ated with the applause he
received, he forgot all that had occurred here and all the
resolutions of the Allies, and flourished off speeches in direct
contradiction to them, and announced his determination to
comprehend the disputed provinces in his new kingdom. It is no
wonder that this excited the indignation of the King of Holland,
but it is unfortunate that he could not be patient a little
longer. Notwithstanding his march, however, his Plenipotentiary
here has full power to treat of all the disputed points, and is
authorised to put a stop to hostilities at any moment when he can
see the prospect of satisfaction; it is, however, believed here
(though at present not on any sufficient grounds) that Prussia
secretly supports the King of Holland. The danger is that France
may without any further communication with her Allies consider
the aggression of the Dutch as a justification of a corresponding
movement on her part, and should this happen the Prussians would
no longer deem themselves bound by the common obligations which
united all the conferring and mediating Powers, and a general war
would infallibly ensue. Nor is it unlikely that the French
Ministry, beset as they are with difficulties, and holding their
offices _de die in diem_, may think a war the best expedient
for occupying the nation and bringing all the restless spirits
and unquiet humours into one focus. I have long been of opinion
that such mighty armaments and such a nervous state of things
cannot end without a good deal of blood-letting. [The Prussians
did not support the Dutch, the French did march, and war did not
ensue.--August 28th.]

[3] [This account of Leopold's arrival in Belgium is hardly
fair, and forms an amusing contrast to Baron Stockmar's
narrative of the same occurrence in his 'Memoirs,' p.
180. Unquestionably Leopold showed far more foresight,
judgment, and resolution than Mr. Greville gave him
credit for. He was not accompanied by 'any person of
weight or consequence' from this country, because that
would have given him the air of a puppet and a British
nominee. But Stockmar was with him. The King entered
Brussels on the 21st of July, and was well received. On
the 4th of August the Dutch broke the truce and invaded
Belgium. It was impossible to provide against so sudden
a movement, and the Army of the Scheldt w