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Will.III. againft it from the beginning. The former, foon after the conclufion of it was notified to him, returned for answer,

1700.

perceive, that would be no obftruction; but the French king will fend a perfon into Holland.

The earl of Manchefter to the earl of Jersey.

Paris, March 31, 1700. The treaty is come from Holland, though the counterpart be not yet, becaufe, as monfieur de Torcy faid, they could not tell, but the courier might have been ftopped in Flanders; fo they would not fend them together. It does begin to take air, and count Zinzendorf has fome notice of it, having difcourfed to me of the feveral heads. I have been far from giving him any light into that matter; only fo far, as I have often faid before, when I found him alarmed at the illnefs of the king of Spain, That I thought it would be happy for Europe, if there could be a compromife; but that that would very much depend on the emperor. He faid, I might be affured the emperor would agree to any thing, that was reasonable. I avoided, always, going any further, without orders; though I cannot fee, but he will be foon informed of this whole matter, whenever it is again propofed at Vienna.

I do believe, this court will do what they can, in order to a peace in all parts. The reason why I think fo, is because monfieur de Torcy fays, It would be neceffary, that moft of the princes in Europe con

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fented to what is agreed on in England; which cannot be so well done, if they are in war one with the other.

The earl of Manchester to the earl of Jersey.

Paris, May 8, 1700. I defired monfieur de Torcy would let me know, when he would mention the late treaty to the emperor's minifter; and what measures they intended to take, that I might act conformable to them: He said, He should take no notice of it to him, till next Tuesday sevennight that they would fend orders to monfieur de Villars (with a copy of the treaty) to communicate it to the emperor; and to fend back the courier at the expiration of eight days, in cafe he had no answer, and to declare, that this king shall look upon it as a refufal that, left the emperor might engage the pope, the French ambaflador at Rome is to communicate it also, and to defire it may be kept a fecret: that they think proper to act in the fame manner with the republic of Venice, and they will impart it to their ambassador here about the fame time they mention it to the emperor's minifter. As for Spain, they thought it not yet proper. He faid, they should now foon fee the fuccefs of this great af. fair, and the king would have the honour of it, and the cafe was extremely changed in two years: that the king had now

all

"That he was aftonished, that any difpofition fhould be Will.III. "made of the Spanish monarchy, during the life-time, and 1700.

all the obligations and interefts to with for the life and welfare of our king, affuring me of the great concern he was under fome time this winter, when they heard from monfieur de Tallard, that he was a little indifpofed. This, I take it, is not unlikely, it being plainly their intereft; elfe I fhould not eafily be perfuaded of their good intentions, I wish it was fo elsewhere.

" without

Memoirs of marshal

it to me, and began much in Villars.
the fame manner as with mon-
fieur de Torcy. I told him, I
wondered to fee him fo much
furprized, fince for some time
he always affured me there was
fuch a matter in agitation, and
that it was concluded: that, if
he would confider a little, he
would be convinced, that the
king had not only confidered the
interest of Europe, but in par-
ticular that of the emperor :

The earl of Manchefter to the that what might be very doubt

earl of Jersey.

Paris, May 19, 1700. Yesterday monfieur de Torcy acquainted the emperor's minifter of the whole affair. He feemed mightily furprized, and complained much of the proceedings of our king, taking notice of the many engagements, that have been made between his mafter and him. To which monfieur de Torcy anfwered, That he thought he had no reafon to complain, after what had paffed on that fubject at Vienna, and that the emperor had been informed of every thing, that was now agreed to: that this matter was not of a new nature, for that there had been a fecret treaty between the emperor and France concerning the fucceffion of Spain in 1668. When I faw monfieur de Torcy, he told me all that had paffed, and I was glad to hear of this fecret treaty, that being a good argument to monfieur de Zinzendorf, as you will find afterwards. He foon took notice of VOL. XV.

ful, and even not likely to be obtained by a war, might now be fecured by a peace if they pleased. He faid, what faith can be expected, if the Pyrenean treaty, and the renunciation, that France made, was not valid? To this I answered, That I believed the emperor did not take it to be a full decifion in relation to Spain; else he would not have made a fecret treaty with France in 1668, wherein he yielded much more, as I was informed. I then proceeded to fhew him the fituation of affairs. I reprefented the power of France, the intereft they have in Italy, as also in Spain; and befides what he had often told me, that it was feared, that the Spaniards would declare themfelves for a prince of France: that I was of opinion, that he himself would think at laft, that this was the only way to prevent it, and that they had it now in their power. Upon the whole matter he feemed partly convinced, and he begins now to think,

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that

Will.III." without the consent of the prefent poffeffor; and that, con1700. trary to justice and a decorum, himself, who was the

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Count Zinzendorf asked monfieur de Torcy of his own accord, after the agreement betwixt England, France, and Holland, had been fhewn him:

6 1. Whether France will confent to the archduke's going into Spain, during the life of his Catholic majefty ?"

Monfieur de Torcy's answer:

France does consent to it, on condition that the emperor accepts the conditions.

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2. Whether, in cafe the Spaniards would make choice of a French prince within the given term of three months, it be agreed not to give ear to the proposals of Spain ?" Yes, it is agreed.

that the king could obtain no
better conditions, and that the
only difficulty, that will remain,
is what relates to Milan. I left
him to judge, whether he thought
the princes of Italy would be
contented, that either France or
the emperor was mafter there.
After this difcourfe he went
again to monfieur de Torcy,
and defired a copy of the treaty,
which he faid he would fend
him, and then made him fome
proposals as from himself, that
he might be the better able to
inform his mafter; which he af-
terwards acquainted me with,
and which I fend your lordship
in his own words, as well as I
can remember them. He is now
fo apprehenfive left Spain should
declare for France, as you will
fee by the questions he asked
monfieur de Torcy, that he will
do what he can for the treaty;
and it is thought he is very well
with the emperor. He fends
this day an exprefs to Vienna,
and, I think, one to Count Har-
rach in Spain, as does alfo the
Spanish ambaffador, whom mon-
fieur de Torcy has acquainted
with the treaty, and given him
a copy of it. He only faid, It
was a matter above his under-
ftanding, but he would not fail
to inform his mafter of it. The
Venetian ambassador is also ac-
quainted with it; and monfieur
·
this week to the
Calliere goes
duke of Lorrain, to notify it to
him. So your lordship will
judge it will not be long a fe-

cret.

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3. That the ceffion of the kingdom of Naples, ought, in my opinion, to be understood as only to the defcendants of queen Mary Terefa; and that it is by no means to be incor'porated with the crown nor the houfe of France?"

That this will be made easy, and that there will be no difficulties about it.

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4. Whether there was any to hope, that France 'would change or accommo• date fome things in the

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treaty That the king was in fo good a difpofition, that he would come into any thing; and that this treaty was not of that na

ture,

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rightful heir to the whole, was to be compelled to accept Will. III. "a part of it within the fpace of three months, under the 1700. "penalty of forfeiting his fhare to a third perfon not yet "named. That, however, he could take no final refolu❝tion

ture, that nothing could bet

changed in it, fo it be done by The earl of Manchester to the

the common confent of England, France, and Holland.

The earl of Jerfey to the earl of

Manchester.

earl of Jersey.

Paris, May 26, 1700.

I have acquainted your lordfhip already, that the only dif course we have here is concern

Hampton-Court, May 13, ing the treaty with England,

1700, O. S.

I have your letter of the 19th, and laid it before the king. His majefty approves of what has been faid to count Zinzendorf, concerning the treaty, only as to the fecond query:

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Whether, in cafe the Spaniards would make choice of a French prince within the given term of three months, it be agreed not to give ear to [attendre] the propofals of Spain ?'

A. Yes, it is agreed.

The sense of these words is it not this? That, though the Spaniards fhould, within the three months, propofe to make choice of any prince of the houfe of Bourbon, yet the French fhall not in that cafe hearken to fuch a propofition, but fhall adhere to what is literally prefcribed in the treaty. Your lordship will fee, in difcourfing with monfieur Zinzendorf, if he does not under' stand it thus; and take care, that it be fo explained to monfieur de Torcy, as to leave no room for any difficulty.'

and I have made fome enquiry, which way it could come to be fo foon public; and it happened thus: The king fent for monfieur on Thursday laft, and informed him of it, and even of the particulars, faying, it was no longer a fecret, for he had informed most of the princes of Europe of it. This was fufficient to make it known, and it was certainly defigned fo. It does occafion different opinions, tho' I find, that, the more they confider, the more they approve of it. The Italian minifters were the most alarmed by what the French are to have in Italy, with the several ports, which makes them mafters there whenever they pleafe. But the chief point is, that all these places are annexed to the crown of France. They fay, if they were to go to a younger fon, that might make all that matter eafy. We are to fee here monfieur de Torcy tomorrow, the court being fill at Marly, and then I fhall be better able to give you an account how affairs ftand. I hear the Spanish ambaffador does act very prudently, and has foftened the

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the return of a courier from Madrid, vic we

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court of Spain.

The earl of Mancheher to the
ead of Jerley.

Paris, May 25 1700

I never fall, when the miti. Em ere baix of the king, to are mem of the pinc eleen se ta for his mot CIAL Las mydy, ko, and I had yeterday a good opportunity of repeating = at a conference ! had with monieur de Toev about the treaty, &c. I am of opinion, that the emperor's mimater here will press that matter que con of Vienna, be being more convinced than ever, that it is for his maker's intereft

to agree to it; and monteur
de Torcy did own to me, that
be found him much altered fince
the at time be faw him: and
he sold me of the propofitions
he had made him, and which I
have already acquainted you
with. The courier, which was
fent to monfieur de Villars, is
expected back every day, and
will give us fome light as to
which way this will turn. The
duke of Lorrain has acceded,
but it is at prefent a fecret, as
monfieur de Torcy fays, because
he is willing to keep measures
with the emperor, as you will
be told by monfieur de Tallard,
if he has not told you already.

The earl of Manchefer to the
earl of Jerfey.

Paris, June 2, 1700.
I had the honour of yours of

the second propsition of nonfeur de Zamedor might have Deen planer by the word "ecou*ser autead of amencre; but I was wing to keep his own words, not having then cicouried with monier de Torcy:

I now fnd his aniwer west farber, and on that query be ind⚫ proviced the emperor • within the term of three 'mosits figned and ratified; 'dle they fs.ld not think added, in order to leave him in * themselves obliged.' This be more doubt, which he thought he faid it was not very likely was proper at prefent; though the Spaniards would now be this king would keep ftrictly to more their friends; and befides, what is prefcribed by the treaty. I afterwards talked to monfieur Zazendorf, who underftands it in your lordship's fenfe, and I did explain to him further what monfieur de Torcy had told me he did not entirely agree to it, concerning that matter. At first though there was little difference, fo that there can be no ill con

fequence from it; and this matter is fo fettled, that I hope the king will approve of it.

fome excufe to me, and faid, Monfieur de Torcy made the time would not permit them to confult firft with the king in relation to the duke of Lorrain, project to be figned by him, and and told me, they had fent a

it was not convenient to let this matter cool: That fome conditions were fent, but fuch as

would

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