had not two so-called agents of the Dutch Government received, on the 20th inst., a letter from M. Van Zuylen, thanking them for their exertions, and exhorting them to persevere. The two individuals in question, who form part of a numerous flock, have committed every kind of folly; one of them has assumed the title of Minister of the Prince of Orange, and sent a challenge to a nobleman of the first respectability, who presumed to state a doubt of his ministerial character. That these absurdities bring discredit on the Prince of Orange appears evident from the language of the Marquis de Chasteler to me, which I literally transcribe. Whatever may be the future fate of this country, or the wishes of the Prince of Orange, it is unworthy of me to endeavour to accomplish his object by exciting a civil war amongst us, and decorating his partisans with a signal of discord.'

6

"M. Van Zuylen has written to say he means to return to Brussels, but I think the Dutch Government ought rather to send some other agent, in order to get completely rid of a set of unprincipled adventurers whom it has so incautiously employed.

"The Duke d'Aremberg, who has made himself so notorious a partisan of the French, and the Duke d'Ursel, late mayor of Brussels, who was arrested a few days ago by order of the Duke of Weimar, are the only noblemen who, to my knowledge, have declared themselves in favour of the Prince of Orange."

Upon my stating the substance of the above passage to his Royal Highness, he assured me, in the most solemn manner, and with such an air of sincerity that I cannot doubt him, that he had most absolutely recalled all the Dutch agents, and forbid those of Brabant to continue their proceedings from the moment at which our last conversation on this subject was held. But this proves how much easier it is to set people in motion than to stop them, and justifies my apprehensions, stated in my despatch of this date, that too much, rather than

too little, was likely to be done, by way of preparing the public mind in these provinces.

We expect the corps of Walmoden in these parts in about ten days. This will prove a seasonable reinforcement. I understand it to consist of about 7,000 men, comprising two regiments of cavalry.

Adieu, my dear lord: you must be as heartily tired of me as I am of writing. Yours most affectionately,

CLANCARTY.

Lord Castlereagh to the Hon. Sir Charles Stewart.

Chaumont, March 3, 1814.

Sir-By your communication it appears that the Hanoverian levies, including the Hanseatic and Dessau corps, as also the Russian German Legion, have, from the circumstances under which the several levies were made, exceeded by about 3,000 men the numbers to which your orders required they should be limited.

Approving entirely of the decision taken by you upon this question under your instructions, the Prince Regent, having concluded a subsidiary arrangement with the Hanoverian Government, to take effect from the 24th of last January, is nevertheless desirous of relieving the said government from the charge of this extra force to that date; I am to signify to you his Royal Highness's pleasure, that you do issue the necessary directions to the Paymasters accordingly.

Lord Castlereagh to Edward Thornton, Esq.

Chaumont, March 3, 1814.

Sir-You will receive enclosed copy of a letter, which Count Münster, by my desire, has addressed to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, in execution of arrangements taken by the Allied Sovereigns, as notified in a former despatch. I also transmit a private memorandum received

from his Royal Highness, of the progress of the formations in Hanover. The battalions, as fast as they can be rendered effective, will be put successively in motion for General Graham's head-quarters.

The army under Prince Schwarzenberg, which had retired on the line towards Chaumont and Langres, have again resumed the offensive, reinforced by the Austrian reserves, which are progressively arriving at the latter place. The corps on the Chalons line are executing the operation entrusted to them, which has already had the effect of compelling Buonaparte, with the greater part of his army, to return towards the Lower Marne, in which quarter, if his force should be successfully united, we flatter ourselves Marshal Blücher cannot fail to establish a decided superiority.

The main army has re-occupied Vaudœuvre and Bar-surSeine, and is by this time in the neighbourhood of Troyes. I have, &c., CASTLEREAGH.

Draft.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Aberdeen.

Chaumont, March 3, 1814. My Lord-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your lordship's letter of the [blank], covering one from the Duc de Vicenze, in which his Excellency announces the orders he has received from his government, to afford to me all the necessary facilities and protection, both so far as my presence at Chatillon may conduce to the progress of the negociations, and also for my eventual return to England by the most direct

route.

I request your lordship will express on my part, and in the name of my government, to the Duc de Vicenze, suitable acknowledgments for this mark of attention on the part of the French Government, and that you will add my personal sense of his obliging civilities on all occasions.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Clancarty.

Chaumont, March 4, 1814. My Lord-I have the honour to enclose your lordship some papers which I have received from Baron Stein, relative to the Provisional Administration of certain countries therein mentioned.

I am to desire that your lordship will communicate these papers to his Royal Highness the Prince Sovereign of Holland, and afterwards transmit copies of them to England.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Clancarty.

Chaumont, March 4, 1814.

My Lord-Referring to my despatch to your lordship, No. 7, I have now the honour to transmit to your Excellency a further despatch, with its enclosures, which I have written to Mr. Thornton on the same subject, and copies of which I request you will have the goodness to transmit to England. I have, &c., CASTLEREAGH.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Aberdeen.

Chaumont, March 5, 1814.

My Lord-I have been informed by Mr. Robinson, since his arrival here, that during his journey from Calais to Chatillon, the whole of his expenses, of every description, were paid by the French officer who was appointed to conduct him; and that, when he made inquiry upon the subject, he was informed that it was done in consequence of orders from the French Government. As, under the circumstances of our present communication with England through France, there can be no reciprocity in this arrangement, I feel it my duty to direct your lordship to submit to the French Minister for

us.

Foreign Affairs the extreme embarrassment in which it places I am sure that the Duc de Vicenze will not suppose, from my noticing this circumstance, that I am at all insensible to the attention which the French Government has shown in regard to such persons as have been employed, either by me or by my government at home, in carrying despatches through France. But you will signify to his Excellency my particular request that the expenses of all such journeys may, in future, be defrayed by the British Government, and not by that of France.

I have, &c.,

CASTLEREAGH.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Bathurst.

Chaumont, March 5, 1814.

My Lord-Mr. Robinson returned from England, after a very expeditious journey, yesterday evening. He delivered to me your lordship's despatch of the [blank]; and I beg your lordship will express to the Prince Regent the gratification I have derived from finding that the course pursued by me, under all the circumstances of the case, has been honoured with his Royal Highness's approbation, and that of his confidential servants.

Should the conferences at Chatillon be broken off, I shall not fail to bring the future policy to be pursued under the deliberation of the Allied Courts, and shall acquaint your lordship, for the Prince Regent's information, with the result.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Liverpool.

Chaumont, March 5, 1814.

My dear Liverpool-Robinson arrived at Chatillon the fourth day from his leaving London, and joined me here last night. He came by Paris, where he staid a few hours, without hearing or seeing anything particular.

Your private letter is entirely satisfactory to all my feel