Lord Castlereagh to Lord Bathurst. Basle, January 22, 1814. My Lord-I enclose a document which Prince Metternich has communicated to me; that it was circulated at Chaumont, there can be no doubt; but, as the enemy are driven to all devices (having forged a proclamation in the Emperor of Austria's name) to keep the interior quiet, it may have no foundation whatever; though it is more probable it is connected with some device of Bonaparte to separate himself from the Spanish question, and to save himself from the mortification of having Ferdinand reclaimed by the Allies; and it may also be done with a view of keeping Paris down, and of covering Soult's retreat. I put this construction upon the transaction, as I cannot for a moment doubt the decision of Spain upon any such base intrigue. I thought it right to communicate this paper to M. Pizarro, the Spanish Minister here. He had learnt from Spanish officers who had lately escaped from France, that Napoleon had lately sent for two of Ferdinand's Spanish attendants, and that he had despatched one of these persons to Ferdinand, and the other to Spain, with some propositions. M. Pizarro has written a very proper despatch to his Government on this subject, and feels confident that they will honourably sustain the character and interests of the Spanish nation at this crisis. Prince Metternich informs me that Napoleon's language to him always was that he could settle the Spanish question any day as best suited him with Ferdinand. His Highness, however, is not disposed to give much credence either to the language he then held, or to the present statement. I have to request your lordship will take the necessary measures for directing his Majesty's Ambassador at the Court of Madrid to counteract any schemes the enemy may hope to accomplish through engagements or promises extorted from Ferdinand, while a prisoner. All acts, by the laws of Spain, done under such restraint, must be considered wholly null and void. I have, &c., CASTLEREAGH. Lord Castlereagh to Lord Bathurst. Basle, January 22, 1814. My Lord-Having received from Prince Metternich an official communication that the Emperor of Austria has concluded a treaty with the person exercising the Government of Naples, of which your lordship will receive a copy enclosed, I have instructed Lord William Bentinck to the effect contained in the despatch herewith sent, which I trust the Prince Regent will approve, under the circumstances of the case, and the importance of accumulating every possible exertion at this great crisis against the common enemy. I have, &c., CASTLEREAGH. Lord Castlereagh to Lord Clancarty. Basle, January 22, 1814. My Lord—I have the honour to acquaint you that information has been received this day that the head-quarters of the Grand Army have been advanced from Langres to Chaumont, and that those of Marshal Blücher have been established at Nancy. This rapid progress of the allied forces, coupled with that which, I have no doubt, has by this time been made on the side of Holland and Flanders, induces me to suggest to your lordship the expediency of directing all messengers whom you may have occasion to despatch to me to endeavour to reach the head-quarters of the Grand Army by the shortest route, without making so great a detour as would be the case if they proceeded, in the first instance, to this place. They will, of course, endeavour to obtain on their way the best information they can as to the situation of the head-quarters, and the security of the roads by which they may have to pass: but it is of considerable importance that my communications with the Hague should be as expeditious as possible; and I request your lordship will have the goodness to furnish them with such instructions as may seem best calculated for the purpose. Lord Castlereagh to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. Basle, January 22, 1814. My Lords-I have the honour to inform your lordships that, in consequence of the earnest representations of M. Pizarro, Spanish Minister at the Court of Berlin, of the destitute condition in which several Spanish officers have reached this place, having escaped from prison in France, and of his total inability to supply them with any means of proceeding to their native country, I have thought it right to furnish M. Pizarro with the sum of £250 for this service, and have accordingly this day drawn upon your lordships a bill in triplicate for that sum, in favour of M. T. Marian Fourcart, of this place, which I request your lordships will direct to be paid when due. I have, &c., CASTLEREAGH. Lord Castlereagh to Lord William Bentinck. Basle, January 22, 1814. My Lord-The Emperor of Austria having entered into engagements with the person now exercising the Government of Naples, by the tenour of which engagements it is agreed that a corps of Neapolitan troops, not less than 30,000 men, shall immediately join the Austrian army of Italy, for the purpose of acting offensively against the common enemy, I am to signify to your lordship the Prince Regent's pleasure that, so soon as you receive from his Imperial Majesty's Minister at Naples, the Count Neipperg, a copy of this treaty, your lordship do immediately, upon the faith of that instrument, suspend hostilities against the Government of Naples, on the part of Great Britain; and I am also to direct that you will take measures for prevailing upon his Sicilian Majesty to do the same. I shall, as soon as I arrive at the head-quarters at Chaumont, procure from the Earl of Aberdeen the correspondence which has passed upon this subject between the Courts of Vienna and St. James's, and furnish your lordship with the instructions necessary for the direction of your conduct upon this important subject. The treaty actually signed having been returned by Prince Metternich to Count Neipperg, to have some alteration made in its details, I enclose a copy of the treaty as it is proposed to be amended, in order that your lordship may see that the Act, as executed, is substantially conformable to the intentions of the Austrian Government, as notified to me. You will signify to his Britannic Majesty's officers by sea and land, as far as circumstances will permit, the armistice, should it be concluded, for the direction of their conduct. I have, &c., CASTLEREAGH. Lord Castlereagh to Lord Liverpool. Basle, January 22, 1814. My dear Liverpool—I have had, during the two last days, several hours' conversation with the three most leading Ministers here I mean Metternich, Stadion, and Hardenberg; but it is too soon to judge of them before I come to closer quarters with them upon the points of difficulty: I have every reason, however, so far to be satisfied, and they seem to feel my arrival as a valuable facility. I have had a very full confidential communication with Metternich on the Bourbon question: he is highly conciliated by the line we have taken, and the forbearance with which we have used the discretion given to us by his Government through Aberdeen. I am confident that I should have great additional influence over his mind on any practical question connected with this subject that may occur, from the manner in which we have conducted ourselves upon it. My opinion is that, if we meet this event in our progress as a French measure, Austria will not embarrass it from any family considerations, and the less so from the dread she feels of Bernadotte's elevation; but she will not speculate upon it, or commit herself upon either loose or partial grounds. She will desire always to see the public act, and to frame her decision with reference to its nature and extent, and the state in which the Allied interests at the moment stand in the war. Metternich seems strongly impressed with the feeling that, to take our terms high against France, we must not encumber ourselves with anything that can bear the appearance of an initiative on such a question on the part of the Allies. I have always strongly felt this as applied to our own interests, and that we cannot press our demands to the utmost, if we are at the same time mixed in a question which, as far as relates to the existing Government of France, supersedes all terms. He also thinks, for the interest of the Bourbons themselves, that it is a question of doubtful policy, to say the least, whether they would not lose more than gain from showing themselves, in the first instance, in the camp of any of the Allied Sovereigns, and, above all, in the British camp. He seems to dread that great question being ineffectually stirred, and anxious that the Allies should not be encumbered with it, or responsible for it. In other respects, I should not despair of his concurring with the other Allied Powers in turning any public effort the French nation may make in this sense to a good account; and I am sure my means of giving his mind such a direction will be in proportion to the delicacy we may observe in not precipitating any act on our own part |