We just now
hear of the death of the Speaker of the House of Commons, before
the nomination of a regent, which adds a new embarrassment to the
re-establishment of government in England. Since writing mine of
November the 29th, yours of the 23rd of September has come to hand. As
the General of the Mathurins was to be employed in the final redemption
of our captives, I thought that their previous support had better be
put into his hands, and conducted by himself in such a way as not to
counterwork his plan of redemption, whenever we can enable him to begin
on it. I gave him full powers as to the amount and manner of subsisting
them. He has undertaken it, informing me, at the same time, that it
will be on a very low scale, to avoid suspicion of its coming from the
public. He spoke of but three sous a day per man, as being sufficient
for their physical necessaries, more than which, he thinks it not
advisable to give. I have no definitive answer yet from our bankers,
whether we may count on the whole million last agreed to be borrowed,
but I have no doubt of it, from other information, though I have not
their formal affirmative.
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