ges in return, to defend, during the present war, the fortresses of Messina and Augusta, and to maintain there for that purpose, at his charge and expence, a body of troops which, in the present war, shall consist of ten thousand men, and to augment their number if the case shall require it. The disposition of which troops in the said fortresses, shall be in such manner and proportion as the commanding officer (to whom every requisite facility shall be given,) shall judge expedient: and his Britannic majesty stipulates, that the said general officers shall have the power of exercising martial law in the above garrisons, with respect to their British troops, in the same manner, and according to the same rules, as are observed in other English garrisons.-Quarters for the said troops shall be provided in the above-mentioned fortresses by his Sicilian majesty. VIII. His Britannic majesty farther engages to pay to his Sicilian majesty, during the continuance of the present war, an annual subsidy of 300,000l. sterling, (to commence from the 10th of September, 1805, when the British and Russian troops landed in the Neapolitan territory,) payable at the rate of 25,000l. sterling per month; which payment shall always be made one month in advance, computing from the date of the signature of the present treaty. His Sicilian majesty purposing to employ the said subsidies for the use of his marine, and of his land forces, shall regulate the distribution of them in such proportion as these two services may require, for the defence of his states, and for operations against the common enemy, and an account shall be given every three months to the British government, of the manner in which his Sicilian majesty shall have employed the subsidies paid to him by Great Bri tain. IX. The two high contracting parties desiring to strengthen more and more the ties which unite the two nations, and to extend their mutual relations, will employ themselves, as soon as possible, in concluding a treaty of commerce, the articles of which shall be equally advantageous to the subjects of both states. X. His Sicilian majesty engages not to conclude with France a peace separate from England; and his Britannic majesty, on his part, also en gages not to make a peace with France without comprehending and saving in it the interests of his Sicilian majesty. XI. The present treaty of alliance and subsidy shall be ratified by the two high contracting parties, and the ratification shall be exchanged in due form in London, within the space of four months from the date of its signature, or sooner if possible. In witness whereof, we, the undersigned, furnished with full powers from our respective sovereigns, have signed the present treaty, and have thereunto affixed the seal of our arms. Done at Palermo, this 30th day of March, 1808. W. DRUMMOND. THOMAS DE SOMMA. No. 14.-SPANISH DECREE.-Copy of a Decree issued from the Palace of San Lorenzo, October 30. "C. R.-God, who watches over his creatures, does not permit the consummation of atrocious deeds, when the intended victims are innocent. Thus his omnipotence has saved me from the most unheard-of catastrophe. My people, my subjects, all know my Christianity and settled habits. They all love me; and I receive from all of them proofs of their veneration such as the conduct of a parent calls for from his children. I lived persuaded of this felicity, and devoted to the repose of my family, when an unknown hand discovered the most atrocious and unheard-of conspiracy, which was carried on in my own palace, against my person. My life, which has so often been in danger, was too long in the eyes of my successor, who, infatuated by prejudice, and alienated from every principle of Christianity that my parental care and love had taught him, had entered into a project to dethrone me. Informed of this, I thought proper to inquire, person ally, into the truth of the fact, and, surprising him in my room, I found in his possession, the cypher of his correspondence, and of the instructions he had received from the vile conspirators. In consequence of this discovery, I immediately convoked the governor and council, in order that they might make the necessary inquiries; the result has been the detection of several malefactors, whose imprisonment I have ordered; as also the arrest of my son, at his residence. This is an additional aggravation of the affliction I labour under; but, however painful to my feelings, it must be submitted to, as it is of the utmost importance to the suppression of such a conspiracy. At the same time that I direct the publication of this affair to my subjects, I cannot avoid express ing to them the regret by which I am agitated; but that regret will be alleviated by the demonstrations of their loyalty. You will take the proper measures to have this decree circulated in due form. "CHARLES R." "By command of his majesty, I transmit this decree to your excellency, in order that it may be duly promulgated. "Signed by the ministers, and addressed to all viceroys, &c." Madrid, Nov. 5.-This day the king addressed the following decree, to the governor ad interim of the council of Castile : "The voice of nature unnerves the arm of vengeance; and when the offender's want of consideration pleads for pity, a father cannot refuse listening to his voice. My son has already declared the authors of that horrible plan which had been suggested by the evil-minded. He has laid open every thing in a legal form, and all is exactly consistent with those proofs that are required by the law in such cases. His confusion and repentance have dictated the remonstrances which he has addressed to me, and of which the following is the chief: "Sire and Father,--I am guilty of failing in my duty to your majesty; I have failed in obedience to my fa ther and king. I ought to do no thing without your majesty's consent; but I have been surprised. I have denounced the guilty, and beg your majesty to suffer your repentant son to kiss your feet. FERDINAND. "St Laurent, Nov. 5." "Madam and Mother, --I sincerely repent of the great fault which I have committed against the king and queen, my father and mother!With the greatest submission I beg your pardon, as well as for my obstinacy in denying the truth the other night. For this cause, I heartily entreat your majesty to deign to interpose your mediation between my father and me, that he may condescend to suffer his repentant son to kiss his feet. FERDINAND. "St Laurent, Nov. 5." "In consequence of these letters, and the entreaty of the queen, my well-beloved spouse, I forgive my son; and he shall recover my favour, as soon as his conduct shall give proofs of a real amendinent in his proceedings. I ordain also, that the same judges who have heard this cause from the commencement, shall continue the process; and I allow them to conjoin others, as colleagues, if they shall find occasion. I enjoin them, as soon as it shall be finished, to submit to me their judgment, which shall be conformable to law, according to the magnitude of of fences, and the quality of offenders. They ought to take for a basis, in reducing the heads of the accusation, |