Star. — London, England, 1813-10-23 00:00:00

ml • ' • - FRENCH PAPERS. (piplentstic Correspondence, continued from yesterdays Sv*a.) NO. 38. — NOTE FROM THE PLENIPOTENTIARIES OF FRANCE TO COUNT DE METTERNICH. • Prague August 9,1813. . . The undersigned Plenipotentiaries 'from his Ma jesty the Emperor of the French have received, to gether with the two Notes which his Excellency Count de Metternich, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Plenipotentiary of the Mediating Court, has done them the honour of addressing to them yes. terday, the copies of those of the Russian and Prus sian Plenipotentiaries. Penetrated with the sacred obligation, which the natuiv itself of their mission imposes on them, that of banishing discussion which does not tend to the realizing the dearest hopes of nations, the undersired.will not consider 'any thing in the Notes transmitted to them, but those points which have a direct tendency to the Works of pacifi cation. They will likewise avoid. enlarging in pro testations of their desire of peace ; because, however natural it may be to do ourselves that honour, this desire may regulate the spirit ofnegociations, but'not the progress of affairs, which ought to be treated ac cording to established usages in their proper order, and in removing difficulties as they may occur. It is with equal surprise and regret, that the un dersigned perceive that the Notes which have been transmitted to them had for their aim the rejection of a proposal, which had to them appeared, and which in fact is, the only proper one for conciliating the diversity of opinions which has arisen concerning the form of the negociations. In this state of affairs, they address themselves with confidence to the Mediator, to represent to him what it is impossible not to acknowledge, that the only overture which has actually tended to commence the negociation was made by them. In tact, the contrariety of sentiment of the two patties, leaving the question undecided, and the opi nion of the Mediator, whatever weight his wisdom and enlightened knowledge may give him, not hav ing been able to decide it, the undersigned, influenc ed as much' by deference to the Mediator, as by the desire of smoothing all difficulties, have consented to adopt entirely the mode - which he had proposed,' merely demanding that their proposal should be like wise admitted. This would then be one step forwards, for it would be unjust not to consider as such, in a negociation, the oral sacrifice of the pretensions of one party to the other. They were authorised to hope that after this step on their part, taken in the form desired by the Mediator, he would at length have decided on • giving effect to those motives, not less founded on reason than on custom, with which they have sup , ported their proposal in the frequent official confer. ences that they have had with Count de Metternich on this subject. They nevertheless see that the Allied Plenipoten tiariei, without combating this proposal, without re . plying to the cons.derations which have dictatedit, and even Withoutalledging any other reason than their own will, persist in their pretensions, and that the Pknipotentiary , of the Mediating Court ranges himself entirely on their side, although it cannot be, dissembled that the only motive he has been able to .adduce in justification of this preference has no longer . any tOundati , in, since that the undersigned have ad 'flitted the'forms proposed by him.• All the objections which could be made against the mode which they have pointed out by their Note of the 6th will fell to the ground of themselves if we reflPct that it conciliates all pretensions, thAt it unites, all rue adiantages of the different forms, the authen- 1 ticity of negnciatthg in writing, with the facility and celerity of a verbal negociation. It would be superfluous to attend, to the strange, assertion that this mode is unusual, as the most sim ple ex.truination of facts would be sufficient to destroy that objection. No person can be ignorant that in Cte principal Congresses of which history makes mention, in those in which, as at present, interests equally complicated and various were to be discussed at Munster, at Nimeguen i at ltyswick, this double form was always employed. Would not to refuse it, at this present time be evidently to shew chat the pa cific intentions, which so much pains are taken to announce, are nor those which are actually meant ? It is affected continually, to instance Teschen, and to take fur a rule that which has been an exception, and constantly to appeal to the result of this negociation, as if those which have been cited had had a less fa- 1 vourable issue, 'and as if they had not equally regu laced ih~ interests of Sovereigns, and the tranquillity of States. Whatever it may be, we ask again for the motive which gives preference tO a form which was solely followed under a circumstance where there was only one object to treat upon, and of which even the basis had already been settled beforehand It is easy to judge, from the actual state of the question, who ought to be accused of the delays occasioned to the negociation, those who by raising a pretension opposed to the received usage, reject a proposal which insures to them all the advantages they desire; or those who having on their side the usage universally followed, consent to adopt entirely the form adopted by the adverse party, and confine themselves to de manding, that a mode of treating, which in despite of all allegations to the contrary, can alone produce speedy results, should not be excluded. The Undersigsed flatter themselves that these con siderations will be so. much the more felt by his Ex cellency Count Metternich, as it cannot have escaped him, that if the exclusive form of written negociations offer st me ausantages, h is not, at least it we may judge fr m the notes which he has communicated to the undt signed, that which will assist in conciliating all niitid— He will n doubt likewise remark, that the pri posals rit mit by the.undersigned, have on the contr.ny been a fresh proof of their constant desire • to.remove all Uiilictilties in the way. of peace, even wia.n thi it adversaries appear to have renounced it. They therefore renew the proi : osAls which they bar, not ceased to make, of exchanging their full powers, in order immediately to open the ne_gocia trons, according to the form proposed by the Media . ting Power, without, however, eicluding the form o f coilereuces, in order to preserve the means of explain ing themselves verbally. The undersigned hav e , a cc . (Signed) CAULADICOURT, Dime of Viceaza, L. NAItDONNE. (To be sontbuted.) • FURTNE.II 21712,117'S PROM THE MENU! PAPERS TO THE 18TH INSTANT. PARIS, ocrbsr.R 14. Mom the Malheur.) • When Sweden, seeing order established around her, and finding herself alone, without the natural boundary of her policy, and exposed to the disasters of a war contrary to her interests, found the neces sity of rectifying her system, and giving a successor to a Prince whose too weak arm could no longer bear the sceptre or the sword of the great Gustavus, shp consulted with the French Government. It was from among French military men, who, upon the faith of fame, had partaken of that immensity of glory, con quered by twenty years labour and success, that Swe den, to give an inviolable pledge of attachment to her natural Ally, chose the Chief who was to preside over her new destinies. The Swedes must have supposed, that a man who had had the honour of fighting under the eyes of his •Majesty the Emperot of the French, who served his policy, and who owed to the Imperial generosity his rank, his fortune, and his consideration, would always remember his first country, and the favours with which he had been loaded ; and that he would endea vour to consolidate the independence of his people, by consulting their interests and their inclination, which for two centuries had attached them - to the system of France. The choice of Sweden was a language which was understood by all Europe, and those who only knew the new Prince Royal by his military reputa tion, did not far a moment doubt that he would fol low a route traced out by his illustrious predecessors. But even prudence is deceived in her calculations when she does not take into consideration private passions, the influence of which rarely gives way to that of reason. Persons who were intimately ae-, quainted with Charles John Bernadotte, had seen him, during the Revolution, float without principle, and without compass, at the mercy of events ; to flatter, serve, betray, in their turn, the factions which disputed for power; jealous of military talents which he despaired of equalling ; uneasy in the midst of the re-establishment of order, secretly tormented by ambi. tious desires, ungrateful by character, and taking his vanity for elevation, and his natural restlessness for genius • those persons, I say, observed his proceed ings wi th distrust, and were not long in discovering that the hopes of Sweden would be deceived ; that the new Prince Royal would separate his interests from those of his people, and would only use his in fluence to satisfy the avidity of his ambition. Naturally factious, the new Prince Royal soon gave himself up to that faction which the gold of England, and the promises of Russia, had for such a length of time supported at the Court of Sweden, and of which some members, landholders in Livonia, thought less of serving the State, than to preserve their tortune, and augment the expence of the Swedish nation. They persuaded the Prince to abandon to Russia, Finland, an integral part of the kingdom ; and to hold out, in the conquest of Norway, a shameful equivalent. Hence that demand of the cession of Norway, to the prejudice of Denmark. It is known that the French Government rejected that project with indignation. However, events pressed forward ; our armies, conducted by the Emperor, penetrated into the heart of Russia. So long as fortune remained faithful to us, the Prince Royal, although probably detached at heart from his former country and august benefactor, did not present himself upon the field of battle. It was not because he feared to spill the blood of his countrymen, but that sort of prudence which allies itself extremely well with ostentatious speeches, that prevented him from appearing upon the Continent. it was only when the irresistible fury of the ele ments had overwhelmed the French army, that, en. couraged by the defection of Prussia, be more inti mately connected hiniself with the enemies of France. By what reasons can he justify this proceeding ? How will he excuse himself to Sweden, for having thrown her into a line of policy, which she cannot follow without danger, and for sacrificing the blood of her people in a cause which is foreign to them.?— Will the chimerical hopes he entertains respecting Norway, console the Swedish nation for the real evils which it is obliged to suffer ? Will the cession of Guadaloupe be a recompence for them ? But what Swede has not already felt, that this cession, with out guarantee, is illusory, and that that cannot be ' ceded which has not been acquired by a treaty.— Bernadotte is, perhaps, the only man in Sweden who has not seen, that this offer of England was but an insult ; and that the British Minister, accustomed to speculations of every kind, had not disdained to cal culate how tar the levity, or, not to hesitate about a word, the ignorance of its new Ally would extend. It is, therefore, for uncertain expectancies that Sweden has given up Finland, her natural bulwark, and detached herself from a system followed with such success during two centuries ; and it is a man who owes his dignities and his power but to the in fluence of the French Government, to a military re nown acquired in combating the enemies of France —it is he, who, forgetting all that is sacred in the world, betrays, at the same time, his honour, his for mer country, and the best interests of that nation which had taken him into its entire confidence. Let him walk upon the Continent till his hour has arriv ed ; let him walk, escorted by the Kotzebues, the Gentz,the Schlegels, and all the contemptible libelists paid by the English oligarchy ;—but let him learn, that he has been judged by his countrymen, as he will be judged by posterity ; letlim know, that the destinies of France are unalterable, and that the efforts of her enemies will be wrecked before the valour of her armies, the patriotism of her citizens, and the energy of her government. FRONTIERS OF SAXONY, OCTOBER 6. It is pretended that, according to the last plan of the coalesced Powers against the French armies—a P.plan whieb has been deteated—the enemy's army of Berlin was to have passed the Elbe, at several points, march against Leipsick, and from thence upon Alten burg and Zeist, where it was to have effected its junc tion on the rear of the French army of Dresden, with a part of Prince Schwartzenberg's army, and after wards march upon Dresden, whilst the Russian and Prussian army in Bohemia and Lusatia would com bine its movement upon the same city. For this pur pose, the Commander in Chief of the coalesced army of Berlin caused three bridges to be established upon the Elbe; one at Aiken (between Dessau and Darby), the second at Itordau (near Dessau), stud the third near tlip Flirter (some leaves - above Wittenberg).-.- rA. numArbus corps of coalesced troops was to e ffect the passage of the Elbe upon these three bridges.— The Prince of Schwartzenberg had detached the Austrian army of General Klenau into the Saxon Erzgeberg ; the corps'of Cossacks of Prince Platow (Hetman of the Cossacks), who had arrived at Toep- Litz, was sent from Bohemia to the Erzgeberg and towards Altenburg : he had been joined by the ene my's corps of partisans. During these transactions, the corps d'armee under the Prince of Moskwa's orders put themselves in mo tion, attacked the enemy's corps d'armee of Berlin, and drove them upon the right of the Elbe. The Prussian General Bulow, who had marched with his corps d'armee upon Wirtemberg, (by the right bank of the Elbe), and advanced to the suburbs, was at tacked by the brave garrison of that place with loss.• A new attack, attempted by the army of Berlin, with considerable force, was attended with no better success. The Prince of Moskwa has even gained an important advantage over the army of Berlin. The enemy's corps in the Erzgeberg have been equally repulsed at all points. It appears, that the unfortu nate termination of those operations has determined the enemy's army of Bohemia to return to the plains of Toplitz, and not to make another offensive move ment. His Majesty the King of Naples has made some attacks with his• cavalry, upon the right bank of the Elbe, in which the enemy has constantly had the disadvantage. We are informed that General Count Rapp has made a fresh sortie tram Dantzic, , dispersed the blockading corps, and revictnalled the fortress. Fresh troops coming from the interior of France, continue to arrive in Saxony. The King of Saxony has issued a Proclamation, dated Dresden, September 27, stating, that whereas ' many of the enemy's Chiefs, even of those who by circumstances have been placed near the throne, have endeavoured to mislead his subjects, by circulating proclamations to induce them to take part against the cause to which their Sovereign is attached, it is declared positively, that all such attempts will be punished with the utmost rigour; though his Majesty knows well bow faithfully the Saxons have ever been attached to their Princes, and what proofs they have repeatedly given of their obedience and devotedness to their decrees and ordinances. LONDON GAZETTE kATRAORDINART. FRIDAY, OCTOBLR 22. FOREIGN OFFICE, OCTOBER 22. Dispatches, of which the following are copies, have been this day received from Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Charles William Stewart, K.B. and from Edward Thornton, Esq. TOPLITZ, OCTOBER 1. MY LORD—The affair I mentioned in my dispatch of the 29th ultimo, near Altenburg, has turned out to be of more importance than was at first imagined, and the Heitman Platow, with his usaal ability and gallantry, has accomplished a very brilliant exploit, against a considerable body of the enemy. This corps was under the orders of General Le febvre -Denonette, and -consisted of some French light cavalry, the Polish uhlans of the guard, and a bri gade of light dragoons, under the orders of General Pirot. Generals. Keiseiski and Krutecks were also in command. The force consisted of 8000 cavalry and 700 in fantry; one squadron of Mamelukes, and a small party of Tartars of the guard, under the orders of Colonel Murot. The whole- were attacked by Pla tow, and completely put to the route. General Keiseiski is reported by the prisoners to have been killed. Fifteen hundred prisoners, five guns, and forty officers (three of the Staff) am the fruits of this victory. The army has broken up from hence, and is in movement to the left. The corps of General Count Wittgenstein was yesterday at Kommatau, and that of General Kleist near Brux. The Austrians are marching upon Chemnitz. There is a report from the enemy, that Napoleon, attended by the King of Saxony and family, set out for Leipsig upon the 28th instant; the headquarters are said to be removed there: The French corps under Marshal Augereau have marched from Bamberg to Cobourg, having left a comiderable force at Wurzburg. I have reason to believe the Russian and Prussian army exceed eighty thousand men, which will now be a trembled on the Chemnitz and Freyberg line; to these may be added the corps of Klenau, of 10,000 men, together with all the Austrians. General Benningsen's corps, which has been re viewed this day, is in a very efficient state as to ap pearance; but I have no exact information as to -the numbers arriving. A reinforcement of 7000 men of the Prussian corps of General Kleist ii upon the road from Prague. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) CHARLES STILWART, Viscount Castlereagh, Stc. Ste. Ike. ZERBST, OCTOBER 4. -MY Loan--t' have the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that General Pozzo di Borgo has received intelligence from the head-quarters of the armies in Bohemia, under date of the 24th ultimo, stating that the corps of General Benningsen having joined the Grand Army, the Allied Sovereigns had come to the resolution of making a movement by their left from Bohemia, and that this movement should be executed on the Ist of the present month. This intelligence determined the Prince Royal to attempt the passage of the Elbe. Th. bridge at Roulau has been already completed, while the works of the tete-de-pont OA the left bank had been traced out, and were is a slate of progress. Detachmessts • of Swedish troops-wan in possession of Dessau ; and the town of Acken. on the left bank, a little lower down the river, wu fortifying; under the direction of Count Woronzow, in such a manner as to render it a place of considerable strength, while preparation*, were accelerated for constructing a bridge there. In the mean time, the enemy, who appear to have had no idea of the passage of the Elbeat Acken, sent strong detachments of troops to occupy Dessau and the line of the Mulda, and employing themselves it throwing up works, as well before that town as it front of the tete-de-pant at Rosslau, with intent to impede the passage there, and to obstruct the move meats of the army after the passage. This gave oc casion to skirmishes between the enemy and the Siva dish advanced guard, which was obliged to refill.' quish Dessau, and to retire to the neighbourhood of the tete-de-pont at Rosshm. and indeed to the right bank of the river. Under these circumstances, the Prince Royal re ceived intelligence from General Blucher, on the Ist inst. informing his Royal Highness that he should. on that day, make a movement with his whole army on his right towards Hertzberg; that on the follow ing day he should be at Jessen ; on the Sd at Elster; and on the following day (to-day). would effect the passage of the Elbe at Elster. proceeding upon Kern berg, against the French corps stationed there. The bridge' at Aden had just been completed, and yesterday, today. or perhaps to-morrow, was each spoken of as the probable day for passing the Iriver. General Blucher crossed the Elbe at Ekter yester day with some opposition, and attacked th e entrench ed village of Wartenberg on the opposite bank, which 'he carried, after an obstinate resistance, nuking himself master of sixteen pieces of cannon. It is understood that this victory, which was car ried against the corps commanded by Bertrand, was not obtained without considerable loss, particularly among the troops commanded by General D'York ; but the particulars have not yet been received. The Prince Royal received this intelligence yes terday evening, while he was at Rosslau, or imme diately on his return here, and to.dic the resolution of crossing the whole army to-day over the Elbe, at Acken and at Rosslau—the Russians at the former, and the Prussians and Swedes at Rosslau, somewhat later or otherwise, according as it should be under stood whether the French would make a stand at Dessau. This, however, was not to be expected, when once the passage of the Russians was completed at Acken, particularly -under the position of General Blucher's army ; and in effect it was learnt this morning, that the French had retired from Dessau, where, consequently, I learn thAt the head-quarters of the Prince Royal will be established this evening. His Royal Highness left this place about nine o'clock this morning. Yesterday evening Mr. Adlercrents, a son of the General, and an Aide-de-Camp of she Ptince Royal, returned here from the Imperial headipseers, to which he had been sent after the bolt di-Dome --witz. Ha' brings intelligence of the actual move. meat of the Grand Army, as was projected on the Ist instant; and it was calculated that it would be advanced as far as Chemnita, on yesterday, the Sd. I am as yet without details of the affair of General Blucher; but Baron de Wettentedt has engaged me to detain this Messenger until I shall receive a dis patch from him this evening for M. de Rehansen and he promised me (for be went to-day to Dessau), to transmit to me at the same time the same particu lars, if he should obtain them. I shall keep this dis patch open for them. We have indirect accounts of General Cm:zits ' chef having taking possession, with his cogs of Cossacks, of the whole city of Cassel, from which Jerome Bonaparte had fled. But nothing has yet been received from himself. I have the honour, &c. (Signed) E. Tuosurrox. P. S.—Ten JP. M.-I have the honour of transmit ting to your Lordship, inclosed, a letter which 1 have just received from Baron de Wettentedt. Haar-Qoaassaa, Dee 11A0, Ocr.4. 1813. According to reports received from Genoa' Blu cher, he has been engaged with the 4th French corps, commanded by General Bertrand. The latter was strongly intrenched in a village between Warten berjesatirledin. D'Yorck's corps dislodged and overthrew the enemy, taking above one thousand prisoners. Sixteen pieces of cannon, and seventy tumbrils, with their train, were captured. A body of two thousand men threw themselves into Wittenberg ; the remain der of the enemy's troops fell back upon Kemberg. General Blucher pursued than, and his head-quar ters will be this evening at the latter place. His ca. valry is at Duben. By five o'clock this morning, the enemy's troops, under the orders of Marshal Ney, which were in ::,is town, amounting to eighteen thousand men, h 44 begun their retreat towards Leipzig. Oar advanced posts had, in the course of this even. ' ing, pushed on as far as Raguhn and Jesnttz, and to-morrow the junction with General Blucher will take place. The van-guard of the Russian army, under the orders of Count Woronzof, occupies Coethen.— Bembourg is garrisoned by Russian cavalry. To morrow the two armies of the Prince Royal and of General Blucher, will make a combined movement in advance, probably in the direction of Leipzig.— They form together a total of one hundred 4.13 twenty-seven thousand, or one hundred and thirty thousand men. His Royal Highness will, without doubt, establish his head quarters at RAI' %An. I !we ) tic. (Signed) Ds Wmpazur.