Clausel; sur les affaires que le Général Graham a eu à Villa Franca et à Tolosa contre le Général de Foy; sur la prise de Pancorbo par O'Donnel; la reduction du fort de Castro, du fort de Los Passages, et la retraite des Français sur la Bidassoa à la suite d'une attaque de Castaños. Je sais qu'on a voulu faire copier ces pièces pour les envoyer à votre Quartier-Général, parcequ'on croyait que vous ne les auriez pas de sitôt,

Je suis occupé depuis plusieurs jours à rediger un projet de manifeste pour le moment où nous en aurions besoin. C'est un travail difficile et épineux, et Dieu sait comment je m'en tirerai. Je vous prie de n'en parler à personne, pour plus d'une raison. Je vous réitère; monsieur, l'offre de mes services pour tous les cas où vous pourriez en avoir besoin et tous les renseignemens, sans exception, que vous pourriez me demander, et je vous prie d'agréer, &c.

GENTZ.

P.S.-M. de Metternich a fait remettre aujourd'hui une nouvelle Note aux Français pour s'informer jusqu'où ils comptaient différer leur explication sur les points préalables. Vous sentez bien que cette demande a été uniquement faite pour les mettre davantage dans leur tort.

G.

Diaries-August 10th.-Troops have been passing and repassing yesterday and this morning in all directions, and everything wears the most warlike

appearance. The armistice is to be denounced to-day. The Russians and Prussians, in two divisions under Wittgenstein and Kleist, amounting to upwards of ninety thousand men, have already passed the Bohemian frontier. One column entered by Landschutz the other by Glatz. The allied forces will assemble in the neighbourhood of Prague.

Before breakfast, I had a long conversation with Sir Charles, who returned last night, upon the views and intentions of our Government and the best method of giving effect to them. We had afterwards a long conference with the Chancellor, to whom Sir Charles made a formal complaint of the want of confidence evinced by him towards us, especially with reference to a Treaty between Prussia, Russia, and Austria, which was purposely concealed from Great Britain. The Chancellor, in excusing this,

certainly did not quite adhere to the truth.

Sir Charles will go to Prague for the interviews. He gave a supper to a large party this evening. While at table, Lord Walpole arrived with the ratifications of the Russian and Prussian Treaties. A messenger brought me shortly after a letter from Gentz, stating that the Austrian ultimatum had been given in on the 7th.

Le Chevalier Von Gentz to G. Jackson, Esq.

Prague, le 7 août.

Je n'ai que deux mots à vous dire, monsieur, mais ils auront leur poids. Napoléon a fait une démarche

particulière pour déterminer l'Autriche à lui déclarer à quelles conditions elle regarderait la paix comme possible. Sur cela M. de Metternich déclarera ce soir au Duc de Vicenza, que l'Autriche regarde la restitution de la Pologne dans l'état où elle était avant 1806; le rétablissement complet de la monarchie Prussienne, avec Magdebourg et tout le reste; la restitution Illyriennes ; la cessation du Protectorat de la Confédération du Rhin; l'abandon de la 32ème division militaire, et la liberté des Villes Anséatiques, comme conditions sine quâ non, et bases préalables de la paix générale. Qu'on attend une réponse catégorique, par oui ou non, si Napoléon veut consentir à ces conditions; que si, jusqu'au 10 du mois il n'a pas répondu affirmativement, l'Empereur d'Autriche joint ses forces à celles des Alliés pour conquérir une paix solide; que, la guerre une fois éclatée on ne se croira plus tenu aux susdites conditions, s'en remettant dès lors au sort des armes. Avant de faire cette déclaration M. de Metternich la communiquera aux ministres de Russie et de Prusse.

Cette démarche vous prouvera que vous n'avez pas eu tort en accordant pleine confiance à ce que j'ai eu l'honneur de vous mander jusqu'ici. Je vous prie seulement de ne pas parler, là où vous êtes, de la nouvelle que je viens de vous donner, avant qu'elle ne transpire par d'autres voies, et qu'elle ne soit plus traitée comme un sécret. Je suis trop pressé pour ajouter la moindre chose.

GENTZ.

Diaries.-There can be no doubt that we have to thank Lord Wellington for this. But for his victory, affairs would have taken quite another turn here, I am convinced. One point yielded by Bonaparte to Austria would have turned the scale against us; for throughout the duration of the armistice, considerable political manoeuvring has been carried on for the purpose of furthering the efforts of Austria to prevent a renewal of the war. Hardenberg is not in the best of health, and is quite overwhelmed with the amount of business he has now to transact. He gives way occasionally to ill humour, and at times, I know, considers us rather as a thorn in his side, and an obstacle to a peaceful settlement of affairs amongst the three Powers, than as an ally making the greatest efforts and sacrifices to aid in restoring permanent tranquillity to Europe.

The King is as reserved as he has ever been, and not much less apathetic; he is as fond of retirement, varied with a little quiet recreation, as formerly; he retains all his old amiability and evident pleasure in making gracious speeches, as well as his moody fits when things are not going on smoothly. At times, he is indignant at Bonaparte's high-handed ways, and warms up into sharing a little the spirit of the nation, and the feeling of his people towards their oppressor. But these are short-lived emotions, for the King has no confidence in himself, and the right spirit has rarely strength to assert itself long enough for action to follow its promptings. His Majesty, therefore, cools down rapidly, and sinks back into the

same amiable nonentity he has ever been-ruled by those around him, more especially if their influence is exerted in a manner to leave him in the unruffled enjoyment of serenity of mind, and the calm, peaceful mode of life he delights in. Hardenberg, whether from being long accustomed to the yoke, or from having fallen more into the sere and yellow leaf, is not what he was; though his principles are, I believe, still right and true. He adapts himself more to his royal master's view of things, and I believe that our successes in Spain have alone prevented the Allies from signing a peace with France, and leaving England to follow her own course. Alexander is the stouter of the two, but Bonaparte would have found means of cajoling him when it suited him to condescend to bend a little towards Austria. But he has held out rather too long; not, I think, from any misplaced confidence in the assurances of Narbonne that "Austria might threaten, in order to attain her own objects, but would never be actively hostile," but from under-rating our efforts in Spain, and the effect that the defeat of his armies there would have on the allied sovereigns and the whole German nation.

12th. I was up part of the night writing to the Chancellor, and preparing the ratifications. Before I was awake, Kraus brought me a letter from Gentz, and an account that the Austrians had declared war against France. When the Chancellor arrived, it was found that the King's signature had been forgotten. Nothing, therefore could be done, and an appointment was made for Saturday at Landeck, where the