Nederlandse historische bronnen 10

23

Hague, 1st June 1731 NS

My Dear Lord, I should be more regular in acknowledging your letters, if I had anything to accompany my acknowledgements from hence; but we are still in a perfect state of inaction, till we receive the answer of the Court of Vienna, to the remarks upon the Treaty. I expect it in a few days, and then I hope we shall proceed with some dispatch; the success of the Treaty here is certain, but the time never can be so in a government of this nature.

The orders lately sent to mr. Keene from England, will (I take for granted) remove all the difficultys at Seville, which in reality arose from the form than from the substance of the affair; and the present solid advantages their CC MM⁸⁰ reap by

80 CCMM: ‘Their Most Catholic Majesties’, Philips V of Spain and his wife Elizabeth Farnese.

[p. 154]

this Treaty, and the frankness and facility of his Majesty; must doubtless prevail over the chimericall promises, and artful insinuations of Count Rottemburg⁸¹.

I believe monsieur de Fenelon does not expect to stay here long, for he has countermanded his wife, who was setting out from Paris to come to him here. I can't say he stirrs much against the Treaty, and if he did, it would be to very little purpose.

I am with all possible truth and respect, My Dear Lord - - -

81 Keene was British minister plenipotentiary in Spain; Rottembourg, French envoy extraordinary. Spain and the Emperor did not sign an agreement, recognising Spanish acceptance of the treaty, until 22 July, ‘Account of what passed at Vienna relative to the introduction of Spanish garrisons into Tuscany, and the admission of Don Carlos to the fiefs of Parma and Piacenza’, Papers of Edward Weston, Undersecretary in the Northern Department, held by John Weston-Underwood of Mill St. House, Iden Green Kent, and PRO, num. 103/113; copy of agreement, PRO, num. 103/113.