on the high seas; of their violation of their
right as neutrals, in seizing and condemning their merchant-men, though
engaged in lawful commerce; and of the infringement of their maritime
jurisdiction on their own coasts. As an amicable arrangement of these
differences was desirable, a special mission was despatched to England,
and the disputes were finally settled by an assurance, on the first
point, that the right of impression should be exercised with caution,
and redress afforded for any act of injustice; and by establishing a
rule defining the difference between a continuous and an interrupted
voyage to the colonies of the enemy, and stipulating that on
re-exportation there should remain, after the draw-back, a duty to be
paid of one per cent., _ad valorem_, on all European articles, and not
less than two per cent, on colonial produce. The maritime jurisdiction
of the United States was guaranteed, and some commercial stipulations
framed for the reciprocal advantage of the two countries.

AFFAIRS OF SICILY.

It has been seen that Napoleon coveted Sicily for his brother Joseph,
and that England would not consent to the overtures made on this
subject. This, however, did not prevent him from adding it to his
numerous conquests. Whilst yet at Schoenbrunn in December. 1805,
Napoleon declared war against Naples; his grand plea being, that the
king of that country had, in contempt of the treaty of neutrality,
recently received an English-Russian army landing there with friendship.
His decree was, "the royal house of Naples had ceased to reign;" and he
immediately sent his troops to put it into execution. The army sent
was commanded by Massena and Joseph Buonaparte; and by the month
of February, this year, it marched into the capital, and Joseph was
appointed by Napoleon hereditary King of Naples and Sicily. The new king
was to remain a French prince, and retain his rights of inheritance in
France; but this was only a preliminary step to future operations.
The two crowns were, however, never to be united upon one head. By the
reduction of Gaeta, in July, this revolution was consolidated. Soon
after this, a Batavian deputation appeared at Paris, and implored Louis
Napoleon for Regent, and that prince was proclaimed King of Holland,
upon the same conditions as his brother Joseph, King of Naples.
Moreover, Prince Eugene Beauharnois was appointed to the throne of
Italy, which kingdom was increased by the incorporation of