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 Sir John Temple.

London, Sept. 14. 1671.

SIR,

I AM sure you will be pleased with knowing that my Wife and Family are safe arrived from Holland, after a Passage that might very well have met with other Dangers besides those of Wind and Wea∣ther. I could not obtain Leave to send for them till July, though I had for some Months sollicited both That and the end∣ing of my Ambassy: But then his Majesty was pleased to grant me both that Liberty, and also of writing to the States and to Monsieur de Witt, to take my Leave of Them, and end my Ambassy as upon my own Desire, and my own private Occasi∣ons; which were indeed enough to engage me in that Pursuit, considering the Charge of maintaining an Ambassador's Family at the Hague, while my Payments from the Exchequer went so heavy and so lame.

'Tis true, I had other Reasons long a∣bout me, which I kept to my self: For, soon after my coming over, my Wife writ me Word, That Monsieur Gioe the Danish Envoy there, had told her in Confidence,

and out of Kindness to me, that Monsieur Pompone the French Ambassador at the Hague, had acquainted him, That new Measures were taken between our Court and that of France; among which one was, that I should be recalled and return no more.

At the same time Monsieur de Witt had upon the Delays of my Return, told my Secretary Mr. Blaithwait, that he should take my stay or coming back for certain Signs of what the King's Intentions were towards the preserving or changing the Measures he had taken with the States: And had desired him to let the Court know what he said. This I suppose made them unwilling to make a Declaration by my recalling, of what they intended upon this Occasion, before all Things necessary were more fully agreed or better concerted. Therefore they continued not only my Family there for so many Months, and the Talk of my Return, but entertained the Dutch Ministers here with such Language as gained in them an Opinion of our Mea∣sures still continuing firm upon the same Bottom; and with such a Credulity as was enough to make one doubt whether they were willing to deceive their Masters or to be deceived themselves.

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