The National Register.
London, England, 1813-04-18 00:00:00

FOREIGN G ENCE.

PRUSSIAN DECLARATION OF WAR, ANI) ANSWER OF
THE FRENCH MINISTER.
(FHOM 1111•7 MO \ ITEURO
The first i$ a note from the Prussian Chancellor Count Harden-
berg, addressed to the French AmbiisAador St. Ma:.san, and dalci
Breslau, March 16, 1813. It is in sniistanee in..aly the sante with
the fullowitn:

COPY OF A LETTER FROM M. DE KiII'sFATAUCK.

Pali-, )liticli :27,11813.

Monsieur Le Duc,—l have just received ail order fro, my Sow,-
reign to lay before yon the following :—The propositions which I
have auteriorly had the honour of submitting to you were of a nutlike
to merit a reply equally prompt as decisive. 'flee progress of the
Russian arms in the centre of the monarchy, does not permit Pt us-
sia any longer to prolong. that state of noeertainty in which site is.
(to one side the Emperor of Russia, to the king by builds of
personal friendship, offers Prussia in this decisive moment, the sup-
port of his power, and the advantages of his friend.. hip ; on the
other, his Majesty the Emperor of the French persists in repulsing
an Ally who has sacrificed himselt in his cause, and disdains even to
explain himself upon the motives of his silence. For a length' of
tine France has violated, in every point, the treaties hich con-
nected her with Prussia. ?Cot contented with ha‘ieg dictated at
Tilsit-a peace, wally hard and humiliating ; she has not eye)) per-
mitted her to enjoy the trilling advantages which that treaty set mid
to allow her. She has made use of odhoe: lir:oust: to sh..ke to their
thundations the thrtune of the State, and those of hulividinds. Since
that epoch, Prn:sia has been treated as a conquered country, anal
oppressed by a yoke of iron. The French armirs remained in it con-
trary to the ter:as of the 7renty, and liA.ed at disc:ll,lnm in it during
eighteen months : exorbitant and arbitrary contributions %%ere im-
posed upon her; her commerce wa:, ruined by obli,:ing her to adopt
the continental system ; French garrisous were placed in the three
tbrtresses of the Oder; the cotton.y was obliged to defray the ex-
pence of their. appointments ; it) short, by the treoty of Boyonve,
the property of widows and orphans was disposed of; in manifest
contradiction to the stipulati.ois of the treaty of peace : every thit g
announced that no sort of regard would be kept with an unfortimate
and oopressed state. In this state of things, peace became an illu-
sory benefit. The King groaned under the enormous weLlit which
oppressed his subjects. I ie lfitttered himself with Hanquishing. by
the three of condescension and sacrifices, an :animosity the elects of
which he knew, but of whose principle he was ignorant. He gave
Itimsclenp fo the hopes of sparing his people greater mistorttine,,
is fief/Piing sernpidnuliy his engagements tctrards Franc:, and in care-
fully aroiding every thing which c'o give hr r lknce. By extraor-
dinary and indicant of efforts, Prussia succeeded in payiug two.
thirds of the contrilintion : she was preparing to pay the renn.tinter,
when clouds arose between Russia and France, and !ten the Am-
; mense preparations of those two powers did not any longer permit
her to doubt of the war about to be kindled in the North. 'fife
faithful to principle of saving, at any price, tilt; tiat:ona

existenvejatiging of the future by the past, felt that he had erery
thing to fear front France. He sacrificed his airectimts, and concluded
with her a treaty of alliance. At the epoch of the conclusion of
tic treaty, before the news could have reached Berlin, the French
troops entered Pomerania and the Marche Electroale. The King
with grief saw that no attention was paid to his frank and loyal
tentimts. They would obtain by force what it appears•d impossible
to obtain by negociations. Agents of Prussia, frightened by the
menacino attitude of France, had signed at Paris separate conven-
tions, -which contained coalitions extremely burthensome, relative
to the provisioning and wants of the Grand Army. The French
tioverument, instructed respecting the mediocrity of our resources,
foresaw a refusal,—prepared to gain the King's conseat by the ap-
pc astace of torte, and deceived itself !Ili M.tjesty ratified these
conventioas, alihongli he ti It the diffictilty of fulfilling them ; he
rt elnmed llp(411 the tiCVOtleli of Prussians, and he hoped that by de-
fining the extent oi. our saci•ifives, he would preserve his people trout
:nrhttc,try rerisitiens, and their fatal consequences. Experience
tind •ait justify this hope. Whilst Prussia exhausted all her means
to pour into Ow neteazines the stipulated produets, the French
a,.,n; hired at the expense If individuals. At the same time were
exacted the fulfilment of the treaty, and the daily consumption of
the troops. 'foe sacred preporty of the inhabitants was taken away
by main force, without rendering the least account of it; and Mita-
sia lost by these acts of violence above 70,000 horses, and 5),a,000
ear:stages.
NotwithstaloThiss, these shackles, the King, faithiol to his sys.
tem, fu!filled with religions faith all the engaeuments he had matte.
The supp!ies were successfully realised, the stinulated eontingent
adrasteed ; nothing was omitted to prove the loyalty of our conduct.
France ony replied to this devotion by pretensions always new,
and believed herself able to dispense, out tier side, with fulfilling the
stipulations of the treaty which tell to her charee. She constantly
refused to examine the accounts for supplitai fot•nished,. although
site enteted into a formal engsesement to settle them every three
months.
The Military Convention insured to the Emperor, till a new ar-
ranaement vvitit Prussia, possession of the fortresses of Glogan, Stet-
tin, and Custrin: hut the provisioning of the first of those places
was, from the date of signing that Convention, to have been at the
expense of France ; aad the others, from the day on which the Kite;
should have folfilled his new engagements respecting the discharge
of the contribution. The King, in acquiescing in this article, had
already given proofs of his condescension, in renouncing the stip-
latioas of 1808 ; according to which (Anglia was to be given up to
Prussia, as soon as half of the contrilmtions should he paid. The
new treaty was not better observed by France titan that which pre-
cetle•l it. The provisioning of Glogau, and that of the other for-
tre;ses, caused by the Convention, and the discharge of the contri•
hutions already realized in the month of May last year, notwith-
standing the most pressing representations, remain at the expense
of Prussia to this day. The convention stiptdated nothing respect-
ing the fortresses of Pam and Spandau ; they, in eensequence,
were to remaiteoecripied by Prussian troop ; the French troops,
however, entered them by a sort of miiitary surprize, and main-
tallied themselves iu them.
Whilst that weight of Prussia's expellees was indefiaitely ang-1
mented—whilst sfie prorsd, that, after having paid her coutributions
her advances amounted to enormous some—all kinds of assistance
were persisted in being refused her : all her demands were answered
by a contemptuous silence, and incessantly demanding fresh saeri-
fices: efts inconceivable efforts of a burthened nation appeared to
be considered as nothing. At the end of the preceding year, the
advance§ hy Prussia amounted to 9 4,000,001 of franks. The ac-
counts were in as good order as they could he, considering the con-
stant retitssi of toe French Anthot it ies to settle them agreeably to
Vic treaty. His islajesty never (-eased to reptesent through his
ageots tit it it became urgent to do justice to los demands—that his
exhausted Siatt•s could no longer stilit•e to support the French
atones. The King, for the moment, eonfiati himself to demanding
an account respeetiog these athsolees, candidly declaring, that he
could not answer for events 'in case of a retie al. This lauenatie,
equally just as clear; these dentailds, formded on the most siteted
unit's, remained without i-cply, and only prod.i:Td vavie assurances
and distant promises.. Besides, as if it was itot sitilicient to violate
the most positive treaties, new proceediaas to ,k place to enlighten
Prussia rt•specting the Esopsror'a intention •, anti what sits kwt a
ristlit to expect from him. The Knit; seeing one part of his pro-
Ninees inva Lett, anti the other sr:ea:iced, without being able to rely
upon the assistance of the f ssach armies, was Adige.' to ecinforce
fits own, and the ordinary way being tedious ann insufficietit, his
!jevty addressed an appeal to the young PIPS.Ii4II6s %AO WiSbßd to
• • - -

ranee themselves under his colsurs. This awakeuel in every liesrt
the desire of serving The rnmfti+.' A great number of voluntet rs -
were preparing tti leave Berlin fur Breslaw, when it pleased the
Viceroy to interdict all recruiting, and the departure of the volute.
teem, in the provinces occupied by the French troops. This pi o-
hibition was issued in the most peremptory manner, and without
acquantine the King with it. An attempt so directly aimed at the.
rights of Sovereignty, excited in the heart of his Majesty, and those
of his faithful subjects, a just indignation. At the same time, and
whilst the fortresses on tire Oder ouslit for a long time to have been
provisioned at the espense of France, after the Emperor had for-
malty declared in au audience given to liatzfeld, that lie had inter-
dicted the French authorities from making any kind of requisitions
in the States atilt] hiog. the Governors of these fortresses received
orders to take by main force; for a circle of ten leagues, every
thing which was requisite for their tit-knee and provisioning. This
arbitrary and unjust order, with which they did not even take the
trouble of acquainting the King, was executed in all its extent, in
defence of the sacred title of property, and with details of violence
which it would be difficult to .depict. Notwithstanding all the rea-
-1 sons which the King had for Ineakieg with France, he yet wished
to try the effect of negotiations He informed the Emperor Napo-
leon, that he would send a confidential person to the Emperor of
Russia, in order to engage him to acknowledge the neutrality of the
part of Silesia which France had aeknowledod. It was the only
means which remained to the King, abandoned, at least for
the moment, by France, fur having a sure asylum, and not being
placed iu the cruel situation of leaving his States. The Emperor
1.1 haughtily pronounced against this step, and 'lid not even deign to ex-
-1 plain himself upon the propositions which accompanied that over-
! titre. In suet a state of things, the King's decision could not long
I remain 4lonbtfill. He had foe years sacrificed every thing for the
ipreservation of his political existence :--now France compromised
I. that existence, and did nothing to protect it. Russia can aggravate
his misfortunes, but generously offers to protect him. The King
cannot hesitate :—faithfid to his principles and his duties, he joins
his arms to those of the Emperor Alexander, changing his s;" stern
without. changing his objects. He hopes, in breaking w int
Frabee and attaching himself to- Russia, to obtain, by an 110.
uourahle peace, or torce of arms, the only object of- his
wishes—the independence of his people. -the .bensfits w hieh
will result from it,---and the inlvrilance of his fathers. the half of
%t hick has been ravished from him. The King will adhere with alt
his power, to every proposition conformable to the common interests
of the Sovereigns of Europe. He is earnestly desirous that they
may lead to a state of things, in which treaties may no longer be
simple truces—where power becomes the guarantee of justice,—
and where each, returning within hisuatural rights, may no longer
be tormented in all the points of his existence, by the abuse ot-
power.
This is. M. Le Due, what I am charged to state for your Excel-
; lency's inf ',siltation. Be pleased to give so account of it to his Ma-
i jesty the Emperor. Europe has seen with astonishment the long
Fresignatiom of a nation distinguished in the annals of history by its
brilliant courage. and its noble perseverance.
Now, directed by the most sacred motives, there is no person
among us, who is not determined to sacrifice every consideration to
the great interests of the Throne, the country, and the indepeedence
of Europe ; no one who wili net think himself happy in perishing
for this noble end, and in defentimg his home.
I have orders immediately to proceed to the King, my atteee,t
Master, with Prince Matz eldt, his Privy Connselloe'of State Be.
guelin, and the persons attached to these ditkrent missions. 1 have
the honour to beg your Excellency to forward me the necessary
passports for this purpose.
I hasten to renew to you, at the same time, the assurance of my
most high consideration..
(Signed)

KRUSEMARCK.

REPLY TO THE N oTE OF M. THE BARON DE KRUSEMA RcK.
Paris, April 1, .1813.
M. Baron,--I have laid before his Imperial and Royal Majesty
the Note which you did me the honour of addressing to me ou the
27th of March.
What is most deserving of serious consideration may be reduced
to what follows :
Tina Prussia soli6ted and conchn'.ed an alliance with France in
181:2, beCafivi.e. the French Armies had approached nearer to the
Pi u,~iau States, than the Itmsian Arinies.
Prussia dvciart.,4 in 181.3, that she violates her Treaties, because
the Riissian Armies have approached nearer to her States, than the
French Armies; kotaity will judge; whether such conduct be

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