Howick's direction to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that its contents being of a secret and confidential nature, render it unfit to be granted but his Lordship directs me at the same time to state, that the only part of it which relates to Sir Home Popham is highly expressive of the confidence reposed in him by his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia.

HIS MAJESTY has thought proper to direct that you should proceed to Petersburgh, in order to assist his minister there in the detail of such arrangements as his Majesty has proposed to his ally to enter into with him, for the vigorous prosecution of the war in the ensuing campaign. The full approbation which I have had the pleasure of conveying to you from his Majesty, respecting your conduct in the discharge of the important business entrusted to you In the course of the present year, and the honourable testimonies which you have received of the satisfaction of the Emperor of Russia, in your zeal, activity, and talents in the execution of that trust, leave me no room to doubt that the same qualities will again be exerted with singular success in the service of his Majesty, and in the promotion of objects so interesting to the glory of two sovereigns, whose intimate union and good understanding have already accomplished so much towards the deliverance of Europe,

and afford so fair a prospect of completing that great and

honourable work.

The repeated conversations I have had with you previous to your departure, and the very ample instructions to Sir Charles Whitworth, of which you are the bearer, and which you are to consider as equally addressed to yourself in all points where your professional talents and skill, and the activity and resources of your mind, can enable you to render yourself useful, leave me little to add to the dispatch.

It is, however, proper that I should mention one subject, to which I am more particularly desirous of directing your attention; it relates to the means of facilitating and expediting the arrival of a part of the Russian troops destined to reinforce the army of Prince Suwarrow, by sending them from the southern provinces of Russia, by the way of the Black Sea, to a port in the Adriatic, Venice, or Trieste. I am desirous that you should procure such information as may tend to satisfy your own mind respecting the degree of facility and advantage that might attend the execution of such a plan; and that if it should appear to you likely to expedite the arrival of a part of the troops at the place of their destination, you should bring the subject under the consideration of the Emperor of Russia, whose zeal in the success of this great cause will, I am confident, induce him to listen with readiness to any proposal tending to pro mote the important interests which are at stake.