Nederlandse historische bronnen 10

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Hague, 9th March 1731 NS

My Dear Lord, I have receiv'd the favour of your letter of the second, and immediately spoke to the Pensionary for mr. de Bene your ecuyer; he has promised me in such a manner to interest himself for him that I dare say he may look upon himself as very secure of the continuance of his pension.

I find the French Court is very uneasy and angry at our negotiation with that of Vienna; and without knowing the particulars of it; think fitt to say that it is a violation of our engagements with them⁶⁶. Whereas I will venture to affirm that the strict observance, and execution of all our former engagements, has been the only basis of this negotiation; and had they been reduc'd by our behaviour as we have

66 Stainville, Lorraine envoy in Paris, to Duke Francis III of Lorraine, reporting conversation with Fleury, 4 Feb. 1731, Nancy, Archives de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Fonds de Vienne, 86, num. 115; Waldegrave to Newcastle, 15 Mar., Broglie to Chauvelin, 9 Ap. 1731, BL, Add., num. 32772, f. 28, 254.

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been by theirs to the necessity of a separate negotiation, I very much question, whether they would have been as scrupulous as we have been.

The various and extravagant reports of this negotiation spread by silly or malicious people⁶⁷, have almost turn'd mr. Fenelon's head; and putt him in a violent agitation. They apprehend the guarranty of the Pragmatick Sanction to be one of the conditions of this negotiation; supposing it were; is there anything in the Hanover Alliance or the Treaty of Seville repugnant to it⁶⁸? And why do they apprehend it, unless they own they intend to dismember the Emperor's successions at his death⁶⁹; in which case whether we give the guarranty or no, it cannot be supos'd that the maritime powers, would be indifferent spectators. If a separate negotiation singly be the crime, lett them reflect, upon their own continued series of separate negotiations with Spain, to which we are no strangers⁷⁰. In short if the negotiation succeeds, all Europe will owe it's tranquillity to the King; if it fails, it will be the strongest proof, of his Majesty's scrupulous adherence to all his former engagements. I am more than any man living, My Dear Lord - - -

67 The susceptibility of the international system to such rumours had been indicated by the widely-held belief that the Treaty of Seville had included an agreement for the return of Gibraltar.

68 The Pragmatic Sanction stipulated the undivided inheritance of the Austrian dominions by Charles VI's eldest daughter, Maria Theresa. In 1729 the British ministry had taken steps to ensure that they did not block the prospect of such a guaranty. Account of meeting of the Lords Justices, 11 Aug. 1729 OS, PRO, num. 43/80.

69 In 1714 France had signed a treaty with the Elector of Bavaria, supporting his claims on a portion of the inheritance, Sautai, Les préliminaires, 10.

70 These negotiations had worried the British from the inception of the Anglo-French alliance in 1716.