808 
to form his alliance, of which Hesse 
was to be the first bulwark, endea- 
yours were made to detach from him 
a power, whom family connections, 
alliances, and relations of every 
kind, united in the closest manner 
to his majesty’s person. 
But even these hostile steps were 
not sufficient. Does any one wish 
to know what was the Jure by 
which it was hoped to gain the elcc- 
tor of Hesse, and what was the aug- 
mentation of territory with the ex- 
pectation of which he was flattered ? 
It was the prince of Orange, the 
brother-in-law of the king—that 
prince who had been twice deceived 
ih the most shameful manner—who 
was now to be robbed the third 
time! He still possessed the terri- 
tory of Fulda; this was promised to 
the elector,.and it would have been 
given, had the elector consented to 
accept it, and had not Prussia taken 
up arms. 
His majesty saw the system of 
usurpation advance every day; he 
saw a circle, continually becoming 
narrower, drawn round him, and 
even the right of moving within it’ 
‘beginning to be disputed with him, 
for a sweeping resolution forbade a 
passage to any foreign troops, arm- 
ed or not armed, through the states 
of the confederation. ‘This was to 
cut off, contrary to the rights of 
nations, the connection between the 
detached Hessian provinces; this 
was to prepare pretexts on which 
to act; this was the first threat of 
punishment aimed at a magnani- 
mous prince, who had preferred a 
defender to a master. 
But even affer this, his majesty 
cannot reflect on it without admira- 
tion ; the king considered whether 
a combination might not be found, 
which should render this state of 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1806. 
things compatible with the mainte. 
nance of peace. 
The emperor Napoleon appeared 
to be solicitous to remove this doubt, 
Two negotiations werethen carrying 
on at Paris, one with Russia, the 
other with the Hnglish ministry. In 
both these negotiationsthe intentions 
of France against Prussia were evi- 
dently manifested. 
By the treaty-which the emperor 
of Russia has refused to ratify, 
France offered, in conjunction with 
Russia, to prevent Prussia from 
depriving the king of Sweden of his 
German territories. Yet, for many 
months, the cabinet of St. Cloud 
had continually pressed the king to 
seize those States, with the threefold 
view,—first to revenge himself on- 
the king of Sweden ; secondly, to 
embroil Prussia with all other 
powers ; and, thirdly, to purchase 
her silence with respect to the sub- 
version of Southern Germany. But 
the king had long been aware, that 
such were the views of France ; and 
-his unfortunate dispute with Swe. 
den was painful to him.—He had, 
therefore, been careful to provide 
against every suspicion of self-inte- 
rested motives, and he confided his 
explanations to the emperor Alex. 
ander. The scene nowagain changed, 
and Napoleon, who had so long 
been the enemy of the king of Swe- 
den, was suddenly transformed into 
his protector. 
It is not superfluous to remark, 
that, in this insidious treaty of the 
French emperor, in order to satisfy 
the honourable interest which the 
court of St. Petersburgh took in the 
maintenance of the rights of the king 
of Naples, he promised the latter. 
an indemnification; engaging te 
prevail on the king of Spain to cede 
to him the Belearic islands. He 
will 
