*T. 36.] EUROPEAN CRISIS. IOI 



When asked why, I always gave it b at' that" I j was out 

 of favour, or some such thing, in'oj-der toj tbftoV ,'itj ,c?4 

 myself, and let it appear that Lady Holland had de- 

 clined my acquaintance, not I hers. Nor did I ever 

 name her, except to defend her (from a love of con- 

 tradiction perhaps) when I heard her perpetually 

 attacked. I even said that there was no ground of 

 difference on her part. I could go no further. I have 

 lately understood that she knew of my saying so, and 

 her gratitude has been a species of abuse which I 

 really can't stoop to commit to paper. 



" I enclose a letter from Hogendorp, which will 

 show you, first, that the assumption of the sovereignty 

 was not a sudden thought ; and, second, that it was 

 not suggested from this country. Pray send it back 

 when you have read it. My letters were strong 

 exhortations to some things, particularly to impose 

 good terms on the Orange family, and not fall into the 

 error committed by us at the Kestoration. Believe me 

 ever most truly, H. B. 



"P. S. The fact of the Allies crossing the Ehine, 

 though confidently stated in the ' Times ' and * Courier/ 

 seems incredible probably a stock-jobbing trick. 



" The Emperor Alexander has alarmed our Govern- 

 ment into an offer to America by showing a leaning 

 towards neutral questions. The offer went in October, 

 and the answer is not returned. The ministers are 

 averse now to any separate peace with America. 



" A sagacious friend of mine, with whom I was one 

 day talking over Lady Holland's spiteful proceedings, 

 made a suggestion which I am inclined to think ex- 

 plained the real cause of offence. He had heard, I 



