a scheme?  You are, no doubt, much acquainted with the Russian Resident, Soltikow; Why should you not sound him, as entirely from yourself, upon this subject?  You may ask him, What, does your Court intend to go on next year in the pay of France, to destroy the liberties of all Europe, and throw universal monarchy into the hands of that already great and always ambitious Power?  I know you think, or at least call yourselves, the allies of the Empress Queen; but is it not plain that she will be, in the first place, and you in the next, the dupes of France?  At this very time you are doing the work of France and Sweden:  and that for some miserable subsidies, much inferior to those which I am sure you might have, in a better cause, and more consistent with the true interest of Russia.  Though not empowered, I know the manner of thinking of my own Court so well upon this subject, that I will venture to promise you much better terms than those you have now, without the least apprehensions of being disavowed.  Should he listen to this, and what more may occur to you to say upon this subject, and ask you, ’En ecrirai je d ma cour?  Answer him, ‘Ecrivez, ecrivex, Monsieur hardiment’.  Je prendrai tout cela sur moi’.  Should this happen, as perhaps, and as I heartily wish it may, then write an exact relation of it to your own Court.  Tell them that you thought the measure of such great importance, that you could not help taking this little step toward bringing it about; but that you mentioned it only as from yourself, and that you have not in the least committed them by it.  If Soltikow lends himself in any degree to this, insinuate that, in the present situation of affairs, and particularly of the King’s Electoral dominions, you are very sure that his Majesty would have ’une reconnoissance sans bornes’ for all those by whose means so desirable a revival of an old and long friendship should be brought about.  You will perhaps tell me that, without doubt, Mr. Keith’s instructions are to the same effect:  but I will answer you, that you can, if you please, do it better than Mr. Keith; and in the next place that, be all that as it will, it must be very advantageous to you at home, to show that you have at least a contriving head, and an alertness in business.

I had a letter by the last post, from the Duke of Newcastle, in which he congratulates me, in his own name and in Lord Hardwicke’s, upon the approbation which your dispatches give, not only to them two, but to others.  This success, so early, should encourage your diligence and rouse your ambition if you have any; you may go a great way, if you desire it, having so much time before you.

I send you here inclosed the copy of the Report of the three general officers, appointed to examine previously into the conduct of General M——­t; it is ill written, and ill spelled, but no matter; you will decipher it.  You will observe, by the tenor of it, that it points strongly to a court-martial; which, no doubt, will soon be held upon him.  I presume there will be no shooting in the final sentence; but I do suppose there will be breaking, etc.