Article 1st stated that the object of the alliance was to restore the balance of Europe.  By art. 2d the Emperor of Russia was to place 36,000 men at the disposal of England.  Art. 3d stipulated that neither of the two powers would consent to treat with France, nor to lay down arms until the King of Sardinia should either be restored to his dominions or receive an equivalent indemnity in the northeast of Italy.  By art. 4th Malta was to be evacuated by the English, and occupied by the Russians.  By art. 5th the two powers were to guarantee the independence of the Republic of the Ionian Isles, and England was to pledge herself to assist Russia in her war against Persia.  If this plan of a treaty, of the existence of which I was informed on unquestionable authority, had been brought to any result it is impossible to calculate what might have been its consequences.

At that time an immediate Continental war was confidently expected by every person in the north of Europe; and it is very certain that, had not Napoleon taken the hint in time and renounced his absurd schemes at Boulogne, France would have stood in a dangerous situation.

M. Forshmann, the Russian charge d’affaires, was intriguing to excite the north of Europe against France.  He repeatedly received orders to obtain the insertion of irritating articles in the ‘Correspondent’.  He was an active, intriguing, and spiteful little man, and a declared enemy of France; but fortunately his stupidity and vanity rendered him less dangerous than he wished to be.  He was universally detested, and he would have lost all credit but that the extensive trade carried on between Russia and Hamburg forced the inhabitants and magistrates of that city to bear with a man who might have done them, individually, considerable injury.

The recollection of Duroc’s successful mission to Berlin during the Consulate induced Napoleon to believe that that general might appease the King of Prussia, who complained seriously of the violation of the territory of Anspach, which Bernadotte, in consequence of the orders he received, had not been able to respect.  Duroc remained about six weeks in Berlin.

The following letter from Duroc will show that the facility of passing through Hesse seemed to excuse the second violation of the Prussian territory; but there was a great difference between a petty Prince of Hesse and the King of Prussia.

I send you, my dear Bourrienne, two despatches, which I have received for you.  M. de Talleyrand, who sends them, desires me to request that you will transmit General Victor’s by a sure conveyance.

I do not yet know whether I shall stay long in Berlin.  By the last accounts I received the Emperor is still in Paris, and numerous forces are assembling on the Rhine.  The hopes of peace are vanishing every day, and Austria does everything to promote war.

     I have received accounts from Marshal Bernadotte.  He has effected
     his passage through Hesse.  Marshal Bernadotte was much pleased with
     the courtesy he experienced from the Elector.