HINTS FOR A MEMORIAL TO BE DELIVERED TO THE MONSIEUR DE M. M. HE king my mafter, from his fincere defire of keeping up a good correfpondence with his most Christian majesty, and the French nation, has for fome time beheld, with concern, the condition into which that fovereign and nation have fallen. Notwithstanding the reality and the warmth of thofe fentiments, his Britannick majefty has hitherto forborne in any manner to take part in their affairs; in hopes, that the common interest of king and fubjects would render all parties fenfible of the neceffity of fettling their government and their freedom, upon principles of moderation; as the only means of fecuring permanence to both thefe bleffings, as well as internal and external tranquillity, to the kingdom of France, and to all Europe. His Britannick majefty finds, to his great re gret, that his hopes have not been realized. He finds, that confufions and diforders have rather increased than diminished, and that they now threaten to proceed to dangerous extremities. In this fituation of things, the fame regard to a neighbouring fovereign living in friendship with Great Britain, the fame spirit of good-will to the kingdom of France, the fame regard to the general tranquillity, which have caufed him to view, with concern, the growth and continuance of the prefent diforders, have induced the king of Great Britain to interpofe his good offices towards a reconcilement of thofe unhappy differences. This his majesty does with the most cordial regard to the good of all defcriptions concerned, and with the most perfect fincerity, wholly removing from his royal mind, all memory of every circumstance which might impede him in the execution of a plan of benevolence which he has so much at heart. His majesty, having always thought it his greatest glory, that he rules over a people, perfectly and folidly, because foberly, rationally, and legally free, can never be fuppofed to proceed in offering thus his royal mediation, but with an unaffected defire and full refolution, to confider the fettlement of a free conftitution in France, as the very bafis of any agreement between the fovereign and those of his fubjects who are unhappily at variance with him; to guarantee it to them, if it fhould be defired, in the the moft folemn and authentick manner, and to do all that in him lies to procure the like guarantee from other powers. His Britannick majefty, in the fame manner, affures the most Christian king, that he knows too well, and values too highly, what is due to the dignity and rights of crowned heads, and to the implied faith of treaties which have always been made with the crown of France, ever to listen to any propofition by which that monarchy shall be defpoiled of all its rights, fo effential for the fupport of the confideration of the prince, and the concord and welfare of the people. If, unfortunately, a due attention should not be paid to these his majesty's benevolent and neighbourly offers, or, if any circumstances should prevent the most Christian king from acceding, (as his majesty has no doubt he is well disposed to do) to this healing mediation in favour of himself and all his fubjects, his majefty has commanded me to take leave of this court, as not conceiving it to be fuitable to the dignity of his crown, and to what he owes to his faithful people, any longer to keep a publick minister at the court of a sovereign who is not in poffeffion of his own liberty. |