planation which he requires can add nothing to the confidence which he ought to repose in my word. You will further observe to him, that I should always be pained to have it proposed to me to employ terms which could be applied to the King of England alone; that I had reason to believe that the Prince of Orange would be content with the expressions which M. de Bentinck himself had, at the last conference, proposed to have inserted in the treaty; that I had not expected that any stronger would be desired; that, however, I am willing to give him every satisfaction which depends upon me, without naming or designating the King of England; that, for this purpose, I consent to make use of the greater part of the terms of the article which he has given, and to extend it as far as possible; that the term person, in the singular, comprehends all those in general who may disturb the tranquillity of the Prince of Orange, and does not designate particularly the King of England.

I send you the draught of an article which I have caused to be drawn up, which provides in general for all cases that may disturb the Prince of Orange, and gives him the assurance which he requires, without designating the King of England in particular. I am persuaded that, if the intentions of the Prince of Orange are as sincere as I have particular reason to believe they are, the guarantees which I give him are sufficient to remove from him every cause of fear. that I will favour enterprises which may be directed against his authority.

Though the submission of my subjects, and their zeal for my service, are ample pledges of their fidelity; yet, as I have thought that the engagement which the Prince of Orange would enter into, by the last clause of the proposed article which M. de Bentinck has given you, would lessen the first idea which the public might conceive, that the term person is to be applied solely to the King of England, I consent that you shall agree to this last clause, as you will see in the draught which I send you.

After having stated the manner which I should wish the article to be drawn up in the treaty, as all the good reasons which you may give to the Sieur de Bentinck to make the Prince of Orange consent, may perhaps not convince that Prince that he will find the same securities in the article drawn up, as I send it to you, and as all the conferences which you have had, instead of producing the furtherance of the peace, would serve only still more to delay it: I am willing, for these just considerations, to anticipate every thing which may lead your conferences to a happy conclusion, and to inform you of my intentions, which are, that you must forget nothing to oblige M. de Bentinck to give an account to the Prince of Orange of the draught which I send you; that if he should make any difficulty, as not finding it conformable with that which he has given you, you are to tell him that, as I evidently wish to know precisely the views of his master on this draught, it is proper that you should meet again, when he shall have informed

the Prince of Orange of this last conference; and for this purpose arrange another interview with him to receive his answer. If M. de Bentinck persists, in this new conference, in requiring that the words person or persons shall stand in the article, I permit you to insert the last term persons immediately after that of person, marked in Italics in the draught which I send you.

And, as the benefit of peace must not be delayed, when nothing more is in question than a change of a few expressions; and, as the Prince of Orange no longer requires that of "King of England," which was an invincible obstacle, it is my pleasure, in the last resort, that you shall agree to the proposal of M. de Bentinck, if you shall see that it is absolutely necessary to adhere to it, always avoiding, however, if it be possible, to employ the term "right" when the Prince of Orange is spoken of, and the expression "whatever designs may be alleged" prefaced to the draught of the said Sieur de Bentinck. At all events, I leave it to your prudence not to insist on these terms if you should see an equal necessity for conceding them. You are not to manifest any open. repugnance towards them, but merely endeavour to oppose them. You will observe that it is only in the second conference that you are to make use of this expedient.

To return to the article concerning the principality of Orange,

*

WILLIAM III. TO THE PENSIONARY HEINSIUS.

Camp near Brussels, July 25. 1697.

I have read the draft of a treaty delivered to the mediator by the ambassadors of France. I have the same remarks as you to make upon it. I have still some hope that the principal articles might be adjusted to the satisfaction of the empire and of Spain; and that France would make reasonable concessions, if the ambassadors of Austria do not themselves interfere to spoil the negotiations by their perverse proceedings. I do not find this strange on the part of the Imperialists; for, whatever need they have of peace, they do not wish for it, and wait till they are compelled to accept it; but, with regard to the Spaniards, who so ardently desire it, and who are in such great embarrassment, this is inconceivable. I am of opinion, nevertheless, that they may be induced to accept, within the prescribed term, the conditions which have been offered. I will also bring the matter seriously before the Elector of Bavaria. But as for the Imperialists, we may depend upon it that they will do nothing; so that we must consider in what manner we must proceed with respect to them. Perhaps, if the conditions were agreed upon, the best thing would be to endeavour to obtain an armistice, which would serve at least to prevent the total ruin of this poor country.

THE DUKE OF SHREWSBURY TO LORD VILLIERS.

Whitehall, July 16-26. 1697.

I hope my Lord Portland's interview will bring matters to a conclusion one way or other. If the French are in earnest for a peace, it will be very welcome; if they are not, it is necessary the world should see it, and particularly so with relation to his Majesty's affairs here, that people may not too long flatter themselves with such deluding expectations, but prepare to carry on the war; which, I am confident, when we set our minds to it, we shall be in a better condition to do than we were the last year, money growing much more plentiful in the country, and credit in town beginning now to

recover.

WILLIAM III. TO THE DUKE OF SHREWSBURY.

Dieren, August 17-27. 1697. Affairs here are at a great crisis. Next Friday is the day fixed by the French for accepting their offer of peace, and by their conduct it appears as if they were desirous the term should elapse; as they pretend not to have been instructed with regard to the surrender of Barcelona, and other conditions of less importance, which concern the Spaniards, and without which peace cannot be concluded. unfortunate loss of Barcelona, at this particular time, as well as the escape of Pointis, may perhaps be the cause of this extraordinary conduct on the part of the French, and may prevent the conclusion of the peace, which I thought certain.

The