new occurs to you upon it, let me hear it. If not, we
will talk it over when we meet; but as that is always precarious,
write if you have anything to suggest upon it.

Ever yours,
G.

A year, memorable in the annals of the war for the European confederacy
which was formed by the energies of England to resist the aggressions of
France, and for the successes by which it was crowned, was now drawing
to a close. How much of that vast machinery of diplomacy, of that
activity in council and promptitude in action, by which the happy
results were obtained, may be justly attributed to the genius and
firmness of the distinguished statesmen whose correspondence forms the
substance of these volumes, need scarcely be pointed out; nor would it
be becoming in this work to pronounce the eulogy which their virtues and
patriotism deserve. That grateful duty may be securely left to history.

The last letter of the year appropriately terminates the record of its
events, by a general outline of the projects that were contemplated and
in preparation for the arduous and important period that marked the
opening of the nineteenth century.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Cleveland Row, Nov. 6th, 1799.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,

I have just received your letter. My business seems to increase
upon me so much that I fear I must abandon all hope of my Stowe
project. I heartily wish that I could see the means of executing
the idea you mention, but our force is not as yet sufficient for
the purpose, especially considering that the possession of the
country would give the enemy such incalculable advantage over an
army whose communication would be maintained in that season across
the Channel. We cannot well put the army brought back from Holland
at more than thirty thousand effective men, including Russians.
Twenty or twenty-five thousand Militia volunteers, English and
Irish, may be added to this during the winter if our last measure
succeeds, and other additions will also be gradually coming
forward; but I doubt whether even then we shall have enough to
encounter the mass of force which the enemy could bring against us
in his own country, if not occupied by some serious attack on the
other side.

Our system must therefore, I think, of necessity be this, viz.: to
complete the winter in negotiating on the continent