PARIS, Sept. 22, 1787.
SIR,--When I had the honor of addressing you this morning, intelligence
was handing about, which I did not think well enough authenticated to
communicate to you. As it is now ascertained, I avail myself of the
chance that another post may yet reach Havre before the departure of
the packet. This will depend on the wind, which has for some days been
unfavorable. I must premise, that this court, about ten days ago,
declared, by their Chargé des Affaires in Holland, that if the Prussian
troops continued to menace Holland with an invasion, his Majesty was
determined, in quality of ally, to succor that province. An _official_
letter from the Hague, of the 18th instant, assures that the Prussian
army entered the territory of Holland on the 15th, that most of the
principal towns had submitted, some after firing a gun or two, others
without resistance; that the Rhingrave de Salm had evacuated Utretcht,
with part of the troops under his command, leaving behind him one
hundred and forty-four pieces of cannon, with great warlike stores;
that the standard of Orange was hoisted everywhere; that no other
cockade could be worn at the Hague; that the States General were to
assemble that night for reinstating the Stadtholder in all his rights.
The letter concludes, "we have this moment intelligence that Woerden
has capitulated; so that Amsterdam remains without defence." So far the
letter. We know, otherwise, that Monsieur de St. Priest, who had set
out on his embassy to the Hague, has stopped at Antwerp, not choosing
to proceed further till new orders. This court has been completely
deceived, first by its own great desire to avoid a war, and secondly by
calculating that the King of Prussia would have acted on principles of
common sense, which would surely have dictated, that a power, lying
between the jaws of Russia and Austria, should not separate itself from
France, unless, indeed, he had assurances of dispositions in those two
powers, which are not supposed to exist. On the contrary, I am
persuaded that they ask the alliance of France, whom we suppose to be
under hesitations between her reluctance to abandon the Turks, her
jealousy of increasing by their spoils, the power of the two empires,
and the inability to oppose them. If they cannot obtain her alliance,
they will surely join themselves to England and Prussia.
Official advices are received, that the first division of the Russian
army has passed the Borysthenes into the Polish Ukraine, and is
marching towards the frontiers of Turkey. Thus, we may consider the
flames of war as completely kindled in two distinct parts of this
quarter of the globe, and that though France and England have not yet
engaged themselves in it, the probabilities are, that they will do it.
I have the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir,
your most obedient, and most humble servant.