Επιστολή (Αρ.18) του Φορέστη (Κέρκυρα 10 Μαΐου 1806) προς τον The Right Honorable Lord Mulgrave His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for the Foreign Department με την οποία τον ενημερώνει για την κατάσταση σχεδόν κήρυξης πολέμου που διαμορφώθηκε μεταξύ Επτανήσου και Γαλλία, καθώς επτανησιακά πλοία κρατήθηκαν από τους Γάλλους σε Νάπολη, Βενετία και αλλού. Καθώς οι Γάλλοι δεν δέχτηκαν να απαντήσουν στα αιτήματα της Γερουσίας για επιστροφή των πλοίων, διατάχθηκε ο Γάλλος Charge d’ Affaires να αναχωρήσει από τα νησιά. Αυτό όμως οδήγησε στην ουσία σε νέες μεγάλες δυσχέρειες το επτανησιακό εμπόριο, που ήρθαν να προστεθούν στις ήδη σημαντικές δυσκολίες εμπορίου με τα λιμάνια της Αδριατικής λόγω των δυσκολιών που προέκυπταν από τιν ρωσικό ναυτικό αποκλεισμό των αδριατικών λιμανιών. Συγκεκριμένα ο Φορέστης γράφει:
My Lord,
The Senate of the Septinsular Republic having received information a few weeks ago that the ships and vessels of the Republic were detained by the French at Naples, Venice etc and that the property of its subjects was likewise sequestered by the enemy at those places, has requested from the French Charge d’ Affaires here an explanation of these proceedings on the part of his Government. This agent being unable to return any satisfactory answer, it was agreed upon by the Government and himself that he should send a courier extraordinary to the French commanders at Naples to demand from them the explanation required. The boat, under Septinsular colours, in which the courier sailed to Otranto, as well as a second sent to enquire after the former, not having returned to Corfu, the French Charge d’ Affaires was given to understand that the Government would send another boat to Otranto and provided neither it nor the former should return within a time limited, the Government would consider such detention of their boats, when added to the former proceedings of the French towards the Septinsular Republic, as equivalent to a declaration of hostilities on the part of the French government. The boat not having returned within the time specified the Senate have ordered the French Charge d’ Affaires to leave the territories of the Republic. In consequence of which, he yesterday took down the arms of his nation and this day he sailed for Otranto. No public denunciation of war on the part of the French against this Republic has yet reached us. But it is considered nevertheless as being in a state of war with France. In consequence of which the prizes taken from the Enemy, and brought into this port, are now publicly sold. This measures on the part of the French government has been probably occasioned by the occupation of the Bocche di Cattaro by the Russians. The commerce of the Septinsular subjects, before much interrupted by the state of affairs in the Adriatic, as mentioned in my number 2, is now become more so, to the great injury of the inhabitants in general.
I have the honor to be with the greatest respect.
My Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obedient and humble servant,
Spiridion Foresti