negotiation is more advanced, to express yourself respecting these facilities. You may, however, continue to let that prince know that I propose Milan for the duke of Savoy, principally with the view to frustrate the designs of the Emperor on Italy, and that if he believes that this object may be attained by other means, you will give me an account of those which he shall propose to you.

There is reason to believe that the king of England would not like you to remain in his kingdom during his absence: independently of this, it is for the good of my service that you should follow that prince to Holland, if he goes thither, and will permit you to do so.

I have also received your letter of the 30th of last month, and its contents show me, that you had good reasons for acting as you did with respect to the incident of which you gave me an account.

WILLIAM III. TO THE PENSIONARY HEINSIUS.

April 26.
Kensington,
May 6.

1698.

I think you argue very well about the great and delicate negotiation of the Spanish succession. I intend to speak to Count Tallard about it to-morrow or after to-morrow, in conformity to your sentiments; and I hope to receive letters from the Earl of Portland in the interim. I really think France will not be so bent upon the form, but will not recede from insisting on our engaging ourselves positively

with them, which appears to be very natural; for without that, they cannot pledge themselves with us. It will be a very difficult and delicate business how to communicate the negotiation to the Emperor, as it is known beforehand that he will never accede to it, nor accept either of the alternatives, particularly the one; and, moreover, he will pretend we are already pledged to him. So that it merits reflection whether one ought not to be almost agreed with France about the conditions, before it be communicated to the Emperor; as I do not know why it should be done sooner, being assured the Emperor will not accede, however it may be. And besides, it may be that France would agree to give us better conditions before, than after it is communicated to the Emperor; for, in the latter case, it may be, that they will make it a point of honour not to give way in any thing, as you know they have done on all occasions. It is certain, that whatever method we adopt in this business, we shall exasperate the Emperor to the utmost; and must look upon him in future as an enemy, if we make any agreement or convention with France whatever relative to the Spanish succession. With respect to the conditions thereof, I am fully persuaded that France desires that alternative, by which a son of the Dauphin is to have Spain and the West Indies, and will lean towards that, when we get further into the negotiation, and endeavour to make the other inadmissible, though it is certainly the most advantageous for the tranquillity of Europe. It will be necessary that you should

inform yourself secretly of the importance of the commerce of the Republic, as well in the Mediterranean as in the West Indies. I shall do the same here; but I do not intend to communicate this negotiation to any one till the Earl of Portland's return; and then perhaps only after the breaking up of the Parliament.

My ambassador Williamson will receive orders by this post to conclude with Lillieroot in concert measures with you, conformably to what you transmitted to me. I find Count Bonde has some knowledge of it, and is discontented that this negotiation does not pass through his hands here.

THE EARL OF PORTLAND TO WILLIAM III.

Paris, May 8. 1698.

The day after I had the honour last to write to your Majesty, I received a letter from the Marquis de Torcy, in which he informed me that he had spoken to the King to ask him when he would be pleased to give me my audience of leave; and that his Majesty had answered, that since I had left it to his choice, he would not give me the audience till after his return from Marly, whither he is going to-day, to pass a week, since he desired to intimate to me that it was his wish to keep me here as long as he could, and that he should be very glad to wait, before speaking to me on the proposals, till Count Tallard should know the sentiments of

your Majesty, since you had told him that the affair was of such consequence that you wished to take a little time to consider of it.

I went on Thursday to Versailles to the King's levee. After he had retired, he sent to inquire whether I had any intention of speaking to him, and on my answering that I had nothing to say which was worthy of taking up his time, M. de Torcy came to tell me, that, though his Majesty had nothing important to say to me, yet as I was there, he desired to speak with me: and I accordingly went into his cabinet. The King said, among other things, that he believed that your Majesty had deferred speaking to Count Tallard, in order previously to ascertain the sentiments of the States General. I told him that that assembly was too numerous to ask its opinion beforehand upon a matter which required so much secrecy; and that if your Majesty had desired to wait to know the sentiments of any one, it could only be of some minister. After which, the King intimated that he should wish much to agree entirely with your Majesty: "but you know," said he, "that there are certain things which I can never do;" to which I answered, "I hope that these will be of no great importance;" but that on our part there were some things of the utmost consequence, to which your Majesty could never consent, contrary to the interests of the two nations. On this the King began to speak of several indifferent topics, to joke and to laugh, in the most affable

manner.

I am very glad that your Majesty has appointed

the Earl of Jersey to be my successor.* I believe it would have been very serviceable if your Majesty could have sent him hither before my departure. I regret the Duke of Shrewsbury. The attempt which is made to force a successor is insupportable; and if this party could be gratified in what is unreasonable, it would not even delay the address which your Majesty apprehends.

To-morrow I shall go to Fontainebleau and Vaux, to see these two places: I shall be away one night.

Sire,

COUNT TALLARD TO LOUIS XIV.

London, May 8. 1698. The Earl of Jersey, who is appointed ambassador at your Majesty's court, as I had the honour to write to you, called upon me to-day, to inform me that the king of England wished me to be with him at eleven o'clock this morning, and I accordingly waited upon him. On being shown into his cabinet, he told me that he was very glad to see me before he went to Windsor, to tell me what he thought about the alternatives which I had proposed to him on the part of your Majesty; that the affair was of such great consequence, that I ought not to be surprised at his having taken some time to reflect on it; that he would confess, to speak frankly and to act sincerely towards your Majesty,

*Portland had married the fourth sister of the Earl of Jersey.