frontier." He had given up, he continued, all thoughts of the continental system, as he now considered it an impracticable one; so that peace with Russia could be easily settled, though there could be no general peace, because England would insist on his reducing his navy to thirty ships of the line. He spoke with great contempt of Jerome, and said "possibly Prussia might be aggrandized on the side of Westphalia."

To my enquiry, whether he thought d'Yorck's defection was a surprise to him, Kreusemarck replied, "he thought it was, but that it was rather gratifying to him than otherwise. For that Bonaparte attached no sort of importance to the fact itself, and it furnished him with a pretext that he wanted for ordering immediately a fresh conscription of a hundred and fifty thousand recruits."

The Emperor Francis is said to have declared his intention of positively joining the Allies, and that so far from a reverse on their part making any change in his intention, it would only hasten its execution. He has now a fine opportunity of redeeming this pledge--supposing him to have really given itwhether he will do so is another question-credat Judæus. It would be sound policy on his part; for he has already gone too far to hope for salvation, even from the tears of his grandson, should Bonaparte ultimately prove victorious.

Barclay de Tolli is coming up with a reinforcement which has already reached Frankfort; but we hear nothing yet of Bernadotte being at Stralsund, and I

fear my speculations at Hamburg will prove to have been only too correct.

Dornberg is again on the right bank of the Elbe, and the French are even at Haarburg. This makes me fear that our messenger will not be able to go by Cuxhaven. He proceeds from this to Berlin, whence he is to feel his way; but I doubt his even getting so far-for if the French choose to push on ever so small a column towards the capital I believe there is nothing to prevent them. Bülow has not been heard of since the retaking of Halle, and as little is known of Boistell, who was observing Magdeburg. This want of information seems incredible; none the less is it true.

The English officers-nearly a dozen of them— who went with Lord Cathcart to the battle, are all returned here safe and sound, with the exception of Lieutenant Rodney, of the navy, who being unemployed came out just for a trip, as an amateur. He is a very fine young officer and I am told behaved most gallantly, having joined a Russian squadron as a volunteer. A cannon ball shattered his thigh. Amputation has been performed, but it is feared he will not long survive it, poor fellow. We shall have another battle soon.

8th.-Everybody up very early, and prepared for departure. Our messenger is off. Sir Charles very anxious to be with the army, and not yet in charity with Lord Cathcart for preventing him from "assisting" at the last battle.

Bautzen, 11 p.m. At a little before ten this morning

VOL. II.

H

the bridge over the Elbe was burnt. The enemy was so close upon us that our escape was thought to be doubtful, owing to the fire not taking well at first. The sauve qui peut that ensued, lamentable though its results are for some persons, was yet so indescribably ludicrous, in some respects, that after the hurry and scramble to be foremost in flight had somewhat abated, I think I never laughed more heartily in my life than at the recollection of the scene of undignified haste I had taken part in. We, however, stopped to admire the coup d'oeil presented by the tête de pont over which the Russians were retreating, with the enemy coming down from the hills and their cavalry already in the plain opposite to us. It was a very fine and interesting sight.

The Bishop has lodged us in his palace, and has received us in a most friendly manner. Sir Charles made his appearance very soon after us, and we all sat down to an excellent dinner, which the short commons of the day and our ignominious flight had furnished us with appetites to do ample justice to. Thoroughly tired out, we are now quite ready to find the beds which our kind host has had prepared for us very comfortable indeed.

9th.-Up early, and took a walk with Rumbold and Bidwell. Very pretty environs; but there seems to be nothing remarkable in Bautzen except the old castle and the church. We went into the latter: mass was being said, but we were told that it would soon be over and that the Protestant mass would then begin. The two masses go on alternately, it appears,

every day and all day long. This is doing what is fair by both parties, and presents a spectacle of differing creeds dwelling together in amity not to be met with every where.

The Bishop, who must be a very good fellow, gave us a breakfast as good, in its way, as his dinner. I afterwards went to call on Baron Hardenberg, and found him in very low spirits-evidently, he thinks we have all been too hasty in believing the star of Boney so near its setting. I told him some particulars of the state of the French army, that have come to us since the battle, and which perhaps buoyed up his hopes a little. I took leave of him to go in quest of horses, to be ready in case there should be need to decamp in a hurry. There was great difficulty in obtaining any, and only after long search and much perseverance did I succeed in getting about half the number required. I bought some very good maps here, and after dining early-not being sure that Boney would allow us to dine late-took a very pleasant ride with Captain Deering and Sir Charles. Later, Sir C. and I called on Lebzeltern and had a long conversation with him and D'Alopeus on the present state of affairs. Drank tea with Rumbold and Bidwell, who have had the good fortune to find out very good quarters to themselves.

10th. After getting to bed late, having written far beyond the midnight hour, I was called up at five by Colonel Campbell, who brought intelligence of the enemy having passed the Elbe at Briesnitz. At seven, Sir Charles went over to a conference to which he

2

had been invited by the Chancellor at Pulsnitz, and soon after Bidwell set out for Hoyerswerde. I was on the point of following him, but having first to see M. de Lebzeltern he gave me information that put a stop to my journey. After two hours of suspense the Chancellor came back from Pulsnitz and announced the approach of their Majesties. Sir Charles also returned in the course of another hour and I went with him to M. d'Alopeus' quarters. There, we had a very good and pleasant dinner, much easier of digestion than the language of M. Lebzeltern at the conference which followed it.

In the evening, I assisted at another conference to which Sir Charles was invited by the Chancellor. It resulted in nothing. Sir C.'s thoughts are so taken up with the military arrangements of the allied army, that he has neither patience nor inclination for diplomatic discussion. The subject of the subsidiary Treaty, with the various propositions respecting it brought forward by the plenipotentiaries of the allied Powers, as far as he is concerned, he says, is of so intricate and important a nature, that if its ideas are to be immediately carried into effect, he shall write to his brother, Lord Castlereagh, suggesting that no time be lost in sending out a proper person, completely qualified to master such details, or in proposing that some person should go from hence to discuss the Treaty in England. Sir Charles seems to have overlooked "le vieux général diplomate." When he has time to look into the matter, I doubt not that he will make it all clear enough to him.