Dutch part of the combined army, under the command of the The Duke of Clarence is still here, waiting, as he says, for a ship to carry him to England. Her Imperial Highness, the Grand Duchess of Oldenburg, arrived yesterday, and proposes to embark for England or Thursday next. My most hearty congratulations on Marshal Blücher's vie tories of the 9th and 10th, at Laon. Yours most affectionately, [Enclosure.] Mr. Johnson to Lord Clancarty. CLANCARTY. Tournay, March 12, 1814. My Lord-The officer whom I mentioned to your lordship in my last letter, as having been despatched by General Maison to the Prince Royal of Sweden, passed through this place yesterday, on his return to Lille, with the Prince Royal's answer. This mission has given rise to various conjectures. The willingness which Maison showed on a former occasion to listen to terms, would lead to suppose that he is now disposed to treat in his own name with the Prince Royal (his former chief), whereas the publicity given to the mission by Maison, and the avowed circumstance that the letters from Madame Bernadotte to her own Consul, of which the officer was bearer, had been transmitted from Paris (the present residence of Madame Bernadotte), seem to indicate that Bonaparte is not ignorant of the transaction, and give some appearance of plausibility to the opinion that, in his present distress, he has made an appeal to the feelings of the Prince Royal, in hopes of detaching him from the coalition. Be this as it may, I have very little doubt that a secret negociation is going on between Maison and the Prince Royal, and it will appear to me very singular, if no communication is made on the subject to Mr. Thornton by the Prince. The Duke of Saxe-Weimar is now employed in endeavours to prevail on the Prince Royal to undertake the defence of the Netherlands, in order that his Serene Highness may be enabled to advance in support of the Allies. The Prince de Croix Sobre is immediately to repair to the head-quarters of the Prince Royal, to endeavour to accomplish this object; and, at the desire of the Duke, I write to Mr. Thornton to enforce the importance of it. I am in treaty with the principal, relative to one of the speculations alluded to in my former letters. The victory obtained by Blücher renders this object less urgent than it would have been in the event of his defeat, and must consequently have the effect of modifying the conditions. Extrait d'une Lettre de Bruxelles en date du 1 Mars, 1814. Carnot reçoit par la Flandre, ou il n'y a que quatre mille Prussiens et Saxons, très regulièrement toutes les nouvelles de la France. Il sait que l'Empereur a besoin de concentrer toutes ses forces, et qu'une diversion lui serait très salutaire. Il a imaginé le plan d'attirer à Anvers la garnison de Bergenop-Zoom en surprenant ou subtilisant les assiégeants, il faciliterait l'entrée à Anvers par une sortie vigoureuse au moment d'un signal. En attendant, Carnot a mis tous les hommes capables de porter les armes en réquisition, et les a fait exercer. Maintenant tout est préparé pour faire passer l'Escaut à son armée, et en marches forcées se réunir à Maison, qui, de son côté, rétrograderoit sur Gand, et faciliterait les troupes françaises dans l'isle de Walcheren de se joindre à lui. Il compte laisser 2,000 hommes dans la citadelle d'Anvers et la bour geoisie pour occu perla ville, qui n'est que faiblement bloquée, en leur assurant que du premier mouvement contraire aux vœux de Carnot, on mettrait le feu au bassin, au chantier, et aux magasins, ce qui réduirait la ville. De cette manière le corps réunis formeraient 40,000 hommes, et assurée soit dans Anvers, soit dans Lille. À la Tête de Flandre, où doit se faire le passage, les Anglais n'ont pas homme ni une pièce de canon. Pour preuve, Carnot a déjà frappé la ville d'une très fort contribution en argent, payable en quatre jours, et pour cet, effet, il a fait mettre des otages en quantité dans la citadelle. Votre Altesse Royale se souviendra que la perte de tous ne succès, en 1794, est venu par la même faute de laisser h Flandre dégarnie. De suite je suis allé parler au général Prussien ici. I parut fâché de ce qu'un particulier était mieux instruit que lui et dit que c'était l'affaire des Anglais. Hier j'appris qu'or était en alarme à Gand, et qu'on y attendait les Français. Je me rendais chez le Duc de Weimar, à qui je me fis part de mes nouvelles. Il me remerciait, mais il ne savait trop que faire. Il était saisi. Le plan de Carnot aurait déjà eu son effet, mais une brouillerie entre lui et le Chef du Génie en a ralenti la marche. Lord Aberdeen to Lord Castlereagh. Chatillon, March 16, 1814. My dear Castlereagh-We have been much disappointed at not hearing from you to-day. But we have been put entirely at ease as to how we are to act by Stadion taking it on himself to wait for further orders. I am sorry for the delay, as I only looked to twenty-four hours; however, I trust even this will not be important. Yours sincerely, ABERDEEN. Madame Marmont is very much obliged to you for your kindness. Lord Castlereagh to Lord Clancarty. Chaumont, March 18, 1814. My dear Clancarty-The negociation draws to a close, and, from present appearances, it will break off. Caulaincourt gave in two papers on the 10th, neither of them constituting an acceptance, in the shape of a contre-projet of the substance of our projet. We have ordered our Plenipotentiaries to demand such an answer in twenty-four hours, or to declare the negociations at an end. The first paper was a political pamphlet against our projet, and pretty much against all concession. The second was a note verbale, containing the Frankfort basis, and little else. Bonaparte finds himself better supported of late, and will, I dare say, fight to the last, in which case, the sooner we close our discussions the better, as they distract and embarrass the military operations. We expect hourly a great crash between Blücher and Buonaparte. The armies were in position on the 8th, near Laon, and in hourly expectation of a battle. Blücher has near 100,000 men; Buonaparte not so many. On the other line I do not think they are doing much. If Blücher gains a battle, we shall then do wonders: but at this moment we are too distant to assist him; and, while there is a chance of Buonaparte beating the Silesian army and turning upon us, Schwarzenberg will not push on to Paris, leaving his communications exposed to a movement by Chalons and Vitry, on the line of the Marne. I send under a flying seal, for your perusal, my private letter to Liverpool upon the Dutch loan. Having stated my ideas therein pretty fully, I have only to say you will abstain at present from taking any step upon it at the Hague. The Deputies from Brabant are here. All their views are Austrian; and, although I have used my best endeavours to remove any unfavourable impression, by stating what your and the Prince of Orange's conduct has been, it is clear that mis chief has been done. We are to have a conference to-night the Allied Cabinets on this question, which is full of difficulty The object is to arm the country, and to govern it until a peace, in the name of the Allies, without a party explosi I believe this will be best done by putting some Austria: officer forward as military governor, it being understood tha: Austria only lends her mediation, to see the country safe up a peace. The Emperor has told them plainly that he carr take them back, and that an Archduke would be no motiv: with him to risk a war for their sakes: he has therefore advised them to look to an incorporation with Holland, upor a fair understanding to be guaranteed to them as to religion commerce, debt, &c. I have strongly pressed the same idea, and declared tha: we can do nothing for them as a weak, insulated State; that. if they wish to be supported, they must lend themselves to such an arrangement as may give them the means of being independent; and that an incorporation with Holland, under proper regulations, appeared to me the only practicable arrangement. Since they have conversed with the different Powers, who have all held the same language, they are become much more reconciled to the idea; but it is not desirable to provoke the final question amongst that irascible people too suddenly, and whilst all exertions should be turned against the common enemy. I shall write more precisely in a few days; in the mean time, you may converse confidentially with the Prince of Orange upon what I have thrown out. CASTLEREAGH. Lord Cathcart to Lord Castlereagh. Chatillon sur Seine, March 18, 1814. My dear Lord-Your lordship will have in more detail from other channels the report of the proceedings of the Plenipotentiaries this day. |