which had been agreed upon between them. The latter stated that, although a great part of the Prussian army hitherto cantoned on the French frontier had recrossed the Rhine, he calculated that a corps of 35,000 men still remained, under the command of General Kleist; and, as the column which was destined to march through Hanover had probably not hitherto moved beyond the neighbourhood of Wesel, a sufficient force may be brought together in time to prevent the advance of Napoleon, provided the British army in Belgium, which occupies the districts nearest the frontier, should avail themselves of the present circumstances to move into France and to secure some of the fortresses in the line of Luxemburg, whence the combined forces would be enabled to penetrate into the interior, and act on the communication between Paris and Lyons.

While the Prussian Minister offered to recommend these proceedings upon his own responsibility, and immediately to send directions to the Prussian generals to move the several corps under their command, M. de Phüll, who perfectly concurred in the propriety of the general measure, appeared rather desirous that nothing should be done before the last courier should return from Vienna.

I merely stated to these gentlemen that, although I could not take upon myself to say anything respecting the movement thus proposed, on the part of the British troops, I conceived it might be prudent to lose no time in concentrating the army under the Prince of Orange near the frontier, and urging General Kleist to do the same, by which means they would be in perfect-readiness to execute such measures as may appear expedient under the instructions we may daily expect from Vienna and London.

Notwithstanding that the Dutch Minister did not appear in any respect biassed by the counsels of my colleagues, I thought it necessary to observe to him that the violent alternatives recommended might have a most unfavourable effect upon the

cause of the Bourbons, if adopted before the decided successes of Buonaparte should compel Louis XVIII. to have recourse to foreign assistance; and I reminded him that, although M. de Brockhausen calculated the force under General Kleist to be 35,000, we were well convinced he had not 20,000, which, united with his Majesty's troops in the Low Countries, would not by any means be a sufficient number to undertake an operation of the magnitude and hazard he had recommended.

M. de Nagell therefore agreed with me that the concentration of all the disposable force which can be brought together near the frontier is the only measure advisable at the present moment. As the Dutch corps, which are already in march towards Maestricht, will exceed 20,000 men, the whole will, by this means, be in a situation to execute any operation which shall appear advisable whenever the intentions of the King's Government are known.

Copy.

Sir Charles Stuart to Lord Castlereagh.

The Hague, March 17, 1815. My Lord-The proclamation, of which I enclose a copy, yesterday announced that the Prince Sovereign had assumed the dignity of King of the Low Countries, which event was communicated to me in the note I forward from the Secretary of State, together with my acknowledgment.

The King proceeded at ten o'clock to the States-General, to whom the change was formally notified. His Majesty afterwards received the compliments of the great officers of State and the corps diplomatique. The troops took the oaths of obedience the same day. The King will proceed this evening to Amsterdam, and will be present at the ceremony of the proclamation in that city.

any measure

As I conceive that I shall be earlier informed of which may be adopted, after the arrival of the intelligence,

VOL. X.

T

hourly expected, from France, I propose to follow the Court, and to continue at the capital until their return to the Hague.

Copy.

Sir Charles Stuart to Lord Castlereagh.

The Hague, March 17, 1815. My Lord-I had already written the accompanying despatches, which in some measure anticipate the instructions I have received, when I was honoured with your lordship's Nos. 9 and 10, with their respective enclosures.

I was thus enabled to repeat the substance of these important communications to the King, through the medium of M. de Nagell, and to hear the observations to which they had given rise, before the departure of the Court for Amsterdam. His Majesty highly appreciates the wisdom of the policy which his Royal Highness the Prince Regent has determined to adopt respecting the affairs of France, and has empowered M. de Nagell to declare to me his hearty concurrence in the measures which the Government of his ally considers expedient to meet every variation which may occur in that kingdom.

His Excellency farther assured me that the King has learned with grateful satisfaction the intention of the Prince Regent to entrust the command of the Allied armies in the Low Countries to the Duke of Wellington, and looks forward with confidence to the period when the resignation of the Prince of Orange in favour of that officer shall ensure the protection of his dominions. The King's feelings on this subject will, I understand, be expressed in a letter to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, which will be delivered by the ambas sador in London.

As the union of the troops in the service of the United Netherlands with those of Great Britain is the basis of every system of defence which has been hitherto contemplated, I

conceive that it will be unnecessary to imply a doubt of the King's concurrence by a formal invitation to that effect.

The impropriety of public rejoicings during the season of Lent in a country where religious differences prevail with considerable acrimony, had induced this Government, at the suggestion of several among the Belgic deputies, to suspend the removal to Brussels until Easter: they have now, however, resolved to comply with the suggestion contained in your lordship's letter to me; but I do not think that it will be possible to reach Brussels before that period, though the King proposes only to stay at the Hague two or three days after his return from Amsterdam, and to begin his journey on Monday week.

I have the honour, &c.,

CHARLES STUART.

Mr. Edward Cooke to Lord Castlereagh.

Rome, March 17, 1815.

My dear Lord-Murat having declared that he would support Bonaparte's fortunes, in letters to Cardinal Fesch, which the cardinal read publicly, and having marched his whole army to the very frontiers, we are expecting the arrival of his troops. In consequence, the King of Spain left this place yesterday for Florence. The Queen of Etruria is preparing to follow; and his Holiness has made preparations for leaving Rome when necessary.

It occurred to me that circumstances might arise in which much should be hazarded to arrest the march of Murat: I understand that his language has been uniform, viz., that if England would declare for his establishment, nothing should induce him to break his neutrality, and that he would even support the Allies against Bonaparte; but, as England would not declare for him, and as he believed Congress against him, he must support himself, and endeavour to engage Italy in his

cause.

Under these circumstances, I ventured to sound to-day the Bishop of St. Maloes, the French ambassador to this Court, and I submitted to him whether, in the event of an urgent necessity, which might make the continuation of the Bourbons on the throne of France dependent on the re-establishment of Murat on the throne of Naples, whether he would venture, though without instruction or powers, or under contrary instructions and powers, to make such a proposition to Murat, sub spe rati. I did not, however, find his Excellency's mind. bold enough for such a measure. He said he had been sounded on the subject by Murat, and, though he had never favoured, he had never repulsed the overture; that many Frenchmen were favourable to Murat's establishment, but that the King's family affections were so strong, he could not venture to take such a responsibility without authority, and contrary to instructions.

I own, if the bishop's mind could have been inclined to entertain such a measure, I should have resolved to affect the minister, and to propose the establishment of Murat, sub spe rati, if necessary.

I thought of burning this, but you may as well read my thoughts.

Ever most truly, your lordship's servant,

Lord Clancarty to Lord Castlereagh.

E. COOKE.

Vienna, March 18, 1815.

My dear Lord-Under the overwhelming circumstances which are hourly occurring in France, from the defection of the army, and black and bloody prospects thence arising placing as they do in jeopardy many of the arrangements here made, and especially those relating to the Low Countries, I am really ashamed to commence a letter to you with a matter of such insignificant import as one relating to myself. Nevertheless, it is impossible to leave Lord Liverpool's letter of the