Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 1

CXXVI.
Willem Bentinck aan de gravin van Portland.

[B.M. Eg., 1713]

Doorweert, 29 September 1745.

The easterly wind has deprived me of the pleasure of receiving letters these two last posts, and that at a time when the curiosity and impatience are greater than ordinary to know some news from England. I cannot yet be afraid of the Pretender, nor of his adherents. And as long as the publick funds remain at their ordinary price, the merchants must not be much afraid either. You will certainly have been already informed that La Ville is highly incensed at the Garrison of Tournay's going to England¹⁾. I wish it would provoke the French so as to make 'em take a step against us, which we ought long ago to have taken against them. I am informed that it has not made people change their mind at the Hague. Neither was it indeed in the power of the Deputys of our Province, for this step had been approved by our States. I intend to be back again at the Hague in the beginning of next week, when I reckon the States of Holland will meet. I shall go in a day or two to Loo again to meet

1) Het garnizoen van Doornik mocht volgens de capitulatie van 20 Juni 1745 tot 1 Jan. 1747 niet dienen tegen Frankrijk of zijn bondgenooten. De Staten beweerden dat die troepen tegen de Jacobieten gebruikt konden worden, omdat Frankrijk de Pretendent niet openlijk erkend had. Trevor zelf moest toegeven: ‘If your Grace will cast your eye over the third act of the Capitulation of Tournay, you will see how much delicacy it will require to reconcile the mission of any part of that garrison into England with the very letter of that Act’; aan Newcastle, 29 Aug. 1745; P.R.O.

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there Prince George of Hesse¹⁾, whom I never saw, and wish to be acquainted with. There are several things I want to be informed of, which I can know from nobody but him. And the Prince of Orange has made our appointment at Loo, in case Prince George can be there this week......

1) Zeker wel Georg van Hessen-Cassel, 1691-1755, tiende zoon van landgraaf Carl, aanvoerder van het Hessische corps in Engelsche soldij 1741-44.