St. James's Square, July 9th, 1794.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,
I am sincerely sorry to see that you do not entertain the same
hopes as I do of good from the new arrangements. I confess I think
it so great an object to have annihilated all distinction of
parties in this country among those who are attached to the present
order of things; and I feel that the late events abroad have given
so much more importance to this point, with a view to the internal
situation of this country, than it had before, that I cannot help
feeling very sanguine as to the consequences of the steps now taken
with that view. God only knows which of us is right, and time only
can show. In the meantime, _jacta est alea_, and we must abide by
it.
On the subject of war and peace, you state very truly, that nothing
is less probable than that peace should now be in our option. The
retreat to Antwerp has been decided, not by opinions here, nor even
by those of the Duke of York and Lord Cornwallis, but by the
necessity consequent upon the Austrian movements. Whether those
movements were right, I am not enough of a soldier, nor enough
informed as a statesman, to pretend to form an opinion. The
immediate effect of them is not necessarily the abandoning the
towns taken last year, which are in a state to maintain themselves
long, and to impede many of the operations of the enemy. Nor, as
long as the Austrians maintain their line from Louvain to Namur, is
the possibility of succouring them considered as desperate. What I
most fear in the present moment is the effect of despondency here
and abroad, without which I should see no reason why we should not,
as you suggest, fight the country over and over again, inch by
inch, with means and resources for carrying on the war, such as are
out of all comparison superior to those of the enemy. It would have
been a flattering and glorious thing, and a brilliant success, to
have terminated the war by the favourable result of a plan of
offensive operation in Flanders. If that has failed, I am very far
from thinking this a reason for abandoning a cause in the issue of
which I consider our existence as implicated. If we listen to the
ideas of peace in the present moment (even supposing it were
offered), it can be only because we confess ourselves unable to
carry on the war. Such a confession affords but a bad security
against the events which must follow, in Flanders, in Holland, and
(by a very rapid succession) in this island.
I do not know from whence the papers have got the idea of Lord
Camelford's return. He is not come, nor any officer or despatch,
from Vancouver, but I understand the ship has been heard of in
October last, all well. Many thanks for the offer of Paddington,
which we may probably be glad to avail ourselves of.
Ever, my dear brother,
Most affectionately yours,
G.
We have nothing new from Lord Hood; and I am told that officers who
know the coast do not speak favourably of the chance of doing
anything against the French fleet in their present situation.
The failure of the Imperialists had thrown a serious damp on the spirits
of the allies. It appears to have been thought the Austrians had not
shown sufficient energy and determination; and it was resolved to send
over Lord Spencer and Mr. Thomas Grenville to Vienna, in the hope of
inducing them to make more vigorous exertions. A subsequent letter from
Mr. Thomas Grenville to the Duke of Portland contains an admirable
report of the progress of the mission.