Docketed.
Part of a large collection of letters from and to George Canning. Letters are described in individual records; see MA 854-855 for more details.
Sending updates from Vienna and the Russian armies in Switzerland, "which may be necessary to qualify any too sanguine expectations that you might otherwise form of the success of our attempt to procure a vigorous Continental co-operation"; criticizing the Russian army's "total want of system and discipline in respect to everything connected with the Commissariat Department of an army"; observing that the Russian commanders are not going to be able to lead a campaign on their own; noting that in the last campaigns, the Russian forces relied on the Austrians for reconnaisance, choosing positions, providing subsistence to the troops, etc.: "and in this way, hung on to the Austrian Army, & with no business but to fight, the Russian force enacted wonders in every action: and [Aleksandr] Suvorov thinking it no part of his duty to take any other care of his men than to encourage them in fighting, succeeded in inspiring an enthusiasm which rendered them perfectly invincible. It was not till they were left to themselves that it was found how much they had depended on the solid support of a disciplined & skillful ally to give effect to their operations. -- It is now pronounced by all, who have a judgment in such matters, that the Russian Army cannot act alone"; noting that "the Court of Vienna have come to a declaration that the Austrian Army shall no longer act with them."