^T. 36.] EUROPEAN CRISIS. 103 



able recognition of the principle that the people alone 

 have a right to alter their own government. From 

 what appears in the public papers, I should suspect that 

 your friend rather overrates the prodiges which I' amour 

 de la patrie is to exhibit. From the proclamations 

 that have appeared, and from accounts which I have 

 seen from some of our officers, it looks as if Mynheer 

 was not quite so alert as he ought to be. 



" The Allies, you see, have passed the Ehine. It now 

 remains to be seen whether the French will answer the 

 call of Bonaparte. If they do, the next passage of that 

 river may not be quite so triumphant. If they do not, 

 the total destruction of his power is not improbable. 

 Calculating upon past experience and upon the French 

 character, I should incline to the former opinion. 

 Judging from the tone of Bonaparte and his Senate 

 in their late speeches, addresses, &c., there appear 

 symptoms of uneasiness and weakness which warrant 

 the latter. We shall soon see. 



" Upon the other part of your letter I will say no 

 more at present, except that where there are so many 

 motives to a good understanding and friendship, it is 

 very vexatious that any difference should exist, and 

 that I will not despair that some time or other an op- 

 portunity may offer of setting these matters right again. 

 Upon the particular fact respecting the seat I cannot 

 judge, not knowing what it was ; perhaps you may 

 have some difficulty in communicating it : if not, I 

 should be glad to know it, and certainly would endea- 

 vour to get to the bottom of it. 



" I still feel the effects of my late attack, but I am 

 on the whole pretty well. Ever yours, 



" GREY/' 



