Autograph letter signed : Berlin, to Sir James [Pulteney], 1798 Dec. 21.

Concerning his duties with Prince Augustus; telling him he may be surprised to learn that he has "left London in the beginning of last August to join Prince Augustus to whom I am at present attached. I found his Royal Highness at Vienna where I made a much shorter stay than I should have wished. As there is no idea of our returning to England for some time, I had formed a plan for a very extensive & interesting Tour;" relating, in detail, his plan for travels through the Northern Courts and into the Russian Empire down to the Black Sea and then to Constantinople, all of which had to be suspended due to the ill health of the Prince requiring them to stay in Berlin for the remainder of the winter; relating the kindnesses of the King and the Royal family to Augustus; commenting on the political climate in Prussia saying, "This Country is at present very quiet. The Democratical Principles which had made so much progress in the North of Germany are evidently upon the decline in spite of the efforts of most of the Professors & men of learning to propagate them. The Victory of Nelson & the energy & vigour with which we have acted lately, joined with the infamous conduct of the French, has been of great Service to our National Character & the Situation of an Englishman upon the Continent is much more respectable at present than when we met at Neuchatel. The King of Prussia is much liked an [illegible] worthy man but I am afraid he takes little or no share in business. It is certainly much superior in every respect to the Emperor, but those two sovereigns resemble one another a good deal in one circumstance that they both dislike their profession, & are much happier to live as private men than as great & powerful monarchs, which has no doubt a considerable influence upon their politics, as it makes them view with less apprehension the danger to which they are exposed from the Intrigues and ambition of the French Directory. Their apathy & indifference upon this point are really most extraordinary. The total want of Vigour in the Cabinet, the terror of the French Arms & the Jealousy, Suspicion & Distrust which prevail between Austria & Prussia make me despair of their ever uniting cordially or acting with spirit against the common enemy & I trust that our [illegible] will never lay any reliance upon their assistance;" saying he would be very happy to hear from him; adding that it would be "very useful" to have him sent there on a "Special Mission.