<357> but, added he, I shall be very sorry to see any foreign troops whatever in the Empire, and I hope the Russians will not come, unless there be real occasion for them, in that case I should wish to have them, they will serve as a pledge for the fidelity of the Russian Empire and prevent its being induced to take a part against us.
When I mentioned the instructions that had been sent to Monsieur Keyserlingk at Vienna to renew his représentations at that court,1 he said that signified little, for there was an understanding between the courts of Vienna and Petersburg, that the court of Vienna had delayed giving an answer to Mr Keith, till the arrivai of a Courier from Petersburg, that the answer they had given, would not be agreeable to the King and was in substance that, as we had not previously communicated the treaty with Prussia to them and had omitted in that treaty the defence of the Netherlands,2 that the Empress-Queen must make such alliances as may secure her dominions etc. This, he said, was the purport of the answer to Mr Keith, calculated to justify their treaty with France, which could not be long kept secret, as he was informed that it was actually signed on the 7th instant at Paris,3 and contained the articles he had formerly mentioned to me, which your Lordship will find in my very secret letter of the 14th instant.4
He thinks it likely, in the humour the court of Vienna now is, that, as they have Silesia constantly in their eye, wish to recover Parma and Placencia and to extend their dominions in Lombardy and want nothing so much as a general war. To bring this about, they may, under hand, instigate France to attack His Majesty's German dominions the next year (though he cannot believe they will openly act against His Majesty), that France may probably hearken to this proposition, especially if the attempts she is now making in America and in Minorca, should fail, or if their fleet should be beaten at sea, for it will be then the only card France has to play, and even this he thinks they may be disappointed of, if a timely concert is entered into before the month of October next, and he was Willing to offer plans to His Majesty for that purpose, in which however the 30,000 Russians make an essential part …
I acquainted the King of Prussia with His Majesty's resolution of declaring war against France.5 He said nothing; but told me, by way of news, that 45 bataillons were to march towards the coasts opposite to Britain, that Monsieur de Belle-Isle was to be at Dunkirk about the end of the month and several camps to be formed.6 He asked me what number of troops we had in Britain, and said he did not think we had been so strong; but, though he could not persuade himself that France really intended to invade England, yet we could not be too much upon our guard, and he hoped for that reason that neither the
1 Vergl. S. 415.
2 Vergl. S. 2. 16.
3 Vergl. S. 355.
4 Vergl. Nr. 7493 S. 328.
5 Vergl. S. 351. 374.
6 Vergl. S. 361.