[241] Prince Louis Ferdinand, nephew of Frederick the Great, was born in 1772. He served with distinction against Napoleon and was killed at Saalfeld in 1806 in command of the advance guard.
[242] ‘They want ordnance, and yet would begin by spiking one of their great guns.’ Lord Holland relates this as another remark of Windham’s upon the proposal.
[243] Sir Home Popham’s expedition to South America, where he effected the capture of Buenos Ayres on June 28. He had been originally despatched to the Cape of Good Hope, where he met with complete success and annexed that colony to the British Empire. Fired with this triumph he made his way to the Rio Plate, without any instructions from Government, who on hearing of his destination took steps to stop him, but their orders arrived too late. Buenos Ayres remained in his hands until August 4, when it was retaken by the Spaniards, with severe loss to the British.
[244] Lord Morpeth was sent to Berlin to offer the assistance of England conditionally upon the immediate restoration of Hanover. He arrived at headquarters two days before the battle of Jena, and found Haugwitz, with whom he was to negotiate, unwilling to meet him in any way. The intriguing Prussian still hoped to retain Hanover, and expected after the battle to be able to say so. The result, however, was contrary to his expectations, and as no diplomatic negotiations were possible in the confusion after the battle Lord Morpeth returned to London.
[245] Bartholomew Frere (1778–1851), a younger brother of John Hockham Frere, and son of John Frere, M.P. for Norwich. He was Secretary of Legation to his brother in Spain and held various minor diplomatic posts.
[246] M. Jacobi, the Prussian Minister, had left England when diplomatic relations between the two countries were broken off in the spring. He passed Lord Morpeth on the sea, and reached England early in October.
[247] In the interval which elapsed since Lady Holland’s last entry in her journal the whole position of Europe had again changed. The Prussian army, decimated in one day at Jena and Auerstadt, had practically ceased to exist; Frederick William was a fugitive at the eastern end of his dominions in Königsberg. Napoleon had occupied Berlin, and in two months had become master of many of the Prussian fortresses, which it should have taken him years to reduce. Lucchesini in the course of his negotiations for peace in Berlin was even ready to give up those strongholds which had not surrendered, but the patriotic party were too strong to allow the King to consent to further ignominy. Russia was prepared to give her assistance, and this nerved Frederick William to continue the war. Haugwitz resigned, but the King rendered this lucky event ineffective by also dismissing Count Stein, the only really able man in his councils.
[248] War was formally declared between Russia and the Porte towards the end of December.
[249] Gustavus IV. succeeded, at the age of fourteen, to the crown of Sweden after his father’s assassination in 1792. His hatred of Napoleon and inclination towards an English alliance were the leading features of his reign—features to which he so obstinately adhered as to cause his country much unrest and suffering, and his own downfall. He was deposed in 1809 in favour of his uncle.
[250] The dissolution took place in October, and the new Parliament met on December 15. Tierney was defeated at Southwark by Sir Thomas Turton. He obtained a seat, however, at Athlone.