Will.III. most probable, that he refolved to defer making terms for 1700. himself, till the treaty took place; and was not without repos had any orders, faying, "That the king my mafter is "defirous that your majefty "fhould be informed by mon"fieur Tallard, or monfieur "de Bonrepos, of all that paf"fes; and even the States will "always have a great regard " for all that comes from your "majefty." The king anfwered, “In this affair I confi"ded only in monfieur de Tal"lard; and I know very well, "that the king your mafter has "more credit than I in Hol"land on this occafion." When I faid, "That the king had re"commended it to the care of "the penfionary, and that we hoped, that the difficulties "were fuch as might be fur. "mounted." The king anfwered, "That he hoped fo "too; and that he imagined, "that fomebody would come "from the States into England; "and that the treaty would be figned there." The king faid alfo, "As you know, I have it "under the hand of the king "your mafter, as he has it un"der mine." Then I faid, "I "have alfo, Sir, particular or"ders to tell your majefty from "the king, that as he had "acted on this occafion with hopes, "mafter, that I will do the "fame." Mr. Prior fet out on the faid 15th of November 1699, with this account of the audience, for London. The earl of Manchester, to the earl of Jersey. Paris, Nov. 21, 1699. The fame day Mr. Prior left this place, I went to Versailles, and had my audiences, where paffed what is ufual on fuch occafions. The king expreffed himself in very obliging terms, mentioning the great defire he had to continue the good correfpondence, that was now fo well established; and that he did again repeat to me what he had formerly affured me of, &c. I made monfieur de Torcy a vifit, where I took occafion to dif courfe of what had paffed in my private audience. I knew he expected it, and was alfo willing to find out his fenfe of the mat ter. He faid, That the king had acquainted him with it: That I had fully explained the whole proceeding to his majefty: That monfieur de Tallard was to fet out on Monday next. He did ftill feem to infift on the great credit our king had with the States, and, laughing, faid, he wondered I should leffen it. I told him, I did own the States had always fhewn a great regard to every thing that was propofed by his majesty: That the affurances I had given opes, that, upon the emperor's refufal, he should be no- Will.III. ninated the next. The Swifs cantons, being applied to, de- 1700. clined this king, were, that he had recommended it, and would continue to do it; fo that nothing would be wanting on his part: That though there were great hopes of a good conclufion, yet, till it was agreed to by the States, it was more than could be faid, that they would certainly do it. On the whole, I find the court impatient till it is done, by faying, No time was to be loft: That the king of Spain's life was very uncertain: That, by the laft account they had, he was ill again. I waited on monfieur de Tallard this morning, and his difcourfe was much the fame. He gave me to understand, that, though monfieur de Bonrepos would feem to be concerned in this affair, he was not: That he hoped to find all things ready at his return into England, which would be on Saturday next: That he had all the duty imaginable for the king: That his intentions were and always would be, to endeavour to continue a good underftanding between our masters. To which I replied, as was proper on fuch an occafion," I hope monfieur de Tallard will "be fo just as to give it the fame turn in England he does "here." The earl of Manchester to the lord chancellor Sommers. Paris, Dec. 8, 1699. As to the affair that paffed in Holland this fummer, I cannot fee why the States fhould make any difficulty, fince the year before they did agree to a propofal of that nature; and the fame reafon does fill continue, unlefs they were defirous to fee first the fuccefs of their tariff there, which was yesterday fettled and exchanged. The house of Auftria will never agree to any thing till it is too late. Befides, they think our interefts is fo much concerned, that we fhall at all times procure them fome conditions ; and, on the other fide, the fear they have of difobliging Spain makes them fo very cautious, as not to come into any propofal whatever. I must confefs, I am impatient to fee the conclufion of this matter. For, in cafe it has not the effect we always propofed, I shall be forry it has gone fo far and I know this court will be much diffatisfied with us, and may be with fome reafon. All I have acted in it has fuccceded as was defired. : Will.III. clined giving their guaranty. In fhort, of all the princes, 1700. to whom it was communicated, not one appears to have come into it, but the king of Portugal. the occafion, but I fancy it is Count Zinzendorf had an au- The would produce a new war in Eu- The earl of Manchester to the faid, as for myfelf, that I thought earl of Jersey. Paris, Dec. 31, 1699. I never see monfieur de Torcy, but he speaks to me of the great affair. On Tuesday last I was there; I found him appearing a little more concerned: he faid, that matters were still under fuch uncertainties, that they could not tell what to depend on That he did not find that this affair was any way advanced: That the king of Spain had been indifpofed again fince his return to Madrid, and might die of a fudden, which probably if monfieur de Tallard had not left Holland fo foon, it might have facilitated this affair. To which monfieur de Torcy anfwered, that they had nothing to do with the States, having only treated with the king of England: That monfieur de Bonrepos was come to Paris, fo that they had no ambassador there, feeming to infift very much on this point, that it was not in the leaft their bufinefs : That feveral months were paffed fince the time they had reafon to believe this matter would have been finished, &c. I cannot tell but he expected fome 15 The two princes more immediately concerned in its opera- Will.III. tion, viz. the emperor, and king of Spain, loudly declared light from me, or it may be monfieur de Tallard is uneafy, and has made them fo. I found by monfieur de Tallard, the night before he went from hence, that he thought by Christmas this matter would certainly be ended. He faid, against 1700. State of the court of Torcy has received by an ex- Vienna. prefs a letter from monfieur de Tallard, of the 30th of Decem ber, N. S. which is two days fresher than ours. He feemed much better fatisfied than the time before. of Manchefter. Whitehall, Jan. 1, 1700. in cafe it had a good conclufion, The earl of Jersey to the earl The great affair is come to a good conclufion; the province of Holland, having confented to it, except fome little reserve, which will be of no confequence. Your excellency will be pleased, as you may occafionally difcourfe with monfieur de Torcy, to let him know this; which may prevent any thing, that Tallard may reprefent The earl of Manchester to the otherwise, on this fubject. earl of Jersey. Paris, Jan. 6, 1700. I am in hopes the grand affair goes on well, fince monfieur de Torcy, difcourfing yesterday with me, as he generally does, told me, that the penfionary of Holland had told monfieur de Bonrepos, that the province of Zealand had given their confent. and, there being fince fome time paft, it is hoped we shall foon know the fuccefs; which will make this court easy. Monfieur de Torcy pretends, they have propofals of treaties from all parts, but that the king does much more defire and feek that with the king of England than any other. Monfieur de The earl of Manchester to the Paris, Jan. 27, 1700. I was yesterday with monfieur de Torcy; who had received an exprefs from monfieur de Tallard, with news, That the affair was concluded: That the only difference that remained, at prefent, was, That the States would have their part figned in Holland; and monfieur de Torcy did not well know how this could be done, the French king having no minifter there. I found monfieur de Torcy very well pleased; and, in cafe that matter is not otherwise agreed on, I could per Will.III. againft it from the beginning. The former, foon after the conclufion of it was notified to him, returned for answer, "That 1700. perceive, that would be no obtruction; but the French king will send a person into Holland. The earl of Manchester to the earl of Jersey. Paris, March 31, 1700. The treaty is come from Holland, though the counterpart be not yet, because, as monfieur de Torcy faid, they could not tell, but the courier might have been stopped in Flanders; fo they would not fend them together. It does begin to take air, and count Zinzendorf has fome notice of it, having difcourfed to me of the feveral heads. I have been far from giving him any light into that matter; only fo far, as I have often faid before, when I found him alarmed at the illnefs of the king of Spain, That I thought it would be happy for Europe, if there could be a compromife; but that that would very much depend on the emperor. He faid, I might be affured the emperor would agree to any thing, that was reasonable. I avoided, always, going any further, without orders; though I cannot fee, but he will be foon informed of this whole matter, whenever it is again proposed at Vienna. I do believe, this court will do what they can, in order to a peace in all parts. The reason why I think fo, is because monfieur de Torcy fays, It would be neceffary, that moft of the princes in Europe con fented to what is agreed on in England; which cannot be fo well done, if they are in war one with the other. The earl of Manchefter to the earl of Jersey. Paris, May 8, 1700. I defired monfieur de Torcy would let me know, when he would mention the late treaty to the emperor's minifter; and what measures they intended to take, that I might act conformable to them: He faid, He fhould take no notice of it to him, till next Tuefday fevennight that they would fend orders to monfieur de Villars (with a copy of the treaty) to communicate it to the emperor; and to fend back the courier at the expiration of eight days, in cafe he had no answer, and to declare, that this king fhall look upon it as a refufal that, left the emperor might engage the pope, the French ambaffador at Rome is to communicate it also, and to defire it may be kept a fecret: that they think proper to act in the fame manner with the republic of Venice, and they will impart it to their ambassador here about the same time they mention it to the emperor's minifter. As for Spain, they thought it not yet proper. He faid, they should now foon fee the fuccefs of this great affair, and the king would have the honour of it, and the cafe was extremely changed in two years: that the king had now all |