714 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



support mc. P'ar from attacking 

 the throne of the emperor of France, 

 and keeping steadily in view the pre- 

 servation of peace, which we so 

 publicly and sincerely stated to be 

 our only wish, we declared in the 

 presence of all Europe, " that we 

 " would, in no event, interfere in 

 " the internal concerns of France, 

 " nor make any alteration in the 

 " new constitution which Germany 

 " received after the peace of Lune- 

 " ville." Peace and independence 

 ■were the only objects which we 

 ■wished to attain; no ambitious views, 

 no intention, such as that since as- 

 cribed to me, of subjugating Bava- 

 ria, had any share in our councils. — 

 But the sovereign of France, totally 

 regardless of the general tranquillity, 

 listened not to these overtures. 

 AVholly absorbed in liiniself, and 

 occupied only with the display of 

 his own greatness and omnipotence, 

 he collected all his force, compelled 

 Holland and the elector of Baden 

 to join him ; whilst his secret ally, 

 the elector palatine, false to his sa- 

 cred promise, voluntarily delivered 

 himself up to him ; violated, in the 

 most insulting manner, the neutra- 

 lity of the king of Prussia, at the 

 very moment that he iiad given the 

 most solemn promises to respect it ; 

 and by these violent proceedings, he 

 succeeded in surrounding and cutting 

 off a part of the troops which I had 

 ordered to take a position on the 

 Danube and the Iller, and finally, 

 in compelling them to surrender, af- 

 ter a brave resistance. — A procla- 

 mation no less furious than any to 

 which the dreadful period of the 

 French revolution gave birth, was 

 issued, in order to animate the 

 French army to the highest pitch of 

 courage. — Let the intoxication of 

 success, or the unhallowed and ini- 



quitous spirit of revenge, actuate 

 the foe : calm and firm I stand in 

 the midst of twcnty-fivc millions of 

 people, who are dear to my heart, 

 and to my family. 1 have a claim 

 upon their love, for I desire their 

 happiness. I have a claim upon their 

 assistance, for whatever they venture 

 for the throne, they venture for 

 themselves, their own families, their 

 posterity, their own happiness and 

 tranquillity, and for the preserva- 

 tion of all that is sacred and dear to 

 tiicm. — With fortitude the Austrian 

 monarchy arose from every storm 

 which menaced it during the pre- 

 ceding centuries. Its intrinsic vi- 

 gour is still undecayed. There still 

 exists in the breasts" of those good 

 and loyal men, for whose prosperity 

 and tranquillity I combat, that an- 

 tient patriotic spirit which is ready to 

 make every sacrifice, and to dare eve- 

 ry thing to save what must be saved ; 

 their (Inone and their independence, 

 the national honour and the national 

 prosperity. — From this spirit of pa- 

 triotism on the part of my subjects, 

 I expect, with a proud and tranquil 

 confidence, every thing that is great 

 and good ; but above all things, 

 unanimity, and a quick, firm, and 

 courageous co-operation in every 

 measure, that shall be ordered, to 

 keep the rai)id strides of the enemy 

 olf from our frontii-r, until those nu- 

 merous and powerful auxiliaries can 

 act, which my exalted ally, the em- 

 peror of Russia, and other powers, 

 have destined to combat for the li- 

 berties of Europe, and the security 

 of thrones and of nations. Success 

 will not forsake a just cause for 

 ever ; and the unanimity of the so- 

 vereigns, the proud manly courage, 

 and the conscious strength of their 

 people, will soon obliterate the first 

 disasters. Peace will flourish again ; 



and 



