ferred it to the Russians, by whom it | bassador having exceeded his instrucwas occupied in force. But the cir- tions, the treaty which he concluded cumstances attending the transaction was not ratified by the Emperor Alexwere so suspicious, that the Austrian ander; and as hostilities for that reason subaltern officers in the fortress pro- still continued, Lauriston was reduced tested against its conditions, and the to the last extremity in Ragusa, and governor was afterwards brought to a saved from destruction only by the opcourt-martial at Vienna for his conduct portune arrival of Molitor, who adon this occasion, and sentenced to con- vanced at the head of reinforcements finement in a Transylvanian fortress for from Dalmatia. The territory of Ralife. gusa was now fully occupied by the French, and continued in their hands till the end of September, when it was invaded by a powerful body of Russians and Montenegrins. But these troops, having been drawn out of their intrenchments by a skilful stratagem on the part of Marmont, were attacked and defeated with great loss, and even experienced some difficulty in regaining the fortresses of Castel Nuovo and Cattaro, from whence they had issued. 70. Nothing that has since transpired authorises the belief that Austria was privy to this transaction; nor does any motive appear which could induce her, for so trifling an object, to run the risk of offending the Emperor Napoleon, whose terrible legions were still upon the Inn. But no sooner did he receive intelligence of it, than Napoleon ordered Marshal Berthier to delay the evacuation of the fortress of Braunau, on the Austrian frontier, and the 71. M. d'Oubril came to Paris by march of all the French troops towards Vienna; but, notwithstanding his conthe Rhine was countermanded. In this ferences with the English and Austrian way the important object was gained ministers at that capital, he appears, of keeping a hundred and fifty thou- when he arrived at Paris, to have acted sand men still at free quarters on the in a way not agreeable to the cabinet of German states. He made no effort to St Petersburg or his instructions. Taldispossess the Russians and Montene- leyrand and the French ministers made grins from Cattaro; but, on the pre- such skilful use of the dependence of text that because the Austrians had the negotiations with England, which failed in performing their obligations Lord Yarmouth was at that moment to him, he was at liberty to look for conducting at Paris, and of the threat an indemnity wherever he could find totally to destroy Austria, if hostilities it, seized upon the neighbouring city were resumed, that they induced in the of Ragusa, a neutral power with which Russian ambassador a belief that a sehe had no cause whatever of hostility. parate peace with these powers was on There Lauriston, who commanded the the eve of signature, and that nothing French garrison, was shortly after be- but an instant compliance with the sieged by the Russians both by land demands of the Emperor could save and sea; but before anything of moment Europe from dismemberment, and the could be transacted in that quarter, the Czar from all the consequences of a Austrians, exhausted by the prolonged single-handed contest with Napoleon. stay of such an immense body of men Under the influence of these fears and on their territory, made such energetic misrepresentations, he suddenly signed remonstrances to the cabinet of St Pe- a treaty as disgraceful to Russia as it tersburg on the subject, that they was contrary to the good faith which agreed to the evacuation of Cattaro; she owed to Great Britain. Not conand M. d'Oubril, who was despatched tent with surrendering the mouths of from the Russian cabinet to Paris, os- the Cattaro, the subject of so much tensibly to negotiate the exchange of discord to France, without any other prisoners, but really to conclude a equivalent than an illusory promise treaty between the two powers, brought that the French troops should evacuate authority for its surrender to the French. Germany in three months, he stipuIn consequence, however, of that am-lated also, in the secret articles, "that if, in the course of events, Ferdinand | istry had ensued: Prince Adam CzarIV. should cease to possess Sicily, the torinski, and the chiefs inclined for Emperor of Russia should unite with a separate accommodation, were disthe Emperor of France in all measures placed, and succeeded by the Baron calculated to induce the court of Ma- Budberg, and the nobles who supported drid to cede to the Prince-Royal of the English in opposition to the French Naples the Balearic Isles, to be enjoyed alliance. The treaty was, in conseby him and his successors with the title quence of these events, formally disof king-the harbours of those islands avowed by the Imperial government, as being shut against the British flag dur- " entirely in opposition to the instrucing the continuance of the present war; tions which d'Oubril had received," that the entry to these isles should be though they professed their willingness closed against Ferdinand himself and his to resume the negotiations on a basis queen; and that the contracting parties which had been communicated to the should concur in effecting a peace be- cabinet of the Tuileries. By this distween Prussia and Sweden, without the avowal, indeed, the Russian governlatter power being deprived of Pome- ment was saved the dishonour which rania." Ragusa also was to be evacuated, must for ever have attached to it had and the integrity of the Ottoman do- so disgraceful a treaty been uncondiminions guaranteed by both the con- tionally ratified; but upon comparing tracting parties—a provision which the powers conferred on the ambassaforms a striking contrast to the agree- dor by one ministry with the refusal ment for the partition of that power to ratify the treaty by its successor, it concurred in within a year afterwards was difficult to avoid the inference, at Tilsit. Thus did Napoleon and d'Ou- that the difference in reality arose from bril concur in despoiling the King of a change of policy in the Imperial caNaples of the dominions which were binet, between the time of issuing the still under his command, without any instructions and signing the treaty, not other indemnity than a nominal throne any deviation from those instructions of trifling islands to his son; gift away on the part of its ambassador. And Sicily, garrisoned by English troops, all reflecting men began to conceive the without consulting either the court of most serious apprehensions as to the Palermo or the cabinet of London; dis- consequences which might ensue to the pose of the Balearic Islands, without liberties of Europe from the alliance of the knowledge or consent of the King two colossal powers, which thus took of Spain; and stipulate the retention upon themselves, without any authoof Pomerania by Sweden, at the very rity, to dispose of inferior thrones, moment that France held out the ac- and partition the territories of weaker quisition of that duchy as an equiva- states.* lent which should reconcile Prussia to the loss of Hanover. 72. M. d'Oubril seemed to be aware, at the time he signed this extraordinary treaty, that he had exceeded or deviated from his instructions; for no sooner was it concluded, than he set off in person to render an account of it at St Petersburg, observing, at the same time-"I go to lay the treaty and my head at the feet of my imperial master." In effect, before he reached the Russian capital, intelligence of the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine had arrived, which unexpected event greatly strengthened the influence of the party hostile to France. A change of min *The powers conferred on M. d'Oubril bore:-"We authorise by these presents, M. d'Oubril to enter into negotiations with a view to the establishment of peace, with whoever shall be sufficiently authorised on the part of the French government, and to conclude and sign with them an act or convention on bases proper to consolidate peace between Russia and France, and to prepare it between the other belligerent powers; and we promise on our imperial word to hold good and execute faithfully whatever shall be agreed to and signed by our said plenipotentiary, and to adhibit to it our imperial ratification in the terms that shall be specified." On the other hand, the act of disavowal bore -"The pretended act of pacification concluded by M. d'Oubril has been submitted to a council specially summoned to that effect, and compared with the instructions which he had received here, and the instructions tiation under the most favourable of all auspices-mutual esteem on the part of the powers engaged in it. 74. The basis proposed by Mr Fox was, that the "two parties should assume it as a principle, that the peace was to be honourable to themselves and their respective allies.”—“Our interests," said Talleyrand, "are easily reconciled, from this alone, that they are distinct. You are the masters of the sea. Your maritime forces equal those of all the kingdoms of the earth put together. We are a great Continental power; but other nations have as great armies on foot as ourselves. If, in addition to being omnipotent on the ocean from your own strength, you desire to acquire a preponderance on the Continent, by means of alliances, peace is not possible." Talleyrand strongly urged the English minister to lay all the allies on either side out of view, and conclude a separate accommodation; but in this design he was unsuccessful. Mr Fox insisted, with honourable firmness, that Russia should be made a party to the treaty. you wish us to treat," said he, jointly with Russia? We answer, Yes. Do you wish us to enter into a sepa rate treaty, independent of that power? No." Finding the English minister immovable on this point, M. Talleyrand had recourse to equivocation; and it was agreed that the accession of the Continental powers to the treaty should be obtained. "Do 73. The rapid succession of more important events left no time for the advance of the fresh negotiations thus pointed at by the cabinet of St Petersburg. All eyes in Europe were turned to the conferences between France and England, which had been long in dependence at Paris; and the turn which they were now taking left little hope that hostilities, in every quarter, could be brought to a termination. This celebrated negotiation took its rise from a fortuitous circumstance equally creditable to the government of both powers. An abandoned exile, in a private audience with Mr Fox, in February, had proposed to that minister to assassinate Napoleon. Either penetrating the design of this wretch, who had once been an agent of the police in Paris, or inspired by a generous desire to prevent the perpetration of so atrocious an offence, the English minister, after having at first dismissed him from his presence, had the assassin apprehended, and sent information to M. Talleyrand of the proposal. This upright proceeding led to a courteous reply from that minister, in which, after expressing his satisfaction at the new turn which the war had taken, which he regarded as a presage of what he might expect from a cabinet of which he fondly measured the sentiments according to those of Mr Fox, "one of the men who seem expressly made to feel the really grand and beautiful in all things," he repeated that passage, in the exposition of the state of the 75. The next step in the negotiation empire by the Minister of the Interior, was to fix the basis on which the inwherein Napoleon declared that he terests and honour of England and would always be ready to renew con- France themselves were to be adjusted. ferences with England on the basis of To ascertain this important point in a the treaty of Amiens. Mr Fox replied manner more satisfactory than could that he was inspired with the same sen- be done by the slow interchange of timents; and thus commenced a nego-written communications, M. Talleyrand sent for Lord Yarmouth, one of transmitted to him at Vienna before his dethe English travellers whom Napoleon had detained a prisoner ever since the rupture of the peace of Amiens, and proposed to him the basis on which France was willing to enter into an accommodation. These were the restitution of Hanover, which, after great difficulty, Napoleon was brought to agree to although he had only a few parture from that town; and they found that M. d'Oubril, in signing that treaty, has not only deviated from the instructions he had received, but acted in a manner directly contrary to the sense and spirit of the orders themselves." The penalty inflicted on the ambassador, however-that of mere banishment to his estates-did not look as if there had been any very serious deviation from instructions.-MARTENS' Sup. iv. 308, 312; and HARD. ix. 222. con months before ceded it to Prussia- | further mentioned that the Emperor and the retention of Sicily by England had received reports from his brother, or its allies; the recognition of the and the general officers under his comEmperor of France by England, and mand, stating that Naples could not be the guaranteeing of the integrity of the held without Sicily, and the probability Ottoman dominions by France. These they saw of gaining possession of that terms Lord Yarmouth justly consider- island; that the restitution of Hanover ed as equivalent to the establishment for the honour of the British crown, of the principle of uti possidetis, and the retention of Malta for the honour stated them as such in his communica- of the navy, and of the Cape of Good tion made the same day to Mr Fox on Hope for the interests of commerce, the subject. should be sufficient inducements to the cabinet of St James's to enter into the negotiation; that if a confidential communication had been made three months before, the questions both of Holland and Naples might have been arranged in the manner most satisfactory to Great Britain; but that now, when their dominions had been settled on the Emperor's brothers, any abandonment of any portion of them would be "considered by the Emperor as a retrograde measure, equivalent to an abdication." Lord Yarmouth continued to insist, in terms of Mr Fox's instructions, for the basis of uti possidetis as the one originally proposed by France, and to which Great Britain was resolv 76. At the time when the proposals were made by the French government, no accommodation had been effected with Russia; and it was an object of the highest importance to induce Great Britain, on any terms, to accede to the basis of a negotiation. But when the next communication from Talleyrand was made, circumstances had entirely changed. D'Oubril had expressed his willingness to sign a separate peace in behalf of Russia, and Napoleon was resolved to take advantage of this circumstance to exact more favourable conditions than he had at first agreed to from the British government. When pressed, therefore, by Lord Yarmouth to adhere to the principle of uti possi-ed to adhere; that it was alone on the detis, and in particular to agree to the faith of this basis, more especially as King of Naples retaining Sicily, he re-applied to Sicily, that the conferences plied, that though the sentiments of the Emperor in favour of peace had undergone no alteration, yet that some changes had taken place, the possibility of which he had hinted at when I last saw him," alluding to the readiness of Russia to treat separately; and "I inquired," said Lord Yarmouth, "whether the possession of Sicily would be demanded, it having been so said. 'You are in possession of it,' he replied-we do not ask it from you; if you were not in possession, it would much augment the difficulties.' Considering this to be very positive, both from the words and the manner of delivering them, I conceived it would be improper to make further questions. We ask nothing of you (nous ne vous demandons rien), amounting to an admission of uti possidetis, as applicable to his Majesty's conquests. Talleyrand concluded with these words: The sentiments of France are completely changed: the bitterness which characterised the commencement of this war no longer exists. And what we desire most, is to live on good terms with a power so vast as that of Great Britain.""-LORD YARMOUTH'S Communication, No. 12; Parl. Deb. viii. 110. were continued; that any tergiversation or cavil, therefore, on that capital article would be considered as a breach of the principle of the negotiation in its most essential part; that full powers were now communicated to him to conduct it; but that the possession of Sicily was a sine quâ non, without which it was useless to continue the conferences. Talleyrand upon this offered the Hanse Towns as an equivalent to the King of Naples for the loss of that island: and when this was refused, to give Dalmatia, Albania, and Ragusa as an indemnity to his Sicilian majesty: looking out thus, according to the usual system of Napoleon, in every direction for indemnities at the expense of minor neutral states, rather than surrender one foot of his own acquisitions. 77. This clear departure on the side of France from the basis of the negotiation originally laid down by its own minister, and open avowal of the prin- | cation. But the demands of France ciple that neutral and weaker powers did not rise in the manner that might were to be despoiled in order to recon- have been expected after so great an cile the pretensions of the greater bel- advantage: she was still willing to alligerents, augured but ill for its ulti- low Great Britain to retain Malta, the mate success; and the notes which Cape, and her acquisitions in India, were interchanged gradually assumed and to restore Hanover: full powers a more angry character; but the con- were given to Lord Yarmouth, which ferences were still continued for a con- were exchanged with those of General siderable time. Mr Fox, with the firm- Clark. Specific retention of Sicily by ness which became a British minister, the King of Naples was no longer ininvariably insisted that Sicily should be sisted for, it being agreed by Great retained by the King of England, and Britain that an adequate equivalent, if enjoined on Lord Yarmouth to demand provided by lawful means, should be his passports if this was not acceded accepted. Napoleon continued to urge to. The changes in Germany conse- the acquisition of the Hanse Towns, quent on the Confederation of the either by Prussia, as a compensation Rhine were admitted by Talleyrand, for Hanover, or by his Sicilian majesty: but offered to be modified, if peace and held out the menace that, by not with Great Britain was concluded. Mr acceding to such an arrangement, the Fox refused to be any party to the invasion of Portugal would be renderproject of despoiling Turkey and Ra- ed inevitable, for which an army was gusa, independent and neutral states, already assembled at Bayonne. Nay, to provide an equivalent for the aban- he even hinted at ulterior views in redonment of Sicily; but threw out a gard to the Spanish peninsula, which hope that by the cession of part of the the resistance of England would cause Venetian States, with the city of Ve- to be developed, as similar ones had nice, from the kingdom of Italy to the been in Holland and Naples. But, reKing of Naples, an accommodation gardless of these threats, Mr Fox firmmight be listened to. To this, as ly insisted for the original basis of uti making the proposed equivalent come possidetis, as the only one which could from his own allies, Napoleon would be admitted; and as matters appeared by no means consent. Advices were as far as ever from an adjustment, received at Paris that an army of thirty Lord Lauderdale was sent to Paris thousand men had been assembled at with full powers to treat from the Bayonne. All the officers in that capi- | British government. tal belonging to corps in Germany re- 79. Under the auspices of this able ceived orders instantly to join their nobleman, the negotiation was protractrespective regiments, and the approach-ed two months longer without leading ing signature of a separate treaty between France and Russia, in which the cession of Sicily in exchange for the Balearic Isles, taken from Spain, was a principal article, came to the knowledge of the British plenipotentiary. 78. The conclusion of the separate peace between Russia and France on the day following these communications, did not, of course, lessen the expectations of the latter power, though it removed all difficulty arising from the condition to which Great Britain had uniformly adhered, of making the cabinet of St Petersburg a party, either directly or in substance, to the pacifi to any satisfactory result. The English minister continued incessantly to demand a return to the principle of uti possidetis as the foundation of the negotiation; and the French cabinet as uniformly eluded or refused the demand, and insisted for the evacuation of Sicily by the English troops, and its surrender to Joseph, and the abandonment of all the maritime conquests of the war, with the exception of the Cape of Good Hope, by Great Britain. Lord Lauderdale in consequence repeatedly demanded his passports, and the negotiation appeared on the point of terminating, when intelligence was received in London of the refusal of |