Dropmore, Sept. 5th, 1799.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,
I was much obliged to you for your kindness to us in writing on the
subject of Lady B. We earnestly hope that all cause of uneasiness
to you on her account has ceased, and that both fever and cold are
gone. If you would let anybody write us a line to say so, you would
much oblige us.
You will have seen that, in spite of wind, we have succeeded at the
Texel. The Lieutenant says that the Dutch fleet had cut the buoys,
and run up into the Zuyder Zee. Lord D. was preparing to lay the
buoys down again, and to follow them, but it was not expected that
Storey would make any further resistance, more than half his fleet
being Stadtholderians.
The wind is now changed to the N.E., as if to bring our Russians.
The Dutch reported that they were to have had nine thousand French
at the Helder by the Wednesday night, but that is doubted. I have
not learnt what their actual force is, but it appears that there
were some Trench there. We have now about seventeen thousand men
there, and when the transports return, we can, if necessary, send
ten thousand more, besides our eighteen thousand Russians. I trust,
therefore, I am not very sanguine in thinking the business as
nearly certain as one can allow oneself to call anything in these
times.
But for the plans which we have in view, supposing this to
terminate well, and soon, we want full twenty thousand more British
force. Do you think it is possible to get them from the Militia?
and how? Dundas is revolving in his mind projects for the purpose,
but I should much wish to know from you whether you think the thing
practicable for a great object, and in what manner.
An idea has been proposed to me, which I think I shall not be at
liberty to decline, if, when the time comes, I should myself be
satisfied that I could be of more use than other people: it is to
go to Holland as Ambassador Extraordinary, carrying myself and my
office there for about a month or six weeks, to help to fix Old
Stadt a little more firmly in his chair. You know I had destined
Tom to this service, and if he should go, I still think my going
would be quite superfluous. He had agreed to undertake the service
as a temporary one only; but I have been since urged to press him
to go to Petersburg, to establish a further concert there, and I
trust he will not refuse the earnest entreaties we have made him on
that subject. You may suppose that I do not look to this as a very
pleasant interlude to my other business, but I cannot deny that it
is at least possible I may be of use there, and if so, I must
practise as I preach.
God bless you, my dearest brother.