Letters written by Sir W. Temple, Bart., and other ministers of state, both at home and abroad containing an account of the most important transactions that pass'd in Christendom from 1665-1672 : in two volumes / review'd by Sir W. Temple sometime before his death ; and published by Jonathan Swift ...

To Mr. Thynn.

Brussels, Feb. 19. S. N. 1667.

SIR,

ABout two Days since I received the Fa∣vour of Yours of the 16th past, and am sorry to be put upon the Defence in an En∣counter so much to my Advantage; This had not arrived, if I could as easily have found the Way of conveying my Letters, as the Dispositions of Writing; For those I have always had about me since I knew your Sta∣tion and Character, which I thought would help to bear me out in that Attempt. The little Acquaintance you are contented to own, I durst not reckon upon, because it was so much more than I deserved, and so much less than I desired; but am very glad that may be allowed of among the Obligations we have to enter upon this Commerce, tho' we need no other than our Master's Service, which may on both sides be improved by the Communi∣cation of what passes in our different Scenes. I shall not engage in answering the Comple∣ments of your Letter, tho' I should have much more Justice on my Side; but I am very ill furnished with that sort of Ware, and the

Truth is, there is required so much Skill in the right tempering, as well as the Distribu∣tion of them, that I have always thought a Man runs much hazard of losing more than he gains by them; which has made me ever averse, as well as incapable of the Trade. It will be to more Purpose to let you know the Confidence we have here of our Treaty with Spain being Signed in all Points to our satis∣faction; but whether Portugal has or will ac∣cept their Part in it, which is a Truce of for∣ty five Years, I cannot yet resolve you, on∣ly this I am assured, that it is feared in the French Court as well as hoped in ours.

The current News at Antwerp as well as here, is of the Dutch Merchant Fleet from Nantes and Rochel, consisting of above a hun∣dred Sail under the Convoy of six Men of War, being fallen into a Squadron of about twenty of our Frigats, and few are said to have escaped: tho' this be doubted of none here, and the current Letters from Zealand as well as Ostend make it probable; yet I su∣spend my Confidence till the Arrival of my English Letters, which are my Gospel in these Cases. This Coldness I know makes me lose many Pleasures, but on the other side helps me to escape many Disappointments, which light Belief in the midst of so many light Reports is subject to. The Councils or Dispositions of a subordinate Government as

this is, are not worth troubling you with, but those in the Court here are in short what we wish them.

Those of the Scene you are in deserve much more the Enquiry; and I should be very glad to know them from so good a Hand. My Desires of serving you, can I am sure, never be known from a better than my own, which can value it self to you by nothing else, but by telling I am

SIR,

Your most obedient humble Servant.