Page images
PDF
EPUB

restoring to the inhabitants the protection of their lawful Government.

The troops are directed immediately to assemble and embark at Ramsgate in the transports now ready in the Downs, and they will proceed, with the least practicable delay, either in one or two divisions, as may be found most convenient, to the Elbe.

The King having been graciously pleased to select you for the command of the troops to be employed on this service, in order that you may obtain the most precise intelligence of all circumstances which may in any degree bear upon the safety or successful conduct of the expedition, his Majesty has been pleased to direct that you do proceed, without loss of time, to Berlin (a frigate being prepared in the Downs to convey you to the Elbe), there to communicate with his Majesty's Minister, Mr. Jackson, who will be directed to assist you in procuring every information which you may require.

You will particularly direct your inquiries to the following points:

1. The number and position of the enemy's troops.

2. How the Cabinet of Berlin will feel with respect to the proposed measure. His Majesty cannot suppose that Prussia, upon any principles of justice or neutrality, can either desire or pretend to oppose any obstacle to his Majesty re-occupying his own dominions. It is, however, desirable that you should inform yourself, through Mr. Jackson (but without any formal steps being taken which might seem to imply a doubt of any obstruction being given to the exercise of so obvious a right), of the precise principles upon which Prussia professes to regulate her neutrality, whether she acts separately or in conjunction with other powers, and with what powers; whether there is any reason to suppose that an understanding exists between France and Prussia with a view to the occupation of Hanover by the troops of the latter power, and whether there will be any disposition in the Prussian Government to take a

distinction, however little founded in any sound principle, between the introduction of troops strictly British, and those which may be considered as his Majesty's electoral subjects.

3. What the dispositions of the Court of Copenhagen are likely to be, and how far they might be expected, in the event of any attack made by the enemy during the winter upon the corps under your command, to give you direct support in Hanover, or to favour your retiring into Holstein, if it should become requisite.

4. What the views are of the Duke of Mecklenburgh, what facilities he would afford either to the troops from Stralsund, advancing through his territory to your support, or to your retiring upon that place; and, as connected with this point, how far Prussia would resent an infraction of the Mecklenburgh territory, in either of the above cases.

5. You will inform yourself of the number and state of the Russian and Swedish troops at Stralsund, and in like manner ascertain what support you may expect in the like case from that quarter; or what may be the relative facilities and advantages of retiring, in case of necessity, through the territory of Mecklenburgh upon Stralsund, rather than into Holstein, or upon your transports; it being his Majesty's intentions that the vessels on which the troops are to be conveyed shall remain in the Elbe, taking the station best calculated to preserve a free communication between the army and the sea; and transports will be progressively sent from hence in proportion to any augmentation of your corps, which you may report to have taken place.

His Majesty has given directions that the troops, on their arrival in the Elbe, should remain on board till your return to the Elbe from Berlin, and is pleased to authorize and direct you to disembark and advance them into Hanover so soon as you have reason to consider that the safety of the corps is not likely to be thereby compromised.

The objects to which your operations will be directed are:

1. The expulsion of the enemy, and the re-occupation of Hanover in his Majesty's name as Elector; taking care, however, not to advance your corps into the interior, till you are fully satisfied of the safety of the measure in a military point of view. 2. The immediate assembly and augmentation, according to instructions which you will receive to that effect, of his Majesty's Hanoverian army, which may be commenced immediately on your landing. 3. The keeping your troops in such positions as may best enable you to provide for their immediate security, to preserve their discipline, to prepare the new levies for the field, and generally to hold the corps in such a state of constant readiness and complete equipment, as will enable you to prosecute such further operations as his Majesty may, in conjunction with his allies, undertake upon the Continent.

You will address to me any representation you may wish to have submitted to his Majesty's consideration, should reinforcements from hence appear to you essential to the accomplishment of the above objects. His Majesty has thought fit, as a measure of precaution, to direct the above inquiries to be instituted previous to the actual landing of his troops between the Elbe and Weser.

His Majesty, however, commands me to repeat, that he cannot, in justice to his Prussian Majesty, for a moment suppose, after the French have, without molestation, been permitted unjustly to seize on his dominions, that the King of Prussia will feel any other sentiment than that of satisfaction, at the Electorate again returning under the government of its lawful sovereign; or that, whilst Prussia has suffered France to violate with impunity the territories of weaker and neutral States in the North of Germany, she will oppose any obstacle to his Majesty's troops, without the violation of any territory whatever, re-entering and re-occupying his rightful possessions; in which sentiment his Majesty is confirmed by the language lately held by Baron Hardenberg on this subject.

You will report to me regularly, for his Majesty's information, such measures as you may adopt in the execution of the above instructions which I have received-the King's commands to convey to you for the direction of your conduct.

Memorandum relative to the Provision and Equipment of Transports.

October 16, 1805.

Cavalry transports to receive one regiment of the German Legion, to be fitted with the utmost despatch, and to rendezvous at Southampton, where they will embark.

It is proposed, in addition, to provide tonnage for the following strength, the whole to be completed by the 1st of

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

As the whole must be completed in less than three months, in executing this measure progressively, not less than 20,000 tons must be taken up in each month. They will be assembled as follows:

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

50,000 tons are to be engaged for home service, 10,000 for foreign; the latter to be sent to Cork-the former to be victualled for two, the latter for six months.

VOL. VI.

C

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Keith.

Downing Street, October 16, 1805.

My dear Lord-I return you many thanks for your lordship's zeal and activity in putting forward the several points connected with the public service, on which I addressed you privately, previous to the official order being forwarded from hence, and am much gratified to find them all in such good train.

It is desirable that the German Legion should be successively embarked with the least practicable delay, so as to make room for the embarkation of 5,000 additional infantry, consisting of the brigade of Guards now at Dover, and Major-General Paget's brigade, viz., the 4th, 14th, and 23rd regiments, together with five companies of the Rifle Corps.

After providing for the Hanoverians, without interfering with the ships under orders for Leith to bring troops to the southward, there will remain disposable in the Downs 6,809 tons, which, with 951 ordered round from Portsmouth, will amply accommodate the above force. There will also remain cavalry transports for ninety horses, which will receive the officers' horses of the British corps.

Your lordship will best judge where the transports, after taking on board the troops, can most safely be assembled, previous to their proceeding to their destination. I shall accelerate the march of the troops, and your lordship will have the goodness to make all the necessary arrangements with Captain Culverhouse for the embarkation being carried on without delay, or unnecessary interruption.

The orders to the Admiralty will be sent to-day, and I hope the attack on Boulogne may be carried into effect so soon as Mr. Congreve reports his arrangements complete. The squadron your lordship has assigned to Sir Sidney Smith seems fully.

« PreviousContinue »