his latter power would be very glad to close again the breach
with France, and therefore, while there remains an opening for this,
holds off from England, whose fleets could not enter into Silesia, to
protect that from the Emperor. Thus you see, that the old system is
unhinged, and no new one hung in its place. Probabilities are rather
in favor of a connection between the two empires, France, and Spain.
Several symptoms show themselves, of friendly dispositions between
Russia and France, unfriendly ones between Russia and England, and such
as are barely short of hostility between England and France. But into
real hostilities, this country would with difficulty be drawn. Her
finances are too deranged, her internal union too much dissolved, to
hazard a war. The nation is pressing on fast, to a fixed constitution.
Such a revolution in the public opinion has taken place, that the crown
already feels its powers bounded, and is obliged, by its measures, to
acknowledge limits.

A States-General will be called at some epoch not distant; they will
probably establish a civil list, and leave the government to temporary
provisions of money, so as to render frequent assemblies of the national
representative necessary. How that representative will be organized, is
yet uncertain. Among a thousand projects, the best seems to me, that of
dividing them into two Houses, of Commons and Nobles; the Commons to be
chosen by the Provincial Assemblies, who are chosen themselves by the
people, and the Nobles by the body of _Noblesse_, as in Scotland. But
there is no reason to conjecture, that this is the particular scheme
which will be preferred.

The war between the Russians and Turks has made an opening for our
Commodore Paul Jones. The Empress has invited him into her service.
She insures to him the rank of rear-admiral; will give him a separate
command, and it is understood, that he is never to be commanded. I think
she means to oppose him to the Captain Pacha, on the Black Sea. He is by
this time, probably, at St. Petersburg. The circumstances did not permit
his awaiting the permission of Congress, because the season was close at
hand for opening the campaign. But he has made it a condition, that he
shall be free at all times to return to the orders of Congress, whenever
they shall please to call for him; and also, that he shall not, in any
case be expected to bear arms against France. I believe Congress had it
in contemplation to give him