This feemed fo different from his own inclinations, and from Will. III. all the former parts of his life, that it made many conclude, 1700. of the court. They could not well do otherwife than tell me ; for, when we had the news of the king of Spain's death, I preffed monfieur de Torcy to tell me what measures they would keep, in relation to the treaty. He answered me, from time to time, in a doubtful manner, which gave me reasons to fufpect what was doing: So, at aft, he had orders to acquaint me with it. Besides, he said, it was proper, that the king fhould know it, otherwise, than by the public news, I have received your excellency's letter, of the 24th inftant, N. S. and have laid it before his majefty; but the king has not given me any thing, in command, at prefent, to write to you. Their refolutions are taken; therefore his majesty may be allowed to confider a little, what may be the confequence of fo fudden a change in that court; as likewife to expect, what are the fentiments of other princes and states, who are equally concerned in the prefervation of the peace of Europe, and the preventing the balance of power from being broken, by the uniting too many dominions under any one prince; which was the juft foundation of the late treaty. But, how does it yet appear, that the fe that curity of Europe is better provided for, by a prince of France being made king of Spain? Or, what care is taken to fatisfy the world therein ? The earl of Manchester to Mr. secretary Vernon. Paris, Decemb. 1, 1700. about my going to Verfailles, I was very much in doubt till I received yours of the inftant, which determined me. I had a very good excuse, becaufe all, that go there now, have put their coaches in mourning, and mine are not yet done. They do already fay at court, that, till I had orders to compliment the duke of Anjou, I do well not to appear there. I did find by the Dutch ambassador, who went yesterday for an anfwer to a memorial he had given in by order of the States, that monfieur de Torcy did intimate to him as much, as from himself. The Duke of Anjou is to fet out on Saturday next. I cannot tell but it may be deferred; and, if fo, I fhall be under fome difficulties. Monfieur de Tallard was with me. He talks of going, but he has as yet no orders. I am ftill of opinion, that you will not fee him very foon, unless the king our mafter does fignify his confent to what has paffed here. The prince of Vaudemont has proclaimed the duke of Anjou, and has writ to the Spanish ambaffador here to affure the new Will. III. that he found himself in an ill ftate of health, the fwelling of 1700. his legs being much increafed, and that this might have fuch effects new-king of his fidelity, and he hopes he shall receive his orders before he goes for Spain, which he will punctually obferve. The Savoy ambaffador has received orders to compliment him on his acceffion to the crown, which he did yesterday. The emperor's envoy has no orders as yet; and they do here not feem to value what the emperor can do. I am nevertheless told for certain, that a marriage will be proposed to the emperor for one of the archducheffes, according to the defire of the late king of Spain, by his will. If that is not accepted, then they will marry him to a daughter of the duke of Savoy, who is about thirteen years old. They begin to fay here, that, as for Holland, if they are diffatisfied, the king of Spain ought to bring them to obedienee, as formerly belonging to that monarchy. And, if we difpute, the little gentleman at St. Germain's is to be made ufe of. I wish that may not be the confequence at laft, though we should act otherwife. The earl of Manchester to Mr. Stanhope. Paris, Dec. 3, 1700. The duke of Anjou sets out to-morrow for Spain. We hear as yet of no proposals to make the Dutch fecure; and I believe there is no thought of it, fince they feem to fay, that this will depend on Spain, and not on them. Monfieur de Bedmar has been here, and was at Marly. I am told, that the French king affured him, that, if there was occafion for his affiftance in Flanders, he would fend what troops they defired. I cannot think, that the elector of Bavaria will keep the government long, notwithstanding what he has done, neither will the Dutch troops be permitted to ftay there. Whatever proposals will be made to the States, they will come from the French ambaffador at the Hague, and I hope you will let me know what steps he makes.I fear that the affairs of Europe are in a very ill condition, and that in a few years France will be master of us all. There goes a report about Paris, that I have asked an audience of the king, which he denied me, because I did not acknowledge the duke of Anjou. You will do well to let every body know, that there is no fuch thing, and that I have no orders of that nature. What I had to fay was much the fame with what the Dutch ambassador faid, and I only acquainted monfieur de Torcy with it, and did not give it in writing. The earl of Manchefter to Mr. fecretary Vernon. Paris, Dec. 4, 1700. I take it for granted, that the duke of Anjou is to fet out this morning. I do intend to go to court on Tuesday next, and fee what is doing.-I take all the care I can to behave myself as pru effects on his mind, as to make him lefs warm and active, Will. III. lefs difpofed to involve himself in new troubles; and that he 1700. might prudently as is poffible at this juncture, fince all perfons eyes are upon me; which I conceive is right, whatever the king's refolution may be at last. But it is impoffible to prevent idle difcourfes here. I fuppofe you will hear, that I had asked an audience of the king, and was refused, by reason I had not complimented the new king of Spain. There was no ground for this; you know very well, that I had no occafion of doing it, having received no orders of that nature: Yet I am of opinion, that this might poffibly have happened, if I had, and that there will be foon a declaration, that those ministers, whose mafters do not own the duke of Anjou, will not be received here. Their way has always been to carry things high. Not that I think, that they are in a condition of doing it, were other princes united. Yefterday I received the inclofed from monfieur Schonenberg to the king. What he acquaints me with is not worth taking notice of; but I am told from other hands, that there are a great many Spaniards diffatisfied, and who do not approve of the conduct of the regents. The queen does not come to the council; perhaps this is only, that the house of Auftria may have a better opinion of her. The count de Harrach has entered a protestation; as has alfo the pope's nuncio, in relation to Naples; and, his pretence is, that the king, dying without I can now affure you, that monfieur de Tallard takes his leave of the king to-morrow, and will be foon in England. I did perceive by monfieur de Torcy, that he has a letter to the king; fo that a little time will fhew what we are to expect. I did not enter into difcourfe on that fubject, nor on the late proceedings of theirs; and it is to no purpofe. The less I fay the better, unless I do it by order. What affurance Europe will have of its fecurity, I cannot tell, unlefs what they fay here will be thought fufficient, viz. that the French king will end his days in peace, and that his ambition is now fatisfied. Here is arrived a courier from Madrid. The letters fay, that they had proclaimed the duke of Anjou; and that there were fhewn great expreffions of joy in all parts. They have alfo the fame account from Naples. We fhall L in a declining state of health. But the true fecret of this un- Will, IIIaccountable behaviour in the king was foon difcovered. ་་་ འ 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 propofals from the French, rather than Spain; because they are jealous of the French, and not of Spain: but, in difcourfe with the French ambaffador 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, his mafter. The earl of Manchester to Mr. fecretary Vernon. Paris, Dec. 11, 17c0. 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 fo 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. Just 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. ufed to do. He is to reprefent to monfieur de Torcy, the right the emperor conceives he has to the crown of Spain. He alfo 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. 1700. |