you, after you have let me know the names of the creditors, and that you have received the money. We are here agreed upon the plan of our enterprize; and I am promised a man to farther informations may be wanting. You may likewise assure your friends, that our prince will certainly be of the party; but I conjure you to give nothing in writing about this negociation, except what relates to the acquittances upon the foot abovementioned.—I do not expect to hear from you any more here, but in Holland; and, if your man should have been got thither in my absence, he would have found Stambke fully instructed.-I herewith send you back the contracts signed, according to your desire. The positive promise of letting them have iron, puts me under some difficulty, because I had no thoughts of preparing for so great a quantity. As to your money, you may keep an account of what you shall receive, 4,000 crowns. I have not yet proposed to the king that augmentation; but I am in hopes of obtaining it for you.-In the mean time, employ all your skill, in order to give the court all the trouble that is possible, in the next session, in relation to their conduct in the affairs of the North; and tell me from whence proceeds the good disposition wherein Walpole seems to be."

"Whether bis excellency would have him, for the future, add the title of plenipotentiary to the direction of his letters. As to our affair (continues he) I went immediately to the house of one of the principal of my friends, and with-be sent to Holland, who will bring me what out taking notice of any coldness of the gentlemen in France, I told him, in order to engage him to speak, that I had just received your excellency's orders to give such an acquittance, as had been demanded of me. He seemed very well pleased, and told me in answer that he, who had the direction of the whole affair, being gone again into the country, and being not to return before Saturday next, nothing could be done till Monday; but that then he questioned not but I should be satisfied. We shall see what that gentleman will say at his return; and unless the gentlemen in France have made my friends here alter their opinions, (which I do not yet find they have) I hope all will go as we would have it; and in case that should not happen so, I am very much of your excellency's opinion, that we shall leave all those gentlemen to their ill destiny, and go another way to work.-My Whig friend was charmed with your excellency's letter, which he read over and over. Many others of the same party begin to change their language in our favour. I send my brother a little piece, which is just published at my charge, and writ in a pretty moderate stile. There is something in it of my own. What is said in the post-inclosed in this Letter of baron Gortz to count The form of the Acquittance mentioned and script, in praise of the prince, is in order to gain Gyllenburg, is as follows: I, the underwritten the prince's party, which is already well inplenipotentiary of his majesty the king of clined towards us. If your excellency thinks it 'Sweden, acknowledge to have received of proper to order me to Holland, I should be of for the service of his Swedish maopinion, that you should send the like orders to which the said monsieur Petkum, on pretence, that you would receive information from us both together,jesty; which sum of has found means of lending to his said maI promise, on the concerning the posture of affairs here with regard to our common interests. That would not give any umbrage, and one might easily find out ways of amusing M. Petkum."

Before this letter reached baron Gortz, be writ another to count Gyllenburg, dated at Paris, January 16, 1717, Ñ. S. as follows: "I have just now received here, your letters of the 1st, 2d, 4th, and 7th. You may depend upon it, Sir, and assure your friends, that the expedition to England does at present take up all our thoughts and attention. It will depend but upon two things; one is, the procuring four or five ships of war; and the other is money. I know where to get the former, but I can do nothing without the other. I cannot sign the contracts that are offered me. Your friends must take care to remove that obstacle, and to provide for the other squadron. There is not a moment to lose: The time is very short: Our friends on this side have assured me, that the money should be ready forthwith. By your letters I am to believe, there are 20,000l. ready. I herewith send you the acquittance, which I have given here, that you may draw yours conformably to it, which you will exchange hereafter for mine, which I will send VOL. VIL

jesty, the sum of

which I bave from his said majesty, and which part of his majesty, in virtue of the full power, I have produced in due form, to cause to be repaid to the said or his order, in 'the space of two years, to commence from the date of this acquittance; so that every four months there shall be paid a sixth part of the principal, together with interest at the 'rate of one half per cent. by the month, and so on, to the full payment of the total sum. In virtue and token whereof I have signed 'these presents, the 11th of Jan. 1717.

6

6 The baron de Gontz.'

The next Letter is from count Gyllenburg to baron Gortz, dated at London, January 18, 1717, N. S. as follows:

"My friend, that directs the whole affair, came back from the country last Saturday night, as I had the honour to acquaint your excellency that he would, in my last. He hath this day let me know, that upon a letter, which he received from my lord Mar, to remit forthwith 20,000l. into France, to the queen dowager of England, who was to pay it to us, he had actually remitted that money, which he hoped was already paid to your excellency. He asked my pardon for not having communicated

2 E

the discoveries concerning the intended Invasion; and cannot but regard with the utmost horror and indignation, the malice and ingratitude of those who have encouraged such an attempt against their king and country. lenity has been ineffectual towards the reclaim"We are sorry to find that your majesty's Lords, the duke of Newcastle moved for an Address of Thanks, which was agreed to nem. ing a faction, who have rendered themselves con. Next day, his grace reported the said so obnoxious to your justice: and we do assure Address, which occasioned a debate: lord your majesty, that we will, to the utmost of our Coningsby having enforced what was suggested power, support your majesty against the detherein, viz. That the late peace was treacher-home and abroad, in such a manuer, that, by signed Invasion, and all your enemies, both at

tion of the government by his royal highness the prince of Wales, under your majesty, did in some degree make the want of your royal presence more easy to us, we beg leave to congratulate your majesty upon the peace and security that, during your majesty's absence, was, by the great care of his royal highness, preserved in the kingdom, to the general satisfaction of all your subjects.

"We can never sufficiently acknowledge the repeated instances of your majesty's goodness, and unwearied concern for the welfare of your kingdom; we see with admiration many of the fatal defects of the Treaty of Utrecht, and the great disadvantages that were imposed upon this nation, at the head of a victorious army and powerful confederacy, happily remedied by your majesty, even in the midst of intestine dangers and troubles. Your consummate wisdom has renewed those

alliances that were basely betrayed and dissolved, and concluded such new treaties as may render the peace safe and lasting; and we are at a loss to determine, whether in future ages the suffering the demolition of the port of Dunkirk to be scandalously evaded, will be a greater reproach, or the procuring the destruction of the sluices of Mardyke a greater

honour to the British nation.

"We cannot at the same time, but with the highest resentment and indignation, look upon the obstinate and inveterate rancour of those who are again endeavouring to embroil their native country in blood and confusion. It is astonishing to find, that any, who call them selves Protestants, can be so inflexible and restless in their endeavours, to impose upon us a Popish Pretender; and rather venture to subject the kingdom to a foreign yoke, than depart from their darling and avowed design of altering and subverting the present happy establishment in the protestant succession.

"We adore the watchful eye of beaven, that has so wonderfully guarded and protected your sacred person, and cannot too much extol the wisdom and vigilance that have been used in so early and seasonably discovering this desperate attempt. And in order most effectually to defeat it, your faithful Commons, with hearts sincerely zealous in the cause of their king and country, assure your majesty, that they will to the utmost stand by and support your majesty against all your enemies at home and abroad, that shall in any manner presume to aid or abet the Pretender to your crown, and will most cheerfully grant to your majesty such Supplies as shall be found necessary for the safety of your royal person, and the defence of the kingdom. "We are all but too sensible of the unsupportable weight of the National Debts, and therefore will not neglect to apply ourselves with all possible diligence and attention, to the great and necessary work of reducing and lessening, by degrees, this heavy burthen, which may prove the most effectual means of preserving to the public funds a real and certain security,'

The King's Answer.] To this Address his majesty gave the following Answer: "Gentlemen:

"The duty and zeal which you express, in this loyal Address, to my person and government, your affectionate concern for the wel fare of your country, your promises of an effectual support against all our enemies at home and abroad, and your resolution of applying yourselves to ease my people, by reducing gradually the heavy load of the public debts, deserve my hearty thanks. You shall never have cause to repent of the confidence you repose in me: the honour, welfare, and pros perity of the nation being what I have chiefly at heart."

Motion relating to the Land Forces.] March 4. In a grand committee on the Supply, it was moved to take into consideration the estimates

relating to the land forces: upon which, sir Rob. Davers, Mr Freeman, and Mr. Hungerford endeavoured to get that affair put off to another day, by moving that Mr. Farrer, the chairman, should leave the chair. They alledged, 'That the late Rebellion being happily suppressed, and the Swedish Conspiracy seasonably discovered, there was reason to hope, that the counties of England would soon be eased of the grievous burthen of quartering soldiers; but if it appeared, that the king of Sweden persisted in his design to invade Great Britain, they would all readily give their votes for keeping the present forces on foot. Mr. R. Walpole, general Stanhope, Mr. John Smith, Mr. W. Pulteney, general Lumley, and several other courtiers, on the contrary, urged the necessity of taking speedy and vigorous resolutions in relation to the army; and after a debate that lasted near two hours, the question being put, That the chairman leave the chair, it was carried in the negative, by a majority of 222 voices against 57.

Debate on Mr. R. Walpole's Motion for bor rowing 600,000l for the public Service at 4l. per cent.] March 5. Mr.Farrer reported the Resolu tions taken the day before, in the grand com mittee on the supply; which being agreed to,

Mr. R. Walpole moved, and was resolved, nem. con. "That whosoever shall advance or lend any sum, not exceeding 600,000!. for the service of the public by sea or land, shall be repaid the same with interest, at 41. per cent. out of the first Aid to be granted this session of parliament. "The putting the interest of this intended loan so low as 4 per cent gave reason to surmise, that those, who had the management of his majesty's treasury, designed to put on the same foot the interests of all public Funds: Whereupon,

Mr. Lechmere took notice, "That several schemes and proposals for reducing the National Debts had been printed and dispersed, which gave the persons concerned in the public securities the greater uneasiness, in that there was reason to apprehend, that those schemes came abroad with the privity and

countenance of men in great places: That the general alarm which this had occasioned among the monied men, might very sensibly affect public credit, and be, at this juncture, of very dangerous consequence: To prevent which, be thought it necessary, to move, That the House would come to a resolution, effectually, to make good all parliamentary engagements. To this

Mr. Robert Walpole seconded this motion, and said, That there was the greater necessity for it, because he was informed, that some Stock Jobbers, in order to deter the parliament from pursuing the design of reducing the public Debts, had formed a combination to distress the government, and ruin public credit, which was the occasion that the late Vote for borrowing 600,000l. at 47. per cent. had not had the

Mr. Robert Walpole immediately answered,desired effect. To this That his majesty having, with great tenderness, recommended to them from the throne, the reducing, by degrees, the Debts of the Nation; and the Commons having afterwards in their Address to his majesty, promised to apply themselves, with all possible diligence and attention, to that great and necessary work, they ought to exert themselves,to make good that promise, and appoint a day to take that important matter into consideration: And he did not doubt but the Commons would then shew all possible regard to justice and public faith. He owned there had been, indeed, several Schemes published, relating to the Reduction of the National Debts, but that they were made by private persons, and, he did assure the House, without the participation of any of his majesty's ministers, and therefore they were not to be regarded; but that in a short time, such proposals would be laid before the House, as, he hoped, would give them satisfaction, and meet with their approbation; therefore he moved, That Mr. Lechmere's motion might be thus altered, viz. "That this House will effectually make good the deficiencies of all parliamentary engagements." This, after a short debate, was carried in the affirmative, nem. con. But mention being made of the great services done by the Bank of England, and those, who by their money had supported the court interest and the present establishment.

Mr. Aislabie took notice of the management of some Directors of the Bank, who, upon the alluring prospect of gain, were as ready to support the late ministry. On the other hand, a courtier having defied any body to charge any breach of public faith, or of the laws, on the administration, since his majesty's happy accession to the throne,

Mr. Hungerford said, That this put him in mind of a Coronation, when the king's champion coming into Westminster Hall, throws down one of his gloves to make the Challenge, but that he never saw any body so bold as to take it up.

March 8. While the House was in a Committee on the Supply,

Mr. Lechmere told them, That he was sorry he found himself obliged to take notice, that their late vote for a loan, at 47. per cent interest, was like to prove ineffectual, there not Being in three days time above 45,000l. subscribed to the loan of 600,000l. on the Landtax. And therefore since the present exigency required a speedy Supply, he thought it necessary, and therefore moved, That a day be appointed to consider farther of that matter.

Mr. Lechmere answered, That as none but the most wicked of men could enter into such a combination against the good of their country, so the honourable member that spoke last, would do well to name them, that the House might shew the utmost resentment and indig tion against them. But that in his opinion, the ill success of the loan was rather mainly occasioned by some reflections on the monied men and Stock Jobbers, and by certain maxims lately advanced, viz. That the parliament may exert their authority to extricate themselves, by reducing the National Debts; that such maxims could not but alarm the persons concerned in the public securities; and the more, when they saw that a slur had been put upon the motion made three days before, "That all parliamentary engagements should effectually be made good." That he still thought such a Vote absolutely necessary both to remove people's fears and jealousies, and to vindicate the honour and justice of the nation; and that the same was entirely agreeable to his majesty's sentiments, who in his first Speech to this parliament, had been pleased to recommend to the Commons, in a particular manner, the strict observance of all parliamentary engagements, than which nothing could more contribute to the support of the credit of the nation; with which opinion of his majesty the Commons did entirely concur; and that he could not believe, that any of his majesty's ministers could be so regardless of his honour and known equity, or put so hard a thing upon him as to make him in the least contradict what he had in so solemn a manner declared from the throne. He added, That the Coinmons having already appointed a day to consider of the State of the Nation, with relation to the Public Debts, he would not anticipate that important affair: but he could not forbear declaring on this occasion his private opinion, that it would be the greatest ingratitude, as well as injustice, in the least to wrong those who had supported the government in the most pressing exigencies and perilous junctures, and, on all occasions, shewn their zeal and affection for the Protestant succession. That he had nothing to say, as to such public securities as were redeemable by parliament; but as to Annuities granted for terms of years, he would be positive, that they could not be meddled with, without breaking in upon parliamentary engagements, and violating the public faith; since those annuities were not to be looked upon as debts, but as a sale of annual rents for a valuable consideration, of which contract the