moment for
the commencement of hostilities, than make common cause and fight
one common battle, which in my conscience I believe would be
successful. Indeed, the Austrian successes in driving the French to
the Rhine, if they are followed by similar success in Switzerland,
will almost justify one's hope that, even without Prussia, the
French may in this campaign be pushed back upon their own country;
and the continued state of insurrection in the Low Countries, where
the republican troops can scarcely restrain the inhabitants, give
good hopes on that side as soon as any solid force could be made to
bear in that quarter. The zeal and enthusiasm of the Court of
Petersburg increases every hour, and they will become very
immediately principals in the war against France, both by word and
deed.

In this immediate state of the negotiation, I am remaining here
more because there is an inclination in London to think I can do
good, than from any great good that is likely to be done. I am
very much obliged to you for your offer of a loan, which, however,
I hope will be unnecessary by the shortness of my stay. If that
should unexpectedly be prolonged, I will then have recourse to you
to assist by an advance the tardy payment of His Majesty's Envoys
Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary, who are always left in
arrears seven quarters for the better credit of the Court that
employs them. I hope my loss by the 'Proserpine' will turn out not
to exceed L600, as many things have been saved.

I trust you are now happy and well at Stowe. God bless you, dearest
brother.

By this time, Lord Buckingham had returned to England, and the next
despatch from Berlin is addressed to Stowe. The account of the
vacillation of the Court, and the sketch Mr. Grenville gives of the
King, are full of interest. Since he had last written, Suwaroff had
taken the command of the Austro-Russian armies in Italy, and in a short
time had expelled the French from the principal towns of the North,
which forced Macdonald to evacuate Naples, and cross the Apennines.

MR. T. GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Berlin, May 25th, 1799.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,

My last letters from Cleveland Row have, thank God, brought you
back safe and sound to your own fireside and to the many who share
the comforts of