shall soon see what the emperor thinks of all this matter. It is certain this might have been prevented, if he had accepted the treaty. And, as it is, it may be very fatal to England, even without remedy. We are not united enough at home, to expect any good; and, I fear, that thofe, that difapproved of the late treaty, will foon have reason to wish it had took place. My being in France has not given me a better opinion of their fincerity, or good inclination towards us: And I cannot fee, let this matter turn which way it will, that there is any great occafion for the king to be at the expence of an ambaffador here; neither do I believe, that monfieur de Tallard will stay long with you.

Mr. Stanhope to the earl of

Manchester.

Hague, Dec. 10, 1700. A courier was last night difpatched by the States to Paris, with their answer to the king's haughty letter. The anfwer contains, after fuch thanks as he expects, that his majefty knows very well the nature of their conftitution to be fuch, that they can take no new refolutions, especially in matters of this great importance, without communicating them firft to their provinces; which they are more indifpenfably obliged to obferve in this cafe, becaufe the treaty of partage was in a moft folemn manner communicated

in

to, and approved, and ratified by, them; and therefore they cannot lay the treaty afide, but with the fame effential formalities it was made: That they would immediately communi cate his majesty's letter to their provinces, and hoped he would please to allow them so much time, as till they could know their minds about this weighty affair, feeing it was impoffible for them to take any refolution of themfelves. Something I hear was mentioned of the king, as their ftadtholder, whom they must also confult. The fame in fubftance was fent last night in writing by the States agent, both to the French and Spanish ambaffadors here. This expedient will, probably, give them a little more time to confider what they do. They feem to be grown much cooler, and more moderate, than they were at the firft news, when they talked of nothing but war; and I am now verily perfuaded, the party acknowledging the new king, will, e'er long, prevail, by a great majority. One faid to me, to-day, They would have been pleafed, if their ambaffador at Paris had done it, though without orders; for then they had been at liberty to have owned or difowned his action, according as they found it fuit with their intereft afterwards. The emperor's court makes a great noife, and talks of fending an army into the Milanefe early in the fpring: but little is to be expected from a prince fo irrefolute, and whofe finances are

in fo lamentable a disorder; befides that, the German name, by their barbarous actions in the laft war in Italy, is become much more odious than the French; and, befides that, their unreasonable project, of reviving his antiquated pretenfions to the imperial fiefs, has made all their fear, and confequently hate, the nation.

While things are in this uncertain condition between this State, and France, and Spain, nothing can be moved on either fide about the Dutch troops in Flanders. It would be moft natural to expect the proposals from the French, rather than Spain; because they are jealous of the French, and not of Spain: but, in difcourfe with the French ambassador on the fubject, he told me, If these people had any thing to move concerning it, they ought to addrefs themfelves to the king of Spain; for it no way concerned the king, bis mafter.

The earl of Manchefter to Mr. fecretary Vernon.

Paris, Dec. 11, 1700. I cannot tell from whence they have, at St. Germain's, an apprehenfion, that the prince of Wales will be carried away into England, with his own confent; and, upon this, they have increafed his guards; whereas, formerly, he had fix, he has now fourteen. They think their game lo very fure, that there is

The

no occafion he should make fuch a step. Befides, the changing of his religion will never be fuffered; and they have lately declared, That they would rather fee him dead.

Juft as I had wrote this letter, count Zinzendorf came to me, and told me, He had received orders to go to court, now the duke of Anjou is gone, as he ufed to do. He is to reprefent to monfieur de Torcy, the right the emperor conceives he has to the crown of Spain. He also tells me, That the count de Goes, at the Hague, has full inftructions; and that there is an envoy named for England, who will be foon there. In fhort, I do perceive the emperor is willing, now, to do any thing the king fhall like.- -Count Zinzendorf fays alfo, That orders are given for the troops to march towards Italy and the Rhine.

what manner he could with this would end. Some pretend, that they will give all the affurances that can be defired; but I take it, that we should, if poffible, have fomething more fubftantial. To others they fay, that what relates to Flanders, is not in their power, but what propofals are to be made, must be made to Spain, which cannot be done till we acknowledge the new king. Here is a difcourfe, as if Spain would exchange Flanders for Rouffillon, or fome other place near them. It is not improbable, but this may be done in time, though at prefent they know their interest too well to give fuch jealoufies, as this would do. The emperor's late proceedings, and the account, that he is fending forces into Italy, have made the French take the refolution of fending count de Teffé to Milan. He is declared general of the French forces, and goes away poft on Saturday next. Twenty-five battalions, and three thoufand horfe, are marching with all diligence towards Savoy. It is faid, count Teffe is to fee in what condition affairs are there, and to concert with prince Vaudemont; whom, as I believe, they begin to mistrust, notwithftanding what has paffed. There is no doubt but he is to afk the duke of Savoy for leave to pafs through his country; fo that now he must explain himself, and they are not forry it happens fo. Monfieur Zinzendorf was yesterday at Verfailles. He

himself

had orders to acquaint monfieur de Torcy, that the emperor had received a letter from the States general, jointly with their confederates, the kings of England and France, whereby they still invite him to fign the treaty, and fay, that he had yet time to do it: That monfieur de Villars had, notwithstanding this, declared, that his mafter had accepted the will, and that the duke of Anjou was king of Spain, which was a fort of contradiction. The answer which monfieur de Torcy made him, was, That he did not know what the States may have done, but that the king had no part in it: That he knew what had paffed here in relation to the duke of Anjou, and that the king was refolved to fupport him with all his forces, which he did not doubt but was easy to do. This was the fubftance of what monfieur de Torcy told me. Count Zinzendorf did only fet out the right of the emperor to Spain, by the will of Philip IV. the renunciation of France, and feveral treaties. There is no doubt but that the anfwer he had to all this was in very high terms, which I think could not have been expected otherwise.

Monfieur de Schonenberg to the

earl of Manchester.

Madrid, Dec. 16, 1700. The marquis of Harcourt is returned hither fince Monday laft

Will. III. not refolved to oppofe the Im1700. perialifts, yet they would not be in a condition to march these three months; but it feems, there is fuch hatred against them there, by reafon of their proceedings in the la'e war, that I find by all the Italian minifters, that they like French troops better than Germans; fo that I cannot fee, but the great preparations that are now talked of, will come to nothing. The emperor would be glad that others would undertake his caufe.

The envoy of the great duke had, on Thursday laft, a public audience, to congratulate the king on the duke of Anjou's acceffion to the crown of Spain.

I have your's of the 2d, and I fhall take what care I can to inform you of what orders are given in relation to the fitting out of a fleet. There is no doubt, but they are taking their measures to have it in readiness; and they fay here, that we are doing the fame.

week from the regency of Spain, notifying the king's death, and the difpofition he made of the crown. He is ordered to go by the way of Groyne, and, I believe, will fet forwards to-morrow. His majesty would be glad, that he might reach Madrid before the king of Spain's arrival there, it being of confequence, that no time should be loft in executing these inftructions. But, fince he may be delayed by contrary winds, his majefty has thought fit, that a copy of the inftructions fhould be fent directly, and with speed, to Mr. Schonenberg, that he may, in the mean time, make his majesty's intentions, of living in his former friendship with Spain, rightly understood, and ufe his endeavours, either to keep them in, or bring them to the fame difpofition towards

us.

Now your excellency fees, what will be his majesty's conduct towards Spain, if he meets with fuitable returns from thence,

of Manchester.

Whitehall, Dec. 10, 1700.

I now send you back Mr. Chetwynd, his majefty having thought it proper, that he fhould bring you the inclofed letter for monfieur Schonenberg; which his majesty would have you fend to Madrid, by the quickest and fafeft, way you can think of.

I fend you the letter unfealed, that you may fee it contains the copy of an inftruction, which his majesty gives to Dr. Aglionby, who is appointed to carry his majesty's answer to the let ter that his majesty received laft

as an inftruction to you, how to govern yourself in the converfations you may have an opportunity for with the Spanish ambaffador, refiding at Paris, or with fuch of the grandees, as are coming thither from the regency, to prevent their taking any ill impreffions, in relation to his majefty and his kingdom. But you will defer acquainting him with what his majefty has now ordered, fince it may be doubted, what use he would make of fuch an information in that court. It feems fit likewife, that nothing be said of the particulars to the emperor's minifter.

-Monfieur