y«o 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805, 



that he was vested with full power 

 to conclude an alliance with Bavaria. 

 Propositions were brought forward 

 80 widely different from the system 

 that had been observed by Austria 

 for a century past, that their since- 

 rity could not possibly obtain belief. 

 Overtures were renewed to him, 

 the principal of which were to re- 

 cognise the neutrality of the elector. 

 He did not absolutely reject the 

 proposition, but declared, in the 

 most precise terms, that the emperor 

 of Austria would never consent to 

 an armed neutrality. His majesty, 

 he said, might perhaps consent to a 

 neutrality, and even agree that a 

 certain circle in the neighbourhood 

 of Munich should never be occu- 

 pied by Austrian troops, provided 

 tiie elector would previously con- 

 sent to disband his army. Such a 

 proposition necessarily revolted the 

 elector and his ministers. In order, 

 however, to avoid the slightest re- 

 proach of having abruptly broken 

 off a negotiation by which, perhaps, 

 the elector might have been placed in 

 a situation to preserve his neutrality, 

 these insulting demands met only a 

 cool reply. The imperial minister 

 proceeded, that if the elector made 

 a difficulty in the general disbanding 

 of his army, the emperor would be 

 contented with the disbanding of 

 only the Bavarian and buabian 

 troops, permitting him to retain the 

 Franconians. The minister of fo- 

 reign affairs rejected a condition so 

 humiliating for the Franconians. 

 The Austrian envoy declared, that 

 besides the Franconian troops, the 

 Suabians might also be retained, if 

 the elector would consent to disband 

 the Bavarians. Without this ex- 

 press condition, however, no neu- 

 trality could be thought of. How 

 equld the AAistrian minister propose 

 2 



a measure by which a differenct 

 was supposed between the electoral 

 troops at once so injurious and in- 

 suiting? His electoral highness, and 

 the whole nation, are convinced 

 that the same fidelity, and the same 

 courage pervade the whole army, 

 and know no difference. '1 he elec- 

 tor cannot better prove this than 

 by intrusting the defence of the 

 country to the Bavarian and Sua- 

 bian troops, while he delivers up 

 his person and family to the protec- 

 tion of those of Francoiiia. — The 

 minister of the emperor and king 

 further declared, that if the elector 

 remained armed, his imperial majesty 

 would not even on that account 

 treat him as an enemy, but that this 

 measure must necessarily inspire a 

 just distrust, and that his majesty 

 would in this case feel himself obli- 

 ged to act as circumstances might 

 require. It was remarked that this 

 expression was extremely undefined, 

 and might be explained in any way- 

 suiting the occasion. The reply 

 was, that the ministers of the elec- 

 tor made no proposition to him, 

 while he was empowered to discuss 

 every condition which was compa- 

 tible with the disarming of the Ba. 

 varian troops. On this new over- 

 ture there Mas nothing further to be 

 said. Thehononrand the indepen- 

 dence of the sovereign could not. 

 permit that the disbanding of the 

 electoral Bavarian troops should be 

 lixed as the basis of any negotiation. 

 The Austrian minister was no^r 

 ^aware that his propositions were 

 not, and could not be attended to, 

 and that his negotiation had entirely 

 failed of success. He began, there, 

 fore, to complain of the approach 

 of the French troops ; he gave it to 

 be understood too, that he did not 

 feci himself in his proper place, and 



that 



