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 The Marquis OF Castel-Rodrigo.

Aix, April 28. S. N. 1668.

My Lord,

I Arrived yesterday in this City. This Afternoon I received a Visit from the Baron de Bargeyck, and another from Monsieur Colbert. I treated them both equally; upon a Mes∣sage by a Gentleman sent from the Baron to inform me, that he was already qualified, Ambassador of Spain by the Letters and Powers of the Queen her self. Monsieur Beverning vi∣sited me this morning Incognito; And, all that a great Indisposition will suffer me to tell you at present, is this; that it is not possible to make any other

Paces for saving the Netherlands, but by im∣mediately signing the Project sent to the Ba∣ron de Bargeyck: For every body expected the signing of it upon my arrival. The French Ambassador declares e∣very where, as he has already done to me, that he is ready to sign this very Evening, and in all Points as they have been couched by our own Ministers at Paris. And if the Baron makes any Exceptions or Difficulties, he is ready to give answer thereupon, according to his Instructions, and as he shall think conve∣nient: But, that Spain must impute to it self whatever may happen by this loss of Time. I see plainly, he is ready to second and assist the Baron de Bargeyck in any Delays that may be given to the Affair; And foreseeing that is must at length pass in the words of this Pro∣ject,

since we and Holland are already en∣gaged about it at Paris; He hopes either to see the Affair break, or have the Honour to make Spain yield at last upon all Difficul∣ties they first raised. In the mean while, Monsieur Beverning pre∣tends to think, that after the Orders given to the Baron de Bargeyck, and the Copies of them sent into Holland, no Difficulties can arise upon the Signing: And for me, I cannot re∣fuse to carry the Or∣ders, and am in the greatest pain imagina∣ble, to see the Baron still make a Difficulty to Sign without ano∣ther Order from your Excellency. There∣fore I desire you in the name of all those who wish well to the Affairs of Spain and of Christendom, to dispatch an express Command to the Baron, to Sign without further Tri∣fling,

and to send him Instructions for any thing that your Excel∣lency shall find conve∣nient to have negotia∣ted afterwards; in which I shall have Mon∣sieur Beverning's Assist∣ance, but not at all before the Project is signed.

If your Excellency will not think fit to comply with this; I discharge my self at least of all the fatal Effects that may arrive upon it. I desire your Excellency yet once more, to grant this Dispatch to the Instan∣ces of one who had sounded the Bottom of this Affair with all possible Attention, and all the Reflexions I am capable of making; and who forms a Judg∣ment of it, without o∣ther Passion than that I have for the preser∣vation of Flanders.

I am, &c.