and to contribute
to our further relief, as far as the exigencies of the State will
permit him. These, I have reason to think, are urgent and great, and
that the funds arising from the revenues and loans are, for the most
part, appropriated before they are received.

I am not informed, that any positive answer has been given yet to the
Emperor's offer of mediation. It is ill-timed, and I believe, in
reality, is not well taken. I know that this Court is about to send a
Minister to Berlin, where they have had none for a long time. The
circumstances of such an appointment at this juncture, seem to imply
apprehensions of the Emperor's intentions. I enclose two extracts of
letters sent to me by M. Dumas, which contain intelligence that
indicates the intentions of the Empress of Russia. The first letter I
know to be genuine, for I saw the substance of it here in _good_
hands, before I received M. Dumas's letter. If the Empress does not
openly declare against England, she will, at all events, protect the
Dutch commerce, and this must terminate speedily in open hostilities.
I have observed, of late, a change of conduct in the Russian
Ambassador at this Court, whom I have an opportunity of meeting
frequently in company; from being cold and distant, he is complaisant
and affable. I also find him very attentive to the French Ambassador.

Portugal has been much pressed by Russia to accede to the treaty of
the armed neutrality, but the English party at this Court is too
strong to expect success from these applications. The attachment of
this King to his deceased sister, and at present to his niece, the
Queen of Portugal, will prevent any violent measures being taken by
our ally or Spain, to force that nation to adopt other measures. The
republican party in Holland are in good spirits. Zealand has dropped
the opposition it made to hostile measures, so that at present there
is an unanimity in the States on that interesting point.

The troops for America were embarked, or embarking, the last of the
past month. They consist of three or four thousand men (recruits
included), and of Fullarton's and another ragged regiment, to use the
words of Mr Edmund Jennings, who gives this information. The greater
part of these, it is supposed, are destined to the East Indies, and
Commodore Johnson is named by the public to command an expedition,
which is to attack the Cape of Good Hope on its passage. The Ministry
in England is the same. They hav