He can bring into the field about seventy
thousand good cavalry. In the mean time, though nothing transpires
publicly of the confederation between France and the two empires,
mentioned in my letter of September the 19th, it is not the less sure
that it is on the carpet, and will take place. To the circumstances
before mentioned, may be added, as further indications of war, the
naming as Generalissimo of their marine on the Atlantic, Monsieur de
Suffrein, on the Mediterranean, Monsieur Albert de Rioms, the recalling
Monsieur de St. Priest, their ambassador, from Antwerp, before he had
reached the Hague, and the activity of their armies by sea. On the other
hand, the little movement by land would make one suppose they expected
to put the King of Prussia into other hands. They too, like the
Emperor, are arranging matters at home. The rigorous levy of the _deux
vingtiemes_ is enregistered, the stamp act and _impot territorial_ are
revoked, the parliament recalled, the nation soothed by these acts, and
inspired by the insults of the British court. The part of the Council
still leaning towards peace are become unpopular, and perhaps may feel
the effects of it.
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