The Frenchman was just candid enough to avoid a positive disclaimer of further projects in Flanders; but added, with somewhat less of sincerity, that his master prayed for the King of Spain's life, and so thought nothing of what was to be done in the event of his death. CHAPTER XIII. CHARLES'S SECRET NEGOTIATIONS MISSION OF WERDEN. ATING COUNSELS OF ENGLAND. 1669-1670. TEMPLE LE now received information which threatened him with the fulfilment of the forebodings, which the state of the court and ministry had excited, before he left England. In one of his friendly visits, De Witt related a conversation which he had had with M. Puffendorff*, a Swedish agent, lately arrived from Paris. From him he learnt that, in order to deter the Swedes from adhering to the Triple Alliance, the French ministers had told him that "England would certainly fail them, and was already changed in the course of all those counsels which they had taken with Holland and Sweden, though they did not think fit to let any thing of it appear; and the secret was yet in very few hands, either in the French or the English courts:" and Mr. Puffendorff had seen a letter from M. Colbert, the French minister in London, to M. Turenne, in which, speaking of the English ministers, he says, 66 Et je * Probably, Isaac Puffendorff, brother of the celebrated author. leur ai enfin fait sentir toute l'étendue de la libéralité de sa Majesté."* We of this age know, much better than Temple knew, the progress of these disgraceful intrigues. We have already seen Charles apologising to Louis for the Triple Alliance: he soon endeavoured, through various channels, to renew his intimate connection with Louis, who scarcely, however, met him half way: yet some progress had been made at this time. The particulars and the extent of the corruption of the English court have not, perhaps, been precisely ascertained; it is enough for the present, that the information of M. Puffendorff, as to the projected abandonment of the Triple Alliance, was undeniably correct. Yet, while all these negotiations with France were proceeding, Temple was allowed to sign, on the 7th of May, 1669, a treaty, whereby the dominions of Spain were guaranteed to her, on her engaging to make a payment to Sweden of 48,000 crowns.‡ Sir William Temple took no notice of De Witt's communication, in his correspondence with Arlington. It may perhaps have induced him to reiterate in strong language his censure of the pertinacity displayed in the affair of the marine treaty. "They who influenced our merchants in this prosecution, either have no meaning this treaty should end *To the Lord Keeper, April 24. 1669, ii. 40. + This secret negotiation was conducted by the Duchess of Orleans, Buckingham, and Ruvigni. There is no mention of Arlington before June, 1669; when Charles tells his sister that he can answer for him. Dalrymple, i. 69-81. Dumont., vii. part i. p. 107. fairly, and so they put it obstinately upon that single point, and in that form, which they know will never be granted; or else they aim at gaining an occasion for new disputes with the Dutch whenever they find a conjuncture for it." Again, "I cannot but interpret this as the effect of their distaste for or envy at the King's present ministry, and the course of his counsels, which have not gained greater honour abroad, nor perhaps safety and good-will at home, by any thing than by our late alliances, so renowned here, and thereby the stop we have given to the progress of the French greatness. And therefore it must come from the influence of some, who would be glad to see not only our alliance shaken or changed abroad, but our ministry at home too."*..." If your lordship should imagine any particular envy or pique at my employment here may have contributed to the difficulties which have succeeded in this business, and that our merchants, or those that influence them, believe it would thrive better in any other hands, I will beg of you not to be swayed by considerations of kindness for me, in a matter of public concernment; nor to fear that, whenever this employment falls, you shall be troubled with me at * There was probably no reason for the imputation of political motives. At a much later period, a more able man than Sir William Temple has been puzzled to ascertain the exact ground of the complaints which the English traders in the eastern seas have always made against the Dutch. (Mr. Canning's communications with the East India Company; from recollection.) But the acquisition of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles, and its confirmation by Mr. Canning's treaty of March 17. 1824, has made these matters of little consequence. Of the greater questions of the flags and the freedom of neutral trade, more will be said presently. home, as great ministers used to be with men out of office; for while the King's business goes well, it is not two straws matter whether such a body as I have any share of it or no. And there is an end of all the reflections I have had upon the most troublesome and untoward business that I thank God I ever had in my life, or, I hope, shall ever have again; and perhaps I am mistaken in them all."* Notwithstanding what he wrote, Temple was probably aware that those who threw difficulties in the way of completing the Triple Alliance, were not opposing the ministers, but playing their game. Arlington himself, who, up to a recent period †, had professed largely in favour of the Triple Alliance, and had ever avowed that England was more concerned than Spain herself in the support of it, now began to disclaim all intention on the part of England to bear any pecuniary charge, adopted all the objections which Temple thought vexatious to the marine treaty; and confirmed the ambassador's apprehensions concerning himself, in the following portentous passage:-" One thing now I will (presuming upon the friendship between us) say to you: nothing is more ordinary in the mouths of men here, than that your partiality and mine for the league, or, in plainer language, for Holland, makes us easily follow all M. de Witt's dictaments, not only in that particular, but in the before-mentioned and all others, and that the world will never * July, 1669, ii. 46. July 9., p. 407. |