A continuation of the secret history of White-hall from the abdication of the late K. James in 1688 to the year 1696 writ at the request of a noble lord ... : the whole consisting of secret memoirs ... : published from the original papers : together with The tragical history of the Stuarts ... / by D. Jones ...

LETTER XXVI. Of the French magnifying their power at Sea, after the fight in May, 1692. &c. and of the late Queen Mary's be∣ing brought to Bed at St. Germans of a Daughter. (Book 26)

My Lord,

THO' there is nothing more grievous to both Courts here than the late de∣feat of the French Fleet, yet the Ministers have endeavoured to dissemble it with much Application, and would make the droop∣ing People believe, it was a thing so incon∣siderable, as that it is in a manner quite re∣paired already, and that their Fleet is alrea∣dy so reinforced, as to be in condition not

only to obviate the attempts of the Ene∣mies Navy; But after they have taken on board some Necessaries, to put out to Sea and provoke them to a second Engage∣ment; To which end they have Published a List of Seventy Men of War, besides F••i∣g••••s, &c. that they pretend to have ready, which I shall not trouble your Lordship with a Coppy of, because I know it to be false: And if the French Ministers are thus put to it, to support their Master's Cre∣dit at this Juncture, they are almost past all hopes at St. Germans, where the late King and his disappointed Followers are arrived, and who have nothing now to sollace themselves with, but the happy de∣livery of his Queen of a Daughter; Which second production, its hoped, may over∣come the obstinacy of Mens minds, and make them at last believe the first was Ge∣nuine. But if there were a cloud of un∣lucky circumstances that attended the for∣mer, there is one already known to have accompanied this also, viz. that the Deli∣very was so quick, that Madame who was in this City, and made all the hast she could to go to the Labour, as soon as ever she had notice of it, could not yet get thither soon enough.

The affairs of Flanders and other parts, where the War is, I forbear to touch on, as supposing your Lordship has an exact account of all the Transactions that happen, sooner and more truly too than I can in∣form

you from hence, where most things to their disadvantage are as cunningly veiled over, as the successes are magnifyed; wherefore I shall take my leave of you, till something momentous does occur and only subscribe my self

My Lord,

Your Lordships most Humble and Devoted Servant.

Paris, June. 30. 1692. N. S.