Nederlandse historische bronnen 10

21

Hague, 10th April 1731 NS

My Dear Lord, This inclos'd information⁷⁴ is of too important a nature whether true or false, not to communicate to you. It was given me this morning by a Frenchman here, whom I have known some time, and who is a man of good parts and a good character, he assures me he had it from the secretary of the Popes Nuntio at Paris, with whom he has been long acquainted and in correspondence. You will be best able to find out, if it is in any degree founded. So farr is certain, it tallys with other advices we had some time ago, from Rome⁷⁵.

The Treaty of Vienna has mett with the entire approbation of the States Generall, who sent it last night to the severall provinces, with a letter of recommendation conceiv'd in the strongest terms, and I make no manner of doubt but that I shall have finish'd the whole affair here in about six weeks⁷⁶.

I have just receiv'd the favour of yours of the 6th, and am very glad to find Marquis de Castellar is so well pleas'd with our Treaty, I am sure he has reason to be so⁷⁷.

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

P.S.

I send this under general Keppels cover, as a safer way than directed to you.

74 Missing. The information related to reports that the Jacobite Pretender, James III, had travelled secretly to Paris and met Louis XV and cardinal Fleury. The reports were erroneous.

75 Chesterfield to Harrington, 10 Ap. 1731, PRO, num. 84/312. The French had threatened to exploit the Jacobite menace, Francis Colman, envoy at Florence, to Waldegrave, 26 May 1731, Chewton; Newcastle to Waldegrave, 1, 15 Ap. OS, Broglie to Chauvelin, 9 Ap., Waldegrave to Newcastle, 10, 19 Ap. 1731, BL, Add., num. 32772 and 32773.

76 A foolish assumption. The ‘whole affair’ was not finished until 1732.

77 The treaty had stipulated the introduction of Spanish garrisons into Tuscany and Parma to secure Don Carlos' rights of succession to them. Don Carlos arrived at Leghorn (Livorno) on 27 December 1731 and a British fleet escorted a Spanish force from Barcelona to Leghorn. Jones, ‘La Gran Bretagna’, 47-82.