Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 1

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XCIV.
Willem Bentinck aan de gravin van Portland.

[B.M., Eg. 1713]

Den Haag, 2 Oct. 1744.

You need not be in any uneasyness for Charles, since the Generals of the British Nation, Mr. Wade in particular, will not go near the ennemy. The army march'd the 29. from Cisoin to Tournay, where they passed the Scheld, instead of marching to Pont d'Espierre, which was the first plan and which was changed by Mr. Wade etc. Count de Saxe¹⁾ has made himself master of Pont d'Espierre.

How this campaign will be represented in the Parliament, is what I have no notion of. It is unparallel'd in History. And I own I cannot conceive what is the meaning of what we see. For instance, the English Artillery is still at Antwerp, and the whole summer has passed without Artillery at the Army. This is so publick, that the French could not be ignorant of it; and knowing that, they could be sure that nothing was to be undertaken in earnest. When the Republick was required to furnish what was wanting to their train of Artillery, it was immediately granted, and by the non-use made of what we sent, I am afraid that it was only asked, in hopes of our refusing, and that thereby the fault might be flung ons us²⁾. But that blame we have escaped.

This instance suffices to give an idea of the whole, and I assure you that the sentiments of England both in councel and in the field do not at all encourage here. A peace of thirty years is the ruin of a nation. And a war may cost what it will in money and men, it is abso-

1) Maurits van Saksen was opperbevelhebber van het Fransche leger, dat na de afscheiding van het tegen Prins Karel uitgezonden deel in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden was achtergebleven. Hij was in een numerieke minderheid tegenover het leger van de Nederlanders, Engelschen en Oostenrijkers.

2) Dit deed Wade inderdaad: P. Geyl, Willem IV en Engeland, blz. 314.

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lutely necessary, both for England, and for this Republick.

......We jogg on here as well as we can with our miserable constitution, without any executive power. In short we live in an age very remarkable for folly and extravagance. I am sending this by courier, so I may speak more freely than by the post. But I assure you again and again, that nothing can be done here with any suite or consistency, as long as this form subsists. The fear of the King of Prussia has brought people nearer together, but as soon as that relents it will be the same thing as before. And the example given us by England is such that nobody can any more defend it. I don't know what Boetselaar does. He now and then writes a letter, short and pithy. You knew his father¹⁾, so you know him ...

1) Jacob Godefroy baron van den B., 1680-1736.