possibility of attempting our expedition,1 on which so much depends, and which could not be undertaken with common prudence under the risk of the Texel fleet coming upon the covering squadron when they were on the coast. We have on these grounds strained every nerve to make up a tolerably decent fleet without raising the blockade of the Texel, and though it will be composed of many sixty-fours and ships wanting some repairs &c., I think we shall succeed in having a sufficient force to put a good countenance upon the thing in case the worst should happen. I will not trouble you with more at present, but must beg, if you can, that you will let me hear from you about the arrangement for the Marines by to-morrow's post, in order that I may be prepared to talk to the King on Wednesday. I meant to have sailed down to you, but under the present circumstances I think my proper post is at the Admiralty where I shall remain at least till dinner-time every day.

Believe me, my dear Sir,

Yours very sincerely,
SPENCER.

PITT TO SPENCER

Walmer Castle. 6th August, 1799.

My dear Lord,-Being but just returned from visiting the Camp at Barham, I have little more than time to acknowledge your letter of yesterday before the post goes out. I do not know to what degree it is usual to observe Seniority in the succession to the office of General of Marines,

1 The Helder.

but unless it is an established rule, I confess that notwithstanding Admiral Barrington's former merits as an officer I should doubt, considering how little he has served as an Admiral, and for how long a time he has declined all Chief Command, whether he ought to be admitted as a Candidate for the highest honours of the profession. They would, I think, be better bestowed on any of those who have continued throughout in active service, and out of that description, I suppose Lord Bridport, from standing, would have the best pretensions. He would of course then vacate at least one of the situations he now holds, which might make room for some other distinguished officer. I do not know precisely enough the value of General of Marines to judge whether it would be worth his while to give up both. If you think that it would on the whole be best that he should retire, but at the same time want him for the present purpose, there could, I conceive, be no difficulty in his going with the Command just now on an understanding that he is to quit as soon as this service is over. I own however that I do not see where you could find a successor, unless Lord Duncan is in sufficient health, or Lord St. Vincent should recover on his way home, or unless you should think it right to bring Lord Hood again into service. I do not mention the latter on account of any personal wish, but merely as thinking it right to suggest for your consideration whatever occurs to I am very sorry we must lose the pleasure of seeing you here, but your presence in town is certainly necessary just now. I rejoice that you can collect the force you mention, without stripping this quarter, and have no doubt that if either the fleet from home meets the enemy, or

me.

Lord Keith's overtakes them, we shall soon hear a good account. Between the two, it will be hard if they escape.

Believe me, my dear Lord,

Yours very sincerely,

W. PITT.

SIR JOHN DALRYMPLE TO

EARL SPENCER

23rd August, 1799.

If the idea of trying a boat made of a number of pasteboard plies should be adopted, it would be proper to pay the bottom with coal tar and unslacked hot lime boiled together, which must be laid on instantly, and in a few minutes it will dry. To my certain knowledge the mixture will keep out water.

A Russian Winter Campaign

It appears from D'Avila's history, that the great lines of the war of the league in France were carried on on the Seine, because both sides knew that whoever commanded the line commanded Paris, and whoever had Paris, had France. Both parties had a fleet of small craft upon the Seine, and their armies often on both sides of the Seine. The fleets carried the sick, the stores, the weary, and relieved the troops, and transported them from one side of the river to the other as they pleased. Now the very same use might be made of a Russian debarkation which would find itself in a paradise climate there instead of a climate to which they have been accustomed. Even when the Baltic was frozen up the troops

could be brought by land to Gluckstadt and from that Gluckstadt by sea to the Seine. I once stated the idea to the Comte D'Artois and said I understood there were strong forts at the mouth of the river. He said it was a mistake; that there were forts, but they were not strong, and pointed them out to me. The expense would be cheap. The pay of a regiment of a thousand men officers included is twenty thousand pounds a year in England, but the King of Prussia in his memoirs says that a German Regiment of the same number cost seven thousand a year, and a Prussian one much less. Their food costs a trifle. I was often on board the Russian Squadron when here. The food of the men was boiled grain and their liquor quas, with a dram after it, and they slept on the floor. The Seine, with Picardy on the one hand and Normandy on the other, is the granary of France for grain on the one side and for cattle on the other, and the country is full of houses and provisions. During the last French war I was three times in France. I went and returned from Paris to Rouen in boats, chaises and on horseback, and the reason was I had stated the idea to Lord George Germain and was anxious to know if I was right.

At the beginning of the present War I sent a memorial in detail to Lord Grenville on this subject, which I understand was sent to Lord Amherst who at the end of his life was a mere pedant in his trade. If the paper be lost I shall if your lordship desires it go through my papers for mine. I remember there were many new facts of observations in it which had escaped looks. An attack on the Seine would rob Paris even of fuel. The woods of Burgundy are destroyed. The only resource lies in Normandy.

Or if a winter campaign on the Seine be not liked, the Russian landing might be either on the Isthmus of Camaret, or on the mainland of either of the two Bays to the West of Brest and on that side either make a lodgment to command the passage between the Bay of Brest and the ocean or lay siege to Brest. The more places in which France and Russia are set by the ears, the better for England. The Russians will be animated with success, irritated by the want of it, and made keen even by suspense.

Movements of Suwarrow's Army

How Suwarrow's army should be employed is a very nice question. It may have three objects, an attack upon Toulon, a march through Burgundy into the heart of France, or a junction with the Allied armies on the frontiers between Germany and France. The first is the worst, the last is the best. My reasons follow.

First, with regard to Toulon, the Allies attempted it in the reign of Queen Anne but failed. The English took it by treachery in this war, but could not keep it. It was a great object at that time, because a great French navy was the prize of the victor. But there is no such prize there now. The demolition of its defences and even docks is no great object because both can be repaired. The only advantages seem that the troops might be carried by water where they could get no grapes to eat on board, nor in their besieging lines, the eating of which I shall immediately show will be probably the destruction of a Russian Armament. The only other advantage would be to afford a pretence for pressing the Turks to send a fleet and armament to

III.

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