I will notify it to him, who is at
present with his Provincial Assembly in Auvergne.
Little is said lately of the progress of the negotiations between
the courts of Petersburg, Vienna, and Versailles. The distance of the
former, and the cautious, unassuming character of its minister here,
is one cause of delays: a greater one is, the greediness and instable
character of the Emperor. Nor do I think that the Principal here,
will be easily induced to lend himself to any connection, which shall
threaten a war within a considerable number of years. His own reign
will be that of peace only, in all probability; and were any accident
to tumble him down, this country would immediately gird on its sword and
buckler, and trust to occurrences for supplies of money. The wound their
honor has sustained, festers in their hearts; and it may be said with
truth, that the Archbishop and a few priests, determined to support his
measures, because proud to see their order come again into power, are
the only advocates for the line of conduct which has been pursued. It is
said, and believed through Paris literally, that the Count de
Montmorin '_pleuroit comme un enfant_,' when obliged to sign the
counter-declaration.
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