now the course of this sort
of reports, ought not too hastily to give credit to them.

It is, however, not the less true that the danger exists, and
perhaps not the less from its not breaking out in the manner
stated. The conquest of Flanders has, as I believe, brought the
business to a much nearer issue here than any reasonable man could
believe a month ago. The hands of Government must be strengthened
if the country is to be saved; but, above all, the work must not be
left to the hands of Government, but every man must put his
shoulder to it, according to his rank and situation in life, or it
will not be done. I could write much more of the same sort, but I
have already people waiting for me.

Ever most affectionately yours,
G.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, Nov. 25th, 1792.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,

Our hopes of anything really useful from Opposition, are, I am
sorry to say, nearly vanished. In the meantime the storm thickens.
Lord Loughborough has declined, and Fox seems to govern the rest
just in the old way.

We are called upon on all sides for counter associations, and
indeed it seems too clear that the peace of the country cannot
otherwise be preserved. The army, though I trust still steady, is
too small to be depended on. We must look to individual exertions,
and to the Militia. I forgot to beg you to state to me the grounds
you had to think parts of that body infected. It is material to
know the truth on that subject. Our plan is to enable the King to
authorize the Lord-Lieutenants to commission volunteer companies to
be added to the Militia on the first appearance of tumult. This
seems to add the advantage of subordination to regular power to
that of association.

In the meantime, we are preparing an association in London, which
is to be declared in the course of next week. I enclose you the
plan of their declaration, in which you see the great object is to
confine it within the limits of the regular Government, and not to
go beyond that point. A few persons of rank cannot be kept out of
it, but we mean it chiefly to consist of merchants and lawyers, as
a London society, and that the example should then be followed by
each county or district--including there as many farmers and yeomen