3

Most Secret

Downing Street May 19^th 1801

Lord St. Helens

My Lord,

I send your Excellency a copy of a note which has been delivered by Monsieur de Kalitcheff to the French Government, by which it appears, that all connection between Russia and France is for the present suspended, if not dissolved ….

Whether they lead to peace, or whether the unjust pretensions of the French government may compel them to continue the war, it is equally for the interest of Great Britain and of Russia to renew the connection which at former periods has existed between the two countries; and to confirm and strengthen it by every means in their power. – Russia must be sensible that she owes Her Prosperity if not Her Existence as a civilized country, to Her Commerce with Great Britain: Great Britain certainly receives most essential advantages from her commercial relations with Russia.

It is scarcely probably that Russia should entertain the idea of extending her maritime power beyond the Baltic and the Black Seal and her ascendancy in those seas militates in no degree against the interests of Great Britain. …

The great increase of the Power of France on the continent, renders a connection between Great Britain and Russia, if not more natural, at least more necessary than at any former period. Prussia appears to consider Herself as having no interest except as a northern power; and Austria, for some years past, has directed her views entirely to the south; but the interest of Great Britain and Russia lie equally in the North and in the South of Europe. Their power and their consequence is affected by the extension of the arms of France in either of these quarters; and our connection therefore should be considered as arising, not from incidental and temporary causes, but from an enlarged view of all the circumstances of our situation….

It is obviously our common interest, that the Turkish Empire should not be sacrificed to France. There is every reason to hope, from the account of the action of the 21^st of March before Alexandria, and of the relative state of the two armies after that action, that the French army will be under the necessity of evacuating Egypt; - but we must not disguise from ourselves, that even if this should take place, Egypt will probably still remain the object of French ambition; and it is therefore of considerable importance to our permanent security, that you should endeavour to ascertain, whether the Russian Government will be disposed to guaranty jointly with His Majesty, the province of Egypt to the Turkish Government, in the event of His Majesty’s arms being completely successful, and of the French army being expelled from that country. …

You will listen with attention to every proposition which they may make to you for cementing the connection between the two countries;…