ome time, as a part of the King's disorder is an
agitation and flurry of spirits, which hardly gives him any
rest. I need not mention to you, that I should not allow myself
to say all this, but in the strictest confidence, and that,
independently of the King's great dislike to its being known
that he is ill, we have the strongest reasons of policy, both
foreign and domestic, in the present moment particularly, to
wish that idea not to prevail.

Your conjecture about Denmark and Sweden, and your subsequent
reasoning upon it, are both perfectly just. The Cabinet of the
former is, in the present moment, entirely subservient to the
views of Russia, which are to annihilate Sweden, and thereby to
gain the entire dominion of the north. Both Prussia and England
have a strong and evident interest to prevent the accomplishment
of this plan, but it can be done only by a vigorous exertion.
Such an exertion is now making; and I certainly think that if we
had any enemies able to stir, it would involve us in a most
unwelcome, though necessary war. But I rely with no little
confidence upon the weakness of France, whose difficulties,
instead of being at all diminished, are hourly increasing; their
public credit falling even below what it was at the time of
Neckar's appointment, and their discontents again getting to the
most serious pitch. Add to this, that we have every reason to
believe that we have the concurrence and good wishes of Spain in
the object which we are pursuing, and I think we have, I may
say, nothing to apprehend from measures which would, in any
other situation of Europe, be most critical indeed. The K. of P.
has already _required_ Denmark to evacuate Sweden, under the
threat of the invasion of Holstein; and we are seconding him
with remonstrances very near as strong, though couched in more
conciliatory terms. It remains to see what she will do.

I am called away, and have only time to add that the account of
the King this morning, from Sir G. Baker, is _much_ more
favourable; and that if he does well, there is a plan now, I
believe settled, by which the arrangement about which you
inquire will certainly take place before the meeting of
Parliament.

Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.

The lecture on punctuality alluded to, occurs in a previous letter, in