1806 - Treaty of Presburg


 
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Naval history of Great Britain - Vol. IV
by
William James
1806 British and French Fleets 214

complement of 130 men, commanded by Lieutenant de vaisseau Pierre-Antoine-Toussaint Demai, and victualled for a five months' cruise, fired a broadside " pour l'honneur de pavillon, " and hauled down her colours. Apparently unmoved by this circumstance, M. La Marre-la-Meillerie permitted the British frigate to carry off her prize, and with his four French frigates, continued his route to the westward.

In the course of the summer the whole of the five French two-deckers, that had escaped from the Battle of Trafalgar, appear to have got themselves repaired and in readiness to put to sea, under Vice-admiral Rosily. The Spaniards also succeeded in getting ready one three-decker and five or six two-deckers ; making a total of 11 or 12 sail of the line in Cadiz alone. In Carthagena lay ready for sea eight Spanish sail of the line, including two three-deckers. In Toulon there were three French two-deckers, and two or three frigates also ready ; besides one or two sail of the line in ports of Venice, fitting. Whether it was that a want of concert existed among the allies, that Napol�on was too much occupied with his army to draw out a plan of operations, or that the scenes of the 21st of October, 1805, had made too deep an impression to be so soon obliterated, the year 1806, in respect to the movements of the enemy's fleets within the limits of Lord Collingwood's command, was one of comparative repose.

Although the waters of the Mediterranean had been cleared of the fleets of the French emperor, his armies were still tyrannizing over the inhabitants of her shores, and the corrupt court of Naples was compelled again, as in the former war, to claim the protection of the British navy. Restricted as we are in our subject, a general view of the state of French power and influence in the Mediterranean states is all that will be required from us.

As the great battle of Marengo in the former war led to the peace of Luneville, so the still greater battle of Austerlitz in the present led to the peace of Presburg. But the terms granted to Austria, were much less favourable in the latter, than in the former case. There the acquisition of the Venetian states was considered to be no inadequate compensation for the loss of the Low Countries ; but, by the treaty of Presburg, Austria renounced her share of those states, and consented that they should be annexed to the kingdom of Italy ; taking, as her only possession on the shores of the Mediterranean, the comparatively insignificant port of Triest, at the head of the Adriatic. About the same time (December 26, 1806) that the treaty of Presburg was concluded with Austria, a treaty between Buonaparte and Prussia was signed at Vienna.

Peace with these two powers, and the withdrawal of the Russian army from Austria, left Napol�on to wreak his vengeance upon Ferdinand of Naples ; who, in the direct violation of

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