_Napoleon addresses a Second Letter to the King of England personally--Answered by the British Secretary of State to Talleyrand--Alliance formed betwixt Russia and England--Prussia keeps aloof, and the Emperor Alexander visits Berlin--Austria prepares for War, and marches an Army into Bavaria--Her impolicy in prematurely commencing Hostilities, and in her Conduct to Bavaria--Unsoldierlike Conduct of the Austrian General Mack--Buonaparte is joined by the Electors of Bavaria and Wirtemberg, and the Duke of Baden--Skilful Manœuvres of the French Generals, and successive losses of the Austrians--Napoleon violates the Neutrality of Prussia, by marching through Anspach and Bareuth--Further Losses of the Austrian Leaders, and consequent Disunion among them--Mack is cooped up in Ulm--Issues a formidable Declaration on the 16th October--and surrenders on the following day--Fatal Results of this Man's Poltroonery, want of Skill, and probable Treachery._ [Sidenote: LETTER TO THE KING OF ENGLAND.] Buonaparte, Consul, had affected to give a direct testimony of his desire to make peace, by opening a communication immediately and personally with the King of Great Britain. Buonaparte, Emperor, had, according to his own interpretation of his proceedings, expiated by his elevation all the crimes of the Revolution, and wiped out for ever the memory of those illusory visions of liberty and equality, which had alarmed such governments as continued to rest their authority on the ancient basis of legitimacy. He had, in short, according to his own belief, preserved in his system all that the Republic had produced of good, and done away all the memory of that which was evil. With such pretensions, to say nothing of his absolute power, he hastened to claim admission among the acknowledged Princes of Europe; and a second time (2d January 1805,) by a letter addressed to King George III., personally, under the title of "Sir my Brother," endeavoured to prove, by a string of truisms,--on the preference of a state of peace to war, and on the reciprocal grandeur of France and England, both advanced to the highest pitch of prosperity,--that the hostilities between the nations ought to be ended.[106]