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of the largest class. The harbour is very safe and good

anchorage.

JOHN BRAMSEN.

Lord Clancarty to Lord Castlereagh.

Frankfort sur Maine, December 13, 1815. My dear Lord-I must beg you to lay me in the most humble manner at his Royal Highness the Prince Regent's feet, and convey to him my warmest acknowledgments of all his Royal Highness's gracious favours, more especially for that which you have conveyed to me of his royal sanction in advance of the option I should make between the Hague and home employment. You may, I think, safely assure his Royal Highness, in my name, that I shall at all times exert my best efforts to merit the continuance of his gracious approbation.

I must also request you to convey to Lord Liverpool my best thanks for the kindness he has been so good as to evince towards me upon this subject, and for the partial view he has so favourably taken of my capacity. I am truly sensible of the high value of his good opinion, and, though sufficiently flattered by it, should make but a poor return by engaging him to place me in situations whence neither the promotion of his views nor my own reputation would result. It is the way of the world that, when men receive favours, they are immediately ready to ask more. If, however, in the course of the next year, the situation of public affairs abroad shall admit, I should wish, at the time this can most conveniently be accorded, to obtain leave of absence for six weeks, till after spring, or perhaps midsummer.

Upon another subject, immediately connected with embassies, I had intended to speak to you, had my destination been home, but must now write summarily what I had to say.

Just before I left Paris, Hamilton mentioned to me in conversation that it was not the intention of the Foreign Office to name the attachés to embassies in future. Perhaps I am wrong,

but it appears to me that leaving these to the nomination of ambassadors is losing a great card to the patronage of your department and of influence to Government. Hundreds of the first families in England would be indebted to Government for suffering their sons to go out with embassies, both for education in business and for the prospect thus afforded of making diplomacy their line in life. Under another arrangement, this would be converted into a personal compliment from the ambassador to his friend, and there would still be a claim not less strongly felt, though perhaps somewhat in fact less legitimate, for the future employment of persons thus nominated. This is my view of the subject; and, if you think with me, you cannot have a better occasion than the formation of my embassy to commence the practice, which ought to put an end to all claims of ambassadors hereafter appointed to make nominations of this sort. I shall thankfully receive whomsoever you shall send. Ever yours most affectionately, CLANCARTY.

The Hon. F. Lamb to Lord Castlereagh.

Munich, December 18, 1815.

My dear Lord-I have nothing to add to my official despatch except what I learned from Gentz, who passed through here a few days ago. I write at the risk of repeating what your lordship is already acquainted with.

He told me that there was no doubt of the Emperor's fixed determination to carry through his pretensions upon Bavaria by war, if it should be necessary, and added, that the whole transaction was contrary to the wishes and views of Metternich, who would willingly have relinquished the provinces in question to Bavaria, and have kept Landau and as much as could be obtained for Austria on the left bank of the Rhine. At the latter end of October, or beginning of November, he received a letter from the Emperor, written at Innspruck, and enclosing the reports of the Vienna police, in all of which was contained the greatest abuse of Metternich, while the depres

sion of the Austrian paper and every other subject of discontent were charged upon him and upon his weakness and lightness of character. The letter of the Emperor was extremely harsh, and, as Gentz expresses it, humiliating, so much so, as to render it evident that there was no alternative but to carry through the exchanges with Bavaria or to quit his place. From this, coupled with the declarations of General Wacquant, it appears quite certain that Austria is prepared for a rupture: and Gentz also informed me that General Langenau was directed to station a corps in Bohemia, and another in Upper Austria, so as to be able to act hostilely and to take possession of Salzburg upon the first order.

Your lordship will appreciate how much credit is to be given to Gentz's information: he impressed me with a belief that it was true. It appears certain that Bavaria must yield as soon as she is convinced that Austria is in earnest; and General Wacquant informed me that, in conversation with Wrede, whom he knows intimately, he had said to him—“ Now that we two are alone together, what is it you can expect to do, with your three millions of population, against us, who have twentyeight, and who are supported by all the great Powers of Europe?" and that Wrede himself had laughed at the idea of it. But I shall not the less regret if the arrangement cannot be brought to a conclusion, without the appearance of a determination to employ force, as it will infinitely increase the discontent against Austria, which has already been excited here by the present transaction, and which, I am afraid, is already likely to be very lasting.

I do not trouble your lordship with any account of the negociation with which I have been charged by the Duke of Wellington, relative to the orders given to the Bavarian contingent, as I conclude he will not have failed fully to inform your lordship upon the subject.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

F. LAMB.

Account of Murat's Descent in Calabria.

Transmitted by Lord Exmouth.

Extrait de la Lettre remise officiellement au Général Delaunay.

Murat s'embarqua la nuit du 28 Septembre, avec 200 hommes armés et une trentaine d'officiers sur six gondoles, avec de vivres pour huit jours. Dans la nuit du 30 au 1 Octobre, une forte tempête jetta sur les côtes toute l'expédition et sépara les six barques.

Le 4, on vit sur la côte de Sorrente une barque, que l'on crut appartenir aux Barbaresques, et qui sembloit chercher ou attendre d'autres bâtimens. Le 5 il en fut signalé une autre dans le golfe de Salerne, et ensuite on vit que deux barques se réunissoient à la précédente.

Murat débarqua avec le Général Franceschetti, un Colonel, et 50 hommes armés à Pizzo, sur la côte de Calabre, non loin de Monte Leone et environ à 40 lieues de Naples. Il laissa 40 hommes et quelques officiers sur les deux autres barques, leur donnant l'ordre de côtoyer la Calabre.

A peine débarqué, il se porta sur la grande place, réunit le peuple, et lui ordonna de crier Vive le Roi Joachim! lui disant qu'il étoit le Roi, et qu'il venait prendre possession de ses états. Il n'y avoit pas de troupes sur ce point; il y eut un mouvement d'incertitude; mais les villageois et autres braves gens des lieux voisins, ayant eu connoissance du débarquement de Murat, s'armèrent et vinrent l'attaquer. Après une longue et opiniâtre résistance, le parti de Murat fut défait; lui-même fut pris, mis aux fers et conduit au Général Nunziante, Commandant de la Calabre. Au départ du Courrier, la plus parfaite tranquillité régnoit dans cette province.

Le 10, une division de barques cannoniers prit les deux autres barques qui courroient la côte. Les patrons de ces gondoles, ainsi que les officiers, déclarent que Murat, en partant, leur avoit dit à Ajaccio, qu'il voulait aller à Tunis; mais

qu'arrivé à la hauteur du Cap Carbonara, il leur fit ordonner de faire voile vers la Calabre.

Au Consulat des Deux Siciles, à Livourne, le 18 8bre, 1815. Le Docteur GASPERO DI SPERATI, Vice Consul. Signé, pour copie conforme, le Maréchal de Camp, commandant la 23 division militaire,

BARON DELAUNAY.

Received this moment from Toulon-Noon.

EXMOUTH.

Boyne, Marseilles, 24th October, 1815.

Lord Cathcart to Lord Castlereagh.

St. Petersburgh, December 28-16, 1815. My dear Lord-I have little to trouble your lordship with by this conveyance, in addition to my despatches. I must, however, beg leave to remind your lordship of the disadvantages under which all manner of correspondence is placed at this Court, where every letter is opened and read, with no other distinction than in the degree of care in the making them up for delivery or transmission after perusal. Everything sent through the Russian office, even by individuals, if in the service, is liable to the same scrutiny, whether forwarded from London or from hence. In the summer months, there are more frequent opportunities by ships and by travellers; but, during the winter, I cannot help urging the expediency of establishing a regular communication by messengers between St. Petersburgh and Berlin, or through Berlin to Hamburgh.

For ordinary transmission of business intelligence and documents, the periodical departure of a messenger from each of the Courts of St. Petersburgh and Berlin respectively, once a fortnight or once in three weeks, might suffice. But that arrangement would require the stationing another messenger at each Court, for extraordinary communications, which would

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