Conversation with Count Kazeneck, May 26, 1785

Extract

M. de Kazeneck by order of his Court assured me for His Majesty's information that the reports industriously circulated not only throughout the Empire but in every Court of Europe, of the Emperor's ambitious projects, of forcible exchanges of Territory, Secularizations of Bishoprics, &c. &c, were totally destitute of foundation, and that he had the Emperor's commands to disavow any intention of such a nature, that the liberties of every individual as well as the general interest of the Empire were too much the object of H. I. M.'s constant attention to permit his ever harboring an idea of making use of Force in order to the carrying any exchange or other views of arrangement into execution; that on the contrary the E. was willing himself to come into any league which might be thought necessary to protect the rights of individuals as well as the general interests of the Germanic Body against any encroachments.