may ask him, What, does your Court intend to go on next year
in the pay of France, to destroy the liberties of all Europe, and throw
universal monarchy into the hands of that already great and always
ambitious Power? I know you think, or at least call yourselves, the
allies of the Empress Queen; but is it not plain that she will be, in the
first place, and you in the next, the dupes of France? At this very time
you are doing the work of France and Sweden: and that for some miserable
subsidies, much inferior to those which I am sure you might have, in a
better cause, and more consistent with the true interest of Russia.
Though not empowered, I know the manner of thinking of my own Court so
well upon this subject, that I will venture to promise you much better
terms than those you have now, without the least apprehensions of being
disavowed. Should he listen to this, and what more may occur to you to
say upon this subject, and ask you, 'En ecrirai je d ma cour? Answer him,
'Ecrivez, ecrivex, Monsieur hardiment'. Je prendrai tout cela sur moi'.
Should this happen, as perhaps, and as I heartily wish it may, then write
an exact relation of it to your own Court. Tell them that you thought the
measure of such great importance, that you could not help taking this
little step toward bringing it about; but that you mentioned it only as
from yourself, and that you have not in the least committed them by it.
If Soltikow lends himself in any degree to this, insinuate that, in the
present situation of affairs, and particularly of the King's Electoral
dominions, you are very sure that his Majesty would have 'une
reconnoissance sans bornes' for ALL those by whose means so desirable a
revival of an old and long friendship should be brought about. You will
perhaps tell me that, without doubt, Mr. Keith's instructions are to the
same effect: but I will answer you, that you can, IF YOU PLEASE, do it
better than Mr. Keith; and in the next place that, be all that as it
will, it must be very advantageous to you at home, to show that you have
at least a contriving head, and an alertness in business.

I had a letter by the last post, from the Duke of Newcastle, in which he
congratulates me, in his own name and in Lord Hardwicke's, upon the
approbation which your dispatches give, not only to them two, but to
OTHERS. This success, so early, should encourage your diligence and rouse
your ambition if you have any; you may go a great way, if you desi