de Colonne, and lastly, his removal and the throng of business occasioned by the Assemblee des Notables, have prevented the reducing the substance of the letter into the form of an Arret, as yet though I have continued soliciting it as much as circumstances would bear.  I am now promised that it shall be done immediately, and it shall be so far retrospective to the date of the letter, as that all duties paid since that, shall be refunded.

The new accessions of the ministry are valued here.  Good is hoped from the Archbishop of Toulouse, who succeeds the Count de Vergennes as Chef du Conseil de finance.  Monsieur de Villedeuil, the Comptroller General, has been approved by the public, in the offices he has heretofore exercised.  The Duke de Nivernois, called to the Council, is reckoned a good and able man; and Monsieur de Malesherbes, called also to the Council, is unquestionably the first character in the kingdom, for integrity, patriotism, knowledge, and experience in business.  There is a fear that the Marechal de Castries is disposed to retire.

The face of things in Europe is a little turbid, at present; but probably all will subside.  The Empress of Russia, it is supposed, will not push her pretensions against the Turks to actual war.  Weighing the fondness of the Emperor for innovation, against his want of perseverance, it is difficult to calculate what he will do with his discontented subjects in Brabant and Flanders.  If those provinces alone were concerned, he would probably give back; but this would induce an opposition to his plan, in all his other dominions.  Perhaps he may be able to find a compromise.  The cause of the Patriots in Holland is a little clouded at present.

England and Prussia seem disposed to interpose effectually.  The former has actually ordered a fleet of six sail of the line, northwardly, under Gore; and the latter threatens to put her troops into motion.  The danger of losing such a weight in their scale, as that of Prussia, would occasion this court to prefer conciliation to war.  Add to this, the distress of their finances, and perhaps not so warm a zeal in the new ministry for the innovations in Holland.  I hardly believe they will think it worth while to purchase the change of constitution proposed there, at the expense of a war.  But of these things, you will receive more particular and more certain details from Mr. Dumas, to whom they belong.

Mr. Eden is appointed ambassador from England to Madrid.  To the hatred borne us by his court and country, is added a recollection of the circumstances of the unsuccessful embassy to America, of which he made a part.  So that I think he will carry to Madrid, dispositions to do us all the ill he can.

The late change in the ministry is very favorable to the prospects of the Chevalier de la Luzerne.  The Count de Montmorin, Monsieur de Malesherbes, and Monsieur de Lamoignon, the Garde des Sceaux, are his near relations.  Probably something will be done for him, and without delay.  The promise of the former administration to the Count de Moutier, to succeed to this vacancy, should it take place, will perhaps be performed by the present one.