the
reflection that the income of those revenues was already mortgaged
for a considerable sum. It was with a view to this that I dropped
to them the notion of their giving a larger security, and asking a
smaller loan, as well as complying with the requisitions of
augmented force and British command. The general security you see
they do consent to give; but, until I hear some more distinct
explanation, I shall still fear that they mean to throw the whole
security upon the Netherlands. They are still quarrelling more
every day with everything that is Prussian: they have stopped a
large magazine of blue cloth from Prussia to Switzerland, which
they say they know is destined to France; and the King of Prussia
threatens, in consequence, to stop some of their supplies in their
passage to their armies. Thugut said of the King of Prussia to-day,
with some truth and some humour, that all he wanted was to save the
whole of his army, to conquer Poland without the loss of a man, and
in reward to receive from us a pension of a million and a half per
annum. If half that sum would purchase from him thirty thousand
troops absolutely at our disposal, to make with British, Hessian
and Dutch an army under English orders of one hundred thousand men,
for the side of Holland; and that the other half--viz.:
L700,000--given in the way of subsidy to Austria, could give it
good heart to make a vigorous offensive campaign, I know not
whether my inclinations would not lead me to the experiment; but
their wants here are so great, and their resources, or at least
their spirit and exertions, so reduced, that the prospect is
certainly very discouraging. They seem full of new fears about the
Turks, and express much expectation that our Minister at
Constantinople will make great efforts to keep all quiet there.

I believe I told you there were apprehensions of the Poles, under
Kosciusko, breaking with the Austrians. A small affair had taken
place, but it is said to be amicably settled, and to be, for the
present, safe on that side. We are anxiously expecting our
permission to return; and I depend now upon seeing you so soon,
that I will not unnecessarily protract this letter.

I know not who you are sending here; but we have taken great pains
to keep alive in them here the mo