804 
convinced of this by experience ; 
this moment was the most painful of 
his reign. 
It was the affair of France to re- 
ject the modifications under which 
the king had confirmed the treaty, 
if she did not approve them. But 
she avoided doing this, for the whole 
Prussian army was still under arms. 
She continued to be lavish of assur- 
ances of friendship: she fulfilled the 
treaty as far as it suited her; but 
when his majesty wished to reap the 
only advantage which he had pro- 
posed to himself from the late nego- 
tiations, and which was nearest to 
his heart, she suddenly altered her 
language. The modifications, added 
to the treaty of Vienna, were now 
rejected at Paris. Endeavours were 
made to force Prussia into the most 
injurious measures ; and when count 
Haugwitz, who was at Paris, remon- 
atrated against this,the unconditional 
fulfilment of the treaty was haugh- 
tily insisted on, as were the immp- 
diate cession of the three provinces, 
and the recal of the patent by which 
the occupation of Hanover was de. 
clared provisional. Prussia was 
required to resign a part of the 
advantages stipulated, and to shut 
the ports against the British flag, in 
the same manner as if the French 
had returned into the electorate. 
The king, at length, was per- 
fectly convinced of the true charac- 
ter of the friendship of the emperor 
of the French—a soporific draught 
for a power which still feels its own 
strength ; au instrument of degrada- 
tion,and finally of subjection, to 
every power which no longer pos- 
sesses strength. 
In the mean time, Napoleon was 
in possession of every advantage. 
The Prussian army had returned, 
his own, after some movements of 
. now utterly lost. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
no consequence, at which deceived 
Germany prematurely rejoiced, on 
some frivolous pretences, establish- 
ed itself on this side the Rhine. The 
first conflict might produce misfor- 
tunes. War which isnot, under all 
circumstances, the greatest of evils, 
might become such under those then 
existing. ‘The king determined to 
continue the part he had hitherto 
acted, for some time longer. Wish- 
ing to preserve his force, now more 
than ever necessary to Europe, and 
at least to secure the tranquillity of 
the north, he confirmed the new 
treaty. Confidence, however, was 
Prussia was con- 
vinced that, on the first opportunity 
to weaken her without danger, she 
might expeet an attack from her 
pretended ally ; convinced there is 
a degree of ambition which nothing 
can satisf y—which proceeds, without 
intermission, from usurpation to 
usurpation, sometimes without a 
plan, but ever intent on destruc. 
tion ; careless of the choice of means, 
and employing alike arms, and the 
pen, violence, and oaths. But even 
with this conviction, so great is the 
unfortunate superiority obtained by 
such policy, over those who wish 
only to be just, the king fulfilled all 
the conditions of the treaty with the 
punctuality of a faithful ally. Itis 
known what the consequences were 
with respeet to the connections of 
his majesty with England. France 
gained nothing by this ; but she tri- 
umphed in secret at the thought of 
having disunited two courts, the 
union of which might have been 
dangerous to her ; and what, in the 
views of France, gave the principal 
value to her alliance with the king 
was, that this alliance isolated his 
majesty, since it produced an opi- 
nion, that Prassia was a participator 
m 
