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.

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Title
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.
Author
Temple, William, Sir, 1628-1699.
Publication
London :: Printed and are to be sold by A. Baldwin ...,
1699.
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Subject terms
Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- Netherlands.
Netherlands -- Foreign relations -- Great Britain.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A64310.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A64310.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 31, 2024.

Pages

Page 206

LETTER XLVI. Hague, Aug. 7. S. N. 69. (Book 46)

SIR,

I was extream glad to find by yours of the 20th past, that you understood so perfectly, what I had represented to you of their intentions here as to the Marine Ar∣ticle; that is, the General Article to se∣cure us from all injuries by any new pra∣ctises to disturb our Trade, and for any present injuries we lie under, they will re∣lieve us upon our instances in particular, as now in that of Macassar; and so in any other, wherein we shall have the Ju∣stice on our side, which was so directly my meaning, and theirs as I understood it, that I have repeated it in your own words; and am pretty confident, if you keep close to that Method, we shall yet see this bu∣siness come to an issue: Though Monsieur de Witt wishes often, the words last sent from the Town of Amsterdam, might be accepted; because he says, they are so jea∣lous of our implicite meaning▪ and reach at something that may make a general

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Breach upon their past Establishments, that every new word, gives them new and un∣necessary Reflections, at least in his Opini∣on; for he often says, that he is confident he should have ended this business with me in two hours.

I cannot yet make any further step in the business of Surinam, the State re∣serving their Final considerations upon it, in answer to his Majesties last Letter, till the Deputies of Zealands Arrival, which was expected ten days since; but has been hindered by the Tumult happened in the Town of Terveer, upon occasion of their protecting L'abadie, a true Fanatick Preach∣er, against the positive Orders of the States for his Banishment, having gather'd a Congregation of 5 or 600 People in that Island, who are it seems more at his Devotion, then at the States: But we look for the Deputies every day, and then I shall press this matter to a sudden issue, one way or other. In the mean time Mon∣sieur de Witt desires to see the Answers promised to his last Writing, not he says, that they shall make any difficulty to perform the Articles given to the Colony, as they understand to be the Ge∣nuine sense of them; but because he thinks the reasons in those Papers so clear, that his Majesty will accept of what they do upon his instances in it, as a Respect and Compliance to his Majesty, and not as a

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thing of Right, which they owe to any other, but those which are now their own Subjects.

He was with me on Sunday, upon a message of formal Thanks from the States to me, for the good issue I had brought the Portugal Treaty to, which is now Signed; and he said, would have hardly ever been brought to an end, without the peremptory Sentence I gave in it: I told him, I was glad I could do my Friends business here, but sorry I could not do my own; and that ever since I came last over, consi∣dering what had past between Spain and Sweden, I was just like a man that could get Children abroad, and none at home, and took that occasion, to fall into all the complaints, that could be of my hard for∣tune: That having finisht a Treaty of the greatest Importance with them in five days before, I could not end any one business with them now, in ten Months. He com∣forted me all he could, with the assurance of the States doing all that was possible for his Majesties satisfaction, even beyond Reason, where the prejudices and conse∣quences were not too great, I wish I see the proofs of it.

I have at present the consolation, to see the other Ambassadors more unsatisfied than I am, for the Spanish is in a Rage, and I doubt with some reason, at their ha∣ving

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seized in Zealand 8 or 900 pounds, which the Constable sent thither t'other day, to be laid out in the Equipage of three Spanish Men of War, which had been brought in thither by way of Repri∣zal, for some Merchant Ships pretended to have been seized in Spain: And besides, he is very angry that they will not yet here understand the French Consiscation of the Spanish Subjects Estates within their quarters, to be a contravention of the Peace.

The French Ambassador is unsatisfied in the difficulties made here upon the French Settlement of the Post through Flanders, which are come to that pass, that for a fortnight past, no Letters come or go be∣tween this and France, but by Express. The truth is, what has past in this matter, makes a very pleasant Story. Monsieur Lovois makes a late agreement with Count Taxis for carrying all French Letters by Lisle, in stead of Brussels, and those in this Country by French Posts, and twice a week, without taking any notice of these People in the matter, till all was done, and then sends a Monsieur hither, who told the Ministers, that Monseigneur de Louvois l'avoit envoyè pour voir Messieurs les Estates, et leur dire l'accord qu' il avoit fait avec le Comte Taxis; and how they should receive no manner of prejudice by it, &c. The States refer'd it to Monsieur

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Van Benninghen, with some other Com∣missioners, who were pursued every day, for three or four days together, by this En∣voy, with the necessity of dispatching him immediately, Car Monseigneur de Louvois l'avoit ordonè de faire tout l' expedition possible, while Monsieur Van Benninghen told him, they had sent to inform them∣selves in this business, of the Merchants, and such other things. But at last being at no rest, when he prest for an Answer, he askt him, Monsieur, Est ti la premiere fois que vous avez estè en Hollande? the Frenchman said, yes, Et bien, dit Mr. V. Benninghen, C'est un fort beau pais, et les estrangers viennent touts les jours le voir par curiositè: Nos villes sont belles et as∣sez près lune de l'autre; Vous ferez bien de vous promener huit ou dix jours; car en ce temps vous les verrez toutes, et nous se rons peut estre informèz en vostre affaire. The Frenchman made a short Leg, and went out, and told all his Friends, Que Monsieur V. Benninghen, l'avoit envoyè promener▪ and so he would be gone; and if they would have their Letters, they should send for them, and so went his way.

Monsieur de Witt finding the Amster∣dam Merchants much unsatisfied with this new Order of Monsieur Lovois in the Packets, and resolv'd among other things, against having their Letters twice a week, sent to know of them, who would be most pre∣judiced

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by the interruption of the Posts, the Merchants of these Countries, or those of Paris? they answer'd those of Paris: Upon which he advis'd them, de tenir firme, and so the matter lies without any correspondence going. I tell you this Sto∣ry, for want of something better, and likewise because it gives you quelques traits of the Negotiations with these People, and of the way of their two chief Ministers. I kiss your hands, and am,

SIR,

Your most Obedient, Humble Servant, VV. Temple.

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