Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 1

XLVII.
Robert Milling³⁾ aan de gravin van Portland.

[B.M., Eg. 1712]

3) Engelsch kapelaan in Den Haag.

Den Haag, 3 April 1742.

Of all the accounts I have seen of the late change of affairs in England, none has pleased me so much as your Ladyships letters to your sons, which they are so good as to let me see, and this morning I was with Mr. Bentinck, who has desired me to acquaint you that he designs to write to day, But if he does not you may excuse him on account of the multiplicity of publick affairs which he has on his hands, and wherin I think he succeeds and gains much credit and reputation, so that I believe he will he soon at the head of our affairs. I told him many years ago that it would be his own fault if he proved not the greatest man in our Republick. I need not tell your Ladyship his answer, for you know him.

In short I ascribe to his activity and dexterity and zeal for the publick good our late augmentation, which I'm sure must be agreable to England, as it is displeasing to

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France. Last week being president¹⁾, he pushed and carried immediately the advancement of the commise to be made joint Griffier with the Uncle²⁾, which has given great pleasure to the whole familie of the Fagels, as it is a mortification to some who are in another system and who wish better to France than England. Another thing which has done him a great deal of honour among our best people, is a small piece, which is generaly ascribed to him, tho the name is not att it, called remarks upon a thing given out as is thought, by Finnalon³⁾; it's written with a great deal of life and spirit to show the necessity of the Republicks augmenting their forces, and it has had a very good effect......

I hope my lord Stairs⁴⁾, who is expected here this week, will succeed in the negotiation, tho' I fear he will meet with some rubs and difficulties from some people, tho' not so many or great as Mr. Walpole⁵⁾ did, for I realy think there is a better disposition for England of late, caused partly by the feare of the French, and partly by the unexpected success of the Queen. I fancie that nobleman comes over upon much the like errand the late Duke of Marlbro did immediately after the death of King William, and I heartily wish he may succeed as well, and doubt not that the coming over of such an armie of English into Flanders⁶⁾, will give force to what he will say, at least by that means he will remove a popular objection, which our frenchified people often trump up, viz., that the English would have us begin the work, and so expose us to the resentment of France alone. But now that cannot be pleaded, they begin to inisnuate fears of the English getting possession of Ostend. But I hope lord Stairs will overcome all ob-

1) ‘President van de week’ van de Staten-Generaal.

2) Hendrik Fagel werd eind Maart tot assistent-Griffier van de Staten-Generaal benoemd, in het bizonder belast met de binnenlandsche zaken. Vgl. P. Geyl, a.w., blz. 87.

3) Fénelon.

4) Engelsch generaal, als buitengewoon gezant naar Den Haag gezonden.

5) Horatio Walpole, de broer van Sir Robert.

6) 16.000 man.

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structions to our entering into the most effectual measures in maintenance of the pragmatick, and curbing the power and baffling the ambitious exorbitant falseness of France.

I suppose this or next week our States will enter upon the long procrastinated work of the making generals, for to have an armie of eighty thousand men and none to command them would appear very absurd, and yet how that will goe in Holland is hard to tell, for I cannot see how the Prince of Orange can be left out, he must be a general, who is already Governor of three provinces, if there be any promotion, and yet I believe there are some among us who look upon that as not many degrees better than a French invasion.

I am extreamly pleased to find that the major part of the parliament are for soft and not violent measures, and I hope the honest Whig-moderate partie will keep their advantage, which will be no small comfort and encouragement to all good people in this countrie, who dreaded the work or project of impeachment¹⁾ as that which would have thrown the nation into convulsions and would have diverted the government from minding forreign affairs. France would have rejoyced, the Queen²⁾ ruined and we in the utmost perplexity. For my part I can but with your Ladyship observe several remarkable interpositions of providence......

1) Tegen Sir Robert Walpole.

2) Van Hongarije.