1806.) 
tome, relative tothe fecurity of the troops 
oF his Britannic Majefty, in the North of 
Germany, I hatten to lay before you the po- 
fitive affurances which I have the pleafure to 
be able to communicate to you. 
_ © Your Excellency is acquainted with the 
prefent ftate of affairs. You wiii ‘firft per- 
ceive’ that, at the point to which matters 
have now ceme, fince the unfortunate battle 
of Aufterlitz between Auftria and France, in 
confequence of the return of the great Ruf- 
fian army, and the total uncertainty in which 
we are with regard to the intentions of Na- 
poleon towards Pruffia, the utmoift caution 
is abfolutely neceflary. The brave army 
cannot always reckqn upon fuccefs; and it is 
undoubtedly the intereft of Piuflia, and the 
intereft of the world, to prevent any attack 
upon, her at the prefent moment, when fhe 
would have to bear the whole burden of the 
war 5 and no confederacy adapted to circum- 
ftances has been formed ;. for, in cafe her ar- 
mies fhould prove unfuccefsful, the laft ray 
of hope to maintain the fecurity and inde- 
pendence of the Continent would be extin- 
guithed. 
“< The King, {till animated by the fame 
with to eltablith a general peace on a perma- 
nent footing, and, if poffible, to the fatis- 
faction of ull parties, muft confequently have 
been ardently defirous that his mediation, sti- 
pulated in the Convention figned on the 3d 
ef November, at Potzdam, fhould have been 
accepted by Frarce. In an interview which 
Count Von Haugwitz had with Napoleon on 
the 28th of November, that Monarch mani- 
felted a difpofition to accept of this media- 
tion on the two following canditions :— 
‘cy, That during the negociation no troops 
ef his Britannic Majefty, nor any Rufhans 
nor Swedes, fhould advance into Holland to 
sominence warlike operations ‘there, after 
their departure from the North of Germany. 
‘¢ 2. That a more extenfive circuit fhould 
be allowed to the fortrefs of Hameln, in or- 
der to relieve the diftrefs of the garrifon for 
provifions. 
. The King could not accept thefe propo- 
fitions under the circumftances of the mo- 
ment in which they were made; but, thefe 
have totally changed, andin the prefent con- 
juncture his Maje%y has not only judged 
them admiifible, upon condition that’ the 
Emperor Napoleon engages, on his fide, not 
to fend any trooys into the North of Germany, 
as long as the negociations {hall continue, and 
that he fhall not undertake any thing againtt 
Hanover during the fame interval—but even 
Favourable; as time will thus be gained to 
take tome deliberate meafures, and to pre- 
pare for every contingency ; either in cafe 4 
war fhould break out, or this intermediate 
ftate of things ihould lead toa definitive ne- 
" gotiation. 
*< That no time may be loft, his Majefty 
fas fent Majer Von Pfuhl to the French 
MontTury Mac, No, 140. 
State of Public Apairs in March, 1806, 
261 
head-quarters, that this arrangement may be _ 
carried into effeé&t. At the fame time, Count 
Haugwitz has received the neceffary inftruce 
tions, bearing date the 19th inft. and the 
King has given France to undertand, that he 
fhalll confider the occupation of Peover by, 
French troops as an aét of hoftility. 
«¢ Avreeably to what [have juit ftated, his 
Majefty has authorized me to inform your 
Lordfhip, that, in conformity with. the af- 
furances already given, in cafe the troops of 
his Britannic Majefty and the Ruflians fhould 
prove unfortunate, the King engages for the 
fecurity ‘of the troops of his Britannic Ma- 
jefty in Hanover, and grants them perfect 
liberty, in cafe of neceflity, to retreat to the 
Pruffian army, aud to the States of the Kings 
but with the following modifications, sah 
circumftances render neceflary :— 
‘«¢ 7, That they take their pofitions in the 
rear of the Pruffian troops, and abftain, dur- 
ing the-period of the intermediate negotia= 
tion, from every movement and ftep of a pre- 
voking nature towards Holland. 
‘© 2, That incafe the Pruflian troops fhall 
- beattacked by the French, his Majefty may 
rely with perfect confidence on the fupport 
and co-operation of the troops of his Britan- 
nic Majetty, as long as they fhall continue 
inthe North of Germany. His Majefty has 
giv en orders for a refpe&table corps to advance 
into Weftphalia, and will adopt every necef- 
fary meafure for Heroic and defence. The 
Rutlian troops, under the command of Gene- 
ral Count Tolttoy, are already at the entire 
cifpofal of his Majefty, as the Emperor Alex- 
ander has fully authorized him to difpofe of 
them at pleafure ; and likewife of thofe which 
are under General Benningfen, in Silefia. 
“‘ [ therefore requeft your Excellency t@ . 
write as ipeedily as poflible to Lord Cathcart, 
the Commander in Chief of the troops of his. 
Britannic Majefty, and to prevail upon him 
to take, without delay, fuch feps as are ne- 
ceflary for thefe purpofes 5 3 and in particular 
to comply with the invitation’ that will be 
tranimitted to him by the order of the King, 
through Count Kalkreuth, to confult perfons 
ally with him and Count Tolitoy on the pofis 
tions which the troops of his Britannic Ma- 
Jeity, the Ruffians, and Pruffians, will have 
to take in confequence of the above-méntion- 
ed arrangements. 
‘“ As the Swed'th troops are in the fame 
predicament with the troops of his Britannic 
Majetty and the Ruffians, it would be ex- 
tremély defirable to prevail upon his Swedith | 
Majeity to conform to this arrangement. 
*« L hope, that to this end, your Lordthip 
will act in concert with the Prince Dolgo-« 
rucky, whom his Imperial Majelty of all the 
Ruffias has charged with every thing relative 
to the deftination of the Ruffianarmy. In 
cafe his Swedith Majefty will refign the con- 
duct of his troops to Count Toittoy, the King 
is ready te give them the fame yugrantge 
hl. : ‘which 
