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Nassau, Hohenzollern, and others.. XXXIX. The contracting parties will accept of the concurrence of any other German Princes and Powers to the Confederation, if not found to be contrary to the general interests of those already confederated.

XL. The ratification of these treaties shall be exchanged on the 25th inst. at Munich.

Paris, 12th July, 1806.

Subscribed by the Plenipotentiaries,
TALLEYRAND.
CETTO.
WINZENGERODE. REITZENSTEIN.
SCHELL.
PAPPENHEIM.
GAGERN.
FISCHER.
GRENHEIM.

DURAND ST ANDRE.

The act of ratification of the EmpeFor was signed by the Emperor at St. Cloud, on the 19th July. It is countersigned by Talieyrand and the Secretary of State Maret.

By this new treaty of confederation, it appears, that Austria, Prussia, Sweden, the Electors of Saxony, Hanover, and Hesse, are put entirely out of the pale of the new Constitution. All the rest of the co-estates have renounced their allegiance to the ancient head of the Empire, and sworn fealty to Bonaparte. A door is left open for the admission of the other States into the Confederacy, and Bonaparte has adopted a most effectual mode of compelling the minor Princes to claim the benefit of being admitted into his league. None but those who adhere to it, are to enjoy the least authority in their respective territories. They can neither strike a few copper coins, maintain a few soldiers for the purpose of preserving their police, nor appoint magistrates for the administration of justice. Thus the wildest anarchy is established in these petty Sovereignties, for the purpose of excit

ing the subject against the Prince, and compelling him to bow the neck to Bonaparte. There is, however, one clause in the treaty in which harmony in the families of the confederated Prin ces is happily preserved, by a stipulation for a Prince's resignation of the States to one of his children, if he does not renounce all other kinds of service except with States in the Confederation.

The first and immediate effect of this new confederation, is the downfal of the House of Austria. Whether compelled by the threats of Bonaparte, or chagrined at the defection of so many of the high co estates of the Empire, the Emperor Francis has renounced the high office of Emperor of Germany, which his family has held during eighteen reigns. -On the 7th of August his Majesty issued the following affecting Proclamation.

IMPERIAL PROCLAMATION. "We, Francis Second, &c. "Since the peace of Presburgh, all our attention and all our care has been employed to fulfil with scrupulous fidelity all the engagements contracted by that treaty, to preserve to our subjects the happiness of peace, to consolidate every where the amicable relations happily re established, waiting to discover whether the changes caused by the peace would permit us to perform our important duties, as Chief of the Germanic Empire, conformably to the capitula. tion of election.

"The consequences, however, which ensued from some of the articles of the treaty of Presburgh, immediately after its publication, and which still exist, and those events generally known, which have since taken place in the Germanic Empire, have convinced us that it will be impossible, under these circumstances, to continue the obligations contracted by the capitulation of election; and even if, in reflecting on these political relations, it were possible to imagine a change of affairs, the convention of the 12th of July, signed at Paris, and ratified by the contracting parties, relative to an entire separation of several considerable States of the Empire, and their peculiar confederation, has entirely destroyed every such hope.

66

Being thus convinced of the impossibility of being any longer enabled to fulfil the duties of our Imperial func

tions, we owe it to our principles and to our duty, to renounce a crown which was only valuable in our eyes, while we were able to enjoy the confidence of the Electors, Princes, and other States of the Germanic Empire, and to perform the duties which were imposed upon us. We declare, therefore, by these presents, that we, considering as extinguished by the confederation of the States of the Rhine, the charge in chief of the Empire; and that we considering ourselves thus acquitted of all our duties towards the Germanie Empire, do resign the Imperial Crown, and the Imperial Government.

"We absolve, at the same time, the Electors, Princes, and States, and all that belong to the Empire, particularly the Members of the Supreme Tribunal, and other Magistrates of the Empire, from those duties by which they were united to us as the legal Chief of the Empire, according to the Constitution.

"We also absolve all our German Provinces and States of the Empire from their reciprocal duties towards the Germanic Empire, and we desire in incor'porating them with our Austrian States as Emperor of Austria, and in preserving them in those amicable relations subsisting with the neighbouring Powers and States, that they should attain that height of prosperity and happiness which is the end of all our desires and the object of our dearest wishes.

"Done at our residence, under our Imperial Seal. "FRANCIS."

Vienna, Aug. 6, 1806.

The above Paper is followed by an ADDRESS; in which the Emperor expresses his hope that the persons hitherto employed in the general service will be continued in their situations; and adds, that his Majesty will preserve the appointments to those who have hitherto drawn their salaries from the Impe.. rial Chamber.

Previous to this avowal of weakness, Bonaparte seems to have been by no means satisfied with the Cabinet of Austria, and a very heavy complaint was made in one of the French papers, of a number of libels which have been circulated in Suabia, and which were alledged to have been sent from Vienna. The Emperor was threatened, in the most unequivocal manner, with the vengeance of Bonaparte, if the libels were

not suppressed. Count Stadion, the Austrian Minister, seemed to be parti. cularly obnoxious to Napoleon, and the Emperor of Germany was called upon, in the most peremptory manner, to dismiss him from his service. Whether the Emperor Francis has been able to conciliate the wrath of Napoleon on the point, we are yet to learn; but we find that Count Metternich, the Austrian Ambassador, had an audience of Bonaparte on the 10th August, and delivered his credentials. It is worthy of remark, that the Moniteur only calls him Ambassador of the Emperor of Austria.

It is stated in the French journals, that the King of Prussia has recognized the Rhenish Confederacy, but has reserved to himself the right of forming a counter-confederation in the north of Germany. That such a confederacy will be, perhaps has been, formed, all the private letters agree in stating; but that it could at the present moment turn the tide of events, it would be idle to suppose. Yet, though the policy which Prussia has pursued, and the present situation of Austria, make it difficult to believe that they will take up arms at present, Bonaparte seems to suspect that their intentions are hostile, and has taken positions to enable him to act immediately against either, or both. A considerable army is advancing to the Inn; the troops in Holland are marching towards the Ems and Westphalia; and numerous corps are taking up positions on the verge of the Electorates of Saxony and Hesse.

The latest accounts from the Continent are of the most warlike complexion. The following is an outline of the intelligence received, down to the 6th of September.

Austria, unable longer to bear the accumulated insults and vexations to which she has so long submitted, has burst her fetters, and recovering her antient spirit, has joined the alliance with Russia and Prussia. The military preparations throughout all the Austrian states are reported to be on a most extensive scale.

The King of Prussia seems determined to try his strength with France. His field equipage had been got ready, and he was preparing to set out for the army. All the troops have left Berlin. The citizens were doing military duty,

and

and the whole country was animated with the most hostile spirit towards the French. Gen. Blucher has published a proclamation to his troops, exhorting them to increase, in the approaching conflict, the honour of the Prussian

name.

The Elector of Saxony has signed the treaty for the northern confederation, by which, besides the 30,000 men whom he now sends into the field, he under takes to form several large corps of reserve. A treaty of alliance between Prussia and Hesse Cassel was signed on the 21st Aug. All the Hessian fortresses are in a state for holding out a siege, and the whole army is on the war establishment. The emperor Alexander is said to have signed the same treaty, and intends again to visit Berlin. The Russian troops ready for the field, on the frontiers of Germany and Prussia, amount to 200,000 men.

The Bavarian troops have taken forcible possession of the Prussian towns of Iphosen, Market, and Bibert. The states of the new Rhenish Confederation have received orders from Paris, to get ready their contingents immediately, and Bonaparte was expected at Frankfort early in September. Augereau has commanded the Senate of Frankfort to give him the names of those persons who lately issued the proclamation, dis. approving of the change in the constitution. The Senate, with unexpected firmness, declared it to be the work, not of some of their members, but of their whole body!

We have already stated (p. 639.) that the Russian envoy at Paris had concluded a treaty of peace with France. The French official Journal announced with singular confidence that this treaty would be ratified at St Petersburgh on Napoleon's Birth Day, August 15th.-It may seem therefore somewhat extraordinary, that on this very day, the treaty was actually laid before a grand Russian Cabinet Council, at which the Emperor himself presided. But no ratification took place, as the French editor vainly predicted. On the contrary, the treaty has been rejected in toto, and his Imperial Majesty announced his refusal in a circular note, addressed to all the foreign ambassadors at Petersburgh, which contains the following paragraph:

"M. d'Oubril took upon himself to sign a definitive treaty with the French Government. But that act, far from fulfilling the magnanimous intentions of his Imperial Majesty, is entirely contrary to the orders and instructions which M. d'Oubril had received. In consequence of this consideration, his Imperial Majesty has not thought fit to ratify the treaty. Yet, in order to leave no pos. sible means of restoring peace and ge neral tranquillity untried, the Imperial Ministry has received orders to make known again to the Cabinet of the Thuilleries, the basis on which his Imperial Majesty will be ready to renew the negociations; so that it will still depend upon the French Government to accept or decline the equally just and moderate proposals which are made to it."

The rejection of this treaty has excit ed much speculation at the different Courts in Germany, and not a little consternation among the politicians of Paris. It is conjectured to have been particularly inimical to the interests of Prussia, to whom, it is also said, the Emperor Alexander has very candidly made a communication respecting it. This circumstance is said to have again united these Courts in bonds of amity, and reciprocal assurances of friendship have been exchanged between them.

The mediation of the Emperor Alexander betwixt the Kings of Sweden and Prussia has been at length successful, and their differences have been amicably adjusted. The Swedish frigates have been removed from before the Prussian ports. The Prussian troops have been withdrawn from the duchy of Lauenburgh, which is again occupied by the Swedes. And it is generally rumoured on the Continent, that Sweden will join Prussia in the Northern Confederation.

The King of Sweden has taken possession of the Government of Ratzeburgh, in the name of his Britannic Majesty, as Elector of Hanover, and the Royal Arms have every where replaced the Prussian Eagle!

The Porte, alarmed at the operations of Russia, is making great preparations for war. All Russian subjects have been ordered to hold themselves in readiness to quit the Turkish dominions.

1

ITALY.

DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH IN CALABRIA,

In our last Mag.(p. 635.) it was shortly stated, that a body of British troops from Sicily had landed in Calabria, for the support of the Neapolitans who had taken up arms, and that the French Generals were not strong enough to oppose them. The French official journal preserved a profound silence respecting this event,-while the other prints acknowledged some advantage to be gained by the British, who had taken a French General and about 300 prisoners. -Official accounts having been received from Gen. Sir John Stuart, we are now enabled to relate the particulars of this expedition, which has proved highly successful and honourable to the British arms.

Our troops landed on the 1st July to the southward of St Euphemia, in the Bay of that name.-No opposition was made to their landing, and a reconnoitring party was immediately pushed forward, who dislodged a body of 400 French troops from a wood, making about 200 of them prisoners. The hardy Calabrian peasants flocked in crowds to our standards. Upwards of 3000 embo- died themselves in less than two days. Provisions were brought in in plenty, and the peasants refused to receive payment for them, alledging that they could not suffer those to pay them who came to rescue them from the hateful tyranny of the French.

General Stuart published a Proclamation to the Calabrians, inviting them to shake off the yoke of French tyranny -he promised them protection for their persons, property, laws, and religion he offered arms to the loyal and the brave, and pardon to those who had been debauched from their allegiance by the Usurper-honourable and gratifying contrast to the conduct of the enemy, who have sent forth Massena, to enforce submission by fire and sword, and to punish with death those who will not forfeit their allegiance and their fidelity to their lawful Sovereign! The hardy Calabrians needed not any other incentives than their own hatred and detestation of the French. The red cockade, the cockade of the King of Naples, was seen every where. Meanwhile, Sir Sid. Smith aided the operations of our

troops, by an attack upon the Castle of Amanthea, a fortress to the northward of St Euphemia, and inaccessible on the land side. It was attacked whilst our army was landing, and taken with about 400 prisoners, and a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

Of the subsequent operations of our army, the following accounts were published in a London Gazette Extraordinary. Camp on the Plain of Maida,

July 6. 1806.

SIR, It is with the most heartfelt satis. faction that I have the honour of repor ting to you, for the information of his Majesty, the particulars of an action in which the French army quartered in this province have sustained a signal defeat by the troops under my command.

General Regnier, having been appri. sed of our disembarkation at St Euphe mia, appears to have made a rapid march from Reggio, uniting, as he advanced, his detached corps, for the purpose of attacking, and with his characteristic confidence, of defeating us.

On the afternoon of the 3d inst. I received intelligence that he had that day encamped near Maida, about ten miles distant from our position, that his force consisted at the moment of about 4000 infantry and 300 cavalry, together with four pieces of artillery, and that he was in expectation of being joined within a day or two by 3000 more troops, who were marching after him in a second division.

I determined therefore to advance towards his position, and, having left four companies of Watteville's regiment under Major Fisher, to protect the stores, and occupy a work which had been thrown up at our landing place, the body of the army marched the next morning, according to the following detail:

Advanced Corps-Lieut. Col. Kempt, with two four-pounders; Light Infan try Battalion, Detachment Royal Corsican Rangers, Detachment Royal Sici lian Volunteers.

1st Brigade-Brig. Gen. Cole, with three four-pounders; Grenadier Battalion, and 27th regiment.

2d Brigade-Brig.-General Ackland, with three four-pounders; 78th and 81st regiments.

3d Brigade-Col. Oswald, with two four-pounders; 58th regiment, and Wat

teville's

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teville's regiment, five companies-20th regiment, Lieut.-Col. Ross, landed during the action.

Reserve of Artillery, Major Lemoine -4 six-pounders and 2 howitzers. Total-Rank and file, including the Royal Artillery, 4795.

General Regnier was encamped on the side of a woody hill, below the village of Maida, sloping into the plain of St Euphemia; his flanks were strengthened by a thick impervious underwood. -The Amato, a river perfectly fordable, but of which the sides are extremely marshy, ran along his front; my approach to him from the sea side (along the borders of which directed my march, until I had nearly turned his left), was across a spacious plain, which gave him every opportunity of minutely observing my movements.

Had General Regnier thought proper to remain upon his ground, the dif ficulties of access to him were such that I could not possibly have made an impression upon him. But quitting this advantage, and crossing the river with his entire force, he came down to meet us upon the open plain-a measure to which he was no doubt encouraged by a consideration of his cavalry, an arm with which, unfortunately, I was altogether unprovided.

After some loose firing from the flankers to cover the deploiements of the two armies, by nine o'clock in the morning the opposing fronts were warmly engaged, when the prowess of the rival nations seemed now fairly to be at trial before the world, and the superiority was greatly and gloriously decided to

be our own.

The corps which formed the right of the advanced line was the battalion of light infantry commanded by LieutCol. Kempt, consisting of the light companies of the 20th, 27th, 35th, 58th, 1st, 81st, and Watteville's, together with 150 chosen battalion men of the 35th regiment, under Major Robinson. Directly opposed to them, was the favourite French regiment 1st Legere. The two corps, at the distance of about 150 yards, fired reciprocally a few rounds, when, as if by mutual agreement, the firing was suspended, and in close compact order, and awful silence, they advanced towards each other until their bayonets began to cross. At this mo

mentous crisis the enemy became ap-` palled. They broke, and endeavoured to fly, but it was too late; they were overtaken with the most dreadful slaugh

ter

Brigadier-General Ackland, whose brigade was immediately on the left of the light infantry, with great spirit availed himself of this favourable moment to press instantly forward upon the corps in his front; the brave 78th regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Macleod, and the 81st regiment, under Major Plenderleath, both distinguished themselves on this occasion. The enemy fled with dismay and disorder before them, leaving the plain covered with their dead and wounded.

The enemy being thus completely discomfited on their left, began to make a new effort with their right, in the hopes of recovering the day. They were resisted most gallantly by the brigade under Brig. Gen. Cole. Nothing could shake the undaunted firmness of the grenadiers under Lieut.Colonel O'Callaghan, and of the 27th regiment under Lieut.-Colonel Smith. The cavalry, successfully repelled from before their front, made an effort to turn their left, when Lieut.-Colonel Ross, who had that morning landed from Messina, with the 20th regiment, and was coming up to the army during the action, having observed the movement, threw his regiment opportunely into a small cover upon their flank, and by a heavy and well-directed fire, entirely disconcerted this attempt.

This was the last feeble struggle of the enemy, who now, astonished and dismayed by the intrepidity with which they were assailed, began precipitately to retire, leaving the field covered with carnage. Above seven hundred bodies of their dead have been buried upon the ground. The wounded and prisoners already in our hands (among whom are General Compere, and an Aid-deCamp, the Lieutenant Colonel of the Swiss regiment, and a long list of officers of different ranks), amount to above one thousand. There are also above one thousand men left in Monteleone and the different posts between this and Reggio, who have mostly notified their readiness to surrender, whenever a British force shall be sent to receive their submission, and to protect them from

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