VIIJE

The Earl of Aberdeen to Lord Stuart de

My Lord,.

Rothesay.

Foreign Office, 21st April, 1830.

The French Ambassador has read to me, by order of his Court, a Despatch which had been addressed to bis Excellency, for the purpose of affording to His Majesty's Government those additional explanations respecting the Expedition to Algiers which, from the assurances of M. de Polignac, they had been led to expect.

The Duke de Laval did not feel himself authorized to leave with me, for the information of His Majesty's Government, a Copy of this Despatch, and he has written to demand the pleasure of his Court before he shall comply with my request.

I have availed myself of this opportunity, to direct the attention of the Ambassador of His Most Christian Majesty to several points; adverted to in the Despatch in question, as well as to the general tone of remonstrance and complaint in which it appears to be drawn up. It would be difficult to receive a Communication of this nature, without some reply being thought necessary on the part of His Majesty's Government; a circumstance which, upon such an occasion,oit is obvious had much better, if possible, be avoided; but, as the Duke de Laval has engaged to bring these points under the consideration of his Government, I

abstain from entering upon the subject here, and rather

confine

myself to the statement of some general reflections, which I have to request that your Excellency will submit to M. de Polignac with as little delay as possible.

The French Government appear to mistake the motives which have induced us to ask for explanations, ore precise and explicit than those which we have

1830

hitherto received respecting the Expedition against Al-
estimate of the real situation of this Country, and to,
They appear also to have formed an erroneous
have regarded
distrust, a conduct which has been dictated by a plain

sense of duty.

as evidence of ill-will, of suspicion, and

1830

His Majesty's Government are so far from en taining these hostile feelings, that they have alw been desirous of seeing the most ample rèpara exacted from the State of Algier, and that the eff of the French Government should succeed in obtain for His Most Christian Majesty all the satisfaction wh His Majesty might justly expect, in consequence of repeated insults and injuries which he had experienc

Your Excellency has further been informed, t if, in the prosecution of this object, His Most Christ. Majesty should be enabled to effect the total destruct of Piracy, of Christian Slavery, and of the imposit of Tribute by the Regency of Algier upon Christ States, it could not but be regarded with satisfact by the King our Master. These are objects which E Majesty has himself endeavoured to accomplish, · al the full attainment of which must be applauded by Christendom.

The views to which I have now referred, althou sufficiently extensive, are perfectly definite and inte gible. But let us be candid; the War carried on France against Algier is of another character, and different end is proposed. We are told to prepare f the utter destruction and annihilation of the State itse Under such circumstances, and with a result of th nature deliberately contemplated, is it unreasonable expect from the French Government, something mo than a general assurance of disinterestedness, and a engagement to consult their Allies before the futur fate of the Regency shall be finally decided?

t

A French Army, the most numerous it is believe which in modern times has ever crossed the sea, about to undertake the conquest of a Territory which from its geographical position, has always been consi dered as of the highest importance. No man can loo without anxiety at the issue of an enterprize the ulti mate objects of which are still so uncertain and undefined It is to be presumed that His Majesty's Govern ment will not be suspected of culpable indifference t the welfare of the illustrious Family of Bourbon. Ou desire must be, that the result of this Expedition may prove to be favourable to their happiness, and to the stability of their Throne. But if we could so far forget what is due to our own Sovereign and to ourselves

er

0

as to rest satisfied with vague explanations, in a matter 1830 so deeply affecting the interests of British commerce, as well as the political relations of the Mediteranean States, it is certain that the People of this Country would not hesitate to pronounce the most unequivocal condemnation of our conduct., lett

The views of the French Government in this undertaking being pure and disinterested, it is difficult to conceive that M. de Polignac should experience, the slightest reluctance in giving the most satisfactory ex planations, or that any false notions of dignity and self-respect should operate to prevent him from doing that which, upon reflection, must appear reasonable.

In making these observations to M. de Polignac, your Excellency will not only expressly declare your self to be a stranger to all unfriendly feelings, but you will also disclaim any desire to assume an unbecoming tone, or in any manner to wound the dignity of the French Government.

Our expectations, we think, are justified by the importance of the occasion, and by the relations of confidence existing between the 2 Governments.

We ask nothing which, under similar circumstances, we should not ourselves be ready to grant. Your Excellency in authorized to read this Despatch to M. de Polignac.

P

I am, etc.

Lord Stuart de Rothesay to the Earl of

(Extract.)

I enclose the Copy of a Decree, appointing General Bourmont to the command of the Expedition' against Algier.

The Communication upon the subject of this undertaking, which Monsieur de Laval received orders to transmit to His Majesty's Government, has been is very quickly followed by the publication of a Docu

1830 ment*), to which a very slight modification of for would give the character of a Manifesto, explainin the causes of the quarrel, and the intentions of th French Government in case their arms should be su cessful.pl,

I asked M. de Polignac if this Paperis tod considered official, and especially if it does not cla a larger extent of Territory than has been hither understood to be comprised within the limits of t concessions which His Most Christian Majesty is e titled, under Treaty, to possess.

He answered, that, the Article contains no poi which is not recognized by the Government to be pe fectly correct; and he justified the particular paragra to which I called his attention, by a reference to e gagements, antecedent to the establishment of the pr sent Government at Algier, which have been repeate and confirmed in subsequent Treaties by The Por and by the Local Authorities. de da

"

Stuart DE ROTHESAY.

The Messenger Latchford arrived last night, an I saw Prince Polignac this morning, when I did no fail to execute your Lordship's Instructions

After hearing the contents of your Lordship's Des patch of the 21st instant, his Excellency observed, tha his views i

the doubts which have arisen respect Observed, tha

Africa, are to be traced to the course His Majesty Government have pursued; for that the objection t the measures which had been, in the first instance contemplated through the agency of Mehemet Ali, ha compelled them to make preparations, which he i aware must excite the attention, if not jealousy, every State interested in the political relations of th Countries upon the shores of the Mediterranean.

*) An Article in the unofficial part of the "Moniteur of th 20th April, 1830. 921

I answered, that, since the intervention of Mehe 1830 met Ali would have involved other, considerations not less embarrassing than the questions which at present Occupy our attention, further discussion upon that subject would lead to no satisfactory result; and that I therefore requested him merely to let me know, whether the reasoning in the Despatch I communicated will iuduce him to give orders to M. de Laval to transmit to your Lordship the assurances, in a written form, which my Government is entitled, to expect, that the Court of France entertains no project of conquest or acquisition of Territory on the Coast of Africa.

He said that this assurance was distinctly contained in the Despatch which M. de Laval had read to your Lordship, which declares that France will not retain possession of the Town or of the Regency of Algier, though they insist, upon the restoration of the Estab lishments they possessed at the period of the rupture; and that, if this declaration has not been conveyed to your Lordship in writing, the omission will be remewithout delay for that M.

orders to give your Lordship de Laval will receive

a

either whole Despatch, or of that part of it which your Lordship shall consider most to the purpose. 14

I told him that, although I justly appreciated the value of his assurances, he must be aware that an abnegation of the projects which he must expect to learn are attributed to the French Government, will

be more

satisfactory, if conveyed in a concise form, and not weakened by a reference to questions of indemnity.. He said that without complaining of my enquiries, the susceptibility they betrayed was the true cause of his allusion to a pecuniary indemnity; that, other wise, the French Government might in future be exposed to the reproach that such intention had not been made known; and that I must not therefore be surprized if, in the further Communication through M. de Laval to which my representations would give rise, that the indemnity will be one of the points which he will be directed to bear in mind,

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The result of my interview, however, enables me to assure your Lordship, that the Despatch which has already been read to your Lordship will be communicated in extenso," or in part as may be deemed most

E