Nederlandse historische bronnen 10

12

Hague, 3rd October 1730

My Dear Lord, Nothing could give me more pleasure than the friendly manner, in which you have renew'd our correspondence, by yours of the 28th past. I wish I had any reason to hope that it would not be a very tedious one to you, at least if it be not, it can only proceed, from your doing justice to my sentiments for you, and pardoning dullness in favour of friendship.

We are here in a perfect state of inaction, waiting for what the greater powers will please to do with the Republick, they can't lead but they must follow their allys⁴⁹. Castellar I suppose will open the winter scene and lett you know her Catholick Majesty's demands⁵⁰, upon which the negotiations must chiefly turn. The Dutch courier was dispatch'd upon the subject of the conference you mention, chiefly with relation to the affair with Muscovy; we expect here soon messrs. Hop and Goslinga, who have leave to return for some time; when they are once here I believe it will be a difficult matter to gett them back to Paris, which they both seem heartily weary of.

It is impossible to be with greater truth and esteem, My Dear Lord - - -

49 The Dutch were excluded from the crucial stages of the secret Anglo-Austrian negotiations. Lord Harrington, the ennobled William Stanhope, who succeeded Townshend as Secretary of State in 1730, to Robinson, 28 Jan. 1731 OS, PRO, num. 80/71, f. 50.

50 Castellar, Spanish ambassador extraordinary in France. Her Catholic Majesty, Elizabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain, actively pressed Britain, France and the United Provinces to support the Italian claims of her son Don Carlos.