I entered upon the very large subjects, the obligations I have to you, or the desire I have to be with you (farewell my Lord) if one is most attached to those whom one most desires to see, you have a very despotic power over my soul at present. Ireton passed yesterday morning through the Hague and is gone for England. My Lord No. 50. Paris Wednesday noon the 4th Nov N.S. I should have arrived here last night if I had been set on shore at Calais sooner than Monday noon, as it is I came hither just now. My Lord Manchester has put up his letters, so only leaves me to say that you shall hear more from us next post. I am ever, By the account my Lord Manchester sends you and which he has done me the honour to impart to me your Lordship sees the present state of our affair, that his Excellency can have no audience till the Court returns from Marli. I think Torcy's way of giving this answer peremptory enough, and I hope at least our way of asking it conformable to His Majesty's orders and neither done with Empressement or Negligence. I came hither with all secrecy imaginable, but my being here was soon known after my arrival, I pretend not to be well and take that pretence for not stirring out, so I have seen nobody, nor will till I have done the business for which I was sent. If anything be come from Holland or your Lordship has any further instructions or commands for me, you will be pleased to send them by this messenger. I am a good deal concerned that the affair in which (by your goodness to me) I am intrusted should as yet have no better luck, but que faire? I will do my best, and providence must do the rest; the Jacobites are much alarmed at my coming hither: every man has his conjecture and all wrong. Since we shall not have the private audience before to-morrow Se❜nnight at soonest and probably not before the Thursday following by which time the affair in Holland may be perfected, may I see Torcy or Tallard in the meantime? and how far may I speak to either of them of it? in this you will order me, and till these orders come I will not go out. Pray think of the faithful and return me a hundred pound for Braconie and Brocard that I may speak to them with a safe conscience and see how far the latter will deceive the larger sum in question. I have only to add my being ever with perfect respect My Lord Your Lordships most obedient and most humble servant M. PRIOR. No. 52. My Lord Paris the 1/11 Nov 1699. My Lord Manchester makes my writing to you unnecessary: his Excellency giving you an account of his visit yesterday, and with it the unavoidable trouble of deciphering part of his letter. I hope you will find that thus far we have done right: I think we shall get our audience for Saturday, at least we have asked it as fairly as we could. I have not been much abroad; what I have learned as to the public I shall acquaint you with when I have the honour to see you. As to private affairs, I have seen Rygault, and if he keeps his word you shall very soon have the King and the Dauphin. I may tell you, though my letter be broke open in the way that the finance is in a very bad condition and Mons de Chamillard very uneasy for this is so far from being a secret that all Paris talks of it, and feels it. I cannot really express to you my thoughts of the Obligations I have to you, or the zeal with which I continue for ever Your servant. No. 53. My Lord Paris the 14th Nov N.S. 16991. On Thursday my Lord Manchester had a letter from Mons" de Torcy intimating that it was impossible for His Excellency to have an audience this evening but giving him his choice either for to-morrow morning or monday both which happen very oddly since he is to make his entry to-morrow and to be in ceremony at the Hôtel des Ambassadeurs on Monday. His Lordship has therefore chosen to-morrow morning, thinking it less proper to lose a day than to have a little bustle extra 1 Cf. Bath Papers, III. 379, Manchester to Jersey, Paris, Nov. 21, N.S. 1699. ordinary; and accordingly we go privately this afternoon to Versailles to have our audience after the Lever to-morrow morning, that we may be back again by eleven, that my Lord may go to Rambouillet to begin the show. 2153 (Count Tallard) was yesterday with 1946 (E. Manchester). Without all doubt 2311 (Torcy) had told 798 (him) what he and 1946 (E. Manchester) had discoursed about the 1961 (particular) 1703 (affair). 2153 (Count Tallard) plainly asked 1946 (E. Manchester) when he 887 (went) to 2320 (Versailles) and when I went back again. As far as I can see 2153 (Count Tallard) is not extremely pleased with the whole matter. The 1822 (Spanish) 1780 (minister) and 2218 (Emperor's minister) here are lately very well together, and 754 (both) extremely angry with 1917 (his Majesty), il n'importe. Calières being of a sudden gone from Paris makes everybody conjecture differently where he should be, some say he is gone to mediate the differences between the Northern Crowns, Palmquist and Meyercroon say not; some say he is gone privately for Holland; one can hardly think that since Bonrepos is upon the place, and another named to succeed him; may be (after all) he is only gone to his own small estate in Normandy. Our courier is not yet returned from England which makes us think we are to have no new commands from you. I shall regulate my return by the answer we may have to-morrow morning. I wish for nothing more (as to myself) than to return to you, and tell you that I am ever with the greatest truth and respect Your servant. No. 57. [A rough draft with many erasures.] J'envoye par cet ordinaire au Secretaire Trumbul le traitte pour les 4 m: hommes de Munster, pour faire voir au Roy. Je vous suis bien obligé de votre souvenir pour Balmier, j'espere qu'il ne sera pas necessaire qu'il passe en Angleterre quand la lieutenance sera vacante au moins que le regiment n'y soit. J'ay receu ce matin la vôtre du 12 et une de Milord Godolphin de la même date. Je me rends plus facilement a ses sentiments a l'egard de mon affaire étant tout à fait assuré de votre amitie la dedans. Je ne veux pas vous prescrire ni le tems ni la maniere de la faire. Je laisse tout en entierement à vous ne doutant point que vous ne prenniez l'occasion qui sera plus favourable. Je ne pretends pas de vous remercier de ce que vous faites je ne scaurois le reconnoitre autrement qu'en vous aimant à mon ordinaire. Le mariage dont vous parliez m'a fort surpris et d'autant plus qu'il n'y a peu de tems que j'en ay la nouvelle; vous voyez par là que je na'y point eu part la dedans 1et je n'en aurez jamais dans les affaires semblables. Je souhaite aux interessez beaucoup de bonheur12non plus que dans tout le reste de la vie de cette personne mon sorte pourtant m'a toujours attache a elle et mon inclination m'a toujours fait souhaiter son bonheur. Je le fais dans cette occasion autant que jamais, je suis fasche seulement de n'auoir pas eu la semblable occasion il y a douze ans, mais laissons ce sujet et permettes moy de uous assurer que je uous ayme du fond de mon cœur il m'est impossible de uous le dire autant que je le pense3. No. 58. Faut-il que Je vous demande pardon de ce que je vous ecris sur une affaire qui ne me touche pas autrement qu'en ce qu'elle regarde les interets de Sa Majesté? La dispute entre les Anglois et les Suedois touchant le Pavillon fait beaucoup raisonner aux gens icy, j'espere que le relâchement du vaisseau Suedois dernierement pris fera taire à tout le monde qui est disinteressé, mais il ne satisfera point à ce que J'ay oüi dire au pretensions de Mons de Lilienroet. Vous le connoissez pour un uieux routier de ministre et pendant qu'il semble souhaitter seulement le moindre relâchement du coté de Sa Majesté quand même Sa Majesté ne permettroit que de vive voix que pour l'auenir les navires Anglois ne chercheroient point la rencontre des Suedois (comme le roy Charles 2d en usa a l'egard des Francois) Mons: Lilienroet se flatteroit qu'une promesse de la sorte une fois donnée pourroit tirer à consequence, si Sa Majesté trouve jamais bon de renouveller ses pretensions il seroit mieux donc selon mon petit avis que tout ce qu'il plaira à Sa Majesté de faire en cette occasion se fisse de son côté sans se communiquer sur ce sujet avec la Suede, et seulement par des ordres secrets donnés aux Anglois. Le Suedois sera satisfait quand il n'y aura plus de dispute, et ne gagnera rien par la maniere dont l'accord se fasse. C'est en ami que Je vous dis tout cecy, vous en userez de même, et en parlerez au Roy si vous trouvez que mes petits sentimens contribuent à son service: mon zèle pour ses Interets doit excuser cette lettre et bien que l'amitié que j'ay pour vous m'engageroit à vous entretenir d'auantage, je fineray en vous assurant que Je suis sincerement à Vous. M. Keppel. 1-1 Struck out. 2-2 In Jersey's hand. 3 Prior had written here, but it is struck out by Jersey: Mons' P— n'ose plus vous importuner mais il m'a prié de vous assurer de sa part de la reconnoissance qu'il a pour les soins que vous auez pour luy. B Appendix C DIARY AND NOTEBOOKS AT LONGLEAT Y the kindness of the Marquess of Bath, K.G., I am allowed to print these extracts from the Longleat Ms. XXI relating to Prior's work in Paris in the autumn of 1712, and certain sayings which, later in life, he jotted down as reminiscences. [In Drift's hand] /Journal relating to the proceedings concerning the Treaty of [fo. 20 Utrecht; Together with other miscellanious remarks. As also Fragments and Bruillons on divers subjects &ca. /Monsieur de Buys arrived the 18th of October 1711. Was at [fo. 20 b the Secrys Office at the Cockpit and at Lord Treasurers. 22 And was again at the Cockpit with a Committee of Lords. /October 22nd Monday October the 22nd Monsieur de Buys [fo. 21 had an audience of Her Majesty; The sum of what he said was, that the States Submitted themselves to Her Majesty's Decission, that thô every thing was Stipulated for them that they could desire, which is that a sufficient Barriere should be assured to them, and all the advantages of Commerce, They could yet wish that the Tariff of 1664 had been Stipulated for them and the Barriere named. Her Majesty's Answer was, that as to any Preliminaries, She looked upon them to be Articles of Peace, and therefore to be Stipulated when the Conferences to that end were Opened. She would neither suffer Herself nor Her Allyes to be led into wrong Measures; But thought if a Peace was desired as She hoped she had born such a part of the War as might enable Her to hear what France had to propose, and that She was confident that both Holland and Her other Allies might depend upon it, that She would take care of their Interest as well as that of Her Own People. October 24th Monsieur de Buys had a Conference with the Cabinet Council Lord Treasurer, Lord Privy Seal, Lord President Duke of Shrewsbury, Lord Keeper, Lord Dartmouth, and Mr Secretary St Johns. The subject matter of the [fo. 22 Conference was much the same as what Monsieur de Buys L. P. 21 |