Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 1

XVIII.
Willem Bentinck aan de gravin van Portland.

[B.M., Eg. 1712]

Sorgvliet, 27 Juni 1741.

I must tell you opposers one thing that you talk the same language with France, who will not neither believe the King of Prussia coward, because it does not serve their turn. What I writ you of him and his running away to Oppeln during the Battle¹⁾ is true, or nothing is true. I know it to be as positively as I know King George went to Hanover some weeks ago. We expect daily his answer to our last proposals to him, but it is not come yet. Never anything was so illjudg'd as that Prince's conduct, in point of Politicks as well as morals, and he will certainly pay for his folly soon or late, and draw certain ruin upon his country, and upon all Germany, which suffers already from his bad measures, and lies open to France, who will certainly not let this opportunity escape. If you saw the detail of the King of Prussia's behaviour, the stile of his letters to his ministers, the different language he makes 'em speak in different courts, often contradictory, you would judge of him as I do, and find the comparison true I made sometimes between him and a certain lady²⁾, with whom I always

1) De slag bij Mollwitz. Willem Bentincks verhaal van het wegloopen was juist; maar daarmee was zijn conclusie nog niet gerechtvaardigd.

2) Bentinck doelt op zijn vrouw, van wie hij toen reeds gescheiden leefde.

[p. 28]

find some conformity in everything or person that is odious. The situation of Europe and the overmight of France makes one manage him more than strictly one ought to do. And it is a great misfortune one is obliged to do so. Else he ought in justice and by vertue of our solemn engagements to the House of Austria to be used quite otherwise......