and on my being appointed, some months afterwards, to renew his negociation, I followed the same course.* * Meanwhile the peace of Tilsit, among other of its consequences, had necessarily altered the footing on which the English and Russian legations stood towards each other at Vienna. Count Razamoffsky had been displaced. His successor was Prince Kurakin, on whose entrance upon his functions all intercourse, except that of common civility, ceased between the missions. The very first despatch to Mr. Canning, dated September 15th, notifies an act on the part of Russia of a nature not only to justify but to provoke hostilities with her. This was the landing of the garrisons of the Ionian Islands at Venice, then blockaded by a British squadron under the escort of Admiral Seniavin's fleet, which had so lately been co-operating with us at the Dardanelles. It will appear from the unsatisfactory conference with Prince Kurakin on this point, how difficult it was to avoid a rupture.† The landing of 5000 Russians on the Continent of Italy, considering the facility of adding to their numbers from the interior of France, was by no means an indifferent matter; for about this time there appeared strong symptoms on the part of Napoleon — natural enough when assured, if not of the cooperation of Russia, at least of her not opposing it— of setting up a maritime kingdom in the Adriatic. It was with a view to this danger, that the project already alluded to for getting possession of Corfu and the other islands, had been recommended to the consideration of Sir Alexander Ball. At Vienna, matters at first continued much as before this fatal treaty. No immediate demand had been made to occupy Trieste and Fiume, or to close * See a Despatch from M. Pozzo di Borgo. Appendix. the Austrian ports to British vessels. Austria was well aware of the possibility of these and even worse exactions, and assuredly was in no condition to resist them. She waited, therefore, with anxiety for intelligence from Paris before taking any determination as to her future course; but I will bear testimony to this truth that she waited with a firm determination to abide the struggle, should it become unavoidable unless by the sacrifice of her honour. By the 7th of October, this long expected despatch had arrived. It was not of a nature to increase the fears of Austria as to an immediate attack on her territories or independence. Her situation, however, was one of complete paralysis; and so much so that she positively refused to take any steps towards bettering it. She was afraid that any attempt to reestablish, even for the purposes of peace, a good understanding with other Powers, would draw down upon her the vengeance of Napoleon; for even the evacuation of Braunau, in execution of the treaty of Presburg, had been delayed by him under pretence that the Austrian army had not been sent into cantonments. Compliance, however, with this demand was to be expected when it should be made. The march of French troops through the Austrian territories into Dalmatia was regular and continued; and soon afterwards came the Convention of the Isonzo, by which a military road was granted for their passage. On this condition, Braunau was at length surrendered; a condition which, in fact, was an additional article to the treaty of Presburg, and a fresh concession exacted from Austria since its signature. It was easy in this state of things to foresee that my mission was about to close. Towards the end of October, therefore, and on learning that some Russian ships of war had been admitted into Trieste, I thought it right to come to an explanation with the minister as to the situation in which we were standing. My No. 50., of the 31st of October, contains the result of this conference. I was not surprised afterwards to learn that four days before the date of the above despatch, instructions had been sent to Prince Starhemberg to offer the mediation above alluded to; and I began immediately to make provision for an event that was no longer doubtful. Two objects were essentially proper to be provided for. The first was to make some arrangement for securing to the officers of the disbanded Condean army the payment of the allowances made to them by the British government, and which had hitherto been effected under the authority of the English minister at Vienna. An arrangement, therefore, for this purpose was entered into with the House of Arnstein and Eskeles; to carry which into effect, I drew bills on the Treasury of England for 12,0007. sterling, being the amount of two years' allowance for the whole corps. With the consent of such of the officers as I could confer with, the superintendence of these payments was entrusted to the Comte de la Farre, Bishop of Nancy, who resided at Vienna in the supposed character of agent to Louis XVIII. The next object was to establish some method of communicating with England, and to which, for reasons which will be well understood, the Austrian minister could not be a party. It was effected through Count Razamoffsky, Count Hardenberg (the Hanoverian minister at Vienna), the Commandeur Ruffo (minister from Naples), and M. Pozzo di Borgo. But, beside these concerns, there was a matter to be ascertained of immediate importance to the common welfare, and in which it was necessary that England should see her way. In the possible, if not projected, dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire, what part was Austria to take? It could not be doubted that in any great scheme of partition she would be offered her share; and that share, comprising the fortress and territory of Belgrade, was a tempting acquisition. I brought forward the subject, therefore, in my final interview with the Austrian minister, and received from him the most distinct disclaimer - together with the expression of his desire that I would communicate it to my government-of any participation in the projects attributed to the new alliance, and the no less positive determination under no circumstances, either to accept any extension of territory at the expense of Turkey, or to countenance such projects in others; and I well remember the warmth with which he assured me that the public feeling with which the possession of Moldavia and Wallachia by Russia would be regarded at Vienna, was much the same as that with which the possession of the Isle of Wight by France would be regarded in London. My correspondence with England closed at the end of February, 1808; and having, on my way to Trieste, to cross the military road granted to the French by the Convention of the Isonzo, I asked for and obtained an Austrian escort. DESPATCHES CONTINUED FROM LORD PEMBROKE'S SIR, Mr. Adair to Mr. Canning. Vienna, September 15. 1807. I THINK it necessary to acquaint you without delay that two days ago I received a letter from Commodore Campbell informing me that a Russian force, consisting of three sail of the line and three frigates, having under convoy a number of transports, with 5000 Russian troops on board from Cattaro, had anchored off Pirano on the coast of Istria; and that the Russian commander had acquainted him that he had orders to land them at Venice. The Russian commander also signified to Commodore Campbell his intention of sending on the transports under the escort of a frigate. The Commodore, entertaining doubts how far their being suffered to enter Venice would be consistent with the blockade of that port, represented to the Russian commander that it could not be permitted unless he went with a superior force. It was agreed accordingly, that nothing should be done until he could receive instructions from Prince Kurakin at Vienna. By the Commodore's desire I had yesterday an interview with Prince Kurakin on the subject, the result of which I have now the honour of communicating to you. Having stated the object of my desiring to see him, |