Nederlandse historische bronnen 10

26

Hague, 7th August 1731 NS

My Dear Lord, I delay'd acknowledging the favour of your last letter, till I could at the same time inform you that the province of Holland, had approv'd and authorised their deputys to conclude, the Act of Concurrence of the Republick to the Treaty of Vienna; which they did last Saturday. The provinces of Frise and Overyssell, had done it before, and I believe the other four, will in few days follow their example. Count Sinzendorf's courier, who carried that Act to Vienna is not yett return'd, so that we don't know what alterations that Court may have thought fitt to make to it; if they change nothing very materiall, the affair will be soon finish'd here. Monsieur de Fenelon I believe thinks of leaving this place soon, for last Saturday he summon'd all his creditors by beat of drum to come immediately to receive their money, a step which is never taken by ministers, but when they are going away. However Monsieur Fenelon being asked upon it, whether he was returning to France, said he had not thought of it; and that his Maitre d'Hotel had taken that step, without his knowledge. As nobody believed this excuse, everybody speculates upon the step, and it's being taken, about an hour after it was known that the province of Holland had approv'd the Act, makes most people believe, that it was intended as an artifice to stagger the timorous here, and to discourage the other Provinces from consenting, out of apprehensions, that it would cause a

[p. 156]

rupture with France, who would not so much as keep a minister here afterwards. That there is some trick in it, I am convinc'd, though I can't determine what, but I am sure it wont't succeed.

Our last treaty concluded with Spain at Vienna⁸⁴ has remov'd the remaining difficultys, that obstructed the execution of the Treaty of Seville so that we may hope now to see a generall tranquillity in Europe. I could wish the little jealousys between England and France were removed too, we both took the alarm too hastily, and I dare say without any grounds of either side⁸⁵. I am, My Dear Lord - - -

84 The treaty of 22 July.

85 Fearing attack from each other, Britain and France took defensive preparations along their Channel coasts in June 1731, Black, ‘Die Panik von 1731’, 69-95. Chesterfield was ordered to secure a promise of Dutch assistance in case of need, Harrington to Chesterfield, 29 June 1731 OS, PRO, num. 84/313.