n never be put in competition with ours, ship
for ship, or anything approaching to it.

There is an account of a successful _sortie_ from Mantua, in which
the French have lost fifteen hundred men; but I do not yet know the
particulars, the despatches being gone to Weymouth. The Archduke is
at Donawert, or at least looking to that position, which is a
strong one, if his army was not dispirited. The reinforcement sent
to Italy has hitherto operated very fatally upon the campaign. It
remains to be seen what effect it will produce against Buonaparte's
army. But it is evidently too late to prevent the plunder of
Italy--the great object of that expedition.

Ever, my dear brother,
Most truly and affectionately yours,
G.

Pray let me remind you of the sheep; though just now my pastures
look rather brown, and will, I fear, give them a bad impression of
the fare which they will have.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Sept. 24th, 1796.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,

We have again a report, which seems worthy of credit, of an action
at Montauban, on the 14th, previous to Jourdan's crossing the
Rhine, at Neuwied, in which he was totally defeated, and lost all
his cannon, &c. This seems to accord so well with dates and places,
that I have little doubt of the truth. It therefore only remains to
see what will become of Moreau. If he is dispatched, and that
quickly, there will be time and means to make Buonaparte suffer
severely for his late advanced move.

On the whole, the situation is, to be sure, very much improved
within these few weeks, but there is still enough for serious
alarm. The Directory has sent us the most insolent answer that can
be conceived; but as the substance of it is in some degree
ambiguous with respect to the main question of granting or refusing
the passport, it has been thought better not to leave a loop-hole
or pretence to them, or their adherents here, to lay upon us the
breaking the business off. Another note is therefore to be sent
to-day, by a flag of truce from Dover, in which the demand of the
passport is renewed in such terms as seem most likely to bring that
point to a distinct issue, ay or no. In other times, this last step
would have been not only superfluous, but humiliating; in the
present mo