Paft. Their general indeed published a declaration requiring the inhabitants to day their taxes to his Swedish Majefty; and the Count de Manteuffel publifhed a counter one, injoining them to continue faithful to the King of Pruffia their lawful fovereign, on pain of incurring his indignation, and abfolutely forbid. ding their conforming to the declaration of the Swedes. They alfo write from Straelfund, that the Swedes had taken a confiderable magazine in the Marche. Ukraine, and were advancing fome farther into the country. The following piece was published, at Berlin, by authority, about the 10th of September. A correspondence carried on by fome perfons belonging to the court of Drefden, with the King's enemies, to his Majefly's prejudice, laid open. Ome of the King's forces having lateSly carried, off Count Nadafi's bag gage, in it were found feveral original papers, which clearly fhew, that notwithstanding the repeated affurances given by the court of Drefden, that their domestics should hold no correfpondence with the King's enemies, fome perfons of that court have carried on a correfpondence highly prejudicial to his Majefty's interefts. Every impartial perfon will eafily judge, that, in the prefent fituation of things in Saxony, fuch a correfpondence is utterly unlawful the King's enemies themfelves have prohibited the fubjects of thofe provinces of his Majefty which they have feized, from holding the leaft correfpondence with thofe of his other dominions upon pain of death. The King has therefore been obliged, fince this difcovery was made, to order one Schoenberg, a Saxon gentleman of the bedchamber, to be taken into cuftody; and to give inftructions to the commanding officer at Meiffen, to break down a part of the bridge over the Elbe at that place. This officer, indeed, not rightly understanding his orders, inftead of breaking down the bridge, fet fire to it, and the flames fpread to two houfes ; but they were foon extinguished. As it is ufual for the King's enemies to reprefent all his Majesty's actions and undertakings in the moft odious colours, it has been judged neceffary to publish this correfpondence from the originals, that the public may judge what reafon there was for the measures taken by the King with regard to the court of Dref den, which were nevertheless as gentle and moderate as poffible; and whether he could avoid reftraining that liberty which this court has abufed. The pieces annexed will fhew, that the court of Saxony fuggefted to the Auftrian generals the project of furpri fing Meiffen and Drefden, and that the enemy's fpies have been conducted into the laft-mentioned town, even in the court's livery, to inform the enemy of the difpofitions there made. This Schoenberg, in particular, has been guilty of a high crime, by inftigating Count Frachenberg, the King's officer, vaffal, and fubject born, to defert, and by caufing him to be conducted by his fervant to the Auftrian army. conduct, which her Majefty the Queen of Poland cannot furely have authorised by her orders, is the more criminal, as the edicts which were published last win. ter at divers times in Saxony, expressly import, that every perfon, of whatever condition or rank they may be, who fhall favour the defertion of the Pruffian troops, fhall be punished with death. N° 1. Letter from M. de Schonberg, Gentleman of the Bedchamber to his Polish Majesty, to the Auftrian Colonel de Laudon, dated at Wefenftein, Auguft 6. 1757. THE Queen's Majefty hath fent me this day, to give the Chancellor de Euneau, who will demiffion to you. I fhould be glad, Sir, that the liver you this, inftructions relating to his com fituation of affairs allowed me to pay my re fpects to you in perfon, and to cultivate the ac quaintance I had the honour to make with you; but I hope to do it foon at Drefden. The bearticularised in the annexed piece. Her Majesty er will inform you, Sir, of whatever is not parhas exprefsly ordered me to thank you in her name, for the good difpofitions you have made, and for the difcipline obferved by your troops; and to affure you that the hopes to give you hereafter real marks of her fentiments on this head. A project has been fent to Duke Charles of Lorrain for feizing the town of Meiflen, and the bridge over the Elbe at that place, which the Pruffians are going to break down. There are only about 200 of the Pruffian guards in that town. The execution of this project will cut off the King of Pruffia's paffage over the Elbe, and facilitate the communication of the two armies. I doubt not, Sir, but you will be confulted on this head. A young Silefian, called the Count de Frakenberg, who has been brought to Drefden to ferve among the Pruffians, will fet out the day after to-morrow, to avoid being forced to inlift among them, and one of my people will conduct hin to you. I beg of you, Sir, to receive him, and to ufe him the better, because he looks upon him felf already as a vaffal of her Majefty the Emprefs Queen. Time will not permit me, Sir, to write to you more at large. I refer you therefore to what M. de Buneau will tell you by word of mouth; and repeat my hearty wishes to fee you foon at Drefden, that I may affure you of the esteem wherewith I have the honour to be, &c. N° 2. The piece referred to in this letter was the following. WHEN any corps of the Imperial troops ar rive in a Saxon town, where there is a receivergeneral, either of the excife, or any other, they may take what money he shall have, and keep it in their poffeffion, on giving a receipt for it. We know that there is a very confiderable fum in the cuffomhoufe at Freiberg; but no time must be loft in going thither. We would recommend to fpare in such cases the farmers of the chamber, who would other wife be exposed to be great fufferers, because they are perfonally bound for the money they have promised. [The rest of this paper contains the names of the receivers-general in fifteen different Saxon towns.] No 3. Letter from Col. Laudon to Count Nadafti. YOUR Excellency will have already received my report of yesterday. I am just now going with my detachment to Hollendorf to harals the enemy, who are well intrenched at Gottleben with 16 pieces of cannon, or to facilitate their defertion. I have alfo the honour to acquaint your Excellency, that at prefent it feems very certain that the enemy are felling off their magazine at Pirna, and that Prince Maurice's corps is going to decamp from Cotta, and to take poft near Drefden, to cover that capital. If that fhould happen, I fhall expect to hear from your Excellency, whether I must continue to obferve the motions of the enemy, or cross the Elbe to rejoin you. I herewith fend your Excellency the copy of a letter which I have received from M. de Schoenberg by the Chamberlain de Buneau. As her Majesty the Queen of Poland has alfo propofed to me, by verbal inftructions given to M. de Buneau, to take into my cuftody, on giving a receipt, all the public money which shall be found at Roch litz, Noffen, Auguftburg, Chemnitz, Zwickau, Annaberg, and Freiberg, I have fent Capt. Homenfbach, and a lieutenant of huffars, with forty-four horse, to execute this enterprise with as much precaution as is poffible; and I doubt not but that in anfwering the Queen of Poland's intentions I fhall comply with my inftructions. I have the honour to be, &c. Bratenau, Aug. 7. 1757. LAUDON, Colonel. No 4. Letter from Pr. Charles of Lorrain, 19 Count Nadafti. THIS morning at feven o'clock I received your Excellency's letter dated yesterday; and I immediately fhewed to the two Saxon princes the paflports produced by the butcher who was flopt with the drove of 218 oxen. They have undertaken to write to Drefden, to get information about this man, and to know whether that great number of oxen was really for the Queen's court. They affure me that they fhall have an anfwer in two days; the butcher will in the mean time be kept in custody. Thefe princes have begged of me to give directions, that the expreffes fent them by the Queen of Poland may not be flopped by our advanced pofts, but be escorted by a party of light horfe to the head quarters. They told me, at the fame time, that among thefe exprefles there is one named Rum, who comes most frequently, and that it will be chiefly neceflary that the advanced pofts know his name. Your Excellency will therefore be fo good as to give orders accordingly, and take care that they be executed. I am forry for the fire that happened ycfterday at Rumburg; but I am furprised that your Excellency had not received yesterday, at eight in the evening, the letter which I wrote to you the day before at ten o'clock at night, wherein I gave you advice of the Te Deum of yesterday, It appears that this letter lay at the poft-office; to fend for the future my letters to your Exbut I have given exprefs orders to the postmaster, cellency by an exprefs. It would not be amifs, if your Excellency would order your clerk to fend a way-bill with the reports you fend to me. The enemy had fome days ago the good fortune to repulfe, with lofs on our fide, a detachment of 30 horfe, between Goerlitz and Weiffenberg; and Gen. Haddick informs me, that Capt. Count Czaracky, with the 120 horfe under his command, were attacked and difperfed at fome diftance from Keith's army. Though thefe little fkirmishes are of fmall moment in themselves, they are not fo in their confequences. It should feem that the detachments and parties ftraggle too far from the corps to which they belong, and are not perhaps fufficiently upon their guard. These checks given us tender the enemy more daring, and make an impreffion on our troops. This will oblige me to caufe Count Czaracky, when he returns, to be tried by a court-martial; and [ have given orders to Gen. Haddick, Moracz, Beck, and the other officers pofled near the enemy, to be not only upon their guard themselves, but but likewife to give the like inftructions to the detachments they fhall fend out, that any furprife and affront, how fall foever, may be avoided. As for your Excellency, I am fo well perfuaded, that you will caufe this to be obferved in the army you command, that I have nothing to add, but to affure you of the efteem with which I am, &c. Head Quarters at Klein Schoenau, Aug. 8. 1757. CHARLES DE LORRAIN. P. S. What is faid above of one called Rum, is a miake. This name ferves to diftinguith all the Saxon expreffes that come here from Drefden, or who go from hence to that city. Of this your Excellency will take care to inform the advanced posts. No 5. Letter from Maj-Gen. Count Palfi to Gen Count Nadajti, dated at Stolpen, Aug. 12. 1757. THE day before yesterday I fent my courier to Drefden, and laft night he returned. He told me that he got fafe into the town in the drefs of a courier belonging to the court, which the Queen's courier brought to him out of the city; and that he had the honour to talk for two hours with the Queen and Electoral Prince, who informed themfelves exactly of every thing that refated to us, and feemed highly fatisfied with our troops. The Queen told him, that there were indeed about 80co of the enemy's forces at Diefden; but that 5000 of them were Miroders, and the reft compofed the garrifon; that 3000 of our prisoners were lodged in the Manege; that the Pruffians continued to throw up intrenchments, to place palifades, and make ditches and mines in different places round Drefden; and that the apprehended, that if our troops approached ftill nearer to the town, the enemy would plunder and fet fire to it, as they had publicly declared they would; and that he begged your Excellency to take measures that there might be no room to be afraid of that difafter. The Queen faid further, that the greateft part of the townfmen were favourably inclined towards the Pruffians; and that there were even feveral perfons belonging to the court who were not to be trufted; that there was a double guard in the caftle and round it; that there were about 20,000 tuns of meal and 50,000 meafures of oats in the magazine; and that the oxen which were lately taken, were not for her, but for the garrison. The Queen alfo defires, that if any thing new and important thould happen, the may be immediately informed of it, by fending a truly perfon with a letter to her, which may be cafily done. She alfo caufed my courier to be carried round the town, that he might be able to inform me of the pofition of the enemy, and their difpofitions. He tells me, that the greatest part of the enemy is in the Old Town, on the other fide of the water, and that they have planted fourteen iron cannon on the fide of the river; that on this fide of the water, in the fuburbs, and chiefly in the gardens, there are about fourteen redoubts, all pålifadoed, and funded with four gens each; that they continue the intrenchments and mines at Schwartzthor; that there are only thirty huffars with a lieutenant employed to reconnoitre; and that there are fix of thefe huffars and a corporal in the village of Lufswitz, on the other fide of the water; that all the generals and the King's baggage are in the Old Town, near the fourteen cannon; and that, notwithstanding all thefe difpofitions, the Pruffians held themselves ready to march on the first notice; and that there were about twenty empty barges on the Elbe, but that it was not known whether they were intended to carry off any thing, or not Advices from Leghorn affure, that the British fleet landed no men on CORSICA, because they did not think that ifland worth the trouble of being concerned in it, otherwife they might have eafily made a defcent, and maintained their ground. They were invited to it by the malecontents, who had fent one of their principal men on board, to endeavour to preval on Adm. Ofborne to make a descent. Their propofals to the Admiral appeared fo fingular and full of enthufiafm, that, without entering into any further eclairciffements, he contented himself with well regaling him, and then fent him on fhore, wishing him and his party good luck in the profecution of their defigns. Mr Ofborne, during the short stay he made on the coaft of Corfica, had opportunities of fatisfying himself that it is a very wretched Country, fit only for its prefent inhabitants, and that other nations would find it very difficult to accuftom themselves to it. Signior Paoli, it is affured, was to have come on board the Admiral; but as the ceremonial to be observed at his reception required fome preliminary explications, the vifit was laid afide. Others write, that, upon a clofer ac, quaintance with the malecontents, the British admiral discovered that they were in no condition to execute the project they had formed of befieging Baftia; and that it was very doubtful what ufe they might have made of cannon and ftores if they had been fupplied with them, as they expreffed great backwardnefs towards acting against the French troops, notwithstanding they formed the garrifon of that city. From Genoa they write, that the rebels who lay before San Pelegrino, finding they were not fupported fupported by the British in the manner they expected, had left it in the greatest confternation, feveral of them being cut to pieces, particularly four of their chiefs. There is advice from ROME, that the Pope, who continues in good health, has given his confent to the apoftolic chamber's purchafing, for the fum of 900,000 crowns, of the Duke of Modena, that prince's poffeffions in the ecclefiaftical state. They write from NAPLES, that the report of 12,000 perfons having been killed at Syracufe on the 6th of Auguft, by an earthquake, was entirely falfe; that fome shocks were indeed felt there on that day, but not one person was killed, nor any damage done, except the throwing down fome old houses. Some private letters from SPAIN af fert, that a certain day is appointed for the fale of the Antigallican privateer, if damages and costs of fuit in the late trial are not made good to the French conful in behalf of his nation. They write from PARIS, that the commerce of France in general, which has been long flagging, is on the point of falling to the ground; infurance at 50 per cent. at the loweft, and up to 80 per cent. from the West Indies, being beyond the power of merchants to bear, cipecially as the high intereft given by the government renders it fimply impoffible for them to make any ufe of their credit. The deputies of the parliament of Pa, ris went, on the 25th of Auguft, to the King; who told them, That he had laid their last remonftrances before his council, and that it had been refolved to abide invariably by his declaration of Dec. 13. 1756 [xviii. 614], with regard to ecclefiaftical affairs, in as much as that declaration tended to promote the peace of the kingdom; that this being his Majefty's principal object, it was his intention that the members of his parliament fhould ufe with moderation the authority he had intrufted them with, and keep within the bounds prefcribed to them by the laws and confti. tutions of the itate; declaring at the fame time, that he had charged his VOL. XIX. chancellor to restore to their employ ments thofe counsellors of the parliament who refigned, but without fixing a time for recalling those who were banished. A letter from Paris, dated Sept. 5. gives a further account of the affair, as follows. " Laft Wednesday every member of the parliament received a letter of the fignet, ordering them to be at the palais at ten o'clock next morning. The feveral chambers having accordingly met in the grand chamber, the first prefident read to them an order from the King, importing, That, previous to their deliberating, his Majesty's will was, that forty-two members should repair to Versailles the fame day, by way of deputation, to receive his orders. The deputies accordingly went thither, and returned at eight in the evening, bringing with them an harangue made by the Chancellor in the King's prefence, which differs but little from his Majefty's former anfwer, except that the declaration concerning the bull Unigenitus, fhall be executed according to the received canons, and pursuant to the laws and ordinances of the kingdom. The chambers affembled on Friday. The King's anfwer, the Chancellor's fpeech, and the declaration that explains the edict, were read; after which they refolved to refume their employments and ufual functions, and to obey the King. They also refolved that a deputation fhould be made to the King in the ufual form, in order to return him most humble thanks for the inftances of kindness he has been pleased to shew to his parliament; to give him affurances of their respect, zeal, fidelity, and submiffion; and alfo to intreat him to recall their brethren from exile. The deputies having repaired to Verfailles on the 3d, the King gave them the following answer. "I receive with fatisfaction the teftimonies you have juft given me of your zeal, fidelity, and submiffion to my will. Enjoy the happinefs of pleafing a mafter who loves you, and of the advantage of contributing to the good of my subjects, in difcharging your duties. Complete the corresponding to the views and intentions which 4 Į have have intimated to you, for the reftoration of peace, and I will foon realize the hopes I have given you in regard to those members of your body whofe return you folicit. Rely entirely on my kindness and good-will towards you: if you can doubt thereof, you will ceafe to deferve them."Thus this grand affair is terminated. The banished and profecuted ecclefiaftics may return whenever they think fit.” On the 5th of September the parlia ment issued an arret, by which they con demned to the galleys feveral printers who were printing libels in a fubterra. neous printing-house, in the Fauxbourg St Germain. Two or three abbés and fome others, the authors of thofe libels, were also sentenced to fhare the fame From the many curious paffages in the Archbishop of Paris's mandate, if fued Aug. 11. for finging Te Deum in all the churches throughout his diocefe, the following have been selected. "How has heaven bleffed the efforts of our arms! at the very time that France is tying the knot of an alliance the moft rare and lovely, with the heiress of the power of the Cæfars. O age of Francis I. and Charles V. that you had but feen this precious union! From what groans and diftreffes had the state and the church been relieved, if the candour and gene. rofity which now unite the defcendents of thofe two great princes, could have diffipated their mutual jealoufies? "This ineftimable advantage was referved for our days. By the treaty concluded between his Majefty and the Emprefs Queen, all ancient rivalship is extinguished; the animofities of three a ges are diffipated; the violences infepa. rable from the heat of battle are buried in oblivion; enmities are changed into proteftations of friendship, into affuran ces of fervices; and thefe proteftations, thefe affurances, are the effect of reci. procal fincerity and efteem. How could the Emprefs-Queen entertain any mif truft in treating with a King who never broke his word; and who has never difcoered the least defire to aggrandize himself at the expence of his neighbours! How: could the King suspect the fidelity of a princefs whom he knew to poffefs true greatness of foul, and has always esteemed, even when the circumftances of the times obliged him to take up arms againft her? "It becomes these two great fouls to conquer ancient prejudices, to despise falfe politics; to draw the attention of Europe, and make it fenfible of its true interefts. For us, minifters of the God of peace, we cannot but acknowledge, in the union of these two crowns, the finger of a Providence attentive to the good of the people. Soon will this u. nion produce an univerfal peace, to the confufion of governments without faith, and without principle. Who will attempt any ufurpations or oppreffions, while France and Auftria guard the pu blic tranquillity? 66 Obliged by the faith of treaties to march an army to the relief of Ger. many, the King defired the King of England, as Elector of Hanover, to keep within the limits of an exact neutrality. By accepting this offer, the electorate had been, like all the flates of the peaceable powers, free from the dan gers of war, and in a state of perfect fe licity. But the Elector, in league with the King of Pruffia, caufed a confiderable army to be affembled to difpute the paffage with the French and Auftrian troops. It was the fon of the fame Elector who commanded the Hanove rians. He has neglected nothing to cover the electorate. But the valour of our troops and thofe of the EmpressQueen furmounted all obftacles. They have forced intrenchments almot inac ceffible; they have routed those who defended them. And what are the confequences of an action fo important? The electorate is open; the enemy no longer in a condition to hazard the fate of battles; the Pruffian armies, deprived of this fupport, more and more expofed to the redoubtable efforts of the EmprefsQueen. This great princess, fustained by French arms, is now able to root out and defroy, to draw the fword from the fcabbard, and to whet it for vengeance! But, O! rather let us with for the re |