170 
go to war. It was from Russia 
only, that Prussia could expect, in 
the first-instance, to receive effectual 
aid, But, though a letter from his 
Prussian majesty had informed the 
emperor of Russia, in the month of 
August, of the relations in which he 
then stood towards France, no 
intimation was given to Russia of 
the approaching war; nor was any 
measure taken for obtaining from 
her assistance, till the 18th of Sep- 
tember, when count Krusemack left 
Berlin for Petersburg, charged with 
such a commission, Krusemack 
arrived at Petersburg on the 30th. 
Orders for marching, though expe- 
dited immediately after his arrival, 
could not reach the Russian army 
in Poland tiJl the 5th or 6th of 
October, nor could that army arrive 
at the scene of action in Germany 
before the middle of November ; 
so that Prussia voluntarily exposed 
herself for a whole month, without 
assistance, to resist the best army 
and the best generals of Europe. 
‘ With such men as Haugwitz, 
Lombard and Beyme at the head of 
affairs, it ceases to be a matter of 
surprizc, that no overtures of friernd- 
ship or alliance had been proposed 
to the court of Vienna, nor even an 
attempt made to sound the inten- 
tions of that government, or to 
open with it a confidential inter- 
course. But, considering of how 
much importance, in the present 
circumstances of Prussia, was a 
good understanding between the 
eourts of Berlin and Vienna, it is 
surprizing, that his Prussian majesty 
should have retained ministers in his 
confidence, whose presence in’ his 
councils was sufficient to prevent so 
desirable an end from being attained. 
_ Of the miuor powers in the north 
ef Germany, Saxony was the un- 
i i 3 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
willing ally of Prussia. Hesse, it 
expectation of a subsidy from Eng- 
land, affected neutrality. Meck- 
lenburg was really neutral. The 
Swedish army had reoccupied the 
dutchy of Lauenberg, abandoned 
by the Prussians, 
Scandalous as had been tbe con- 
duct of Prussia towards Englandy 
and unwilling as she was still ta 
give up Hanover, which she fore. 
saw’ must be the price of any 
assistance from Great Britain, the 
desire and hope of a subsidy got 
the better of every consideration, 
and induced her ministers, when 
they sent count Krusemack | to 
Petersburg, to communicate to Mr. 
Thornton, the British minister at 
Hamburgh, the disposition of his 
Prussian majesty to accommodate 
his differences with the king of Great 
Britain. A desire was expressed, | 
that some person should be authori- 
zed by the English government to 
open a negotiation for that purpose; 
but no communication was made by 
the Prussian ministers of the nature 
of their differences with France, 
nor assurance given of their readie 
ness to adopt for the basis of nego. | 
tiation, the restitution of Hanover 
to its. lawful owners. The English 
ministry, though they had reason to 
believe, that the quarrel between 
France and Prussia, originated in 
the offer of the former to give back 
Hanover to the king of Great 
Britain, hesitated not a moment te 
comply with their request, but 
appointed Lord Morpeth to proceed 
without delay to the head quarters’ 
of the Prussian army, there to 
enter on negotiations for peace. 
Lord Morpeth left London on the 
Ist of October, and having passed 
off Heligoland a packet with baron 
Jacobi on board, the late Prussian 
minister 
