Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 1

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L.
Willem Bentinck aan de gravin van Portland.

[B.M., Eg. 1712]

Sorgvliet, 11 Juni 1742.

In general affairs are not as they ought to be here. Very far from it. But yet they are not so desperate as some imagine. And my hopes of better times are in a great measure founded on the extremity to which things are come, which must bring a change soon, or we are quite lost. Now the latter cannot be supposed for many good reasons, and shall certainly not happen. The former then must happen, and there is the more reason to think it will, because many begin to talk and think quite otherwise than they have done hitherto, and a great many other circumstances concur to make me think so.

If some of those who lay the blame on others, acted their own part without being misled by personal pique, things would go much better and the time past since the answer given Lord Stairs, which was the 19 of last month, now above 3 weeks ago, would not have been irreparably lost for us; whilst France has employ'd it to the greatest advantage for her views.

But without entering into speculations upon what is past, or predictions about an uncertain futurity, I shall only tell you that it is not true that we have rejected the propositions of Lord Stairs, much less that we threaten to make a convention of Neutrality with France if the English troops remain at Ostend or any other fortify'd place. It is true the trading towns have conceived some jealousy about the English being Masters of Ostend. It is true that point has been somewhat coarsely put into the answer. It is true that the silly, pusillanimous fear for France has occasion'd a faintness in the deliberation, which appears in the resolution. But it is true too that in the resolution as it was given to Lord Stairs, there are as many doors open as there are shut. And I believe I may say the doors left open are wider than those that are shut. So that I don't at all reckon that negociation broke off. And Ld Stairs does not think

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otherwise, tho' he had expected more forwardness, and with reason as to the thing, and without reason as to the character of the people he had to do with.

Saying more to explain this would carry me too far. And I assure you that as long as I see any hopes of seeing affairs mend, I shall not cease doing all my endeavours, and encouraging others, and comforting my friends, and till you see me come and bring you news myself that all is lost, don't believe it. In the meantime, I reckon an honour to be of the minority, and take great case to have the publick informed the opinion of my friends and myself does not prevail.

As to the letters of Lord Harrington to Mr. Robinson¹⁾, to tell you the plain truth, I neither approve the letters nor the publishing of 'em. I believe I can give good reasons for my opinion upon both these points. I have since I writ, received your letter of the 28, and am very glad to see that the new ministry gains ground, and is sure in appearance of a majority for the future, without which affairs cannot be carried on with the vigour necessary for the preservation of the liberty of Europe, and the use made here by our common enemy of the divisions and partys in England is not to be imagined.

1) Wij weten niet, waarop hier gedoeld wordt. Lord Harrington was de afgetreden Secretary of State for the Northern department; Robinson de Britsche gezant in Weenen.