turn here so
much later than I expected, that I fear it cuts off all hope of my
making you a visit in the autumn at Stowe. Pitt goes to-day to take
possession of his castle. I suppose you will have heard that Paine
had a very narrow escape at Dover. I send you the enclosed, because
you may, perhaps, not have seen it, and I am sure it will please
you. Pray read Necker's last work.

We have no news from the armies, except that the siege of
Thionville was turned into a blockade, and a general action hourly
expected. The Duke of Brunswick's progress does not keep pace with
the impatience of our wishes, but I doubt whether it was reasonable
to expect more. The detail of the late events at Paris is so
horrible, that I do not like to let my mind dwell upon them; and
yet I fear that scene of shocking and savage barbarity is very far
from its close. I deliver this day to the Imperial and Neapolitan
Ministers a note, with the formal assurance that in case of the
murder of the King or Queen, the persons guilty of that crime shall
not be allowed any asylum in the King's dominions. Opinions are a
little doubtful about the best means of giving effect to this
promise, should the case arise. Our lawyers seem clear, and
Blackstone expressly asserts, that the King may prevent any alien
from coming into the kingdom, or remaining there. But this power
has so rarely been used, that it may, perhaps, be better to have a
special Act of Parliament applying to this case. This, however,
relates only to the mode. I imagine everybody will think the thing
itself right, and some people seem to hope it may prevent the
commission of the crime in question. In this hope I am not very
sanguine.

We have no account of Spain having declared war, except what comes
through France.

God bless you, and believe me
Ever most affectionately yours,
GRENVILLE.

The retreat of the combined army, under the Duke of Brunswick, cast a
gloom over the hopes of the struggling royalists. The soldiers had
suffered severe sickness from eating the unripe grapes of Champagne,
and, contrary to the expectations in which they had been led to indulge,
the peasantry everywhere opposed them by attacking detachments, and
breaking up the roads.

Whilst these events were spreading consternation over the continent, the
proc