of orders obliges them to it. It is most certain that when I was in Spain *, in the month of August, I was not more sensible of the heat than I am at this minute. If you have the same weather, it must make all sorts of fruit very good; and as this is the third year of the trees at Woodstock, if possible, I should wish that you might, or somebody you can rely on, taste the fruit of every tree, so that what is not good might be changed. On this matter you must advise with Mr. Wise, as also what plan may be proper for the ice-house; for that should be built this summer, so that it might have time to dry. The hot weather makes me think of these things, for the most agreeable of all presents is that of ice." To Lord Sunderland. "Meldert, June 27.- Nobody can have a better opinion than I have of Lord Galway; but when I consider the court and king of Spain, I think it would be the most barbarous thing in the world to impose upon Lord Galway to stay; for I am very confident he had rather beg his bread - I am sure I would. About ten days hence I hope we may hear something good from the duke of Savoy; for as to the affairs of Germany, I expect nothing but confusion. However, I have sent the order to the Saxons to march to the Rhine, as you will have seen by my letter to the elector of Mayence. As to our affairs here, we begin to think ourselves as strong as the enemy, which most certainly we are, and our foot infinitely better than theirs; so that I hope in a little time every body will consent to venture, and that God will bless us with success. I might be trusted with full powers, for I protest to you that I would not venture unless the probability were on our side; for the inclinations in Holland are so strong for peace, that should we have the least disadvantage, they would act very extravagantly. I must own to you that every country we have to do with, in my opinion acts so very contrary to the public good, that it makes me quite weary of serving. However, till the end of this war, I see the necessity of my serving; after which I hope for yours and our friends' leave of living the little remainder of my life in quiet. I am, with all my heart," &c. "June 27. You may assure 255 that no man living is more desirous of a good peace than I am. The emperor is in the wrong in almost every thing he does; but what she writes concerning his having correspondence with France, is certainly not so. The people in Holland, which seem to be favourable to Peterborough, are of all the worst in that country. I hear by my last letters from Italy that he is gone to Vienna, to solicit troops for King Charles; but his mind changes so often, that there is not much weight to be laid upon his motions, nor have I answered any of his letters, not knowing where to send them. I am glad to hear that the duke of Shrewsbury is easier than the last year. I do not think he can ever be of much use, but it is much better to have mankind pleased than angry; for a great many that can do no good have it always in their power to do hurt. What you say concerning the uneasiness be * This must allude to his journey to or from Tangier, where he served as a volunteer. See p. 3. vol. I. — ED. But tween the queen and the lord treasurer- -if that continues, destruction must be the consequence, as the circumstances of our affairs are abroad, as well as at home. I am sure, to the best of my understanding, and with the hazard of my life, I will always endeavour to serve the queen. if she inclines more to be governed by the notions of Mr. Harley than those of Mr. Montgomery, I would sooner lose my life than persuade him to continue, in such circumstances, in the service of the queen. This is only to yourself; but you may depend upon it that if ever I be advised with, this will be my opinion. All that I know concerning Lord Peterborough is that he would do any thing to get the payment of an arrear of about 3000Z." To Lord Godolphin. "Meldert, June 27. — I have, since my last, had the favour of yours of the 8th and 10th, and am very glad to find you are so near an end of your Scotch business; for what you are obliged to leave to the British parliament I am not in much pain; for I think there must happen so many things on this side of the water, that of consequence I think will make the sessions either easy or uneasy; and as I can't but hope that God will bless the project of entering France, as well as this army, with some success this campaign, I will flatter myself that her majesty will have a very easy sessions. That which gives me the greatest trouble is, what you say concerning the queen; for if Mrs. Morley's prejudice to some people is so unalterable, and that she will be disposing of the preferments now vacant to such as will tear to pieces her friends and servants, that must create distraction. But you know my opinion was, and is yet, that you ought to take with you Mr. Secretary Harley, and to let the queen see, with all the freedom and plainness imaginable, her true interest; and when she is sensible of that, there will be no more difficulty; if there should, you will have performed your duty, and God's will be done. For my own part, I see in almost every country, they act so extremely against their own interest, that I fear we have deserved to be punished. I will endeavour to serve to the best of my understanding, and then shall submit with much resignation to the pleasure of God, whose mercies and protection I am very sensible of. And as I do freely venture my life in gratitude for the favours I have received from the queen, so I do hope and beg that you will take a proper time of letting the queen know my heart and firm resolution, with her leave, that as soon as the war is at an end I might be master of myself, by which I might have both time and quietness to reconcile myself to God, which ought to be the end of every honest man." To the Duchess. If "Meldert, July 4. - By yours of the 13th I find 162* is gone into the country in great delight, which I am very sorry for; for it is most certain. that whatever pleases him can't be for the service of the queen. I were ever capable of giving advice, it would be rashness to do it at this distance; but I believe nothing can cure this matter, if I guess right, but * Probably the archbishop of York. lord treasurer's giving himself the trouble of writing very plainly what he thinks is wrong, and send it to the queen, without offering to quit, or expecting any answer; but, as in duty bound, to leave it to her consideration. I should hope this would do it; but if it should not, the last and only thing must be, that the solicitor-general speak very freely to Mr. Harley. * * * "And as to what Lord Sunderland says concerning the king of Spain, that nobody will please him that does their duty, I am of his mind, and I have also as good an opinion of Lord Galway as any body can have; but that is no argument for Lord Galway's stay; for as it is, it will be impossible for those two* to serve together; but as I am resolved to meddle as little as possible, pray say nothing of this." To Lord Godolphin. "Meldert, July 4. Since my last I have had the favour of yours of the 13th, old style, with the enclosed letters of Mr. Methuen and Montandre. I agree with you, that the alliance with Portugal should be maintained, if possible; but by Mr. Methuen's letter I fear it will be very difficult. However, there ought to be care taken that the fault should not be on our side. I own to you, that I am a good deal of the mind of Montandre, by which I am confirmed in the opinion, that the war in Catalonia must be carried on by troops from Italy, and not by the queen's subjects, by which you may save money, and the service be better done; and by that the king and his generals will naturally have the command, which is itself very reasonable. I hear the court of Vienna has had a copy of my letter to Count Piper, and that they dislike two expressions; the one where I mention the court of Vienna, and the other the treaty of Italy. If I hear any thing from them of it I shall let them know the truth, that I meant the letter for their service. If they take it ill after that, it will not give me much trouble. "I have received letters from Turin of the 15th of the last month, by which I see they will not begin their operations till about the 25th. I shall not be at ease till I hear they are in France; for the fear of the king of Sweden is so great at Vienna that God knows what orders may go from thence. I send to Mr. Secretary Harley a letter from the elector of Hanover's minister at the Hague, and my answer. You will see by it that the elector desires that M. Bothmar's regiment of dragoons, which is *The Count de Noyelles and Lord Galway. The two passages which displeased the court of Vienna, in the duke's letter to Count Piper, were these: "All this you will easily conceive gives us a great deal of uneasiness; but may I frankly own to you, that the new instances of dissatisfaction which the court of Vienna has so lately given the king is a greater trouble to me than the latter of these accidents." And second: "We caused the army to be assembled immediately, as did likewise the enemy on their side; for taking advantage of the treaty of Italy, they have drawn so many troops from those posts, that they are come out of their lines with a pretty large superiority." Lediard, vol. ii. p. 196 paid by the queen and Holland, might go with him into Germany. It was by no means proper for me to give him the answer; but I should think if it serves with him in Germany it would be very unreasonable for the queen and Holland to pay it. I have writ the same thing to the pensioner, but have desired him not to make use of my name. Besides. if we allow of this, we may be sure, either this campaign or the next, he will press to have more of his troops. "I have had letters of the 22d of the last month from Vienna this morning, by which I see they have resolved to send Count Wratislaw once more to the king of Sweden, and if possible to give him satisfaction. If they had done this sooner it would have been better, but I am glad he goes. I have this morning received your two letters from Windsor, of the 15th and 16th of the last month. As to what you say concerning Neufchatel, I have said so much to the king of the positive orders her majesty has given to her ministers, for their acting in whatever way he shall think proper, that I am sure he is satisfied; so that you need apprehend no ill consequences by the death of the duchess of Nemours. king of Prussia is so zealous for the entering France, that he has already desired that some of his troops may take possession of the principality of Orange. The I "Tho' my letter is already too long, yet I must answer your desire of knowing how long the enemy and we may continue in our camps. believe, with some difficulty, we might stay in ours till the end of this month; but I have been some time endeavouring to persuade the Dutch deputies that I might take the camp of Genappe; when I can prevail, you will hear of my being there. The reason of their backwardness is, that they apprehend that might engage the two armies to some action, which they are willing to avoid till we hear some good news from Italy." To Lord Sunderland. "Meldert, July 7. My lord, I have but too many reasons to think that the Dutch would be glad of pretences to excuse the earnest desire they have of a peace. I now send a letter to Mr. Secretary Harley, which I have received from the States-general, in order to have her majesty's commands. There can be no question of the great advantage it would be to the allies if the emperor could put an end to the war in Hungary. But I do very much fear the advantages the French have had in the beginning of this campaign, as also the king of Sweden's being still in the empire, has heartened the Hungarians to that degree, that whatever inclinations the emperor may be brought to for peace, it would be of little use in this conjuncture; so that, in my opinion, I can see no use in taking such measures as this letter seems to desire, but that of using the emperor very harshly, and by it showing to France that the continuance of the war must be with great difficulty. For it is not possible that England and Holland can speak to the emperor, as is desired, but that it must be known in France. "I have not acquainted any body, either in England or Holland, what my thoughts are of this matter, which makes me beg you will communicate them to nobody but Lord Halifax and Lord Somers; and pray assure them that I shall govern myself agreeably to their opinions, so that you must take care of the directions I must receive from Mr. Harley. The Dutch deputies will not own to me that they have any other orders or directions, but that of being cautious not to venture any thing till they hear what is done in Provence. But I have reason to believe that they have more positive orders from the States; and let the success be good or bad in Provence, I believe they will continue of the mind they are now in; since it is the daily discourse in this army, as well as in Holland, why should they venture, since they have already in their hands what will be a sufficient security to them? If an occasion offer, I no ways doubt but God will both incline us to make use of it, and bless us with success, which will not only be the endeavours, but daily prayers of," &c. From Lord Godolphin. "Windsor, June 24-July 5. — I am sorry to find you have your doubts on the affair of Toulon. I confess I have had mine a good while, and the more, because I see them upon all occasions so pressing for money beforehand. But I knew no remedy; they were not to be refused, and we must trust them, if we are deceived. Upon that, and many other accounts, I am like to pass my time but indifferently next winter; especially since the queen's proceedings in some things will give the Whigs a handle to be uneasy, and to tear every thing to pieces, if they cannot have their own terms. And Mr. Harley does so hate and fear Lord Somers, Lord Sunderland, and Lord Wharton, that he omits no occasion of filling the queen's head with their projects and designs; and if Mr. Montgomery should take him with him upon any occasion of that kind, he would either say nothing, or would argue against what the other says, as he did upon some subjects, some months since, when Mr. Freeman himself was present. Lady Marlborough went to Woodstock very early this morning. "Since I had written thus far, I have seen the queen, who desired me to tell you that she would write to you in a post or two, as soon as her hand was a little stronger. suppose the occasion of her letter will be upon my having read to her some expressions in your letter of the 27th, which she calls splenetic. However, I think this use may be made of it, to say in your answer what you think proper upon the state of the queen's affairs." To Lord Godolphin. "Meldert, July 11.. Since you think it will be of no use to take Mr. Harley with you to the queen, you must find some way of speaking plainly to him; for if he continues in doing ill offices upon all occasions to Lord Somers, Lord Sunderland, and Lord Wharton, it will at last have so much effect upon the queen, whose inclinations are already that way, it must occasion that no measures will be followed. If Mrs. Morley writes to me, I shall be sure to send you a copy of my answer. You have so much business, that I am afraid you have forgot to |