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 my Lord Arlington.

Hague, Jan. 26. S. N. 1668.

My Lord,

SInce the Close of my long. Dispatch I have every Hour expected the Copies to be transmitted for His Majesty's Ratifica∣tion, without being able to procure them: I cannot but imagine some Occasion of the Delay, may have been a Desire in them here to interpose some Time, between the Re∣ceipt of my last Friday's Letter, and of this Pacquet, to the End His Majesty may in the mean Time, have dispatch'd his Orders to me about the Provisional Articles, tho' I cannot think they should be of such Mo∣ment inserted or omitted, to either Side.

I now dispatch the inclosed Copies of the Treaty, in Order to His Majesty's Ratifica∣tion, which is generally desired may be re∣turned as sudden as possibly; the States ha∣ving undertaken to have theirs ready in fif∣teen Days after the Signing, and believing it necessary to proceed jointly and early, to the mutual Councils of Arming, in Case France continues the Dispositions they seem to be in at present of pursuing the War.

My Brother who will deliver this Dis∣patch to Your Lordship, is able to add what particular Circumstances I may have omitted, or Your Lordship shall think fit to enquire from this Place; and what he fails, Count Dona will supply, who is a Person very well worth Your Lordship's par∣ticular Acquaintance and Assistance in his Negotiations, or at least the Forms and Entrances of them; being in all Points our Friend.

Yesterday the Spanish Ambassadour recei∣ved the Communication of our Treaties from Monsieur de Witt and me, with some Des∣cants upon the hardship of it, but I believe, Satisfaction at Heart. I have this Day written at large, and with all the Instance imaginable to the Marquess de Castel-Rodrigo to induce his Consent, and immediately up∣on the Ratifications, shall away and pursue that Point at Brussels.

I cannot but rejoice in particular with Your Lordship, upon the Success of this Af∣fair, having observed in Your Lordship as well as my Lord Keeper, a constant steddy Bent, in supporting His Majesty's Resoluti∣on, which is here so generally applauded, as the happiest and wisest, that any Prince ever took for Himself or his Neighbours: What in earnest I hear every Hour, and from all Hands of that Kind is endless, and even

extravagant. God of Heaven send His Ma∣jesty's Councils to run on the same Course; and I have nothing left to wish, since I know Your Lordship will continue to esteem me what I am with so great Passion and Truth

My Lord,

Your &c.