Letters written by Sir William Temple during his being ambassador at The Hague, to the Earl of Arlington and Sir John Trevor, Secretaries of State to K. Charles II wherein are discovered many secrets hitherto concealed / published from the originals, under Sir William Temple's own hand ; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Littleton, Speaker of the House of Commons, by D. Jones, Gent.

LETTER▪ XLIV. Hague, Iuly 23. S. N. 69. (Book 44)

SIR,

I am sorry to find by yours of Iuly 6th, as well as by a latter from my Lord Arlington, that all my endeavours to∣wards an issue in the East-India business, are like to be never the nearer it; For I very much doubt, if the words you men∣tion, which they put in for security a∣gainst our grounding Innovations, in the course of that Trasick upon this Article, (though we have not yet pretended it, as I remember) should be left out, it would but encrease their Suspicions, and leave the matter where it was. But I think the best will be, rather to make a new Project, the fairest our Merchants can afford; and such an one, as can leave nothing that is past in dispute: But if we find any Grievances already practised, be∣sides Macassar, to Name them, and de∣mand Redress. This I think will be bet∣ter, then to accept their Article, and strike out those words (for the reason afore∣mentioned)

though they often argue, that the desire coming wholly from us, and no Nation pretending right to force a∣nother to a new Treaty, the wording of the Article ought to be allowed them.

I wish some of our East-India Mer∣chants had been at our Conferences; for I will be bound to say, this thing has been debated to the very Grave, and no∣thing left that can be said in it, though we pretend on either side, not to be un∣derstood aright in it, what we would have. But that you may once for all, know what they go upon here, to the end of ground∣ing your Proposition the better; I will tell you; First, that they are firmly per∣swaded, our Merchants chief aim in this Article, is to give occasions of entring into new disputes with them, when they shall see a good Conjuncture, even upon things establisht by long use, and mutual practise in the Indies; and against which, they will not now put in their Exceptions, and Com∣plaints. And therefore I do not think they will ever admit an Article, which shall be understood to alter the present state of things there, (since they offer, if there be any occasion, to do that upon our Complaints and Instances in the particu∣lars) but only to prevent Innovations for the future, contrary to what has been, or is now practised by mutual consent or

allowance. As for Example, they will not admit of an Article, which shall im∣port freedom of Commerce with all free Nations, unlimited by the use Establisht, and the Treaties acquired, unless first we tell them, what those Nations are which we count free, and where notwithstand∣ing we are by the Dutch, forbidden to Trade; for they say, the nature of Sub∣jection is so various, especially in those Countries, that upon such an Article, we may hereafter pretend to Trade in many places, where we never thought or offer'd at it before. And the same in point of Forts and Passes too.

That which Monsieur Van Benninghen went upon, for a foundation in the of∣fer of this Article; was, first that we de∣sir'd no Innovation in the Ancient usual and mutual practice of Commerce in the Indies, but rather the hindring any such Innovations, that may be offer'd by them. Secondly, That we pretended not by it a Reddress of Injuries, already offer'd a∣gainst such practise, but a prevention of them for the future, and of the jealousies we had conceived of their intentions. And this they reckon upon, because they have from the beginning, ever desir'd instances of our Grievances, to the end they might redress the particulars, and understand the general aim; but we have not thought fit to give them any besides

that of Macassar, in which they are ready to do us reason. They ground it besides, upon the several Discourses I have held them, upon those two points, wherein I am sure I have never gone farther, then what I received from my Lord Keeper, my Lord Arlington or your self, in your Letters that I have by me. And upon this Subject, I confess it is new to me, what you say in your last; that to put in that Clause, Illibat •• maneant quae in usu commercii, armorum vi, aut pactorum jure acquisita sunt, would confirm upon us, not only all the injuries we have com∣plain'd of by Forts and Passes, but even of Treaties too; and that of Macassar, which they offer to Abrogate. Now I must confess, I remember not any of those particular injuries we have complained of, or desir'd Redress in, besides that of Ma∣cassar. But very well, that after my pressing several times for such instances, the Merchants sent me a large paper, with very many Recapitulations of what had been, and of what might be, to which the Dutch replyed, that they only raked into former times and actions that had been debated, and ended in former Treaties, and desired to know of us, which of those instances we thought appliable to the pre∣sent question: To which I received an An∣swer, that what we desired, was more for prevention, than remedies: And in short, have not been furnisht with other

particular Instances, than of Cochin and Ca∣nanor, which the Dutch say was wholly of a different nature, and regulated by the Article, that defines a besieged place.

And now you have all before you, that I can think to put you in mind off, I should be glad to receive, as I said before, the fairest Proposition our Merchants can afford of their own (for I am sure it will never be ended by any from hence) and if I fail of their consent here to it, I think it will be time for me to despair of it; and I am very glad that upon that Sub∣ject, you talk of bringing it to a meeting of Commissioners, which is all the way I know will be left, besides breaking it off unkindly; the effects of which I doubt not, but both sides understand, and will cast up before they come to it. I must Rectifie one thing, which I think you have not right understood me in; which is, that by such an Article as they propose, we should buy the Abrogation of their Trea∣ty at Macassar too dear, establishing at the same time, a right of doing the same against us for ever. For the Article can∣not be understood to establish future Trea∣ties, but only the Past. Nor do the Dutch impose the Article, as a price of what we demand at Macassar, but are willing to Re-establish us there, without any such Article at all, but finishing the Treaty up∣on those already agreed to.

The illness of the King of Spain is a∣gain much spoken off here, though not owned by the Spanish Ambassadors. The Zealanders having sent the Ratification of the last Agreement with their Province, the Prince expects very shortly, to enter into the Council of State. The Swedish Subsidies are every day expected, and I believe will not fail in a very little time. I shall fail at no time of being,

SIR,

Your most Obedient, Humble Servant. W. Temple.