JET. 35.] FOREIGN POLITICS. 83 



troops and positions, and must proceed from calculation 

 of the Allied force somewhat different from ours, which 

 are indeed manifestly gross exaggerations. It is use- 

 less, as well as endless, to speculate in such a state of 

 things ; but if he really drives Austria to the side of 

 the Allies, it must be because her demands were nearly 

 as high as she can hope to carry by beating him. 

 Suppose she has said Retire from Germany, and get 

 behind the Rhine, and give up Italy and Holland, or 

 even Italy without Holland ; for to speak of Holland 

 being independent while Belgium is thoroughly French 

 is preposterous. He may naturally enough think that 

 he can retreat upon some such project, after a kind of 

 drawn campaign, or even after having the worst of it. 

 No one can count upon such an army as his being 

 routed when frost is out of the question, and I don't 

 believe even the ' Morning Post/ or the very Regent 

 himself, dreams of attacking France ; so that, upon the 

 whole, we are as usual laying in stores of disappoint- 

 ment, upon the most favourable supposition, to say 

 nothing of the chance of his beating them all, and 

 making separate peaces, which I suppose a man had 

 better be hanged at once than drop a hint of. 



" Pray give my best remembrances and respects to 

 both the Lady Greys, and to Lady Eobert e tuti quanti. 



" My accident leaves me, after all, a good deal cut 

 up, some parts of my head and face being tender, and 

 others quite numbed and dead, which is far more dis- 

 agreeable than the pain. But I really must say for 

 this country that it has a most uncommon treasure 

 in Mr Horner, who exceeds anything I ever saw for 

 neatness of hand, besides being very clever and sensible. 

 To be sure, he lives in a district where half the popu- 



