As for conquering America, without foreign troops, it is entirely impossible; and I think it pretty near a certainty that the Rebels will be in possession of all America by the spring.  By the news of Fort St. John’s and Chambley, and the investiture of Quebec, their diligence and activity is wonderful, and it must end in the possession of all N(orth) Am(erica).  They have taken a store-ship, and have several ships at sea.  De peu a peu nous arrivons; if they go on so another year—­fuit Ilium et ingens gloria—­we shall make but a paltry figure in the eye of Europe.  Come to town, and be witness to the fall, or the re-establishment, of our puissant Empire. . . .

Little of Selwyn’s correspondence in 1776 and 1777 has been preserved.  Possibly he wrote less, and made a long stay at Castle Howard.  “I have more bon jours and bon soirs for her en poche,” referring to his little child-friend, Caroline Howard, “than I shall be able to give her during the whole time I shall stay at Castle H.”  For the despatch of political news he trusted, as he often did, to Storer.  “I hope that Storer gives you a more particular account of what is said in the House than I can do.  What is he employing himself about?  Why won’t he attempt to say something?  What signifies, knowing what Cicero said and how he said it, if a man cannot open his mouth to deliver one sentence of his own?” But Storer, like many able and cultivated men, was more critical of his own powers than those who want both talent and knowledge.  He was not, however, altogether neglectful of Selwyn’s wishes, and he presently sent Carlisle some political news, but of no great interest.

Selwyn himself was in somewhat low spirits, he was as we know troubled by Mie Mie’s parents, and he longed for the society of Carlisle and his family.

(1777, Feb.) Tuesday night.—. . .  As to my own situation I cannot say it is a happy (one), although I have so much more than I could have expected.  I have, indeed, for the present all I ever wished, but I have also the strongest assurances given me that at all events things shall continue for some time in the state in which they now are.  But whoever upon that concludes that I must be easy is either ignorant or indifferent to the feelings of mankind.  The bare possibility of be[ing] rendered so unhappy as I should be made upon a change of their resolution, or from the operations of caprice and travers, I say the mere apprehensions of that, even slightly founded, prevent my mind from being in that equilibre which is absolutely necessary to my tranquillity.  We are, I say, at present going on very well, in as good and regular a progress of education as it is possible; both Mie Mie and I as tractable as it is possible; et troubler ce menage seroit une cruaute sans example.

I have also to grieve at other times for a great deprivation of part of my happiness; that, I mean, to which you contributed, Lady C(arlisle) and your children.  There is a hiatus valde deflendus; indeed, a lacune which I do not know how to fill up, and I sigh over the prospect of it perpetually, and without seeing my way out of it.