Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/219

 STATE PAPERS.


 * L0$

the faccefs would fufEciently juf- tify the enormity of the attempt, and all the odious pradlices made ufe of for its accomplilh- ment.

Such have been the projefts of the two kings ; fuch is the whole niyftery of this unjuft war, fet on foot by thofe princes, in contempt of the faith of treaties, and of the laws of the empire. It would be in vain for the King of England, Eleftor of Hanover, to alledge, as he before has, that he had no hand in this war, and that he even difapproved of it ; the contrary is not only demonftrated by fadls, but there are (till other proofs, which atteft that he was the firlt promoter of it, and they are fuch as cannot be difputed, proceeding direftly from the JCings of Eng- Jand and Pruflia; thefe two princes have laid each other open in the declarations which pafl'ed betwixt them in the month of September la ft.

In that of the King of Pruflia, on the intelligence he had received of a neutrality propofed by the Duke of Cumberland to the Marfhal de Richelieu, he expreffes himfelf thus :

" 1 juft nowhear that thebufinefs of a neutrality for the deflorate of Hanover is not yet dropped ; can your majerty have folittle conftancy and firmnefs, as to be difcouraged by a few crofs events? Are affairs fo far gone that they cannot be re- trieved ? Confider the ftep which your majclly propofes to take, and that which you made me take. You are thecaufe of all the misfor- tunes now impending over me, I

ftiould never have departed from the alliance with France but for your many magnificent promifes. I do not repent of the treaty which I have made with your majefty; but after having drawn on me moft of the forces of Europe, do not meanly leave me to the mercy of my ene- mies. I make account that your majefty will call to mind your en- gagements, which have been renew- ed no longer ago than the 26:h of the laft month, and that you will not hearken to any accommodation in which I am not included."*

The King of England's anfwerto this declaration confirms the trutli of its contents, as this prince does not contradidl the charge brought againit him of being the caufe of the war in Germany ; and after clearing himfelf but very indiffer- ently of the reproach made him for entering on a negotiation for the eledlorate of Hanover, he con- cludes with thefe words :

" In fuch a critical fjtaation, whatever might have been the fuc- cefs of arms, his majefty is deter- mined fteadily to concur with the King of PrulGa in the moft efnca- cious meafures for difappointing the iniquitous and opprelTive de- hgns of their common enemies; and the King of Pruflia may aflure himfelf that the crown of Great Britain will continue religioufly to fulfil its engagements withhisPruf- fian majefty, and fupport him with vigour and conftancy."

TheKing of Prufha's declaration, and the King of England's anfvver, having been inferted in the public papers without any contradi(ftion from them, their authenticity is not

to

tide in the Berlin Gazette, after the Hacoverians had refoJved to renew hof^i- nties.
 * N. B. This letter was difowned and declared to be fiippofititiou?, by an ar.