BOOK IV. the king's speech at this court. I hear they do not know what to make of it, and still suspect 1701. Recogni- General. us." In the mean time the States General being repeatedly pressed upon the subject by France, the States thought proper to recognise in form the new king of Spain; of which they apprised the court of London in a memorial, which the king ordered to be laid before the house. In this paper their high mightinesses declare, "that, notwithstanding the recognition made by them, they had reserved to themselves the liberty of stipulating in the negotiation about to commence, for such conditions as were necessary to secure the peace of Europe-that in this negotiation they had firmly resolved to do nothing without the consent of his majesty and the other powers interested in the maintenance of the peace; as they had declared to the ambassador of France. And finally, being apprehensive of a sudden attack, they made a requisition of the succours due to them by the existing treaties." The commons on this communication voted, without hesitation, an address to the king, "tha he would be pleased to enter into such negotiations, in concert with the States General and other potentates, as might most effectually conduce to the general safety; and giving him assurances of support and assistance in the perform 1701. ance of his engagements." It having been sug- BOOK IV. gested in the discussion, that it might be no less proper for England than Holland to own the title of the king of Spain; Mr. Monkton, a zealous whig, with great heat replied, "that if such a vote was carried, he should expect that the next vote would be for owning the pretended prince of Wales." In the present temper of the house, this extraordinary sally was much applauded, and produced no inconsiderable effect. able Letter of Melfort. With the Dutch memorial was also presented to the house an intercepted paper, purporting to be a letter from the earl of Melfort, the discard- Remarked secretary at the court of St. Germaine's, to his of the Earl brother the earl of Perth, governor of the young prince, full of wild and incoherent projects, endeavouring to shew how favorable an aspect the affairs of the king then wore, and urging the propriety of some great and vigorous attempt against England."-But this," he says, " will never be done by a protestant minister"-meaning the earl of Middleton" lazy in his temper, an enemy to France by his inclinations, tainted with commonwealth principles; and against the king's returning by any other power than that of the people of England, and upon capitulations and terms who is suspected of giving aid to the compounders, if not worse."He remarks that BOOK IV." though sometimes it is of hard digestion for so1701. vereigns, who ought to be obeyed without reserve, to yield to the humour of subjects, yet prudence shall teach them when they cannot, without injuring their affairs, do what they would, to do what they can. Assurances from the nonjurors, the soundest and most venerable part of the English church, would be of great use at this time to persuade France to undertake this great affair. As to the catholics and other associates with them, unfortunately for the king, they were thought to have too much inclination for me.The army who are and ever were well affected, are to be gained by money, and a little goes a great way with them." "If, in any thing," says this credulous and zealous partizan, "I fail, I'll swear it is want of understanding and not of will." This contemptible epistle, which exhibits the character of the earl of Melfort, who had so long possessed the real confidence of the court of St. Germaine's, in a most degrading point of view, in the present juncture answered the purpose of the court of London, by increasing and inflaming the political animosity against France. The commons do not appear to have thought it worthy of specific notice; but the lords presented an address of thanks to his majesty, for communicating to them the earl of Melfort's letter; and desiring that popish recusants should be re- BOOK IV. moved from London, &c. The court of Versailles were highly offended at the use made of this letter, which M. de Torcy told the earl of Manchester "was intended to incense the nation, and shewed a desire of breaking with France." He represented lord Melfort as a despicable person, who had no credit at Versailles or even at St. Germaine's-and, upon the whole, he seemed to conclude, that the court of London meant to enter into a war. In order, nevertheless, to give every reasonable satisfaction on this head, the earl of Melfort was banished by a lettre de cachet to Angers. 1701. mands of time Pow In consequence of the late address of the com- High demons, followed by a vote for 30,000 seamen, the the Maricourts of London and the Hague assumed a very ers. lofty tone; and instructions were transmitted to Mr. Stanhope, resident in Holland, to enter into an immediate negotiation with the ministers of France and Spain, upon the conditions therein specified-importing, not only that the French troops shall evacuate the Spanish fortresses, but that Nieuport and Ostend shall be put immediately into the hands of the English as cautionary towns; and that Luxemburg, Namur, and Mons, to which the States General thought proper to add Venlo, Ruremonde, Stevenswaert, Charleroi, BOOK IV. Dendermonde, Damme, and St. Donat, with 1701. their appurtenances, be consigned to their high mightinesses during such time as shall be agreed upon-with various other demands, which, when communicated to M. d'Avaux, appeared so extravagant, that he declared they could not have been higher if his master had lost four successive battles. Clandes tine Prac King of France. The king of France, perceiving no prospect of tices of the peace on moderate terms while harmony subsisted between the king and parliament of England, is charged with using corrupt and clandestine means to involve the English in domestic broils, in order to embarrass the measures of the court. The prodigious influx of louis-d'ors and pistoles at this period is a fact admitted by all; and the mercantile solution, founded on the pretended favorable course of exchange, is scarcely sufficient to obviate the jealous apprehensions of the politician. Bishop Burnet asserts, though his characteristic credulity and carelessness reduce his authority very low, "that the packet seldom came without 10,000 louis-d'ors, and often more-that the nation was filled with them-and that in six months' time a million of guineas was coined out of them." From the unquestionable evidence of a proclamation, published February 5th, 1701, it appears that these coins were in very exten |