Cleveland Row, May 5th, 1797.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,
The messenger is arrived this morning, and has brought us the
confirmation of the Paris reports. The preliminaries were signed on
the 18th; but we are still uninformed of the particulars of the
conditions, except that they contain a stipulation for a Congress
at Berne, to which the allies of the two parties are to be invited.
I believe, from what I can collect from the very defective
information which has yet reached us, that the articles have been
drawn in so much haste and confusion, and by persons so little used
to transact points of this nature, that they are unintelligible,
and require explanation before they can be made public, or even
communicated to other Courts. Thugut has resigned--this step having
been taken in contradiction to his opinion--and a Count Cobenzl,
now Austrian Minister at Petersburg, is supposed to be destined to
succeed him. This is, in the whole of it, a great event, and big
with the greatest consequences, whether good or bad--_caliginosa
nocte premit Deus_.
You cannot see the state of Ireland more gloomily than I do.
Possibly, if we have peace, that may leave us more at liberty to
act in that quarter; but even then, what force have we? and to what
objects are we to direct it, when the gentlemen are all flying from
their duty, and either joining the adverse standard, or at best
deserting their posts?
I rejoice to hear so good an account of your son, and I trust the
attack is now over, though the recovery of strength must naturally
be very slow.
Ever, my dear brother,
Most affectionately yours,
G.
Wells's ship's crew being harangued by him refused to cheer with
the other ships, till the 'Glory' loaded her guns to fire upon her.