George IV | Two documents signed, as Prince Regent, relating to Russia, 1812-13

George IV

Two documents signed, as Prince Regent ("George PR"), both signed at the head

i) to Lord Eldon as Lord Chancellor, authorising a commission appointing Lord Walpole as Secretary to the Embassy to Russia, 2 pages, folio, papered seal, signed at the foot by Castlereagh, with a copy of Walpole's commission attached, in total 5 pages, plus blanks, stab-stitched with blue ribbon, docketed, 24 July 1812

ii) to Lord Eldon as Lord Chancellor, 30 November 1813, warrant authorising the ratification of a "Supplementary Convention" between Britain and Russia "in pursuance of the Stipulation contained in the Treaty of Concert concluded between their said Majesties at Reichenbach on the Fifteenth of June last", 2 pages, folio, papered seal, signed at the foot by Castlereagh, with a copy of the articles of the convention attached, in total 17 pages, plus blanks, stab-stitched with blue ribbon, docketed, 30 November 1813

BRITAIN ALLIES HERSELF WITH RUSSIA. The Treaty of Tilsit (1807), which forced the Russians into uneasy alliance with Napoleon, had left Britain and Russia technically at war until the French invasion of Russia in 1812 transformed their relationship. Horatio, Lord Walpole (1783-1858) was a member of the urgent embassy led by Lord Cathcart that was sent to Russia immediately following the Napoleonic invasion; an embassy tasked in large part with facilitating relationships between the various nations that were allied against Napoleon. The alliance between Britain and Russia was strengthened by the 1813 Treaty of Reichenbach, at which Britain agreed subsidies to both Russia and Prussia.