The state of public affairs is quite deplorable. Since the doubtful gleam of Saturday last all hopes have disappeared, and the prospects of affairs seem to be nearly the worst possible. Accident excepted, we may expect in the course of a few days to hear of Buonaparte’s being at Paris. It seems clear that the regular troops will not meet him face to face, and his march is, therefore, unimpeded. The King’s speech on the 16th has all the appearance of being an expiring effort; and I hear that the Bourbonistes have no better hope than that of making a respectable stand in the North and West of France, till they can receive assistance from the Allies; a wretched foundation of hope! After what has passed it would be little short of madness to attempt to place the Bourbons on the throne of France; yet I am afraid that this country will be speedily engaged in projects of this description.
Abercrombie tells me that Lord Castlereagh’s speech last night was a most disgusting avowal and exhibition of those selfish and profligate principles which have disgraced the conduct of the Allied Powers, especially at the Congress. He came to me this morning in great despair at the state of the country, delivered over, as it now is at this important crisis, to this most abandoned and dangerous system of Politics.
It is some consolation that Lord Grey and (I believe) Lord Grenville are entirely averse to any interference in the internal government of France, or even to a war for the possession of Belgium, which
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| Revolution in France |
You inquire about the Lansdownes. They, of course, have postponed all thoughts of a continental journey till they see what course events take in France. It is a grievous disappointment, especially to Lady L.
