WILLIAM III. TO THE PENSIONARY HEINSIUS. 10. Kensington, December 1697. 20. I am sorry to have to announce to you that the debates in Parliament to-day took an unfavourable turn. The House of Commons voted that all the levies of troops made since the year 1680 shall be disbanded, so that I shall keep in the service only as many troops as there were in the time of King Charles, that is to say, at most 8,000 men. How this is to be remedied I am ignorant, but I expect much disorder and confusion. WILLIAM III. TO THE PENSIONARY HEINSIUS. 17. Kensington, December 1697. 27. I fear that the resolution of the Empire will produce but little effect, for all the Princes are disarming, and I do not yet see any appearance of the enumeration of forces, on which however all our security depends, if at the same time we keep des amis de ceux de M. de Seignelay, et d'autres encore. Π était honnête homme et fort bien reçu dans les maisons les plus distinguées de la cour. Tout cela l'aida à prendre un plus grand vol, et il réussit toujours dans ses ambassades. C'était un très petit homme, gros, d'une figure assez ridicule, avec un accent désagréable, mais qui parlait bien et avec qui il y avait à apprendre et même à s'amuser." only a few troops on foot here. I foresee that we shall be in all respects in a state of great uncertainty, which does not disquiet me a little. It is incredible what erroneous notions men here have conceived, and the part which my enemies act. WILLIAM III. TO THE PENSIONARY HEINSIUS. Kensington, Dec. 21-31. 1697. I received by the last mail a letter from the Elector of Bavaria, who notifies to me that he has given instructions for the regiments of the States to enter the fortresses, evacuated according to our convention, so that this measure will have undoubtedly been already executed. He likewise writes to me, that he should wish to borrow a considerable sum from the States, to be employed on the works of the fortifications. I have replied to him, that I thought it probable that the States might be induced to consent to it on the terms of which you spoke at Loo with Count Bergheyek. For my part, I think this operation absolutely necessary. Matters went off well yesterday and to-day in the House of Commons with respect to my revenues, which were fixed, during my lifetime, at the sum of 700,000l. As for the affair of the troops it will probably not be discussed till after the Christmas holidays. WILLIAM III. TO THE PENSIONARY HEINSIUS. Kensington, Dec. 24. 1697. What the French ambassadors have said to you, that something must be done by the Republic, France, and me, towards maintaining the peace, surprises me much; and I am of opinion with you, that it relates to the guarantee between the Emperor, the Empire, and us. The Earl of Portland will readily be able to get to the bottom of this affair in France; and this is a further reason for hastening his departure as much as possible. Parliament has just adjourned till Thursday next. Thus it will not be possible, before that time, to judge what may be resolved with respect to the troops to be retained. WILLIAM III. TO THE PENSIONARY HEINSIUS. Kensington, January, 1698. 7 17 On Tuesday, while I was engaged in writing to you, a fire broke out in Whitehall, and reduced the principal portion of the Palace to ashes. This loss would be greater to any other person than to me, because I could not reside there. However, the loss is considerable; but there is no remedy, and we have nothing left but to pray to God to preserve us in future from such accidents. I believe that the House of Commons will again deliberate to-morrow on the disbanding of the troops. WILLIAM III. TO THE EARL OF PORTLAND. Kensington, January 10-20. 1698. I send you herewith the letter for the Dauphin. I am much vexed that the wind and weather are still contrary; God grant that they may change by the day after to-morrow, and that you may have a favourable passage. I assure you that I am more affected by your departure than you can conceive, and if you felt as much pain on leaving me, as I did on witnessing your departure, I should be quite satisfied, and I might then hope that you would no longer doubt the solemn oath which I have pledged to you. This is unquestionably the truest word I ever uttered in my life, and death alone can make me change my feelings.* * It is almost impossible to show the precise point to which these remarkable words of King William relate. They are doubtless an allusion to the Earl of Portland's jealousy of the king's daily increasing favour for Lord Albemarle. Arnold Jost Keppel was the son of Pellant, Lord of Keppel, one of the most ancient and eminent families among the nobility of Guelderland, by a daughter of Opdam, one of the chief lords of the states of Holland. He was born in 1670, and attended King William into England, being page of honour; and as he rose rapidly to the highest degree of favour, "the highest," says Burnet, "that any person had ever attained about the king," he was soon made one of the grooms of his bed-chamber and master of the robes, and, in February, 1697, created Baron Ashford, Viscount Bury, and Earl of Albemarle. "By a quick and unaccountable progress," adds Burnet, "he seemed to have engrossed the royal favour so entirely, that he disposed of every thing that was in the king's power. The Earl of Portland observed the progress of this favour with great uneasiness; they grew to be not only WILLIAM III. TO THE PENSIONARY HEINSIUS. Kensington, January 11-21. 1698. I am not surprised that the French revert to their favourite custom of cavilling on every point, 66 incompatible, as all rivals for favour must needs be, but to hate and oppose one another in every thing. The one had more of the confidence, and the other more of the favour." The Earl of Portland, solely devoted to his master, had not the art of making himself beloved; and above all, he had not condescended to make himself agreeable to the petty court which surrounded King William, and found in him an obstacle to their designs of governing the king. Sunderland more especially regarded with an envious eye the exclusive confidence which he enjoyed; and, in conjunction with Lady Orkney and her brother, Lord Villiers, had aided in the elevation of Keppel, more especially as the latter, says Burnet, was so given up to his own pleasures, that he could scarce submit to the attendance and drudgery that was necessary to maintain his post. He had never yet been distinguished in any thing," and the cabal were in hopes to make him a pliant tool. Moreover, as Burnet adds, "he was a cheerful young man, that had the art to please. He was not cold or dry, as the Earl of Portland was thought to be, who seemed to have the art of creating many enemies to himself, and not one friend. But the Earl of Albemarle had all the arts of a court, was civil to all, and procured many favours." Though the partiality of the king for his new favourite was to a certain extent irresistible, he took care to soothe the jealousy of Portland. "I am told," writes Vernon to the Duke of Shrewsbury, Feb. 16. 1697, "the king intends to give my Lord Strafford's garter to my Lord Portland. My Lord Privy Seal (Lord Pembroke), I hear, has solicited for it; but it is supposed this is conferred upon my Lord Portland, at this time of the Earl of Albemarle's promotion, to show he is still preferred a step above him." It would appear, as will afterwards be seen, that Portland was so dissatisfied at the favour shown to his rival, that he |