698 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



Declaration of the Emperor of Rus- 

 sia, dated April 25 (5th May.) 



The peace between France and 

 Austria, which has long been wa- 

 vering, is at length entirely at an 

 end. I3y the last advices, the Aus- 

 trian troops have entered the duchy 

 of Warsaw, and the states of Saxony 

 and Bavaria. 



It is thus that the flames of war 

 which had been so lately extin- 

 guished upon the continent, have 

 just been rekindled, and, by the 

 force of circumstances, it is neces- 

 sary that all the powers of Europe 

 should take up arms again. 



The preparations for war on the 

 part of Austria were the first cause 

 of this misunderstanding. Russia 

 could not see these with indiffer- 

 ence, every means were employed 

 from the beginning to put an end to 

 them : the guarantee of Russia for 

 the integrity of the Austrian states, 

 was even ottered, and at the same 

 time it was declared, that in virtue 

 of the existing alliance with France, 

 every attack upon the present or- 

 der of things would be considered 

 as a violation of the rights stipu- 

 lated by treaties, which ought to be 

 maintained by the force of arms.— 

 Austria not rejectinf; the pacific in- 

 sinuations made to her, pretended 

 at first that her measures were only 

 defensive; that they were occasioned 

 only by the fear of the danger which 

 threatened her ; that her intention 

 was not to undertake an offensive 

 war, and that she would not break 

 the peace. 



Facts have proved of how little 

 value these assuranc?s were. The 

 measures of defence which progres- 

 sively increased have changed into 

 offensive measures. In the room of 

 the fear that was exjiressed, ambi- 



tious plans have been developed, 

 and the war has broken out by the 

 invasion of foreign states, even be- 

 fore anj' declaration of war in the 

 accustomed form. Austria, who 

 knew perfectly well the conduct 

 which Russia would hold, under the 

 present circumstances, lias deter- 

 mined to renounce her friendship, 

 and re-kindle the flames of war even 

 upon our frontiers, rather than de- 

 sist from her projects. 



In consequence orders have been 

 given to the Russian ambassador at 

 Vienna to quit that capital imme- 

 diately, and it has been declared 

 to the Austrian ambassador at this 

 court, that from this moment liis 

 diplomatic functions have ceased, 

 and that all relations are broken 

 off, with him and his court. 



Ukase to the Senate, dated St. Pe- 

 tersburgh. May 7, 1809. 



It is known to the whole world, 

 with what firmness the trade of neu- 

 trals has been protected by Russia, 

 whtn the powers of Europe were at 

 war ; It is known with what valour 

 she has guarded the interests of tra- 

 ding nationsintimeof peace, against 

 the events of war. Following up 

 this invariable principle, also during 

 the present rupture with Britain, we 

 entertained the fullest hopes that 

 the trade with friendly powers would 

 not be carried on by forbidden 

 means ; but as experience during 

 last season lias proved to us, that 

 the enemy has found it'practicable, 

 by means of neutral vessels, to sup- 

 ply himself with such produce as he 

 stood in need of, and to gain strength 

 by exchanging his own produce, 

 we have at present been compelled 

 to order two vessels to be seized. — 



For 



