CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN SIR W. A'COURT, AND THE The following are copies of the Correspondence relative to the British Naval Force in the Bay of Naples : (TRANSLATION.) Naples, Feb. 10.-AFTER the official Communications made to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent by the Envoys of Russia and Prussia, and the Chargé d'Affaires of Austria, in the name of the Powers assembled at Laybach, relative to the determination taken there with respect to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, this Royal Government can no longer remain in a state of uncertainty with regard to the object of the assemblage of the British Naval Force stationed for some months past in the Bay of Naples. The Undersigned, therefore, being in charge of the Portefeuille of Foreign Affairs, in conformity with the orders he has received from his Royal Highness, addresses himself to his Excellency the Chevalier A'Court, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty, beseeching his Excellency to be so good as to make known to him precisely what instructions he has received on this point from his Court, and flatters himself, that in consequence of this communication the Government may be enabled to have a clear view of the manner in which the Neapolitan question, which has excited such interest all over Europe, is viewed by the British Cabinet. In this expectation, the Undersigned renews to the Chevalier the assurances of his highest consideration. His Excellency the (Signed) Chevalier A'Court, &c. &c. &c. COMMENDATORE PIGNATELLI. Naples, Feb. 11. THE Undersigned has the honor to acknowledge to his Excellency the Duke of Gallo, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the receipt of the note addressed to him by his Excellency the Commander Pignatelli, charged ad interim, with the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, intimating the necessity of a further explanation of the motives which induce the British Government to keep so large a Naval Force stationed in the Bay of Naples-an explanation rendered necessary by the communications made to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, by the Ministers of Austria, Russia, and Prussia, in the name of the Powers assembled at Laybach. The Undersigned acknowledges the justice of this appeal made to him, and has, therefore, no hesitation in giving a frank declaration of the intentions of his Government. The British squadron at anchor in the Bay is simply a squadron of obser vation, the presence of which is sufficiently explained by the critical circumstances of the country, and the necessity of providing for the security of the persons and property of British subjects, under all possible chances. The British Government, faithful to the principles it has always professed, is determined to maintain a strict neutrality, and to take no part either directly or indirectly in the war which there seems to be but too much reason to apprehend is on the point of breaking out. It will interfere in no way with the affairs of the country, unless such interference should be rendered indispensable by any personal insult or danger to which the Royal Family may be exposed. Not foresecing the possibility of such a case, the Undersigned flatters himself that nothing will alter the peaceful attitude in which Great Britain is placed. The Undersigned takes this opportunity of offering to his Excellency the assurance of his highest consideration. (Signed) To his Excellency the Duke of Gallo. W. A'COURT. PROTOCOL OF CONFERENCES, AND DECLARATION OF THE ALLIED SOVEREIGNS AT AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. November, 1818. 1. THAT they are firmly resolved never to depart, neither in their mutual relations, nor in those which connect them with other states, from the principle of intimate union which has hitherto decided over all their common relations and interests-a union rendered more strong and indissoluble by the bonds of Christian fraternity, which the Sovereigns have formed among themselves. 2. That this union, which is the more real and durable, inasmuch as it depends on no separate interest or temporary combination, can only have for its object the maintenance of general peace, founded on a religious respect for the engagements contained in the treaties, and for the whole of the rights resulting therefrom. 3. That France associated with other Powers, by the restoration of the legitimate Monarchical and Constitutional Power, engages henceforth to concur in the maintenance and consolidation of a system which has given peace to Europe, and assured its duration. DECLARATION. THE intimate union established among the Monarchs who are joint parties to this system, by their own principles, no less than by the interests of their people, offers to Europe the most sacred pledge of its future tranquillity. The object of this union is as simple as it is great and salutary. It does not tend to any new political combination--to any change in the relations sanctioned by existing treaties. Calm and consistent in its proceedings, it has no other object than the maintenance of peace, and the security of those transactions on which the peace was founded and consolidated. The Sovereigns, in forming this august union, have regarded as its fundamental basis, their invariable resolution never to depart, either among themselves or in their relations with other States, from the strictest observation of the principles of the right of nations; principles which, in their application to a state of permanent peace, can alone effectually guarantee the independence of each government, and the stability of the general association. Faithful to these principles, the Sovereigns will maintain them equally in those meetings at which they may be personally present, or in those which shall take place among their Ministers; whether it shall be their object to discuss in common their own interests, or whether they take cognizance of questions in which other Governments shall formally claim their interference-The same spirit which will direct their Councils, and reign in their diplomatic communications, shall preside also at these meetings; and the repose of the world shall be constantly their motive and their end. (Signed by all the ALLIES.) REFLECTIONS, &c. THE futility of the human expectation was never more strictly exemplified, than by the manner in which the predictions of sundry politicians, at the conclusion of the late war, have been frustrated. Those who originally promoted that war, and who were throughout its strenuous advocates, then assumed the language of triumph and success. They exultingly pointed to the long series of glorious actions which had ended in the overthrow of Napoleon's power, and seemed to imagine that the success of our exertions was an unanswerable argument to the objections which had been raised against them by their political opponents. Europe had been emancipated by their counsels, tyranny had been dethroned, and freedom and prosperity already began to shed their fostering influence. And so far as these exultations related to the honors which our army obtained, and to the glorious spirit which animated this country, whilst contending single-handed against a world in arms, there can be no one who would not have readily lent his voice to swell the Pæan strain. Nor can there be many who would have refused to express their approbation of the determined resolution and the wise counsels of His Majesty's ministers. But there were not wanting at that time able statesmen who doubted the extent of the benefits which we had obtained, and who, whilst the greater part of the population were dazzled with the splendor of our recent success, entertained considerable apprehensions with respect to its ulterior consequences. That these were no idle misgivings we now feel. If it were my purpose to take a survey of our domestic condition, I should find in our declining commerce and agriculture, in our famished population, and in the embarrassed state of our |