166 
reparation for the violation of her 
territory, ample atonement was 
spontaneously offered by the French. 
The question for her consideration 
was, therefore, a point of interest 
and policy, net of honour and 
character; but on _ prudential 
grounds, it is clear, that, whatever 
were her motives for not taking 
part originally with the allies, they 
must have been strengthened and 
confirmed by the disasters at Ulm. 
. ‘The violation of the Prussian ter- 
ritory of Anspach by the French 
troops under Bernadotte took place 
on the 3d of October ; on the 17th 
of the same month Ulm capitulated ; 
aud on the 3d of November, a con- 
vention was signed at Potzdam,. by 
which the king of Prussia agreed to 
offer his mediation between France 
and the allies, for ** the restoration 
of a general peace on a permanent 
footing ;”* and in case his proposi- 
tions were rejected, he engaged after 
receiving a promise of subsidies 
from England to de¢lare war against 
France.¢ In this interval various 
events had marked the displeasure 
of the court of Berlin at the viola. 
tion of its territory, and shewn hew 
materially that affair had changed 
its politics, and given them a turn 
hostile to France and favourable to 
the allies. A proclamation had 
assured the subjects of Prussia in 
Franconia, that their sovereign was 
taking measures to obtain satisfac. 
tion and security for the unexpected 
and forcible violation of his neu- 
trality: and an angry note had 
been delivered by baron Hardenberg 
to the French mission at Berlin, in 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1806. 
answer to their justification of that 
transaction ; expressing the surprise 
and indignation of his Prussian 
majesty at such an outrage having 
been committed in his. territories, _ 
after the exemplary fidelity, with 
which he had kept his engagements 
to France, and the advantages 
which she had derived from _ his 
firmness; declaring, that he now 
considered himself absolved by her 
conduct from all past engagements, 
and that he would henceforward 
direct his efforts to the reestablish- 
ment of peace on a solid basis ; and 
concluding with an intimation, that 
in the mean time he found himself — 
compelled to order his armies to © 
occupy positions necessary for the 
protection of his states.{ In addition 
to this menacing language, the 
Prussian army was put in motion ; 
the permission of marching through 
the Prussian territories, which had 
been so Jong withheld from the 
Russians, was no longer denied g 
the emperor Alexander was received 
at Potzdam with every gcmonstra- 
tion of confidence and cordiality ; 
and the French ambassador, marshal 
Duroc, who had been sent to make 
reparation for the affair of Anspach, 
was suffered to depart from Berlin’ 
without accomplishing the object of | 
his mission, \ 
We presume not to give an 
opinion of the wisdom of the court 
of Berlin in thus departing from the 
policy, which had hitherto directed 
its conduct; but, we are confident, 
that having manifested so unequivoe 
cally its inclination to favour the 
allies, it ought not, in the present 
f 
* Memorial of baron Hardenberg to Lord Harrowby, Dec. 22, 1805. 
t Declaration of his Britannic majesty as elector of Hanover, April 20, 1806. 
¢ Note transmitted by baron Eardenberg to mars|\al Duroc- and M, Laforest, 
Berlin, Oct. 34, 1805. 
critical 
