general annoyance of the enemy in some other quarter, it is the King's pleasure that your lordship should, in the case supposed, take immediate measures for causing the troops to return to England with the least possible delay.

In the event of Prussia being committed in the war, intelligence of the rupture may, at the latest, be expected to reach the army now on the Weser by the 15th of December, and earlier, if the negociations with which Count Haugwitz is charged shall not have been protracted.

We have reason to know that, in the event of war, the determination of the cabinet of Berlin is to aim at the accomplishment, even before the close of this campaign, of the recovery of Holland, and the compelling the French to recross the Rhine. It is probable that they will have been additionally confirmed in their natural desire to rescue Holland, by the strong representations Lord Harrowby has been instructed to make, and by the assurances his lordship has been authorized to give, that his Majesty would be disposed actively to cooperate in such an undertaking, either by reinforcing his army in the north of Germany, or by landing a considerable force in Holland, so soon as the operations of the allies in the interior should have afforded a safe and convenient access for his troops.

From the despatches lately received from General Tolstoy, there is every reason to suppose that, even before Prussia shall have definitively taken her line, the Russian and Swedish army, with whom Lieutenant-General Don has been directed to co-operate, will have made a forward movement, with the countenance of Prussia, towards Holland; and I should hope your lordship, on your arrival, will find them advanced to the Ems, if not to the Yssel.

His Majesty has been principally induced to detach a force to the Continent under all the difficulties of the present advanced season of the year, and to join his troops to those of Russia and Sweden, with a view of enabling Prussia the better

to undertake operations against Holland, without weakening herself too much in the quarter of Franconia and Lower Saxony, where, by acting in force, she may contribute at once to the complete destruction of the enemy's army in its present advanced positions.

It has been a strong additional motive with his Majesty still further to augment that force, in the hope that he may thereby strengthen the confederate corps to such an extent as may render it, even without any aid from the Prussian army, fully equal to penetrate and to reduce the entire of Holland north of the Meuse and the Rhine, leaving the army under the Duke of Brunswick at liberty at the same moment to advance from Westphalia against the defences of that river; and, by interposing himself between the enemy and the Low Countries, either at once to carry those fortresses, or to secure their early fall for want of supplies, instead of suffering them, if the French are permitted during the winter to garrison and provision them without interruption, to become the most formidable impediments to any successful operations against France at the opening of the ensuing campaign.

upon,

His Majesty considers the value of time to be such at the present season of the year, and at this critical conjuncture of the war, as to feel himself called where so much may depend upon his effectual support, to direct the corps now assembling in the Downs to proceed immediately to sea, even though, in the case of a cessation of hostilities on the Continent, his troops may be obliged to return without any opportunity having been afforded them of active service.

Lord Harrowby was directed, some time since, to apply to the Court of Berlin for permission to land troops in the Ems; and it is not to be presumed, connected as Prussia is with the allied powers, that any objection can now be made to such a request.

There is a case by no means probable in itself, but so far possible as to render it perhaps not altogether undeserving of

your lordship's attention. It might happen, should the Russians early move into Holland, and the advance of the allies from the Weser be uninterrupted by any resistance, that they might have advanced so much beyond the Ems, and so far into the interior, more especially if the troops should unfortunately be detained here by adverse winds, as to render it impossible for the reinforcements from hence landing in the Ems to join them before they had reached the Meuse, and secured the command of that river towards the sea. In such a case, it would be for your lordship to consider how far it would be desirable that the troops should follow the army by land through a difficult country, or whether it might not be more advisable, especially if still here, that they should be sent into Holland direct.

The King does not feel it requisite, in addition to the above outline, to direct me to furnish your lordship at present with any more detailed instructions. Your lordship's experienced military judgment and penetration will best suggest on the spot the inquiries which are to be made, and the measures to be pursued, for the good of his Majesty's service.

You will keep Lord Harrowby informed at Berlin of the course of your proceedings and observations; and, in order to facilitate my communications with your lordship, the Admiralty have been directed to keep a cutter at all times in the Ems, ready to convey to me any intelligence your lordship may have to transmit for his Majesty's information.

I am, &c.,

CASTLEREAGH.

Lord Castlereagh to Lieutenant-General Don.

November 27, 1805.

Sir-His Majesty having been pleased to order four brigades of British infantry, with a proportion of cavalry and artillery, to proceed without delay to reinforce his army in the north of Germany, and it being his Majesty's pleasure that the British

army, which will then be assembled on the Continent, amounting, officers included, to about 25,000 men, should be placed for the present under the chief command of General Lord Cathcart, I am to acquaint you that his lordship will immediately embark for the Continent, in obedience to the King's commands.

It is Lord Cathcart's intention to land at Embden, and from thence to repair to the head-quarters of the allied army, as it is his Majesty's present determination (deeming it probable that the allied forces will, in the mean time, have advanced from the Weser towards the Yssel) that the troops should be landed in the Ems: and, it being of material importance to the King's service that his lordship, before he proceeds from Embden to the army, should be enabled to make such arrangements on the spot as may be necessary for the reception of the troops, and the rendering them capable of undertaking a forward movement with the least possible delay, I am to desire, in order that his lordship, in taking his measures, may have the best information, not only of the actual position and state of the armies, but of the extent and nature of the supplies which may be expected from his Majesty's Electoral dominions, that you will immediately, on the receipt of this despatch, send a confidential officer, fully informed on these points, to meet his lordship at Embden.

As it will be desirable that Lord Cathcart should at the same time receive information with respect to any plan of operations which may have been previously decided on, as well as of every circumstance which your own observation and inquiries, or communications received from Lord Harrowby at Berlin, may enable you to lay before his lordship, I am to request that you will, if possible, send your Assistant QuarterMaster-General, Colonel Murray, to Embden, for the above purpose.

I hope the transports with the light cavalry, the ordnance, victualling, and other stores, which have been long detained in

the Downs by contrary winds, will have sailed this morning. The shipment of the other cavalry regiment is proceeding with, and also of the horses for the British artillery, and will be despatched without delay.

Lord Castlereagh to the Earl of Chatham.

Downing Street, November 27, 1805.

My Lord-The King having signified his royal pleasure that four additional brigades of British infantry should be embarked for foreign service, I have signified his Majesty's commands to his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, to this effect, and have requested his Royal Highness to communicate with your lordship as to the quantity of artillery, ammunition, and entrenching tools, which it will be proper to embark with them. When your lordship shall have settled the necessary arrangements with his Royal Highness, I am to request you will furnish me with an account of the quantity of tonnage which will be requisite, that orders may be given to the Commissioners of the Transport Service accordingly. In the mean time, they have received orders to send to Woolwich several transports, there to be laden; and they are instructed to obey whatever requisition they shall receive from your lordship and the Board of Ordnance.

[Draft.]

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Keith.

Downing Street, November 28, 1805. My dear Lord-I think it may enable your lordship to guard against either delay or embarrassment, in the execution of orders which may be sent from the respective departments, you are acquainted with the general outline of what is intended, and in progress.

Four brigades of infantry are ordered for immediate service to assemble in the Downs; three of these are coming from