sea before any communication is had of this new mutiny.

Things look badly, as I believe, in Ireland; but those of
Government, whom I ever see, are so entirely occupied, that I write
to you more from my own guess than from their communication.

God bless you, dearest brother.

I know no foreign news of any sort, nor have I seen William these
three or four last days.

A third effort to effect a pacification with France had been entered
upon by Lord Grenville in the month of June. On this occasion his
Lordship addressed a direct application to M. de la Croix, expressing
his readiness without delay to open a discussion of the views and
pretensions of both parties. To this communication M. de la Croix
replied by accepting the proposal; and the town of Lisle was appointed
for the meeting of the ambassadors.

Lord Malmesbury was again appointed on the part of England; and it
became evident at once that his re-appearance in that capacity was not
very satisfactory to the French Government, M. de la Croix coldly
signifying the consent of the Directory to negotiate with Lord
Malmesbury, but adding that another choice would have augured more
favourably for the speedy conclusion of peace.

The conference at Lisle seems to have taken its colour all throughout
from this preliminary distrust of the English envoy. It lasted up to the
17th of September; and ended as it began, in a fruitless debate about
Lord Malmesbury's powers to treat in full. In the meanwhile, the event
known by the name of the Revolution of Fructidor took place in Paris,
the meeting was broken up, and Lord Malmesbury left Lisle on the 18th of
September.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Cleveland Row, Sept. 20th, 1797.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,

Late last night we got a messenger from Lord Malmesbury, with an
account that he was ordered away from Lisle, and was on his way to
London, where he arrived this morning. It is not easy to say
beforehand what effects it will produce here, where people's
spirits are so susceptible of alarm and depression; but I really
think, in the manner of doing the thing, the Directory have done
everything they could to play our game.

The dissatisfaction will be great in France, but they seem, for the
moment, completely masters there. Ireland is our weakest point, and
to that our attention must be most directed; for anything els