I again saw the Duke of Berwick at Versailles this morning; Lord Middleton was also there.* February 18. I beg your Majesty to favour me with instructions as soon as possible, as to how I am to act. You see that it is necessary to declare positively that you will not pay King James unless he withdraw. I have spoken in this spirit clearly enough, all along, so that they will not be surprised if you act upon it. I beg your Majesty not to suffer any Englishmen of King James's party to remain in England, contrary to the act of Parliament; and, if you should assign as the cause of this general refusal, the refusal of King James to withdraw, I believe that this would make them greatly annoyed with him, and perhaps oblige him to retire of his own accord, and assign the money as the reason. From what I have just stated, your Majesty may see what dependence can be placed upon the peace, *17 Février.- "Le Roi donna le matin une audience particulière à Milord Portland; et, comme beaucoup d'anglais qui sont à St. Germain étaient ici, le Roi fit dire à Milord Middleton, qui est le chef du conseil du Roi Jacques, qu'il le priait pour une autre fois d'éviter de se trouver en même temps que l'ambassadeur d'Angleterre."-Dangeau. "Milord Portland a toujours persisté à dire ici qu'on ne payerait point en Angleterre le douaire de la reine tant qu'elle serait à St. Germain, et qu'on le payerait sûrement si leurs Majestés Britanniques voulaient choisir une autre demeure, qui donnât moins de jalousie."-Dangeau. "Sur son départ de Paris, Portland avait affecté de répandre que tant que le Roi Jacques serait à St. Germain, la reine d'Angleterre ne serait point payée du douaire qui lui avait été accordé à la paix, et il tint parole."-Mémoires de St. Simon. and how far we may credit protestations, while actions are so directly opposed to them. Your Majesty knows that this cannot surprise me, as I have expected it ever since you did me the honour to appoint me to this post. (ENCLOSURE.) REPRESENTATION OF THE EARL OF PORTLAND TO HIS MOST CHRISTIAN MAJESTY. I believe, Sire, that your Majesty will not be offended at my addressing you directly, in order to state that the implicit reliance which I place upon the gracious expressions, in which you have done me the honour to assure me of your desire to maintain a sincere friendship with the king my master, does not permit me to doubt that you will remove every obstacle which may disturb it. It is certain, Sire, that the residence of King James in your kingdom is an obstacle of this nature, and that the king my master, who expects his withdrawal, will have reason to believe that, if it does not take place, the peace which has just been completed is not established upon solid foundations; the more so, since, if that Prince prefers forfeiting the 50,000l., which the king my master is willing to pay him, as an inducement for him to withdraw from France, it is very natural to believe, that it is with a view of supporting a party which he thinks he has in England, and of exciting troubles there; and that he flatters himself with the countenance and protection of your Majesty, especially if you consent to his remaining in France, after the applications which have been made to the contrary by the king my master. Moreover, Sire, the king my master expects, and has no doubt, that you will deliver up to him the conspirators who have attempted his life, and whose atrocious crime has been so publicly manifested. He cannot but think that your Majesty's goodness and kindness have been abused by persons who have implored your protection for assassins, and villains concealing from you the blackness of their crime, notorious as it was, and clearly proved by the testimony of witnesses and their own confessions; for otherwise it is impossible to believe that a prince so just and generous as your Majesty, would tolerate persons so unworthy your protection in opposition to a king, with whom your Majesty declares it to be your intention to maintain, henceforth, inviolable friendship. WILLIAM III. TO THE EARL OF PORTLAND. The Duke of St. Albans yesterday delivered to me your letter of the 7th. I am very glad to learn that you continue to receive such attentions*; and, al * "Les mêmes raisons qui avaient fait choisir Portland pour conférer avec le maréchal de Boufflers le firent préferer à tout autre pour cette ambassade. On n'en pouvait nommer un plus distingué. Sa suite fut nombreuse et superbe, et sa dépense extrêmement magnifique en table, en chevaux, en livrées, en équipages, en meubles, en habits, en vaisselle, en tout, et avec une recherche et une délicatesse exquises. . . . Portland parut avec un éclat personnel, une politesse, un air du monde et de cour, une galanterie et des graces qui surprirent. Avec cela beaucoup de dignité, même de hauteur, mais avec discernement, et un jugement prompt, sans rien de hasardé. Les Français qui courent à la nouveauté, au bon accueil, à la bonne chère, à la magnificence, en furent charmés. Il les attira, mais avec choix, et en homme instruit de notre cour, et qui ne voulait que bonne compagnie et distinguée. Bientôt il devint à la mode de le voir, de lui donner though they will not perhaps be followed up by realities of the same kind, yet it is always well to have so much in advance. I think they are so far right in not wishing you to enter upon business before you have had your public audience, though I believe that you might do a good deal underhand, without, however, pushing matters too far; for you know that I dread refusals more than any thing whatever; and the state of affairs here and in all Europe is such, that what they shall think fit to do for me must come from themselves. Certainly, I did not imagine that the Duke of Berwick and Lord Middleton and others would have been allowed to come to Versailles while you were there. I hope that, in time, you may be able to hinder it in future. I should be very much vexed if you were not to see Madame de Maintenon; but I do not imagine that you will succeed in this through the channel of the Countess Gramont*, who is so much attached to the interests of St. Germain. des fêtes, et de reçevoir de lui des festins. Ce qui est étonnant, c'est que le Roi y donna lieu lui-même, en faisant pour cet ambassadeur ce qui n'avait jamais été fait pour aucun autre. Ainsi fit toute la cour à l'envi. . . . . Portland suivit MONSEIGNEUR à la chasse. Deux fois il alla de Paris à Meudon pour courre le loup, et toutes les deux fois MONSEIGNEUR le retint à souper avec lui. Le Roi lui donna un soir le bougeoir à son coucher, qui est une faveur qui ne se fait qu'aux gens les plus considérables, et que le Roi veut distinguer. Rarement les ambassadeurs se familiarisent à faire leur cour à ces heures, et s'il y en vient il n'arrive presque jamais qu'ils reçoivent cet agrément."— Mémoires de St. Simon. * Daughter of George Hamilton, married to Count Gramont, the hero of the memoirs written by her brother, Anthony Hamilton. I do not tell you any thing of the proceedings in Parliament, since you will learn these from others, and there is nothing particular to write to you respecting them, save that matters go on badly, and that the parties who had coalesced before you left now impede every thing that concerns the public; as for private individuals, they think only of saving and supporting themselves; they do not trouble themselves about what is passing in other countries, any more than as if there were none in existence. I leave you to make your own reflections, and to shape your measures accordingly. It is impossible to love you more heartily than I do. WILLIAM III. TO THE PENSIONARY HEINSIUS. Kensington, February 11-21. 1698. I am very much embarrassed about the affair of the Elector of Cologne. We must endeavour to gain Karigh by dint of money; but, as for granting subsidies to the Elector himself, I should not counsel it, because of the consequences. I must speak to you, on this occasion, of the vacant bishopric of Osnaburgh. I am of opinion that it is of consequence to the Republic that a proper person should be appointed. It is said that the Bishop of Munster solicits the vacant see; but that selection would not at all suit us. You will probably learn from the Earl of Portland himself that he has received, on the part of the king of France, a positive refusal to make King James leave his dominions. It would, perhaps, have |