This episode is the most agreeable one in the whole of the papers in connection with the negotiations for peace at that time. The King fully entered into the reasons why these proposals did not come to a successful issue, in a Declaration, dated October 21st, which, with many other papers, was laid before Parliament on December 22nd.
If “Rien n’est sacré pour un Sapeur,” it is the same with the Caricaturist. Here were men presumably doing their honest best to promote peace, and do away with a war that was exhausting all Europe; yet the satirist takes it jauntily. Take only one, the Caricature by Ansell (August, 1806). “The Pleasing and Instructive Game of Messengers; or, Summer Amusement for John Bull.” Balls, in the shape of Messengers, are being sent and returned, in lively succession, across the Channel; their errands are of a most extraordinary character. “Peace—Hope—Despair. No Peace—Passports—Peace to a certainty—No Peace—Credentials—Despatches, &c.” Napoleon and Talleyrand like the game. “Begar, Talley, dis be ver amusant. Keep it up as long as you can, so that we may have time for our project.” John Bull merely looks on, leaving Fox, Sheridan, and the Ministry, to play the game on his behalf; and, in reply to a query by Fox, “Is it not a pretty game, Johnny?” the old man replies, with a somewhat puzzled air, “Pretty enough as to that—they do fly about monstrous quick, to be sure; but you don’t get any more money out of my pocket for all that!”
The failure of these pacific negotiations with France, brought a rejoinder from the French Emperor, which, to use a familiar expression made John Bull “set his back up.” It was no less than a proclamation of Napoleon’s, dated Berlin, November 21, 1806, in which, he attempted, on paper, to blockade England. The principal articles in this famous proclamation are as follow:—
1. The British Isles are declared to be in a state of blockade.
2. All trade and communication with Great Britain is strictly prohibited.
3. All letters going to, or coming from England, are not to be forwarded, and all those written in English are to be suppressed.
4. Every individual, who is a subject of Great Britain, is to be made a prisoner of war, wherever he may be found.
5. All goods belonging to Englishmen are to be confiscated, and the amount paid to those who have suffered through the detention of ships by the English.
6. No ships coming from Great Britain, or having been in a port of that country, are to be admitted.
7. All trade in English Goods is rigorously prohibited.