Επιστολή (Αρ.23) του Φορέστη (Κέρκυρα 16 Ιουνίου 1806) προς τον The Right Honorable Charles James Fox His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for the Foreign Department με την οποία τον ενημερώνει για την σχεδόν εμπόλεμη κατάσταση που επικρατεί μεταξύ Επτανήσων και Γαλλίας και αναφέρει πως θα απευθυνθεί στον υπεύθυνο επί της εξωτερικής πολιτικής των Επτανήσων για να ενημερωθεί για την κατάσταση και με την σειρά του να ενημερώσει τα βρετανικά πλοία στην Αδριατική και στο Ιόνιο τι στάση θα πρέπει να κρατούν όσον αφορά το ζήτημα της ουδετερότητας της Επτανήσου. Επίσης τονίζει την απόφαση της Γερουσίας να εξοπλίζονται πλοία για πειρατικές επιδρομές εναντίον των Γάλλων, ενώ αναφέρεται και στην μεγάλη πίεση στην οποία πια υπόκεινται οι Επτανήσιοι για να αντιμετωπίσουν την νέα κατάσταση. Επισυνάπτει και τις επιστολές που έχει ανταλλάξει με την Γερουσία.
Συγκεκριμένα ο Φορέστης γράφει:
Sir,
In my number 18 of the 20th ultimo I announced to you the intention of this government to make reprisals against France for the hostile proceedings it has experienced from it. Perceiving however that no declaration was made on the part of the Septinsular Government, notwithstanding the repeated outrages and hostilities it had received and continued to receive from the French, I judged it my duty to address a note on the subject to the Minister for the Foreign Affairs of the Republic with a view to obtain some decisive information as to its relations with France.
My particular object for this inquiry was to be able to give instructions to the commander of His Majesty’s ships and vessels cruising in the Adriatic Sea, how far they were to respect the neutrality of the waters of this Republic should the enemy’s vessels endeavour to elude their pursuit by taking shelter within the limits of them. Copies of my note an of the answer, which I have received are her annexed. The neutrality being suspended, this government is now fitting out privateers against the common enemy, which indeed are the only species of force which it has to employ against them. The fortifications also which had been much neglected are being put into a state of defence. The actual state of the Ionian Islands presses severely on the Inhabitants. And the scarcity of specie, which they always received in return for their produce, is so great as to occasion considerable embarrassment. This latter circumstance is a great inconvenience to the Russian forces here, whose operations become languid and ineffectual for want of this necessary supply.
I have the honor to be with the greatest respect
Sir,
Your most obedient and humble servant
Spiridion Foresti