Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-22

sian Monarchy was point which pecui,
arly attracted the attention of his Majesty,
feeling, as the Emperor did. tina. The resto>
ration of the Prussan Monarchy was the
hrst step towards that of the whole political
system of Europe, and he viewed the dan"
ger ia which he now stood as equally atfect>
ing himself Already, in the mouth of April.
had the Emperor Napoleon suggested to the
Arstian Cabinet. that he considered the dis
solution of the Prussian Monarchy. as ma
tural Consequence of her detection from
France, and of the continuation of the war,
and that 1t now only depended upon Aus ria
to add the most Important and most hous
rishing of her provinces 70 its own state (; a
suggestion, which Showed distinctly enough.
that no means could properly be neglecied
to save that power. If this great object
could NOT be obtained by just peace, it was
necessary 10 support Russia and Prussia by
n powerful co-opersl n--From this natu>
raj view of things upon which even France
could no longer deceive herself, his Majesty
continued his preparations with unwear'ed
activity. He Quilted. III the early part Of Ju>
ly, his residence, and proceeded to the vci>
nifty Of the scene of action, in order The more
sRectually to labor at, the negotiation for
peace, which still continued to be the object
of his most ardent desires and>partly to be
able the more effectually to conduct the pre-
parations For war, if no other choice should
remain for Austria
A short time before the Emperor Napo>
leon had declared, that he had proposed
a Congress TO be held at Prague, where
Plenipotentiaiies from France, the u Sla'es
OF North America, Denmark, the King o
Spain. and the other Allied Princes on the one
hand, and on the other, Plenipotentiaries of
England, Russia, Prussia, the Spanish In
surgents, and the other Allies of this hostile
mass, should meet, and lay the ground
work of a durable peace" To whom this
proposition was addressed, in what manner.
IN what diplomatic form, through whose or
gan It could have been done, was perfectly
unknown to the Austrian Cabinet; which
oRly was made acquainted with tue circum>
stance through the medium Of the public
prints. How too, such project could be
brought TO bear-how from tue combination
OF such dissl,ri,ar clements, withou, any ge>
uerally acknowledged principle, without a..
ny previously regulated plan, negotiation
Tor peace was to be set on foot, was so lit
tie to be comprehenGcd, thatir was very all
lowable to consider the whole proposition
rather as play of the imagination, than as
serious invitation to the adoption of a great
political measure.
Perfectly acquainted with all the obsta>
cles 10 General Peace, Austria had long
considered whether this distant aud difficult
object was not rather to be attained pro
glesSively, and in this opinion had express
ed herself both to France, ard to Russia
and PrusSla, upon the subject of Cont
nenia! Peace. Not that the Austrian cour,
had misc0pceived, even for moGsent the
necessity and Importance OF an universal
peace, among ali the great Powers Of Eu-
rope, and without which tlsere was no hope
OF either safety or happiness, or had imapin,
cd that the continent epuld exist Il tic sepa-
ration OF England. were nor invariably cor
siGered as a most deadly evil The ucgo,
Citation which Austria proposed, after the
alarming declaration OF France had nearly
destroyed al hopes of England untine her
endeaYours in the attempt to procure gen
eral peace, was an essential part of the
great approaching negotiation, for gene
raj and effective Congress for peace i was
intended as preparatory to this, to draw up
the preliminary articles of the future Treas
ty, to pave the way by a long cor mental ar
nistice, to a more extended and durable Ie-
gcciatiOn. Had the prmciple upon winch Au-
stria advanced been other than this, neither
Russia nor Prussia. bound by the strongest
ties to England, would ever have listened to
the proposals Of the Austrian cabinet.
After the Russian and Prussian Courts.
animated by confidence in his Majesty,
highly fiatering to the Emperor, had AREA
dy declared their concurrence in the pro.
posed Congress under the mediation of Aus
tria, it became necessary 10 obtain lorna
assent of the Emperor Napoleon. and 10 de-
termine upon what principles tie neeocja-
tons for peace were to be carried on. For
this purpose his imperial Majesty resolved.
towards the end of Tie month of J.ne, 10
send his minister for Foreign Affairs 70
Dresden. The result of this mission was a
convention, concluded upon the 3Oih Jsbe.
acceI ting tile mediation Of his Imperial
Majesty IN the negotiation OF general, and
if that could not be effected, of a prelimina
~ Continental peace. The city of Prague
was fixed upon for the meeting Of the Com
gress. and the 5th July for the day of its o..
penng. In order to obtain a sufficient time
for the negotiation, it was determined by the
Convention That the Emperor Napoleon
should not give notice of the rupture of the
Armistice. which was to terminate on the
20th of July, at that time existing between
himself and Russia, Till the 10th Of August,
and his Majesty the Emperor took upon
himself to obtain a similar declaration from
the Russian and Prussian Courts.
The points which had been determined
IN Dresden, were hereupon impaired to the
two Courts. Although the continuation of
the Armistice was attended with many OBJ
jectCns, AID with much serious incanveni-
encc 20 them. the desire of giving to his inn
Pcrial Majesty another proof of their conf
dence, and az the same time to satisfy the
i al Al