SIR ANDREW MITCHELL TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

(Secret.)

MY LORD,

Berlin, August 21, 1766.

I HAD the honour of your Lordship's secret letter of the 8th, by Lambe the messenger, acquainting me with his Majesty's royal purpose to establish a firm and solid system, for the maintenance of the public tranquillity. In my letter to Mr. Secretary Conway of this date, I have explained at length the reasons that induce me neither to write to, nor to follow his Prussian Majesty into Silesia. (1) It

(1) In the letter here referred to, Sir Andrew, after stating the embarrassment into which he had been thrown by the absence of the King of Prussia, proceeds to relate what had passed in his mind on this occasion. "After reading," he says, "your dispatch with the greatest attention, the first thought that occurred to me was to write directly to the King of Prussia, but, upon trial, I found it so extremely difficult, that I despaired of being able to execute it to my own satisfaction; for I believe it next to impossible to make such insinuations by letter, as may be naturally and easily thrown out in conversation. The next thought that started was immediately to follow the King of Prussia into Silesia, and there to communicate by word of mouth to him the contents of your letter; but to this two objections arose in my mind, which I take leave humbly to submit to your judgment. The first is, the little time that would thereby be saved, as there is hardly any possibility of being able to meet with his Prussian Majesty (who travels with the greatest velocity) in less than fifteen days, being informed that he intends to visit the county of Glatz, Neisse, and other strong places in Silesia, before the reviews and encampments of the troops in that province begin. The second objection which, I confess, weighs more with me than the first, is, that from the knowledge I have of that monarch's temper, I would

is needless, therefore, to repeat them, though I flatter myself they will be approved of by your Lordship.

The nomination of Mr. Stanley as his Majesty's ambassador to the court of Russia, and his journey by the way of Berlin, in order to open the whole plan to that monarch, before any overture has been made to the court of Petersburg, is a mark of such confidence on the part of his Majesty, as I hope will make suitable impressions on the mind of his Prussian Majesty; and I am firmly of opinion, that if that monarch will but reflect coolly and deliberately on his own situation, unallied, surrounded with jealous enemies, dreaded, but not beloved in the empire, he will plainly see, that nothing can tend so much to his security, nor towards the establishing and perpetuating of that weight and influence he has acquired in Europe, as a hearty and sincere concurrence in this noble plan, proposed by his Majesty for a triple alliance, which will secure

not choose to open a matter of such moment in an abrupt manner; nor when his mind is employed in military occupations, which so totally possess him during their continuance, as to draw off all his attention to every thing else. Besides, a journey undertaken by me into Silesia so suddenly, and in the present situation of affairs, could not fail to alarm the foreign ministers at this court, and perhaps to discover what I conclude, from your despatch, is still a secret. For these considerations, I have resolved to wait with patience the return of his Prussian Majesty to Potsdam, when I shall ask an audience, in which I shall endeavour to obey, with the greatest punctuality, the instructions contained in your letter, or any commands I may receive from his Majesty before that time."

peace upon a solid basis to the present age, and afford a prospect of tranquillity to the next.

How far the impressions the King of Prussia has received of the fickleness and unsteadiness of our government, may influence him to be shy with regard to entering into any engagements with Great Britain, I cannot venture to conjecture, as he has never opened himself to me upon that head; but if, from these motives, any such aversion should appear, I shall do the best in my power to endeavour to remove them; and where I fail, I hope Mr. Stanley's superior abilities will succeed. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect and the most sincere affection, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most obliged,

and most humble servant,

ANDREW MITCHELL.

SIR ANDREW MITCHELL TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

(Private: for your

Lordship only.)

MY LORD,

Berlin, August 21, 1766.

UPON my arrival here, I took the earliest opportunity of making your Lordship's compliments to the King of Prussia, which were extremely well received; and he desired me to take the first proper occasion of assuring you of his esteem and friend

ship, as well as of the sense he had of your constant attachment and regard for him; and he concluded with saying, that he hoped your Lordship would again be prevailed upon to take a share in government. I told him freely, that I thought that period near at hand. The event has justified my prediction, and I hope his Prussian Majesty will be more tractable and pliant whilst you are at the head of the administration. The high opinion he has of your Lordship's honour and probity cannot fail to create a confidence, which may be greatly useful to the public.

The duty of my station, as well as the affection I bear to you as a friend, oblige me to disclose to you some of the weaknesses of my Hero. Great men have their failings; if they had none, they would be too much for humanity. His is that of vanity, and a desire, on every occasion, to have the lead, or at least to seem to have it. The first might be dangerous; the second, I mean the appearance of leading, may be yielded with advantage, in order to draw him into such measures as are really for his interest, but without shocking his vanity.

To apply what I have said to the present case. Though I most heartily approve of the nomination of my friend Mr. Stanley, I could have wished that it had been kept in petto, till the King of Prussia had been consulted. I cannot doubt of his having approved of it, and that this mark of attention might have induced him to concur more readily

in the great plan proposed. Besides, as that prince is naturally of a suspicious temper, he may imagine (notwithstanding all the assurances that can be given to the contrary), that Great Britain and Russia have already concerted this alliance between them without his participation, and that they mean to force him into it. If he should unhappily see it in this light, he will either not enter into it, or if he does, he will never abide by it.

Another circumstance which may serve to indispose him I shall mention to your Lordship, and to you only; which is, that the nomination of an ambassador to the court of Russia, who is only to call upon him en passant, may make him jealous of the preference given to that court; for though upon some occasions he laughs at all formalities, no man is more tenacious of them in whatever he thinks touches his rank, dignity, and consideration.

I like extremely your maxim of salvá majestate; though it has not been constantly practised, I am persuaded your Lordship will never swerve from it, and therefore I most sincerely wish that you may long remain at the head of affairs, to restore strength and dignity to the crown, confidence to the people, and respect and honour from foreign nations towards your native country. I ever am most affectionately, my dear Lord,

Yours, &c. &c.

ANDREW MITCHELL.