158 
. 
count Haugwitz at Vienna, on the 
y4th of December. That is, while 
the Prussian cabinet enjoyed the 
confidence of the courts of St. 
Petersburg and St. James’s, in 
consequence of the most’ solemn 
engagements to support their cause, 
and had thereby acquired the entire 
and absolute disposal of the Russian 
troops in Germany, and an equally 
sure though less direct influence over 
ihe movements of the British and 
Swedish armies in Hanover, besides 
assurances of a powerful assistance 
by pecuniary supplies from England 
in the event of being driven to a war 
with France; a Prussian minister, 
who had been sent to Vienna for 
the purpose of securing by negocia.- 
tion the neutrality of the north of . 
Germany, concluded there a secret 
treaty with the enemy of Russia 
and England, by which his master 
obtained in exchange for three of his 
provinces,* the electoral dominions 
of his ally, the king of England. 
The infamy of this transaction 
belonged exclusively, in the first in- 
stance, to count Haugwitz; but it 
was shared by the other members of 
the Prussian cabinet, when they 
adopted and acted upon his treaty. 
It required more regard for honour 
and respect for justice than were 
to be found at Berlin, to reject so 
tempting a bait as the acquisition of 
Hanover. They, who were most 
indignant at the perfidy of the 
means, were not indifferent to the 
value of the result, nor secretly dis- 
pleased, that an addition was made 
to the Prussian monarchy, of such 
importance as the electoral domi- 
nions of the king of England. A 
* The three Prussian provinces ceded by this memorable treaty, were Anspach 
and Bayreuth, in Franconia, Cleves, in Westphalia, and Neufchatel and Valengin, 
‘in Switzerland. 
+ Prussian manifesto, Erfurt, Oct. 9, 1806. 
{ Hardenberg’s note to W. Jackson, Jan. 26, 1805. 
ANNUAL RE 
GISTER, 1806. 
sense of shame and fear of censure 
prevented them from consenting at 
once to au unconditional ratifica- 
tion of the treaty, or public dis- 
closure of ifs contents, _ But, they 
discovered, that the king, their 
master, ‘‘ might reconcile his wishes 
with his principles, by accepting 
the proposed exchange, on condi- 
tion that the completion of it 
should be deferred till a general 
peace, and that the consent of his 
majesty the king of Great Britain | 
should be obtained; and they 
determined, ‘* at whatever price it 
might be purchased, that the French 
army should not return to Han. 
over.’’+ In conformity with these 
views, the treaty of Vienna was sent 
back to France with alterations ; 
and under pretence of securing the 
electorate of Hanover from the ca- 
Jamitices of another ruinous war, 
the troops of the allies were with- 
drawn from it, and replaced by 
Prussians. ‘To the English mini. 
ster at Berlin it was said, that ar. 
rangements concluded with France 
for ensuring the tranquillity of Han- 
over, ‘‘ stipulated expressly the 
committing of that country to the 
exclusive guard of the Prussian 
troops, and to the administration of 
the king, until the conclusion of a 
peace between England and 
France ;” } and the assertion, that 
‘¢ ti]} the conclusion of a general 
peace, Hanover would be wholly 
occupied and governed by Prussia,” 
was repeated in the proclamation of 
his Prussian majesty on taking pos. 
session of the electorate; § but not 
a word was said of his ulterior de~ 
sign of annexing it to the Prussian 
