_20th._--A letter of Murat to the King of Prussia, addressing him by the style of ‘Mon Frère,’ is said to have been the origin of these movements of the Prussians against France.[240] Another is that Lucchesini has discovered, and communicated to his Court, Bonaparte’s scheme of annexing the Prussian States in Westphalia to Murat’s dominions. Some think Lucchesini is capable of having made this communication on the suggestion of Bonaparte, who would be glad of a pretext to reduce the Prussian power. The Prussians and Saxons are 240,000 ready to take the field. The French 220,000 to oppose them. Prince Louis,[241] son of Prince Ferdinand of Prussia, is the person who has the most hostility against France, and who is eager for military renown. Austria is determined to remain neutral. Windham peremptorily refused the peerage. When he talked to Petty of the proposal, he mentioned it as being whimsical, that, as the great distress was the want of talent in the H. of Commons, they should therefore move their best speaker into the House of Lords.[242] Ld. Howick is _now_ desirous of retaining the Admiralty; he is satisfied of the impolicy of giving up such a mine of patronage, and has, in idea, been long enough in possession of the Foreign Office to be weary of it, but unluckily it is too late. The Foxites have not _one_ office which has patronage annexed to it. [Sidenote: THE NEW CABINET] The plan is finally fixed:--Mr. Grenville, Admiralty; Ld. Howick, F. Department; Ld. H., Privy Seal; Ld. Sidmouth, P. of the Council; Ld. Fitzwm., Seat in Cabinet, without office; Tierney, Board of Control. Ld. Howick had a thousand _freaks_, for they were too wild to be called plans, the burthen of which was that if he could not do things his own way, he would go out. He assured Ld. Holland through the General, and to _himself_ also, that he considered himself merely as _locum tenens_ during the period of his being in the H. of Commons, and that his being in the office ought not to be considered as an obstacle to Ld. H.’s views, he knowing also what Mr. Fox’s intentions had been upon that subject. In short, as far as professions and assurances can go, we must feel satisfied that he will make the offer when he is removed to the H. of Lords. The General says, ‘I have no doubt he is sincere now, but when the impression of Fox’s loss wears away, perhaps his intentions may change.’ _22nd._--Messenger from Lauderdale. He has had a severe bilious attack, caused, D. Stewart thinks, a good deal by the sad tidings from England. Talleyrand full of overstrained civility. England, he said, had a right to dictate her own terms, she being in a most commanding station. France has only to be careful not to concede too much. They want to have back Surinam and Demerara. L. has demanded Cuba in exchange. Capture of Buenos Ayres produced little sensation at Paris.[243] Emperor left Paris. Ld. Morpeth is to go to Berlin immediately.[244]