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My Lord,
THE general Affairs of the War are so publick, that your Lordship cannot but come to the Knowledge of such Trans∣actions as fall out from Time to Time, as soon as any other in the Kingdom; and they are such at this Juncture as sufficiently per∣plex
this Court, especially so far as they re∣gard Italy and Savoy in particular, from whence they have just received the bad News of the raising the Seige of Coni, which is yet but whispered amongst them; But your Lordship may so far rely upon my Intelli∣gence in this particular, as confidently to report it in England; of which News, I question not your giving hereby the first Intelligence: But though this ill Success is so much the more mortifying to this Court, in that they fully reckoned upon the Ta∣king of the Place, seeing all others that had hitherto been besieged by their Arms on that side, have made little or on Re∣sistance, and that they own themselves they have lost before it Eighteen Hundred of the best of their Men; Yet another Acci∣dent has, my Lord, this very Day happen∣ed here, which at present seems more sur∣prizing, and a greater Subject of Discourse than the other; and that is, the Death of our Grand Minister of State, the Marquess de Louvois: Your Lordship knows what Re∣lation I have stood to him in, and what Word I sent you once by Major H— if there was a Possibility of his seeing you, of my then Circumstances upon the same Foot. Things being still much the same, I shall not further trouble you with a vain Repe∣tition of what I am now well assured the said Major has reported to your Honour; but observe, That the Marquess having di∣ned with the Princess d'Espenoy and Madam
de Soubize, he found himself presently after ill in the King's Chamber, from whence he re∣tired into his own to be Let Blood; but not finding any Ease by Bleeding in one Arm, and being extreamly oppressed in his Spirits, nothing would content him but he must needs be Let Blood in the other, and there∣upon died at the same time. These, my Lord, are the naked Circumstances of this Great Man's Departure; and you may re∣lie upon it, though I do not question but many may be apt to ascribe his Death to some extraordinary and violent Cause, since I have even already heard a Whisper of it in a Corner: But whatever Reflections the World may make upon the Causes of his Death, I foresee there will be no less Ani∣madversions upon the Train of Consequen∣ces that may attend it. Perhaps many of the Confederates may be apt to believe that the Death of Monsieur de Louvois may pro∣duce such an Alteration of Affairs here, as may not a little contribute to the Advan∣tage of theirs, since much of the happy Suc∣cess that has hitherto attended the King's Designs, will be ascribed to the Address, Cunning and Policy of this Minister, and that the French Lilies will wither in ano∣ther's hands. I do very well know that such Suggestions carry a great Appearance of Truth in them: But if I may freely de∣liver my Opinion to your Lordship, from my own Observation and Experience, I can∣not but declare my self contrary to the afore∣said
Sentiments, which, if any Ways relyed on, will be found to prove but broken Reeds; For, believe me, my Lord, the French King has had a greater Share in the publick Trans∣actions of his Kingdom, than any of his Ministers, for all the Time I have known France: And no one understands his own Affairs and Interests as well as himself; to say nothing of the Assistance of so many politick Persons, and Men of great Abili∣ties he has constantly about his Person, and who serve him with more than ordinary Zeal and Affection; which will sufficiently compensate for the Loss of one single Mini∣ster. Your Honour cannot but be sensible why I observe this at the present Juncture, such an Aery Advantage as this is like to prove, can bring no solid benefit to my Country, but a real Detriment will infalli∣bly succeed a Dependance upon it. But the Death of Monsieur Barillon, which hap∣pened a few Hours before the other, and who knew England better than any other French-man, may, I trust, conduce more to the Tranquility of the Kingdom within, which none more passionately desires to hear of, than,
My Lord,
Your ever Obliged, and Most Faithful Serv.
Versailles, July 16. 1691. N. S.