Page images
PDF
EPUB

[Holy Alliance.]

Principles of the Christian Religion.

ART. I. Conformably to the words of the Holy Scriptures, which command all men to consider each other as brethren, the Three contracting Monarchs will remain united by the bonds of a true and indissoluble fraternity, and considering each other as fellow countrymen, they will, on all occasions and in all places, lend each other aid and assistance; and, regarding themselves towards their subjects and armies as fathers of families, they will lead them, in the same spirit of fraternity with which they are animated, to protect Religion, Peace, and Justice.

Fraternity and Affection.

ART. II. In consequence, the sole principle of force, whether between the said Governments or between their Subjects, shall be that of doing each other reciprocal service, and of testifying by unalterable good will the mutual affection with which they ought to be animated, to consider themselves all as members of one and the same Christian nation; the three allied Princes looking on themselves as merely delegated by Providence to govern three branches of the One family, namely, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, thus confessing that the Christian world, of which they and their people form a part, has in reality no other Sovereign than Him to whom alone power really belongs, because in Him alone are found all the treasures of love, science, and infinite wisdom, that is to say, God, our Divine Saviour, the Word of the Most High, the Word of Life. Their Majesties consequently recommend to their people, with the most tender solicitude, as the sole means of enjoying that Peace which arises from a good conscience, and which alone is durable, to strengthen themselves every day more and more in the principles and exercise of the duties which the Divine Saviour has taught to mankind.

Accession of Foreign Powers.

ART. III. All the Powers who shall choose solemnly to avow the sacred principles which have dictated the present Act, and shall acknowledge how important it is for the happiness of nations, too long agitated, that these truths should henceforth exercise over the destinies of mankind all the influence which belongs to them, will be received with equal ardour and affection into this Holy Alliance.

[Holy Alliance.]

Done in triplicate, and signed at Paris, the year of Grace 1815, 14th September.

(L.S.) FRANCIS.

(L.S.) FREDERICK WILLIAM. (L.S.) ALEXANDER.

[It is stated in "Martens' Treaties" that the greater part of the Christian Powers acceded to this Treaty. France acceded to it in 1815; the Netherlands and Wurtemberg did so in 1816; and Saxony, Switzerland, and the Hanse Towns in 1817. But neither the Pope nor the Sultan were invited to accede.]

The following is a copy of the Invitation sent to the Prince Regent of Great Britain to accede; and of His Royal Highness's reply.

(1.) The Sovereigns of Austria, Prussia, and Russia to the Prince Regent of Great Britain.

(Translation.)

SIR OUR BROTHER AND COUSIN,

Paris, 26th September, 1815.

THE events which have afflicted the world for more than 20 years have convinced us that the only means of putting an end to them is to be found in the most free and most intimate Union between the Sovereigns whom Divine Providence has placed over the heads of the Peoples of Europe.

The history of the three memorable years which are about to pass away, bear witness to the beneficial effects of which this union has been for the good of mankind; but in order to assure to this bond the solidity which the grandeur and the purity of the aim to which it tends imperiously demands, we have thought it should be founded on the sacred principles of the Christian Religion.

Deeply convinced of this important truth, we have concluded and signed the Act which we now submit to the consideration of your Royal Highness. Your Royal Highness may be assured that its object is to strengthen the relations which uuite us, in forming of all the nations of Christendom one single Family, and assuring them by this, under the protection of the Almighty, happiness, security, the benefits of peace, and the bonds of fraternity for ever indissoluble. We deeply regretted that your Royal Highness was not united with us at the important moment when we concluded this transaction. We invite you, as our first and most intimate Ally, to agree with it, and to complete a work

[Holy Alliance.]

singularly consecrated to the good of mankind, and which we

ought to consider the best reward for our efforts.

FRANCIS.

Our Brother and Cousin,

FREDERICK WILLIAM.
ALEXANDER.

The Prince Regent of Great Britain.

(2.)-The Prince Regent of Great Britain to the Sovereigns of Austria, Prussia, and Russia, respectively.

SIR MY BROTHER AND COUSIN,

Carlton House, 6th October, 1815.

I HAVE had the honour of receiving your Imperial Majesty's letter, together with the copy of the Treaty signed by your Majesty and your august Allies, at Paris, on the 26th of September.

As the forms of the British Constitution, which I am called upon to administer in the name and on the behalf of the King, my father, preclude me from acceding formally to this Treaty, in the shape in which it has been presented to me, I adopt this course of conveying to the august Sovereigns who have signed it, my entire concurrence in the principles they have laid down, and in the declaration which they have set forth, of making the Divine Precepts of the Christian Religion the invariable rule of their conduct, in all their relations, social and political, and of cementing the union which ought ever to subsist between all Christian Nations; and it will be always my earnest endeavour to regulate my conduct, in the station in which Divine Providence has vouchsafed to place me, by these sacred maxims, and to co-operate with my august Allies in all measures which may be likely to contribute to the peace and happiness of mankind.

With the most invariable sentiments of friendship and affection,
I am,

[blocks in formation]

Sir, my Brother and Cousin,
Your Imperial Majesty's
good Brother and Cousin,

(Prussia and Russia respectively.)

GEORGE, P.R.

[This Alliance was referred to in the Circular addressed by Austria, Prussia, and Russia to Foreign Courts, dated Troppau, 8th December, 1820.]

[Territorial.]

No. 37.-TERRITORIAL TREATY between Prussia and Hesse-Cassel. Signed at Cassel, 16th October, 1815.*

[blocks in formation]

Preamble. Reference to Vienna Congress Treaty of 9th June, 1815.

1. Cessions by Prussia to Hesse-Cassel.

2. Cessions by Hesse-Cassel to Prussia and Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.

3. Prussian Indemnity to the Landgrave of Hesse-Rothenburg.

4. Indemnities to the Landgrave of Hesse-Rothenburg and to the Elector of Hesse.

5. Stipulations in regard to the Cessions by Hesse-Cassel to Saxe-WeimarEisenach.

6. The Elector of Hesse resumes possession of Lengsfeld, &c.

7. Prussian Indemnities of a Part of the Department of Fulda. 8. Liquidation of the Indemnities. Contributions.

9. Costs of the Central Functionaries.

10. Rhine Tolls.

11. Postal Revenues.

12. Feudal Rights.

13. Mortgaged Debts. 14. Unliquidated Debts.

15. Arrears of Interest.

16. Rents and Pensions.

17. Communal Debts and Charges.

18. Restitution of the four Bailiwicks of Hanau to the Elector of Hesse.

19. Indemnity to the Landgrave of Hesse-Rothenburg for the Domanial

Revenue.

20. Mode of this Indemnification.

21. Possessions of which the Revenue will furnish the Indemnity to the Landgrave of Hesse-Rothenburg.

22. Mode of Possessing the Indemnity.

23. Execution of the Convention.

24. Civil Functionaries in Office.

25. Validity of the Arrangements made before the 1st of August.

26. Cession of the Arrears of Taxes to the new Possessors.

27. Transfer of the Military to the new Sovereign.

28. Military Routes for Prussia.

29. Guarantee by Prussia in favour of the Elector of Hesse and the Grand

Duke of Saxe-Weimar.

30. Exchange of Ratifications.

(Translation.)

Preamble. Reference to Vienna Congress Treaty of 9th June, 1815. In the name of the Most Holy and Indivisible Trinity. His Majesty the King of Prussia and His Royal Highness the Elector of Hesse, on both sides inclined to facilitate the *See also Treaty of 24th March, 1816.

[Territorial.]

arrangements in North Germany, found to be necessary in consequence of the transactions of the Vienna Congress (No. 27), by a friendly Convention on the appropriate territorial changes, have appointed Plenipotentiaries to agree to, determine, and sign what has reference thereto, that is to say:

His Majesty the King of Prussia, President Conrad Siegmund Karl von IIänlein, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Hessian and Nassau Courts, Knight of the Royal Prussian Order of the Red Eagle and of the Iron Cross, as also of the Hesse-Cassel Order of the Golden Lion;

And His Royal Highness the Elector of Hesse, Georg Ferdinand von Lepel, his Privy Councillor and Chamberlain ;

Who, after having reciprocally exchanged their full powers with each other, and found them in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles:

Cessions by Prussia to Hesse-Cassel.

ART. I. His Majesty the King of Prussia cedes to His Royal Highness the Elector of Hesse that part of the Department of Fulda which belonged to the former Grand Duchy of Frankfort, and which has been assigned to him by the Act of the Congress of Vienna (No. 27), with the exception, however, of the districts of Dermbach and Geysa, which, with their boundaries according to the existing territorial division, pass over to the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. His Majesty also transfers to His Royal Highness the Elector, the Knightly Jurisdictions of Lengsfeld, Mannsbach, Buchenau, and Werda, with the village of Wenigentaft, the possession of which he likewise obtains by the said Act of Congress. His Royal Highness the Elector of Hesse will have possession of the aforesaid provinces, districts, and places, for himself, his descendants, and successors, with all sovereign, supreme, feudal, domanial, and other rights which have been conveyed to His Majesty the King of Prussia for this purpose by the Act of the Congress of Vienna.

Cessions by Hesse-Cassel to Prussia and Saxe- Weimar-Eisenach.

ART. II. His Royal Highness the Elector of Hesse, on the other hand, cedes to His Majesty the King of Prussia, his descendants, and successors, the Lower County of Catzenelnbogen, the Lordship of Plessen, including the Monastery of Höckelheim, the Bailiwicks of Neuengleichen, Uechte, Auburg, See also Art. VI.

« PreviousContinue »