London 9 February 1776
[Extract]
Both Houses of Parliament are still idle with respect to external affairs. One expects very interesting debates in the House of Lords next week on the prodigious number of foreign troops that will be in the pay of Great Britain and at the disposal of the King of England. The Officers of the Regiments of the English Guards are displaying much less zeal than they did before; several are requesting to sell their comm1ss10ns. This war is disliked by every one. Recruits for the army as well as for the fleet are difficult to find. If the necessary numbers can be achieved, nothing more can be done. But when failure and losses will occur and replacements will be indispensable the Ministers' heads will spin with this problem as with all others. I do not know a single one who knows a remedy for an unfortunate campaign. They can forsee this happening and their discouragement even causes the rising influence of Lord George Germain. This Minister, who has nothing to lose, adds to his real talents the advantage of appearing less doubtful than other men in such crisis. He presents rays of hope, makes himself heard and his power increases every day. This explains the aversion for his own worth I noticed in Lord North; because it is he who brought Lord George to the Ministry .... There are no changes in the ports with this exception: Arethuse, Thetis and a ship of the [East India] Company left Spithead but stopped at Cowes. These frigates are to sail for Ste. Helena in order to convoy the ships returning from India.
1. AMAE, Correspondance Politique, Angleterre, 514, LC Photocopy.