Ireland, and the agent of transports is ordered to supply tonnage, on their arrival, to place the men entirely at their ease, they being now much crowded. The fourth brigade is to embark at Ramsgate, unless you could manage to put them on board at once from Deal, by which means the basin at the former place would be exclusively applicable to shipping the cavalry. The present force, unless something should occur to alter our determination, it is intended to send to the Ems; and, as it is material that at least one regiment of British cavalry should accompany it, it is proposed to provide tonnage for the 11th regiment of Light Dragoons now at Deal, before the heavy regiment of German cavalry is embarked. I calculate that the transports now on this side of the water, and which, with the exception of a proportion ordered to receive two troops of the Waggon Train, and 450 horses for the artillery at Northfleet, will be assembling daily at Ramsgate, are sufficient to provide for the 11th regiment above-mentioned, calculated at 750 horses, leaving a surplus of from 150 to 200 horses. We may hope every day that the horse-ships from the Elbe will have returned to the Downs; we shall then have from 800 to 900 disposable; and I shall inform your lordship, in due time, whether you are first to embark the heavy regiment of cavalry, or another regiment of British Light Dragoons.

With respect to the embarkation of the 11th, I wish it to take place as nearly as you can time it, as the last of the infantry are going on board; so as, on the one hand, to guard against delay, and on the other, to prevent the cavalry being on board longer than is necessary.

The convoy from the Downs will consist of the infantry and cavalry chiefly. The artillery, waggon-train, store-ships, and, in short, all shipments from the River, will assemble at the Nore, and proceed at once from thence. With this view I am to request your lordship will immediately station a separate convoy at the Nore, to take charge of them, for which the

necessary directions will be given to the Admiralty. The transports from the Downs and from the Nore will be despatched as nearly as possible at the same time; if they join at sea, so much the better; if they do not, each will have its own protection. With respect to the nature of the convoy, I only wish to point your lordship's attention to the proximity of the Ems to the Dutch coast, and to the fort of Delftziel, which is within the river. Perhaps this may render it prudent to send a small squadron of gun-brigs into the river, to keep the enemy in awe.

I have been obliged to trouble your lordship of late for several cutters, and I must now request you will direct one to be ready to receive Mr. Bullock and two assistant-commissaries, who are ordered to be at Deal to-morrow evening, to proceed direct to Embden. I rather understood, from your lordship's letter of this morning, that the letter addressed to the Consul at Embden had been sent to Bremerlehe, to be forwarded from thence, which is, I conceive, in the present state of things, unnecessarily circuitous.

CASTLEREAGH.

Lord Castlereagh to Count Münster.

Downing Street, November 28, 1805. Sir-Permit me to recommend to your protection the bearer of this letter, Mr. Engelbach, who has been despatched to Hanover in the station of Assistant-Commissary, for the purpose of superintending the bakeries which may be necessary for the forces in the pay of his Britannic Majesty. For this service, it will be necessary to enlist a corps of bakers; and I am commanded by his Majesty to desire you will take every means to induce the Regency of Hanover to afford every facility and assistance for its enlistment, upon the most advantageous and economical footing.

Lord Castlereagh to his Majesty's Consul at Embden.

Downing Street, November 28, 1805.

Sir-Mr. Bullock, who has been appointed, ad interim, to act as Deputy-Commissary to a considerable British corps, which it is intended to disembark at Embden, will deliver to you this letter. And I am to desire that you will furnish him with every assistance and information in your power, with regard to the means of procuring supplies of provisions, carriages, horses, &c., and whatever other articles he may be instructed to provide, for maintaining an army in the field; and you will act with as little publicity as possible.

Lord Castlereagh to the Lords of the Admiralty.

Downing Street, November 29, 1805.

My Lords-A considerable corps of troops having been ordered to embark and assemble in the Downs, in order to proceed to the Continent, I am to signify to your lordships his Majesty's pleasure that you do issue the necessary orders for a proper convoy to be in readiness for the protection of their passage. It is proposed that such part of the equipment belonging to the above corps as may embark in the River should assemble at the Nore; and I am to desire that a separate convoy should be provided for this part of the expedition. I shall not fail to give your lordships a further intimation as to the particular destination of this force, before the final orders for its sailing shall be given.

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Keith.

Downing Street, November 29, 1805.

My dear Lord-Lord Barham writes to request your lordship will assist our inquiries about the safety of entering the Ems with a large fleet of transports, assuming always Prussia to give us facilities as well as permission.

As we are to presume the allied forces may have made a forward movement from the Weser in the direction of Holland, it is of importance that our reinforcements should meet them on the Ems, rather than have the unnecessary fatigue of following them from the former river. With this view, we are desirous of obtaining the best information as to the obstacles which could be thrown in our way from the Dutch shore, as also what precautions should be taken with respect to pilots, light-armed vessels, &c.

The necessary orders have been sent to the Admiralty with respect to convoy, both from the Downs and Nore. I have to request your lordship will give me a private intimation when all is likely to be on board, in order that the King's pleasure, with respect to their finally proceeding to sea, may be taken in due time. I have also applied to the Admiralty relative to a cutter to convey Mr. Bullock and his assistants to Embden. I am, &c., CASTLEREAGH.

Mr. Cooke to Lord Keith.

Downing Street, December 4, 1805.

My Lord-Lord Castlereagh, who is much hurried, desires me to inform your lordship, that it is intended to embark three additional regiments of infantry in the transports now in the Downs, and to change two of those which have arrived from Ireland; also to embark the heavy Hanoverian cavalry, reserving the embarkation of the 11th Dragoons for an ulterior operation. His lordship wishes the embarkation of the cavalry to be completed by the time the infantry shall be embarked.

As much of the ordnance stores, &c., are embarked, his lordship further requests you will inform him whether you have appointed a convoy to protect them from the Nore, and when it will arrive at the Nore.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

E. COOKE.

[Draft.]

Lord Castlereagh to Lord Cathcart.

Downing Street, December 5, 1805. My Lord-In the event of the British army under your lordship's orders being employed in a conjoint operation with the troops of other powers, the principle his Majesty has thought fit to lay down, with respect to relative command, (where no special agreement exists to the contrary between the respective courts) is that the senior officer in rank should command the whole allied force. Although it appears to his Majesty that it is of the last importance to the successful conduct of operations in the field that the supreme command should reside in some one General, yet his Majesty trusts that to whatever nation the command may at any time fall, according to the rule above laid down, it will be conducted with all the forbearance, spirit of conciliation, and temper, which is so indispensably necessary to preserve harmony in an allied army; that the authority will be exercised, as far as possible, upon principles of the most unreserved confidence and communication with the officers in the chief command of the other corps; that it will not in any instance be pushed beyond what the absolute necessity of the case may seem to require; and that it be upon no account directed to any interference whatever in the internal system and management of the respective armies, which ought to remain exclusively under the direction and regulation of their own separate staffs.

His Majesty entertains the most confident hope and expectation that the good sense, temper, and prudence of the officers who may thus meet upon service will at once determine them not to suffer any minor difficulty or feeling to obstruct or impede their exertions, in a cause in which all are equally animated and interested; and that thus every embarrassment will be obviated. His Majesty deems it expedient, however, that your lordship should receive instructions for the direction of your conduct, in the event of his Majesty's just expectations in this particular being disappointed.