Ali Pacha[224] of Janina has sent a letter which he received from Bonaparte, all written in his own hand, inviting him to form a connection with France. Ali observed he had never received such a mark of respect and confidence from the English. Bonaparte is steady and indefatigable in all his undertakings.
6th.—Ld. Grenville has proposed to Ld. H. that he should be one of the Commissioners for settling the points in dispute between this country and the U. States of America.[225] Ld. Auckland, as President of the Board of Trade, is to be the other Commissioner. The Americans are Messrs. Monroe[226] and Pinckney.[227] Ld. Howick and others consider this as a delicate opening on the part of Ld. G. to show his readiness to comply with the intimation he had recently had from Mr. F. through Lauderdale.
The operation is to be to-morrow.
7th.—The operation was performed this morn.; Cline and Hawkins did it. Sixteen quarts of amber-coloured water was drawn off; he bore the operation perfectly well, his pulse very little affected, and no disposition to faintness.
8th.—Not so well from nausea and lowness.
Ld. H. has accepted the appointment of Commissioner. Mr. Eden is the Secretary (by a shabby artifice of his father’s), Mr. Allen the Assistant-Secretary.
It has been proposed to Tierney to go to Lisbon in the capacity in which Ld. Rosslyn was to have gone. T.’s intimacy with Ld. St. Vincent made him be thought of for the service. Ld. St. V. is to follow with a squadron for carrying off, if necessary, the Portuguese fleet to the Azores, and for transporting the Prince Regent and his friends to Brazil. T. is disinclined, and has refused.
LAUDERDALE’S MISSION
9th.—Ld. Grenville sent for Ld. Rosslyn late last night and renewed his former proposal of sending him to Lisbon. Ld. R. has accepted, and is to set off to-night. The Commissioners are Lds. Rosslyn, St. V., and General Simcoe;[228] and, to my great satisfaction, Mr. Brougham.
10th.—Mr. Fox continues very low; a great flow from ye wound, the anasarca diminishes fast.