one of them might happen to interfere with the others. At the very moment when the returning favour and attachment of Russia flattered them with the prospect of a new continental war, by another combination against France, the intelligence of the arrival of a British fleet in the Baltic was announced at Petersburgh. This naturally induced the Russian Ministry to make inquiries from the British Ambassador as to its destination, and his answer by no means tended to remove the sensation which so unexpected an occurrence had occasioned. In a few days the apprehensions which Russia professed to entertain for the fate of her ally, were realized, by the information of the bombardment and capitulation of Copenhagen, and the seizure of the Danish fleet. With the information of this outrage, all hopes of prevailing upon Russia to detach herself from the alliance with France, and co-operate with Great Britain in a new continental warfare, instantly vanished. The discussions for a general peace, already disregarded by

the British Ministry, except so far as they might afford an opportunity of prosecuting other objects, were suddenly terminated. The changes that at this time took place in the Russian Cabinet, by which General Budberg was succeeded, as Minister for foreign affairs, by Count Soltykoff, who was soon afterwards removed to make way for Count Romanzow, produced no consequences favourable to the hopes of the British Ministry. Some attempts were indeed made by the British Ambassador, to allay the indignation of the Emperor; but the horrid detail of the transactions at Copenhagen closed up every avenue to reconciliation. "How can Russia re"commend to Denmark to submit to

the affront she has received, and to "endure with patience all her losses?"* was the emphatic question of the Russian Minister. It was to no purpose that the British Ministry humiliated themselves

*Dispatch from Lord G. L. Gower to Mr. Canning, October 29, 1807.

66

so far, as to declare that his Majesty was perfectly willing, "that the paci"fication with the Court of Den"mark should be wholly the work of "the Emperor of Russia; that it should originate in his Imperial Majesty's Councils; be conducted under his auspices, and be concluded under his guarantee." With inflexible dignity, and indisputable propriety, that Monarch refused to interpose his good offices, to reconcile a difference occasioned by the aggression of those who still appeared determined to keep the plunder they had unjustly acquired. After many fruitless applications, to obtain an interview with the Russian Minister, the British Ambassador received an official note which terminated his mission. In this the Emperor declares, "that he had of "fered his mediation, in acquainting his "Britannic Majesty, that his desire was

*

Dispatch from Mr. Canning to Lord G. L. Gower, September, 28, 1807.

See the conclusion of the dispatch from Lord G. 1. Gower to Mr. Canning, 1st October, 1807.

to obtain for him an honourable peace; "that England had rejected his offices, "and that it seemed as if her views were "not to suffer the flames of war to be extinguished, but to kindle them anew in "the North, by an event sudden and no" vel."

66

After noticing, in strong terms of reprobation, the attack upon Denmark;, expressing his resentment at the proposal made to him, that he should undertake to convince Denmark that it was for her interest to submit to what had recently befallen her, and adverting to other subjects of recrimination and complaint. The Russian Emperor declares, "that no arrangements shall take place "between Russia and England, until the "latter shall have given satisfaction to "Denmark; expresses his expectation "that his Britannic Majesty, instead of

66

permitting his Ministers, as has lately "been the case, to scatter anew the seeds

66

of war, would lend his assistance to "the conclusion of peace with France;

when his Imperial Majesty would rea"dily renew with Great Britain the re"lations of friendship, which, consider"ing the dissatisfaction which the Emperor so justly feels, he had, perhaps, already preserved too long."

66

On the transactions and documents here briefly stated, many important reflections arise. And in the first place, it will, perhaps, be thought remarkable, that a British Minister, in a negotiation of such a nature, should declare, that the only chance of safety for what remains of Europe, depends upon a good understanding between this country and Russia. Wretched, indeed, must now be the situation of Europe, if her only chance of safety depends upon the cooperation of Russia! But it is still more extraordinary, that Ministers, after avowing such an opinion, should have so contrived as to deprive us of that connexion, and to convert that very power, in whose assistance alone Europe,

E

糖