oscillations of Muscovite policy between altruistic philosophy and
brutal self-seeking. At present the Russian Janus turned his modern face
westwards. Alexander insisted on the need of tearing from France the
mask of liberty which she had so long and so profitably worn. Against
the naturalism of Rousseau, which supplied Napoleon with excellent
reasons for every annexation, Alexander resolved to appeal to historical
rights and the Balance of Power. Yet he also resolved to uphold the
rights of all the peoples concerned. They must be reconciled to their
rulers so as to harmonize the claims of legitimacy and liberty. Thus,
the King of Sardinia, when restored to his throne at Turin, was to be
induced to grant a Constitution. The Germanic System was to be rescued
from chaos by the grant of free federal institutions. The independence
of the Italian, Helvetic, and Dutch Republics was a matter of urgency,
those States being also strengthened against French aggressions.
Finally, Russia and England were, if possible, to secure the friendship
of Turkey.

With these aims Pitt declared his entire concurrence, a just and
lasting peace being the first of British interests. He developed these
notions in a remarkable document of date 19th January 1805. We may be
sure that it is his; for, an accident having befallen the Earl of
Harrowby at the close of 1804, Lord Mulgrave took his place at the
Foreign Office, and a new comer would not have ventured to impose his
own views as to the future of Europe. Pitt now recurred to his plans of
the year 1798 for assuring the repose of the Continent. In brief, they
were the aggrandisement of Austria in Northern Italy and of Prussia in
the Low Countries so as to form barriers against France. The Italian
Republic must therefore be divided between the Hapsburgs and the King of
Sardinia, the latter also absorbing the Genoese Republic, which had
forfeited all claim to consideration. Pitt did not enter into details
respecting Belgium; but probably he intended to offer it to Prussia, in
order to still her cravings for Hanover. Such was his proposal to the
Court of Berlin in October 1805.[715] Conscious, perhaps, that the
present plans were not consonant with the benevolent idealism of Russian
policy, which, however, stole sidelong glances at Constantinople, Pitt
declared that only by these arrangements could the peace of Europe be
secured. They were therefore "not repugnant to the most sacred
principles of