The death of the Grand Seignior, which has happened, renders the continuance of the war more probable, as it has brought to the throne a successor of a more active and ardent temper, and who means to put himself at the head of his armies.  He has declared the Captain Pacha his Generalissimo.  The prospects for Russia, on the other hand, are less encouraging.  Her principal ally, the Emperor, is at death’s door, blazing up a little indeed, from time to time like an expiring taper, but certainly to extinguish soon.  Denmark, too, is likely to be restrained by the threats of England and Prussia, from contributing even her stipulated naval succors.  It is some time since I have been able to obtain any account of the King of England, on which I can rely with confidence.  His melancholy continues, and to such a degree, as to render him absolutely indifferent to every thing that passes, so that he seems willing to let his ministers do every thing they please, provided they will let him alone.  When forced to speak, his comprehension seems better than it was in the first moments after his phrensy went off.  His health is bad:  he does not go into public at all, and very few are admitted to see him.  This is his present state, according to the best accounts I have been able to get lately.  His ministers dictate boldly in the north, because they know it is impossible they should be engaged in the war, while this country is so completely palsied.

You will have seen by my former letters, that the question, whether the States General should vote by persons or by orders, had stopped their proceedings in the very first instance in which it could occur, that is, as to the verification of their powers, and that they had appointed committees to try if there were any means of accommodation.  These could do nothing.  The King then proposed that they should appoint others, to meet persons whom he should name, on the same subject.  These conferences also proved ineffectual.  He then proposed a specific mode of verifying.  The clergy accepted it unconditionally; the Noblesse, with such conditions and modifications, as did away their acceptance altogether.  The Commons, considering this as a refusal, came to the resolution of the 10th instant (which I have the honor to send you), inviting the two other orders to come and take their places in the common room, and notifying that they should proceed to the verification of powers, and to the affairs of the nation, either with or without them.  The Clergy have, as yet, given no answer.  A few of their members have accepted the invitation of the Commons, and have presented themselves in their room, to have their powers verified; but how many it will detach, in the whole, from that body, cannot be known till an answer be decided on.  The Noblesse adhered to their former resolutions, and even the minority, well disposed to the Commons, thought they could do more good in their own chamber, by endeavoring to