demanded Hanover would then appear а faiT equivalent for that island.

Не read the draft of ап article to this efect. That Great Britain and

France should not oppose each other's arms against such of the

powers now at war as should not be named in the preliminary articles.

То this declined making апу answer, repeating ту orders not to

converse further, till he should abandon this proposition and return

to the former basis. I added that unless he did so, I could expect

nothing but your order to return to England.

I gave Mr. Talleyrand а сору of the address presented to His

Majesty for the abolition of the slave trade; having read it, he said

• that he could not receive the communication regularly from а person

having по character, but that I might inform уои, that оп the

general view of the subject the sentiments and wishes of France were

similar to those Qf Great Britain, but that по decisive answer could

be given till they had considered the interests of their colonies,

which would take some time, the question being to them new.

Mr. Talleyrand wished to revert to the old topic оп which

I repeated to him that it was impossible for те to converse оп апу

part of the subject, till he should cntirely relinquish every mode of

seeking for the possession of Sicily. I judge from this, as well as

from much apparent anxiety not to break of all negociation that ту

former opinion is not ill founded, and that France will not ultimately

determine to continue the war for the chance of taking Sicily. This

however as I had already the honour to state to уои, is ту opinion only.

Were this point waved by France, there would be some difculty

about the forms; the Emperor objecting to апу mention either of

Russia or Sweden in the preliminaries of defnitive treaty unless the

interests of the latter are stipulated for by Great Britain. Private

concert between Russia and England would be easy by couriers from

Strasburg to Paris. Му. d'Oubril is not likely to be permitted to соте

here at present.

Оп the subject of prisoners I ат to inform уои, that Mr. Talley-

rand hopes to send those asked for in Lord Howicks memorandum

100