¹ Concluded on 11 December 1806 between France and Saxony, after which Saxony joined the Confederation of the Rhine and the Elector was given the title of King. It gave, amongst other things, equal legal status to Catholicism and Protestantism in Saxony.

² Ludwig Philipp Graf von Bombelles.

³ Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Gersdorff.

⁴ Cf. note 21 in Frankfurt section.

⁵ Cf. note 38 in Prussia section.

⁶ The House of Schönberg was one of the oldest and most important houses in Saxony. On 15 May 1815, the Saxon King had made a declaration confirming the territorial transfers of 1740 and 1779, and recognising the privileges and rights that the German Confederation would guarantee this house.

⁷ In Saxony until 1831 the Diets were divided into three chambers: 1. prelates, dukes and lords; 2. knights; 3. towns. The first chamber was largely decorative since the areas represented here had their own constitution and tax system and it was mainly only representatives of those entitled to vote who appeared. The second chamber met in three separate rooms and consisted of three bodies which only corresponded with one another in writing. These were the Engerer Ausschuβ (40 people), the Weiterer Ausschuβ (60 people) and the Allgemeine Ritterschaft (all the rest). The Engerer Ausschuβ dominated the policy of the Diet.

⁸ Since 1817 the Estates of Upper Lusatia and the Foundations of Merseburg and Naumburg had been participating in the Diet of Saxony. Before that they had had separate Diets. Upper Lusatia initially retained the right to its own Diet as well as certain special rights, but Saxony had only one constitution.

⁹ Ludwig Philipp Graf von Bombelles.

¹⁰ Freiherr von Oelsen.

¹¹ Karl August.

¹² ‘Oppositions-Blatt oder Weimarische Zeitung’, published from 1 January 1817 until 27 November 1820.

¹³ Enclosure: Traduction Copie à la Direction Générale de Nos Pais: ‘Nous Charles August, par la …;’.

¹⁴ Friedrich August I.

¹⁵ Karl August.

¹⁶ Barbara Julie von Krüdener.

¹⁷ This concerns the attempts by the medium and smaller states to create a ‘third Germany’ as an independent power to counter the dominance and dualism of Prussia and Austria. This ‘trias idea’ was propagated, for example, by the Bavarian publicist Johann Christoph von Aretin. In the periodical ‘Alemannia’ of 1815 he put forward the concept of a southern Germany led by Bavaria and in the ‘Manuskript aus Süddeutschland’ of 1820 [cf. note 42 in Württemberg section] that of a coalition of the ‘pure German’ races of the south under the leadership of Bavaria and Württemberg.

¹⁸ Karl Heinrich Johann Wilhelm Graf von Schlitz.

¹⁹ The German Confederation's army was eventually divided into ten army corps. Depending on which state they belonged to, they were either homogeneous or mixed corps. Of these, Austria and Prussia each provided three corps, Bavaria one, and the other three were made up of mixed troops from the other member states. Saxony belonged to the 9th corps of the middle German states. At the Congress of Vienna it had not been possible to include conditions regarding the Confederation's military constitution in the Act of the German Confederation. It was not until 9 April 1821 that the ‘Bundesgesetz über die Kriegsverfassung des Deutschen Bundes’ was passed. The structure of the Confederation made it impossible to form a homogeneous army. There had to be a federative army formation of all the member states, with troop sections all subordinated to the Confederation's military commander-in-chief. On 20 August 1818 agreement had already been reached between the member states regarding the Bundesmatrikel (number of troops with which the members had to supply the Confederation army), which in a revised version of 4 February 1819 was to become the ‘more precise conditions’ of 1821/22 and was later changed repeatedly.

²⁰ In December 1818 Minister President Richelieu had resigned. He was succeeded on 28 December 1818 by the Dessolles/Decazes cabinet (1818/1819).

²¹ Vasilij Vas. Chanykov.

²² Wilhelm von Humboldt.

²³ Karl August.

²⁴ August.

²⁵ Heinrich Karl Friedrich Levin Graf von Wintzingerode; cf. also note 32 in Württemberg section.

²⁶ Art. 2 of the Act of the German Confederation stated the Confederation's aim: to maintain the external and internal security of Germany and the independence and inviolability of the individual German states.

²⁷ Cf. note 16 in Frankfurt section.

²⁸ Heinrich Karl Friedrich Levin Graf von Wintzingerode.

²⁹ Ludwig Philipp Graf von Bombelles.

³⁰ Ludwig Philipp Graf von Bombelles.

³¹ Cf. note 84 in Prussia section.

³² In April 1819 the Deutscher Handels- und Gewerbeverein had been constituted at the Frankfurt Easter Fair at the instigation of merchants and manufacturers, to represent citizens' economic interests. In 1819 Friedrich List and the Nuremberg merchant Johann Jacob Schnell took over the leadership of this association which was renamed ‘Verein deutscher Kaufleute und Fabrikanten’ in the spring of 1819. On 1 April 1819 the association presented the Bundestag with the demand that within Germany customs barriers should be removed and only foreign duties payable. It soon built up a dense network of correspondents. Its paper ‘Organ für den deutschen Handels- und Fabrikantenstand’ already had 2000 subscribers in 1819. It recruited largely from the manufacturing regions in southern and central Germany. In the autumn of 1819 a delegation led by List was well received by Chancellor Hardenberg and his ministers, and likewise by Emperor Francis I and Foreign Minister Metternich in Vienna, where List was an observer at the ministerial conferences in January 1820. However, with the move towards restoration in Carlsbad in 1819 the association's scope was increasingly reduced.

³³ Ernst Weber.

³⁴ Rural estates which had been transferred by the landlord in exchange for compulsory active service, and had privileges such as tax benefits, customs exemption, hunting rights etc.

³⁵ August Friedrich Wilhelm von Leyser.

³⁶ This refers to the Geheimer Rat set up on 6 October 1817 to replace the Geheimes Consilium. As the highest state authority it advised the sovereign in all matters pertaining to the constitution, legislation and general administration. It supervised the entire public administration, consisting of the three conference ministers, the president of the Geheimes Finanzkollegium and the director of the second department, the president of the Kriegsverwaltungskammer and the chancellor of the regional government. In exceptional cases the council was to supposed to form the Council of State along with the cabinet ministers and, if appropriate, the heads of other regional authorities, together with the Crown Prince and under the chairmanship of the King. In matters of the Estates and taxes it was only an intermediary authority: religious, church and school affairs remained the responsibility of the conference ministers.

³⁷ Mayor.

³⁸ In 1821 the Greeks rebelled against Turkish rule and had their first success as early as 1822 (Constitution of Epidauros 1822). It was this conflict and the diverging interests it brought to light, which ultimately destroyed the policy of the Holy Alliance: although Russia was interested in weakening Turkey, this conflicted with its legitimate fight against revolutionaries and rebels. England initially supported the Ottoman Empire, but then moved more and more decisively on to the Greek side, not least in order to prevent Russian penetration into the Straits. Metternich saw this as a threat to his policy of balance of power. The conflict ended in 1827 with Turkish recognition of an independent Greek state (without Crete and Thessalia; constitution of Trezenos 1827). This was largely promoted by England and Russia over the heads of the other European states; cf. note 42 in this section; and note 72 in Bavaria section.

³⁹ Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Christian von Hedemann.

⁴⁰ Enclosure: ‘To my German brethren’ by Professor Krug (translation)

The grecian cause has created in the people of germany so great an interest, that a great number of persons from all states and countries have voluntarily offered, either by immediate assistance or by money contributions, to support it. These offers have been as yet declined, as it was doubtful, whether the different German Governments would approve of them. The unheard of cruelty of the turks, not only towards the Greeks but towards all Christians under their government, and which has extended even to innocent women and children, and the fact of the destruction of Christian churches and of the murdering of Christian Priests in the performance of their religious duties, clearly manifests their decided intention of extirpating Christianity from the turkish empire. All these circumstances leave no more doubt, that it cannot displease Christian European Governments, at least German ones, when any person, who out of the free impulse of his heart, resolves to assist the cause of the Greeks, either by immediate personal assistance or by money contributions, thereby fulfilling the first commandment of Christianity, namely, to aid a truely unfortunate people, subjected to an unjust wicked government, and now in a state of the most pressing necessity.

Trusting that the german governments are in the same way of thinking, and encouraged from many quarters, I therefore venture to make the following public proposition, That there be formed a German society to assist the Greeks.

The object of this society should be, to collect voluntary contributions of money, which should go towards the support of such young men, who would take part in the struggle of grecian freedom against turkish oppression, and which would give them ways and means of furthering their noble purpose. Should the contributions, as may be expected, be more than sufficient for that purpose, another fund might be formed, in support of grecian families, who might lose their properties in this conflict.

I will willingly contribute my humble endeavours in furtherance of this project, and I also hope, that men of more extended knowledge and power will aid with their counsel a cause, which is not alone that of a single people, but of the whole world. Whatever may be the result of these considerations, there is no time to be lost, the favorable moment must not be allowed to pass by and the proposed assistance not arrive too late Leipzig August 1^st 1821

Professor Krug

⁴¹ The Leipzig Fair was the oldest and for a long time the most important international fair. It started in 1165 and in 1507 was granted a privilege by Emperor Maximilian I. After the Saxon Electors acquired the Polish throne it experienced a revival with the expansion of trade with Poland and Russia, and once again after the Customs Union was founded.

⁴² On 28 June 1821 Tsar Alexander protested strongly in Constantinople about the acts of violence with which the Turks had reacted to the Greek attempts to gain independence. By means of an ultimatum he let it be known that if necessary he would take up arms. The overthrow of the Ottoman Empire would also assure the participation of the Russian Black Sea fleet in world trade. The tensions between Russia and Turkey led to war in 1828.

⁴³ Cf. note 81 in Prussia section.

⁴⁴ For Greece cf. note 38 in this section; for Spain cf. note 93; for Portugal cf. note 94 both in the Württemberg section. Latin America had meanwhile liberated itself from colonial rule. With regard to England's economic interests Canning declared that Spain itself undoubtedly had the right to reestablish its rule, but that Britain would oppose attempts at intervention by the other powers. This attitude was underpinned in 1823 by the Monroe Doctrine.

⁴⁵ Cf. note 84 in Prussia section.

⁴⁶ Cf. note 35 in Frankfurt section.

⁴⁷ Carl Ludwig Sand.

⁴⁸ Amalie.

⁴⁹ Elisabeth Ludovika.

⁵⁰ In 1815 the northern half of Saxony, with more than two-fifths of Saxon subjects and the towns of Kottbus, Torgau, Wittenberg, Merseburg, Weißenfels and Naumburg, had been given to Prussia.

⁵¹ Graf Bünau.

⁵² Enclosure: Resumé des principaux articles de la proposition communiquée aux Etats de 1824; Speech of Count Bünau, president of the Diet of Saxony, delivered at the opening of its sittings, at Dresden January 6th, 1824.

⁵³ The ‘three powers’ are the states of the so-called Holy Alliance, Russia, Austria and Prussia. On 24 September 1815 their monarchs had signed a manifesto in which they pledged to make the Christian precepts of justice, love and peace the basis of their policy and to give each other support as ‘brothers and compatriots’.

⁵⁴ Cf. note 35 in Frankfurt section.

⁵⁵ Vasili Vas. Chanykov.

⁵⁶ Cf. note 38 in this section; cf. also note 59 in Austria section; and note 93 in Württemberg section.

⁵⁷ Cf. note 41 in this section.

⁵⁸ This refers to the reforms carried out by the Tories in the Treasury (F. J. Robinson) and in the Trade Ministry (William Huskisson). These were supposed to free England from the restrictions of an out-moded trade and fiscal system. To this end Robinson reformed the tax system and introduced new regulations for national debts. Huskisson tackled the numerous duties and allowances that were hindering English trade and concluded bilateral trade treaties which brought about a 50% increase in British shipping within 10 years.

⁵⁹ Ernst I.

⁶⁰ Luise.

⁶¹ Friedrich TV.

⁶² Friedrich IV.

⁶³ Bernhard II.

⁶⁴ Ernst I.

⁶⁵ Friedrich.

⁶⁶ Ernst I.

⁶⁷ Friedrich.

⁶⁸ Bernhard II.

⁶⁹ Anton Klemens Theodor and Maximilian Maria Joseph.

⁷⁰ Original in FO 215/2.

⁷¹ Not traceable.

⁷² Vasili Vas. Chanykov.

⁷³ Anton Karl Graf Palffy von Erdöd.

⁷⁴ Leopoldine Dominika (1803–1888), daughter of Count Alois Wenzel von Kaunitz.

⁷⁵ Charlotte Auguste von Lehsten-Dingelstedt.

⁷⁶ Amalie.

⁷⁷ Marie.

⁷⁸ Amalie.

⁷⁹ Auguste.

⁸⁰ This law was introduced as a bill in 1824 and was passed on 19 February 1827.

⁸¹ There were two secretaries of the French Legation at Dresden: Ferdinand Baron de Cussy (1795–186), author and diplomat, and Monsieur de Portal (details not traceable).

⁸² Anton I. Klemens Theodor.

⁸³ Friedrich August II.

⁸⁴ Maximillian.

⁸⁵ August Friedrich Christian Heim.

⁸⁶ It might be Edward Mellish, D.D., rector of East Tuddenham, Norfolk, and afterwards dean of Hereford (related to George Canning by marriage).

⁸⁷ Friedrich August I.

⁸⁸ Not traceable.

⁸⁹ Leo XII.

⁹⁰ Therese.

⁹¹ Friedrich August I.

⁹² Not traceable.

⁹³ Herrnhuter, named after the Saxon town in Upper Lusatia, the seat of the community of brethren founded there in 1722.

⁹⁴ Not traceable.

⁹⁵ On 14 February 1828 a customs union treaty was signed between Prussia and Hesse Cassel, initially for six years. The Grand Duchy of Hesse committed itself to introducing Prussian customs laws in its territory. As in the case of the customs union treaty concluded a little earlier between Bavaria and Württemberg, this was a customs union between two sovereign states. It had taken Prussia ten years to persuade one of the middle states to join its new customs system voluntarily.

⁹⁶ In the spring of 1828 the Electorate of Hesse had refused to cooperate on any matters of customs policy. For political and dynastic reasons Elector William II bluntly rejected all treaties offered by Prussia and Hesse-Darmstadt. Because of his numerous mistresses he was at loggerheads with the court of his Prussian brother-in-law Frederick William II and insisted on pursuing his own customs policy, despite all warnings. This was soon to lead Hesse into an ever-worsening crisis.

⁹⁷ The Munich government regarded the union between Hesse-Darmstadt and Prussia as a serious betrayal on the part of its former negotiating partner. It now tried to persuade the Electorate of Hesse, which was geographically extremely important, to join the south-German customs union, but did not succeed.

⁹⁸ On 25/26 March 1828 the Kingdom of Saxony had reached agreement with various Thuringian states in the Punctuation of Oberschöna, which envisaged a union of all ‘neutral’ states in matters of trade policy. The Frankfurt Senator Thomas had already put forward such an idea, since he regarded the customs union between Prussia and Hesse as a serious blow to the trade interests of his city. The idea was also supported by mayor Smidt of Bremen and Minister of State Marschall of Nassau. Hanover and the Electorate of Hesse also joined the nascent alliance. On 21 May 1828 Saxony, Hanover, the Electorate of Hesse, Nassau, Frankfurt and various Thuringian towns agreed on an initial declaration of intent. This Frankfurt Declaration was soon joined by Brunswick, Oldenburg, Bremen, Hesse-Homburg and the rest of the Thuringian towns. The actual treaty negotiations started in Cassel on 22 August 1828. However, because of various differences between the states involved all that was produced on 24 September 1828 was a treaty whereby the signatories of the ‘Mitteldeutscher Handelsverein’ agreed ‘not to enter any customs union with foreign states that are not part of the association’ until 31 December 1834.