e
disposed to turn our subsidy to the object of raising other force,
of whatever nature, so as, if possible, to form a separate British
and Dutch army, destined to act under Lord Cornwallis, without the
pretence or show of concert with either of the German Powers.

With respect to your remaining at Vienna, you will easily conceive,
that having a project of this nature to propose, none of us thought
we should give it its fair chance if we put it into other hands
than those in which the business now is. We allow for your natural
desire of quitting a scene which, God knows, must be mortifying
enough to men who feel how much of the safety of Europe depends on
the conduct of the Austrian Government, and who see how unfit that
Government is to be trusted with the interests of the smallest
corporation. But we are confident that as long as there may remain
the hope of doing so much good as would, we trust, be done by the
complete success of the present plan, you will not be unwilling to
give your assistance to it.

With respect to what you mention about yourself, you know my wishes
on the subject, but I certainly will not urge them beyond what you
are disposed to do. The proposal Lord Fitzwilliam makes to you is,
I fairly own, in my apprehension, one less eligible than that of
Vienna; but I fear a nearer view of that Court has rather
strengthened than diminished your indisposition to that situation.
You know, as well as I do, all the _desagremens_ belonging to the
post of Irish Secretary; but it is certainly an important and
honourable one, and such as to afford you ample room for showing
yourself such as you are: more, perhaps, than many others which
commonly rank higher in public estimation. My objection to it is
the banishment, which obtains as much as in the foreign missions,
and certainly to the most disagreeable of all countries. I do not
know well how to make myself quite a disinterested adviser; but if
I was to give you fairly the result of my thoughts upon it, I
should still beg you to look at the foreign line, and if that must
not be, I should then say _yes_ to the question of Ireland.

Supposing that _yes_ were decided, let me ask you whether your
remaining some time longer at Vienna, so as finally to conclude,
not the leading points only