y the Grand Pensionary, but a very slight one, of the Duke of
Brunswick's letter to their High Mightinesses as taken _ad referendum_
by the several Provinces. The nobility has acquainted the Provincial
Assembly with the desire of the Stadtholder of presenting to their
High Mightinesses, a proposition of his own, for having inquired into
the causes of the defenceless state and inactivity of the Republic,
and the means to be taken, &c. But the cities have declined
countenancing it, and even the taking it _ad referendum_, because
there was already such a proposition made by the city of Amsterdam, a
_membrum integrans_ of the Republic, on which they had received their
instructions. The Stadtholder was present, and visibly disappointed.

Yesterday I was shown in confidence a despatch just now received from
Petersburg, purporting an insinuation[44] made to the Dutch
Plenipotentiary, by that Court; "That the said Court had agreed with
the Emperor of Germany, to treat at Vienna for procuring a general
pacification between the belligerent powers; and if therefore their
High Mightinesses should be inclined to intrust both their Imperial
Majesties with a mediation in behalf of this Republic, they might make
overtures in consequence to Prince Galitzin, the Russian Minister at
the Hague." The republicans here are of opinion, that, instead of
this, vigorous measures should be taken immediately with the
belligerent powers; to which the opposite party will by no means
listen.

_July 10th._ The offered mediation will be accepted, even by the
advice of the patriots; because they apprehend, if they do not, the
opposite party would continue to insist upon begging for peace
directly in England, either by the good offices, as they call them, of
the Sardinian Envoy at London, who is entirely at their and the
British Court's devotion, or by sending deputies from hence. The final
resolution of this Province, concerning the important proposition of
Amsterdam, is delayed till the next ordinary Assembly, by cavilling on
the expression of _next Assembly_, used in the proposition, as if this
Assembly, an extraordinary one, was but a prolongation of the last.

_July 13th._ The report which was current on the 10th, of the Emperor
being inclined to support the Duke of Brunswick has proved false. I
know from the best authority, that quite the reverse is true. When the
monarch arrived, the Duke sent to him for permission to wait on him.
Instead of whi