d towards Brittany; but the news from
that quarter is by no means favourable, as far as it goes. The
Royalist army appears unable to make any siege, or even to continue
twenty-four hours in the same place; and this for want of
provisions. There is, besides, among them much disunion, and a
total want of discipline; and they seemed to have formed the
resolution of retiring inwards into France. Whether they will be
deterred from this by the communications since made to them, and by
the knowledge of our force being actually at their doors, remains
to be seen.

I did not send you the account of the failure of all our hopes,
from Lord Howe. I was not in town; and if I had been, I do not know
whether I was not too much vexed to write. He is still off Ushant;
so that the idea of sending out the second fleet is, for the
moment, at least, out of the question. Some of those ships are, as
you know, destined for other services; and the whole, without Lord
Howe, would not be strong enough to meet the Brest fleet; and with
him, would be much too strong.

The business of St. Domingo is highly important. The possession of
the Mole, though not beyond what we had looked to, is much beyond
my hopes. Dansey's letter to Williamson expresses much confidence
of maintaining himself there, with such a force, as I trust, by
this time, and long before, he actually has there.

Ever most affectionately yours,
G.

At the close of the year France was stronger than at the commencement.
The destruction of her navy at Toulon was the principal reverse she
suffered. On the other side the allies had encountered defeat at almost
every point; the Prussians compelled to retreat to Mentz, the
Imperialists driven beyond the Rhine, and the English forced to raise
the siege of Dunkirk. The enthusiasm of the masses, sustained by these
successes, and acted upon by the popular appeals of the Jacobins, placed
at the disposal of the Republic an enormous physical force, which the
whole winter was occupied in augmenting and organizing for the campaigns
of the ensuing year.

1794.

PREPARATIONS IN ENGLAND FOR THE PROSECUTION OF THE WAR--INACTIVITY OF
THE AUSTRIANS--LORD SPENCER AND MR. THOMAS GRENVILLE SENT ON A MISSION
TO VIENNA--HOSTILE RESOLUTIONS OF THE OPPOSITION--SEVERAL OF THE LEADING
WHIGS JOIN THE ADMINISTRATION--LORD CORNWALLIS AP