\s 
‘ready to oppofe, {word in hand, 
_ power. 
1306.] 
treaty of December 15, the very day that 
the Marquis De Lucchelini could reach Ber- 
lin with intelligence that France required the 
execution of “the articles agreed upon at 
Vienna. 
The anfwer returned by the Bntifh Ca- 
binet to the communication of January 25, 
did not arrive at Berlin until after the mi- 
nifter of ftate, Baron Hardenberg,s had an- 
nounced to the Britith envoy the hottile mea- 
fures which have compelled me to fulpend 
my relations with a court which could fo far 
forget itfelf. 
The Pruffian note of April 4, can furnifh 
no good arguments to eftablifh an unjaftifi- 
abie mealure. 
It begins by vaunting the pacific difpof- 
tions of Prafa. This difpol ition is no further 
fincere than as it has for its foundation the 
principles of a jut neutrality. The note de- 
livered by the Cabinet of Berlin to the 
French minitter on the 14th of O&tober, at 
the very inftant that Prutlia appeared to feel 
*the affront which the received by the yiola- 
tion of the territory of Anfpach, acknow- 
ledges that the condu& which fhe had fol- 
lowed to that time had proved of advantage 
to France. 
Her actions had mech Jefs pretenfions to 
the character of impartiality. After having 
permitted the French troops who feized on 
the electorate of Hanover a paflage through 
the Pruflian territory, the declared herfelf 
that which 
the Emperor of Ruilia had demanded for his 
armies. 
France herfelf forced the paflage ; the pre- 
tended to offer excufes for that ftep, but it 
was.in a manner equally offenfive. { 
She had feen teo clearly. where the refent- 
ment of Pruffia would terminate, which in 
fact appeared to be {titled when his Impe- 
rial majefty of Ruiflia engaged in a perfonal 
communication with the king. 
Pruffia then demanded fublidies of Great 
Britain, which were promifed to her, and fhe 
fioned the Convention of Pottdam, the con- 
ditions of which-fhe wonld, ‘doubtlefs, have 
been more difpofed to fulfill, if I could have 
fo far forgotten my duty, as to conlent to 
the propofition of ceding the Electorate of 
Hanover for fome Prufiian province. 
Pruflia affirms, that from the events of the 
war, fhe has not.had the choice of means to 
fecure the fatety of its monarclry, and of 
the ftates of the north. She withes to make 
it appear, that fhe has been compelled to ag- 
grandize herfelf, and to become the inftru- 
ment, rather thanthe object of the vengeance 
of my enemies. 
Such an avowal does not become a great 
All Europe knows that it depended 
on Pruffia, before the battle of Aufterlitz, to 
give repofe to Europe, if fhe had taken the 
part which her real interefts, and the out- 
raged honour of her monarchy, dittated to 
State of Public Affairs in May, 1806, 
ADS 
her. She can no Ionger be excufed, after 
having miffed fuch an opportunity ; ; and evem 
fince the event of the 2d of Deconier: did 
fhe not command an army of 250,000 men, 
who fill remember the victories it obtained 
under the great Frederic, which was in the 
heft difpofitions, and fupported by the whole 
Luffian army, two corps of which were 
ccngllel under the Gorfniand of the King of 
Proufiia 
She oe without doubt, have been fub- 
ject to certain ritks; but fhe found herfelf in 
a fituation when every danger muft be en- 
countered to fave the honour of the State. 
The Prince who hefitates in making a choice, 
deftroys the principle which ferves as the 
bafis of a military monarchy; and Pruflia 
ought already to begin to feel the facrifice 
fhe has made of her independence. 
The note of April 4, affirms, ‘that France 
had confidered the Electorate as its conqueft, 
and that its troops had been on the point of 
re- entering it, to make a defiuttive difpofal 
of it. : 
The Electorate of Hanover, as an integral 
part ¢ of the Germanic Empire, 1 isnot concern= 
ed in the war between Great Britain and 
France; neverthelefs, it has been unjuftly 
invaded by that Power, which has, notwith- 
ftanding, frequently indicated the object for 
which the was difpofed to reftore it. 
France was at lengsth.compelled to aban- 
don the country, and forty thoufand of mv 
troops, and thoie of my allies, were efablifh- 
ed there, when the Count De oe 
figned a treaty which difpofes of my Biates, 
lt is true, that the Rufitan cor ps was tnen at 
the difpofal of his Prufhan Majetty-; but its 
Chief, with the genuine {pirit of an honour- 
able man, was “not the lefs determined te 
“ficht, if the Allies of his Mater were attack’ 
ed: we fhall not {peak of the French garri- 
fon which remained at Hameln, infulficieng 
in point of number, deprived of the means of 
defence, and on the point of being befieged, 
‘when the promiles of Prufiia cc aied the plan 
to be spandoned: 
The intention of France to di ifpote defini- 
tively of the Klectorate, would have been 
contrary to the affertions” ie has fg. often 
made. It would, moreover, have been con- 
trary to the nflage of war,efince even a con: 
queft 1s not definitiv ely difpofed of before 
peace; and particularly at a moment ae : 
wilh might exit to manit =e a pacific difpofis 
tion. 
Profiia had ng right to judge if Great Brie 
fain lad the means of oppofing uae return of 
my enemies to the Electorate, Her power 
furnifhes her with the means of aaa the 
war to an honorable end, for the interes 
fhe defends; but it is difficult to conceive in 
what light Proffia pretends that her meafures 
removed troops that are ftrangers to the, 
Electorate, and enfure the repofe of thed 
North, Her trogps, in confequence of they 
treacherous:’ 
