manner of doing things is often more to be regarded than the thing is itself, and I am confident I shall be able to convince you when we meet, that my lord Townshend's case can be consider'd in no other light. I can give no advice, but repeat what I said before; take care that nothing more be done, till you are upon the spott: I think you will alter your sentiments with the climate, if you have not drank deeper of the bowle than I am willing to believe. For as I lived with you so many years in intimacy and friendship, I shall be glad still to live and dye upon that foot, and shall with great pleasure see you deliver'd from imputations, it would grieve you to think of. I will do my part, and if you will do yours, it seems possible to retrieve the most fatall step that ever was taken: that all may go well, is my sincere wishes, and I am, with all possible truth, dear sir, your most faithfull humble servant.

SECRETARY STANHOPE TO ROBERT WALPOLE.

[Stanhope Papers.]

Will follow his advice not to make any further offer of the lord lieutenancy to lord Townshend—Is ready with lord Sunderland to conçiliate matters—Earnestly entreats him to prevail on lord Townshend to comply-And promises in the king's name, to permit his lordship in due time to exchange that place for another-Justifies his own conduct.

DEAR SIR;

(Copy.)

Hague, January the 16th, 1717. I HAVE received this morning the favour of your's. of the 1st. instant, O. S. and I shall follow the advice you are pleased to give me, of writing nothing to lord. Townshend touching Ireland, which as I told you, his

majesty will keep open till his arrival. Since you seem to lay a greater stress upon the manner in which this offer was made than upon the thing itself, I hope you have been turning it in your thoughts, how any thing which may have been taken amiss in the manner, may be set right; and whenever you will be pleased to suggest any thing of that kind, which may be consistent with the king's dignity, and the firm resolution he has taken of supporting what he has done, I shall most willingly and heartily employ my best endeavours. to make my lord Townshend easy, and so will my lord Sunderland. But tho' I will not repeat to my lord Townshend, in the king's name, the offer of Ireland, till you allow me so to doe, I must, and doe for the king's sake, for that of the whiggs, and of my lord Townshend himself, most earnestly repeat to you my entreaties, that you will dispose my lord Townshend to accept of it. I am at liberty to assure you, in the king's name, that when my lord Townshend shall have accepted of Ireland, if in six months or in a twelvemonth, he should like better some other post at home in the cabinet council, that his majesty will very readily approve of any scheme that his servants shall concert for placing lord Townshend where he shall like. At the same my time, I have procured liberty from the king, to declare thus much to you. Believe me dear Walpole, when I swear it to you, that I doe not think it possible for all the men in England to prevaile upon the king to readmit my lord Townshend into his service, upon any other terms than of complying with the offer made of Ireland. The king will exact from him this mark of duty and obedience. I doe assure you, that I am not at present in a passion, I tell you very coolly what in my conscience I think, I leave it to you to make such use as you shall think fitt of this very true information; and I will hope, that being thus informed, you will prevent things from being pushed to extremities, which I dread to think of.

For God's sake, is not a lord lieutenant of Ireland of the cabinet council? has he not the same access to the king, whenever he pleases, as any other minister whatsoever? will not my lord Townshend's talents, and the just esteem which every body in the council must have for him, give him a share in business, for ought I know greater, I am sure at least, less invidious than he had before? will not he be constantly in the way of effacing, by his behaviour, any impressions made to his prejudice? if I were not still sincerely a well wisher to his lordship, and did not think it probable, that I should again live well with him, I would not press you at this rate upon this point; I would quietly suffer him to indulge his resentment, which must end in the ruin of his and his friends interest at court, as long as this king lives, which, give me leave to tell you, he is like to do many years.

As to the apprehensions you mention to have been very general of a change, you know as well as I what foundation there has been for them, and whether the refusal of my lord Townshend has not given occasion to them. I will not imagine, since you say it, that any of your friends have used any industry or endeavours to begett such a ferment. I will rather hope, that you, knowing with so much certainty, that not one remove was intended by the king, will have endeavoured to quiet and calm this ill grounded jealousy. I doe not know that I have any creatures or dependants, whose behaviour I can govern, or be answerable for, but this I know, that I have not directly or indirectly, either myself or by any other person, writt or caused to be writt one syllable since this business has been on foot, except to yourself, and once to Mr. Methuen. I know not what you mean by having drank deep of the bowle, I have already acquainted you with what I judge and know to be the king's sentiments upon this business. Whilst I am his servant, I will, to the atmost of my ability, support his dignity, which, amongst many

other good things, I have learnt to do from lord Townshend; and I shall not in so doing value or fear any imputation. It will appear to the world in due time, whether any motive of ambition or interest has governed me in this business, and whether I hadd not most effectually served those who are at present most angry with me, if their own passion did not hinder the good effects of what was well designed. I have, dear Walpole, a very clear conscience, and whilst I am conscious to myself of well doing, I have learnt to be very easy in mind, whatever other people think of me. I am, with great truth, &c.

LORD STANHOPE TO LORD SUNDERLAND,

[Marlborough Papers.]

On the cabals and projects of Bernsdorf.

1719.

YOUR lordship will have perceived by my late letters to Mr. Craggs, how much industry hath been used here to break off with Prussia. I have on that subject made a very curious discovery, namely, that while we were treating with Prussia, old Bernsdorf was reviving at Vienna an old project which he had formed when St. Saphorin was left at Hanover, to strip in a great measure that prince. This fine project is to be executed by the emperor and Poland in conjunction with Hanover. I never knew, nor do I yet know the detail of it. I have learned what I know of it in such a manner as I cannot acquaint the king with; but I have let the duchess into it, and by her assistance I hope we shall baffle it. The first and immediate con

sequence of such a scheme would be to lose France, which I think we cannot well afford to do at present. The new french embassador here, and Mr. Rottenbourg, at Berlin, are of great use to me. Mr. Whitworth has acted at Berlin, and continues to act there, a very skilful and worthy part. The king has this day told the french embassador that he will send back Mr. Whitworth to Berlin. If, as I begin to hope, we carry that point, you may almost be certain we shall still conclude with Prussia, and shall thereby gain, at least, one very considerable advantage, that no great mischief can happen to us; and we shall avoid bringing England into such engagements as I am sure could never be supported in parliament.

I remember a thought of your lordship touching Mr. Whitworth, which if I thought right, as I did when you mentioned it, is really now become necessary: I mean the making a third secretary for our plantations. No man in the kingdom understands these affairs better; and I assure you that his behaviour at present entitles him to a very considerable regard from every good Englishman. Old Bernsdorf has turned him all manner of ways, and used all manner of artifices, first to cheat him, and then to gain him over to his notions, but all to no purpose. He has very plainly, both to the king and to Mr. Bernsdorf, represented of how pernicious consequences it would be to quarrel with Prussia; and as he is certainly more knowing in all these northern affairs than any body here, his opinion will have great weight, especially backed by me, by the duchess, and indeed by most reasonable people. I have therefore thought it prudent to give a hint of this kind, and shall be glad to know how much further you think I can go with him.

I think never any scheme was framed, so impracticable, so dishonourable, nor so pernicious as what this old man has in his head. He proposes, besides part of the spoils of Prussia for his master, to get for himself