Nederlandse historische bronnen 10

16

Hague, 26th December 1730 NS

My Dear Lord, I receiv'd on Saturday last by the Dutch courier yours of the 19th and I have since seen, the pieces, and the accounts of what pass'd at your conferences; upon which I cannot freely give you my sentiments by the post; but this I will venture to say anywhere; that the answer of France and the piece

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justificative, are very extraordinary performances⁶¹, and cannot possibly tend to promote that union and concert among the allies, which they say, and which everybody agrees is so necessary; for that piece is a strong and very unjust invective upon the maritime powers; at least it is so considered here, and I dare say is the same in England. The Marquis de Fenelon is in prodigious motion here; he endeavours that the affairs between the Republick and France should be negotiated here by him and not at Paris, which the States don't seem at all inclined to. So that he is not very well satisfied with his negotiations.

As I know the King's intentions and desires, of acting in the strictest concert with his allys, and of doing even more than he is oblig'd to by the Treaty of Seville, for the execution of it; I hope the conduct of France and Spain will not be such as to render his good intentions ineffectuall; and encourage the Emperor to persist in his obstinacy; from the hopes of any differences among the allys⁶².

I am with perfect truth and respect, My Dear Lord - - -

P.S.

I likewise acknowledge yours of the 10th.

61 Continued disputes over planning for war against Austria. The British persisted in this planning, both because they were not certain of the success of their negotiations with Austria, and because they sought to trick France.

62 There were already strong suspicions of Austro-Spanish negotiations, Holzendorf to George Tilson, Undersecretary in the Northern Department, 24 Nov. 1730, PRO, num. 84/309, f. 27, Chesterfield to Thomas Robinson, minister plenipotentiary in Vienna, 24 Nov. 1730, BL, Add., num. 23780, f. 362.