Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 1

[p. 1]

1736.

I.
Willem Bentinck aan de gravin van Portland.

[B.M., Eg. 1712]

Sorgvliet, 14 Sept. 1736.

......I must tell you of another project I have, which I believe I spoke to you of in England and which I don't see clear in yet. The pacification advances so slowly¹⁾, that it is thought that there will be a congress, at which I have already last winter offer'd myself to be employed in case it should be abroad, for if it be here, it would of course fall to those that are constant Deputys to the States General. Another difficulty which may rise is, that the Nobles never name any of their body, unless he be the first in the commission, so that if Gelderland who is the first Province names one - - which I much doubt of - - I am again at a stand²⁾. Hitherto I have been employed in no commission and People are but too willing to consider one as insignificant, and to make me so too, if they can.

1) De zgn. Poolsche Successie-oorlog tusschen Oostenrijk en Frankrijk was in 1735 door een wapenstilstand besloten, die echter pas in 1738 tot een vrede leidde.

2) Sedert 13 Oct. 1728 was Willem Bentinck lid van de Ridderschap van Holland; vgl. W. van Huffel, Willem Bentinck van Rhoon, blz. 56.