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 II. Of the Dauphin's Dissatisfaction with his Command of the French Army in Ger∣many, and what use might be made of it by the Confederates, if dexte∣rously managed. (Book 2)

My Lord,

I Do not question but your Lordship is very well acquainted with the present posture of things in reference to the Ar∣mies of this Kingdom, and that particu∣larly, the Dauphine has the Command a∣gain this Year of the Army upon the Rhine; But what his real sentiments are concerning it, your Lordship cannot be thought to know, and perhaps, but very few others; yet it is apparent by the Air and Counte∣nance of this Prince, that he does not take the Field with the same Chearfulness, as he did last year, and something that has lately dropped from him, and which I had com∣municated to me from one about him, who knew the truth of it, hath something so remarkable in it, and by a wise Con∣duct, may be so made use of, as to turn to such solid advantage, that I do not know any thing at present so worthy to be Com∣municated to your Lordship: Said he, I am

not so much concerned at the great number of Enemies I have to fight with, as the difficulty I labour under how to treat with them; for a∣bove all things, it beh••ves one that is Successor to a Crown, to be true to his Engagements, more especially, in such a Reign as this is: For that the first impressions the Worlds take of him, are likely never to wear out. Things are now brought to that pass, that I cannot rely upon the Enemies word, nor they upon mine, and I should be still in fear that they would violate their agreements with me, supposing I would never keep faith with them, any longer than I esteemed it for my conveniency. I know it will be a fruitless thing for me, to make pro∣testations, that what happened last year in re∣ference to the violation of the Capitulation of the Cities in the Palatinate, came to pass with∣out my approbation or privity; that excuse will be imputed to Folly or Treachery, un∣less I could publickly put to death the Authors of that infidelity, which the evil Counsellors about my Father will not permit, for fear both the crime and the punishment should fall upon them∣selves. These are generous Sentiments, my Lord, which if well cultivated, may per∣haps prove useful to himself, and to the confederated Enemies of France at this time, and I can think them no other than the re∣mains of such as were infused into him, by the good old Duke his Governour, who stuck not once to tell his Father upon the account of his Cruelty to his Protestant Subjects, That it became not a King to be a

Bigot: I shall confine my self now, and al∣ways to a bare transmission of what I shall judge worthy your knowledge leaving the application wholly to your Lordship, with∣out I have other commands from you; which I do not know how to receive in my ticklish circumstances at present, but such when known to me, as I shall always obey to the utmost of my power, as far as I find them safe and consistent with your Honour, and so I remain,

My Lord,

Your Lordships most Humble and Entirely devoted Serv.

Versailles, May 30. 1689. N. S.