march through the country of Anspach, belonging to Prussia, without regarding the neutrality of that power. The tidings of this insult, when they reached Berlin, roused great indignation; the King himself had thoughts of war; orders were issued for placing the army on the war footing; but yet a paltry compensation of 66,000 florins was not disdained; and a note of the 14th of October merely intimated that Prussia should no longer consider herself bound to refuse a passage through her territory to the enemies of France, but should open Silesia to the Russians.

In this disposition of the Prussian court and cabinet, the Emperor Alexander arrived in Berlin; and so successful were his eloquent persuasions, that, on the 3rd of November, a secret treaty was concluded between the two monarchs for the restoration of the balance of power between the European States. The Treaty of Luneville was to serve for its basis; Holland and Switzerland were to be independent; the Italian crown was to be separated from the French, and Sardinia indemnified. Prussia was to address a remonstrance on these points to Napoleon, and, if he disregarded it, to take part in the war against him.

I pass over the nocturnal dramatic scene, enacted immediately after this bold step, in which, over the tomb of the great Frederick, the two monarchs vowed everlasting friendship to each other. The disastrous battle of Austerlitz soon followed, to dispel the warlike reveries of the King of Prussia; and Count Haugwitz, who was sent as his plenipotentiary to

Napoleon at Vienna, agreed on the 15th of December to a Convention by which Prussia ceded Anspach, Cleve with Wesel, and Neufchatel, for Hanover; and a district of Bavaria, containing 20,000 souls, to round Baireuth: but the occupation of Hanover was to be only provisional, till a general peace, when further negociations were to take place in Paris. Franconia was evacuated by the Prussian army; Hanover by the Russians, Hanoverians, and English, in January; while the Swedes remained encamped in Lauenburg.

To the policy of the Prussian cabinet; to its earnest desire to obtain that bait which Bonaparte proposed to its ambition-namely, the possession of Hanover; and to the hollow diplomacy resorted to in order to secure it, must be principally ascribed the return of the British armament, without attaining any of the objects which it might fairly have been expected to accomplish. To this grand cause of disappointment were certainly added uncontrollable accidents of wind and weather, which retarded the arrival of a large portion of that force on the Continent, till the season for active operations was past; and the speedy termination of hostilities with Austria permitted the French Emperor to detach an overwhelming mass of his victorious army to the north of Germany.

Before Prussia was permitted to gain her favourite point-possession of Hanover she had to submit to the conclusion of a new treaty with France on the 15th of February. By this treaty, which was

not made public, and the provisions of which became known only by the actual consequences, she was obliged to accept Hanover without any clause of provisional possession; moreover, to engage to bar the mouths of the rivers of North Germany against the English; and the promised district of Bavaria was withheld from her. Her manifesto, relative to the closing of the rivers, was issued on the 25th of March; and on the 1st of April followed the final occupation of Hanover. A declaration of war ensued on the part of Great Britain: but our Government, distinguishing between involuntary and compulsory acts, generously abstained from any vigorous exercise of hostility.

Memorandum for the Consideration of the Cabinet.

Downing Street, September, 1805.

By the latest intelligence, it appears that the French have withdrawn, with the exception of about 2,000 men, their troops from Hanover, which small force is probably employed to garrison the fortress of Hameln, and to occupy the seat of Government; the entire of the northern parts of the Electorate, connected with the Elbe and Weser, having been evacuated.

It may be presumed that 20,000 Russians are by this time. assembled at Stralsund; and, from Mr. Pierrepoint's last letters, it is probable that the Swedish subsidiary corps may have been extended from 4,000 to 12,000 men by a subsequent engagement.

The Danes are assembling a corps of 26,000 men in Holstein, and we have reason to believe that they have an understanding with Russia favourable to the common cause.

Prussia shows no disposition to active measures of hostility; and it is to be hoped that the approaching interview between the King and the Emperor will have ascertained, at least, her neutrality. If so, and if she has not entered into engagements with France for the occupation of Hanover, of which there is as yet no appearance, there seems little probability of any serious obstacle being opposed to the immediate entrance of a light corps by the Elbe, directed, in the first instance, to the expulsion of the few remaining French, and the re-occupation of the Electorate; secondly, to the re-assembly and extension of the Hanoverian army; and, thirdly, to the formation of a concert between the force at Stralsund and the Danes, to be supported from hence, as circumstances may point out.

The corps to be landed in the first instance should be sufficiently strong not only to effect the object and provide for its own safety against any inconsiderable attack, but such as will also effectually encourage the loyal Hanoverians confidently to declare themselves. For this purpose it seems desirable that not less than 10,000 men should be sent, and that it should consist, in addition to the German Legion, of about 5,000 British infantry.

It is proposed that a confidential officer (Lieutenant-General Don) should be immediately sent to Berlin, to obtain, with the assistance of his Majesty's Minister at that Court, such information as may facilitate or bear upon the prudence of carrying this service into effect; that, in the mean time, the troops should be embarked, and sail for the Elbe; but with orders not to disembark till the arrival of Lieutenant-General Don, on his return from Berlin, on whose judgment and discretion (after the inquiries above directed) the landing is altogether to depend.

It is proposed to hold a further force of 5,000 British infantry in readiness to follow as a reinforcement, provided, on receiving Lieutenant-General Don's report, it shall appear

desirable, with a view to the above objects, to augment the army in Hanover before the winter sets in, reserving for future consideration how any larger British force can be hereafter best applied to give effect to a co-operation from the North.

In case of any attack from the French army, the corps in Hanover may retire upon their transports in the Elbe, so long as the navigation is open; or they may fall back on Holstein, or on Stralsund, through the Mecklenburg territory. Nothing but a gross act of perfidy on the part of Prussia (which is not to be presumed) can expose them to any sudden attack, and even then they will have full time to fall back upon their transports.

A corps of 10,000 men now sent into Hanover may, it is presumed, be doubled in number by the 1st of March, which, joined to 20,000 Russians, 10,000 Swedes (supposing 2,000 to remain in garrison at Stralsund), and 26,000 Danes, would produce an active army of from 70,000 to 80,000 men at the opening of the campaign; to which might certainly be added not less than 20,000 from hence; making, in the whole, an active force of not less than 100,000 men, for the deliverance of Holland in the first instance, and to be subsequently directed against the enemy, as circumstances may point out.

Should, however, the leading objects above stated from unforeseen events be disappointed, and the corps be obliged to retire, there is every reason to hope that the numbers of the German Legion may, even during a limited stay in the Hanoverian territory, be so rapidly and largely augmented as to render the expedition highly expedient, even with a view to this limited result.

Draft.

Lord Castlereagh to H.R.H. the Duke of York.

Sir-It being of importance, in the event of hostilities on the Continent, that this country should be prepared, according