Austrian mediation should be notified by Wessenberg. This I have declined, considering it of moment to leave to our Allies the discretion as to the mode of bringing this forward; besides, without the explanatory despatches, the fact of acceptance could lead to no proceeding, and these, even in cipher, I should be sorry to expose to a passage through France. This reasoning has convinced the Baron that his suggestion was not well considered.

Draft.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Cathcart.

Foreign Office, July 28, 1813. My dear Lord-The messenger with your despatches to the 8th inclusive arrived yesterday. I hope Lord Wellington's progress and victory will have animated the councils at Trachenberg, and induced Austria to take a more decisive tone. Of all the Powers, Austria will be the first sacrifice of an inadequate arrangement; and if, with the present means assembled against France, she cannot erect an adequate barrier for her own preservation, she ought never to have emerged from her servile relations to Buonaparte; but I can add nothing to what I have already said on this subject.

Lord Wellington writes in great spirits: he is consolidating his position in the Pyrenees, and will be regulated by the course of the great Powers on the Continent in his future operations. Both Clausel and Suchet are pointing homewards.

Your lordship has already been informed that my brother's report of the battle of Bautzen was published in the Gazette, having been received some days before your lordship's account of that event reached England.

I hope you have obtained copies of the papers the substance of which is given in your No. 67. I am very glad you have sent Sir R. Wilson on an inspection to the rear. With every proper respect and confidence in our Allies, we must see with our own eyes, and not be too scrupulous in checking numbers. CASTLEREAGH.

Lord Castlereagh to the Hon. Frederick Lamb.

Foreign Office, August 6, 1813. Sir-I enclose to you a letter from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent to the Emperor of Austria, accrediting you to his Imperial Majesty, as his Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary, in the event of the absence of the Earl of Aberdeen from the Court of Vienna, in which case you will present the letter in the form usually practised on similar occasions. I also enclose to you a copy, and am, &c., CASTLEREAGH.

His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to the Emperor of

Austria.

Sir, my Brother-Having judged it expedient under the present circumstances to confer the rank of Minister Plenipotentiary on our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable. Frederick Lamb, our Secretary of Embassy to the Court of your Imperial Majesty, during the occasional absence of our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin the Earl of Aberdeen, Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, I request that your Imperial Majesty will give entire credence to all that the said Minister Plenipotentiary shall communicate to you on our part, more especially when he shall represent to your Imperial Majesty the assurances of my sincere esteem and affection for your person, and my ardent desire to cement more and more the union and good understanding which so happily subsist between the two Crowns.

I am, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty,

Sir, my Brother,

Your Imperial Majesty's good Brother,

GEORGE P. R.

Given at the Palace of Carlton House, August 6, 1813.

Copy.

Lord Castlereagh to the Hon. Sir Charles Stewart. Foreign Office, August 7, 1813. My dear Charles-As soon as Lord Aberdeen takes charge of the King's affairs in Austria, you will either withdraw or transfer to him any agents you may have stationed there.

I have great doubts as to Mr. Horne being suited to that destination: his resentments against Count Metternich seem to disqualify him for any temperate inquiry in matters which concern him. Mr. Addington will no longer be required in that quarter, and as Mr. Thornton is without any civil assistant, and as his duties are of sufficient importance to warrant my attaching a suitable person to him to perform the duties of a Secretary of Legation, with the usual emoluments, if this destination should be acceptable to Mr. Addington, I beg you will direct him to join Mr. Thornton without delay.

PS. I shall apprise Mr. Thornton of my intentions of attaching Mr. Addington to his mission whilst he remains on the Continent, and you will communicate with him upon this subject.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Cathcart.

Copy. Cray Farm, August 7, 1813. My dear Lord-We have just received your account of the Trachenberg Conferences, which, with the letter from the Emperor of Austria to the Crown Prince, renders the whole of that proceeding a most important and, I trust, auspicious incident in the Continental drama. The dénouement of the plot is yet a matter of anxiety. I trust, however, the impulse which has been given will not yield to nominal concessions.

I should hope, if the Austrian terms were not opened by Metternich at Dresden, that the Emperor is yet free to insist upon an arrangement more consonant to the general interests. The events in Spain not only justify, but require his Imperial Majesty, as a mediator, to alter his terms. He must see how

fatal it would be to all, were he to separate his cause from that of the other Powers. Neutrality must exhaust his resources as much as war; and, if Buonaparte should triumph over the others, his own fate is sealed. My despatches of the 6th and 14th of July must have arrived in full time to enable your lordship to bring our claims forward. It is impossible that Russia and Prussia can hesitate in standing by the four points that we have made sine quá non. I can as little conceive that Austria, assuming the task of mediating a general peace, can reject demands so just and moderate in themselves. This will in itself so largely extend the preliminary base, as materially to diminish the chance of Buonaparte yielding. Besides, if he could bring himself to stoop so low, the Allies would, of course, not take this upon trust, upon a mere paper engagement. They must, in common sense, before they sacrifice the whole season for acting, require some substantial securities, such as the retreat of the French armies, and the restoration of the Prussian fortresses. Here will be a new stumblingblock. I can hardly conceive it possible that the Conferences at Prague can, under present circumstances, end in peace, if the Allies are true to themselves and to each other. Buonaparte has had a severe lesson; but, whilst he has such a force under arms, he will not submit to any arrangement which even Count Metternich could have the face to sign his name to, as providing "on solid principles for the repose of Europe."

Lord Aberdeen leaves town to-day for Yarmouth, and will lose no time in joining your lordship. I have acquainted Baron Wessenberg in general terms of his being charged with a mission to the Emperor.

Our latest news from Lord Wellington is of the 19th ult. His left was then besieging St. Sebastian. He had blockaded Pampeluna, chiefly with Spaniards. He was giving his army rest, which they much wanted after their fatigues; and waiting for Lord William Bentinck's bringing up the right. When last heard from, he was at Valencia, following Suchet, who was

retreating. Clausel had retired by Jaen. Before Lord W. forms his future plans, he must know what is to happen in Germany; his whole policy must be governed upon that of the Allies. He writes in great spirits, and the Continental Powers may rely upon his doing his best for them. Fatal would it be for them, and for the world, if they could for a moment think of seeking their safety in what is called a Continental peace. We have done wonders in the Peninsula; but don't let the experiment be tried of a single combat again in that quarter. We may sink before the undivided power of France: and if we do, Germany, and even Russia, will soon resume their fetters. We are protected against this evil by the obligations of good faith; but we are also protected against it by the plainest dictates of common interest. We have now the bull close pinioned between us, and if either of us let go our hold till we render him harmless, we shall deserve to suffer for it.

The Hon. Sir Charles Stewart to Sir Francis D'Ivernois.

Reichenbach, August 12, 1813

Sir-In consequence of a communication which I have received from his Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I have the honour to acquaint you that the British Government are desirous that you should proceed to England, for the purpose of arranging and bringing into action the plan of the paper money, on which you have already thrown so much light in the communications that have taken place between us. I have communicated on the subject of your departure with Lord Cathcart, who entirely approves of the same, although his lordship has not received, as yet, the formal instruction which I have reason to believe from Lord Castlereagh he will receive by the next courier. My object is, as much as possible, in this interesting moment, to forward with rapidity every measure connected so largely with the public interests as the financial measure in question.