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.

Brussels March 13. S. N. 1668.

My Lord,

THE last Post brought me none from England, nor has this Week as yet brought me any from Spain; so that 'tis France only at this Time that entertains Us. The Dispatch return'd Us late last Night from Sir John Trevor upon the point of the Alternative, has given the Town here occasion to talk of the Peace as a Thing done; though I know not yet what the Marquis says to it, having not seen Him since; but think it possible He may be as much surprised with their Accepta∣tion, as Sir John Trevor says They were with His. It seems plain to Me that France desires to pursue the War, but fears our engaging in it, and to hinder That, will use all the Address that can be to lay the Obstruction of Peace upon the Spaniards; They on the other Side desire to continue the War, provided they may be sure of our and Holland's Assistance, and to that End, if they play their Game well, they will be sure to retort the Ad∣dress of France upon them, and lay the Blame of the War at their Doors, without

which they have no Hopes of Holland's falling into their Party; who whether they are partial to the French or no in this Quarrel, are certainly partial to the Peace, and will not be drawn to share in the War but upon the last Necessity. Therefore my Business will be at present, to induce the Marquis to clear those two Scruples made by the French upon His Powers, and the Choice of one or other of the Alternatives; in which I know not what Success I am like to have after so many Advances made already as He con∣ceives on His Side, and so near Don John's Arrival, at least according to the present reckoning here, which perswades us that He parted from Madrid upon the 22d. past.

I know your Lordship has the same Pa∣pers I received from Sir John Trevor, and for what occurrs upon them here, I beg your Lordship's Leave that I may this once refer you to the enclosed Copy of my Let∣ter this Evening to Him upon that Subject, having not Time left Me to repeat it here ••o at large as I ought to do.

The Truth is, I never had so hard a Part upon me as I have at this Time, to keep all in good Temper between the Marquis and the Deputies of Holland; For besides that their Ends may perhaps be a little dif∣ferent,

their Complexions are extremely so: He is not the easiest of Access, nor the quickest at Dispatch; And His Officers are at the same Rate: The Dutch Deputies are all upon the Spur, and when they de∣mand an Audience or a Paper, if they have it not within half an Hour, they say the Marquis Se mocque d'eux, et Ils se trou∣vent obligez de l'escrire ce Soir aux Estats, et que le Marquis ne cherche que des Retarde∣ments, & par la' de les engager dans la Guerre. When they receive Orders to move the Marquis in any Particular, they must have it granted the first Time it falls in Discourse, and in the very same Form and Words it runs in their Letters; and think the Marquis ought to observe the States Order and Directions as punctually as They; And will reason Him to the Death upon every Point: The Marquis who uses to owe no Man any thing in that Kind, grows ten times more difficult by that time they have talked an Hour, than He was at first; and engaging in large Discourses, gives them twenty Occasions of growing Warm upon the Place, and Wise afterwards by Interpretations, that, God knows, were never in the Case; so that in their Audi∣ences, between the Marquis's Eloquence and their Leyden Philosophy, the Cards com∣monly run high, and all is Picque and Re∣picque

between them; and I am to go to one and t'other next Day to set all right again, and endeavour to make them agree asunder upon Points which they could by no means agree upon together. But if I go on, I shall weary your Lordship as much as they weary Me; And therefore I shall break off this Letter with telling You only, that the Talk here is of an Attempt for the Relief of Genap, and that the Horse are drawing together for that Purpose, with what Success I know not, but am sure, the French deserve none there, for continuing an Attempt so long after the Suspension of all Enterprises was accorded.

I am ever, &c.