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enemy's communications. Prince Schwarzenberg is concentrating, and an affair is expected.

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I saw the Russian cavalry of the guard defile through this town yesterday it is impossible to say too much of their appearance. Indeed, the whole composition of the Russian Guards of all arms is at this moment the most splendid that can be imagined. They muster above 30,000 effectives. In addition to all his active armies on this side of the Russian frontier, his Imperial Majesty stated to me that Prince Labanoff's army of reserve on the Vistula was, at this moment, 110,000 strong, of which 19,000 was cavalry, and that he had 180,000 recruits in his depôts in progress of discipline. It is a most formidable military power.

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Lord Castlereagh to Lord Liverpool.

Langres, January 30, 1814.

My dear Liverpool-I have not many minutes to write to you with unreserve. I think our greatest danger at present is from the chevalresque tone in which the Emperor Alexander is disposed to push the war. He has a personal feeling about Paris, distinct from all political or military combinations. He seems to seek for the occasion of entering with his magnificent guards the enemy's capital, probably to display, in his clemency and forbearance, a contrast to that desolation to which his own was devoted. The idea that a rapid negociation might disappoint this hope added to his impatience. I hope that this is abated, and that we may not suffer from his precipitancy. Our decision of yesterday has calmed his temper, and given general satisfaction.

You may estimate some of the hazards to which affairs are exposed here, when one of the leading monarchs, in his first interview, told me that he had no confidence in his own Minister, and still less in that of his ally. There is much intrigue, and more fear of it. Russia distrusts Austria about

Saxony; and Austria dreads Russia about Poland, especially if she is mistress of the question after a peace. I have got some length with both the parties upon this subject, and I shall try to deliver them from their mutual alarms. Suspicion is the prevailing temper of the Emperor, and Metternich's character furnishes constant food for the intriguants to work upon. I shall write further without delay. Possibly you may hear from me by Calais. Unless France is condescending to an incredible degree, the discussions, if they proceed, cannot speedily end. The subject is extended. I am afraid pending negociations are likely to give an advantage to Jacobinical and military intriguers over the more honest sentiment of the nation. The people quiet everywhere, and good-humoured. They look to the invasion as favourable to peace. They spoke freely against Buonaparte to me on the journey; but I traced little disposition to an effort, and no apparent interest about the old family.

A letter from Berthier, dated the 27th from Vitry, (or St. Dizier) has been intercepted, which, says Buonaparte is advancing with " une belle et bonne armée sur les derrières de l'ennemi." Blücher, by a dash in advance of our own line, has opened Nancy too much. The enclosed is from the Austrian Resident at his head-quarters. He is a true hero, but he may sometimes err. A retreat now would be very inconvenient. I am confident our advantages are solid with management; but we must not undervalue our difficulties, with a line of waggons rolling day and night in our rear, from Berlin, Bohemia, and Hungary, which a small corps of cavalry thrown round our flanks might at once arrest, if strength is thrown too rapidly in advance.

I thought the negociation might have been put upon a short issue. It is difficult in itself. Russia leans to delay. I have no notion Buonaparte would or could, as things yet stand, yield to the latest demand; and, if peace is impracticable, we should be better rid of our plenipotentiaries.

It is right you should know my channels about Bernadotte. They were Russian as well as Austrian; and could not take the alarm without some cause. The Emperor attacked Charles in a good-humoured manner as to my informants. Charles' admitted he was one, and that he had heard it from his own people. His Imperial Majesty expressed himself, even to him, that he did not consider the Bourbons as the most worthy. On the other hand, Noailles and the emigrants here say the Emperor has given them encouragement, promised them not to make peace, and only desired they might not hoist the white cockade within the Allied positions. The Emperor told me, on the contrary, that he had given them no encouragement; and, from the marked approbation he expressed of your having given them none, I must suppose that this is the fact. The enclosed extract will show you what Bernadotte's language is.

I have found nothing but good-humour and co-operation from our Minister here. I have determined to use them as a commission, and go myself to Chatillon to set them a-going. None of the Chiefs here appear, and I think it is better to be in reserve. I hope to incorporate them sufficiently whilst I stay, to make them more available than a new tool, too sharp or too blunt for our purpose. CASTLEREAGH.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Bathurst.

Langres, January 30, 1814.

My Lord-I have the honour to transmit to your lordship, to be laid before his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, copies of a correspondence which has taken place upon the subject of the maritime question.

His Royal Highness will perceive thereby that the Allied Sovereigns adhere to the determination which they had previously declared of not permitting that question to be mixed up with any negociation which may take place.

I have, &c.,

CASTLEREAGH.

The present Marquess of Londonderry.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Cathcart and Sir Charles Stewart. Langres, January 31, 1814.

My Lord-The Allied Sovereigns having agreed to open preliminary Conferences with the French Government at Chatillon, with a view of concluding, if possible, in conjunction with their Allies, a general peace upon just, solid, and honourable terms, and the Austrian, Russian, and Prussian Plenipotentiaries having received instructions to assemble there on the 3d of February next ensuing, I am to acquaint your lordship that the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, has thought fit that Great Britain should be represented in the said Conferences by a Commission to be composed of the King's diplomatic servants, accredited to the three Allied Courts.

I am, therefore, commanded to signify to your lordship the Prince Regent's pleasure, after making a suitable explanation to his Imperial Majesty of the orders you have received, that your lordship do repair to Chatillon on the day above named, there to receive from me your full powers, and the necessary instructions for the direction of your conduct.

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Lord Castlereagh to Lord Cathcart.

Langres, January 31 [1814].

My dear Lord-When you receive an order from the Prince Regent, and know that the decision of your own Government is that the negociation should be conducted by the Ministers accredited to the respective Courts, and not by the Minister residing at any one, it is unnecessary for me to enter into arguments upon the propriety of this decision, or to learn from your lordship what the decision of OTHER Courts has been as to the conduct of their affairs.

I hope you will not suppose that I misunderstand the

military zeal which prompts the remonstrance on your part; but, as I cannot consider your diplomatic duties to be subservient to the military duty of reporting on the operations of the field, and as I know you will always discharge, with perfect good-humour and cordiality, any task not unbecoming your situation which is cast upon you, although less pleasant to your own feelings, I certainly cannot consider it consistent with my duty to supersede an arrangement made upon full deliberation, and of which I should have apprised your lordship when here, had not other subjects, accompanied by some doubts as to the propriety of acting in person, induced me to delay it. Having been engaged with the Ministers here all day, I have very reluctantly been obliged to detain your Cossack.

Many thanks for your obliging attention in providing a quarter for me at Chaumont. I shall take care of yours at Chatillon; I have determined to go there from hence direct. Pray send the enclosed order to Charles on the same subject I have addressed you. I rejoice to hear Blücher has given Buonaparte a coup de patte. Bülow and Graham have not been idle on the side of Antwerp.

In haste, my dear Lord, &c.,

CASTLEREAGH.

Lord Castlereagh to Sir Charles Stewart.

Langres, January 31, [1814.]

My dearest Charles-I send you your orders for Chatillon. As I have no notion of diplomatists, more than soldiers, giving themselves orders or drawing their notions of what is right from the wisdom of other Governments than their own, I have returned Lord Cathcart a good-humoured critique upon his letter, and an official order to repair to Chatillon. You have both had fighting enough to satisfy reasonable appetites, and I cannot suffer either of you to forget, whilst I am in charge of the King's affairs, that you can have no duties or preferences

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