I.
Naples, Sunday Morning, [1795.]
I return you the inclosed, my Dearest Emma, which does equal honour to the excellent head and heart of the writer. I shall begin, for the first time of my life, to have a good opinion of myself, after such honourable testimonials.
In the mean time, I send you an extraordinary piece of news, just written me from Ratisbon—a courier from the Elector of Mentz, desiring the Empire to make a separate peace with France.
Couriers have been sent from the Diet to Sweden and Denmark, desiring their mediation: "and it is clear," says my letter, "Somebody is at the bottom of all this; the Elector of Mentz only lends his name."
The suburbs of Warsaw taken; the capitulation of the city daily expected.
The King of Prussia totally retired beyond Potsdam, and supposed to be at the eve of madness.
Oh! Emma, who'd ever be wise,
If madness be loving of thee.