Description:

Only months after his duel with Lord Castlereagh former Foreign Secretary George Canning discusses a triple alliance against Napoleon

GEORGE CANNING (1770-1827) Autograph Letter Signed, "Geo. Canning," 2 pages 7.25 x 9.25 Finchley December 20 1809 to his successor in the Foreign Office Richard Wellesley 1st Marquess Wellesley (1760-1842). Light toning and mild dampstains usual folds else very good.

"I think it right to trouble you with the inclosed Letter [not present] from [Rorbert] Adair" (which I have just received) as it states his intentions as to remaining at Constantinople. You are aware that he had discretionary leave to return home. I cannot recollect precisely the substance of that private letter of mine to which he refers (p. 2 & 3-) and I have not my papers here - But I suppose it must have related to the negotiation of a triple Alliance in the event of the renewal of the war between Austria & France. Be good as to return Adairs['] Letter at your leisure.," Canning had only been out of office for two months at the time of writing concluding an eventful year. Canning had managed the foreign office during the War of the Fifth Coalition which resulted in a humiliating defeat for Austria at the hands of Napoleon. Over the course of the conflict he came into repeated conflict with Lord Castlereagh Secretary of State for the War and the Colonies over the conduct of the war. The weak leadership of the ailing Prime Minister the Duke of Portland plunged the government in to near paralysis by their continual feuds which led Canning to threaten resignation if Portland did not remove Castlereagh from the government to which the prime minister secretly agreed. When Castlereagh learned of the deal he challenged Canning to a duel which they fought at Putney Heath on September 21 1809. Canning who had never handled a pistol naturally missed his mark while his adversary an expert marksman wounded the Foreign Secretary in the thigh. Less than two weeks later the Duke of Portland resigned as Prime Minister on October 4 1809 due to ill health Canning offered his services to George III but the King chose Spencer Perceval instead. Although now out of office he could take consolation that Castlereagh too had stepped down from his post. Interestingly enough it would be George Canning's cousin Stratford Canning (1786-1880) who would succeed Adair (1763-1855) as the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. At the close of the War of the Fifth Collation in October 1809 France and Russia emerged as the main arbiters power on the Continent. Forming a triple alliance with Austria and the Turks was one avenue at blunting Napoleon's territorial ambitions. The Ottomans and the Russians had been at war since 1806 and would remain at war until the signing of the Treaty of Bucharest in 1812 signed the day after Napoleon began his invasion of Russiaâ€"which greatly lessened the need for cooperation from the Ottomans as the British were able to form a broad alliance against France ultimately defeating Napoleon in 1812.

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