My letter of today was already in the mail when I learned on good authority that, in accordance with the wishes of the principal members present of the States of Holland, an extraordinary session of those same members would be held this very day. It seems that Mr. Snelle, deputy from Dordrecht to that body, suggested to his colleagues that they themselves give orders to the troops stationed here to prevent further disturbances that night and guarantee their own safety. The troops, however, refused to agree to this measure, and so the assembly decided to convene in order to sustain rather than relinquish their sovereignty in this instance and, should this fail and the members not receive adequate protection, they struck me as determined to return home and hold the States elsewhere than at The Hague.1

It is not yet dinnertime even as I write. I shall find out what happens next, and in the meantime this letter will go in the packet from the Hôtel de France.

I am with great respect, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant