Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 1

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XVII.
Willem Bentinck aan de gravin van Portland.

[B.M., Eg. 1712]

Sorgvliet, 23 Mei 1741.

We have had in assembly of the States General a great dispute about Mr. Rosendaal's pretending to remain in the Admiralty, and at the same time to take session in the Council of State¹⁾. As I have resolved never to prostitute my character, whatever other People may do with theirs, I have ventured the loss of Mr. Tork²⁾ and all his family's friendship, and beleive he will never forgive me what has passed last week, and of which I have not now time to give you the detail. But as I was alone at the States General, - - I mean without the Pensionary, the rest of my colleagues being very insignificant - - the day the affair was brought in deliberation and that Mr. Haren - - he that is married with Mrs. Charles³⁾ - - is a very great friend of mine, everybody suspected, and with reason, that we had concerted this affair together to force Rosendaal to choose one or other of these Commissions, as not being compatible together, the affair was put to a Committee, and the report in his favour - - contrary to all order, and the constant uninterrupted practice since the beginning of the Republick - - The affair was brought by me into the States of Holland and the conduct held there by their deputys approved, & the two commissions declared incompatible in this case as well as for the future. And to-day the States of Holland have taken a Resolution to hinder that of the States General having its effect. Rosendaal has made a point d'honneur to maintain what he has begun, and we to keep him to order. The orders are sent to day to Amsterdam to hinder Rosendaal taking

1) L.A. Torck, heer van Rosendaal, landdrost van de Veluwe, lid van de Admiraliteit van Amsterdam, was benoemd tot lid van de Raad van State. Vgl. over deze twist Bijvoegsels op Wagenaar, XIX, blz. 105, en P. Geyl, a.w., blz. 302.

2) F.W. Torck, Rosendaal's broer; vgl. blz. 63.

3) Willem van Haren dus.

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place in the Admiralty during his commission in the Council of State. Rosendaal did not expect such a vigorous resolution, and has begun this afternoon to speak of an accommodement. He will be forced at last to recant and yield. As he is the most haughty, violent, ambitious man in the Republick, and the leading man in Gelderland where he makes a shew of his Credit here, he deserved to be humbled in an affair, begun and carry'd on in such an irregular manner as this was.