Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 1

CLVII.
Willem Bentinck aan de gravin van Portland.

[B.M., Eg. 1713]

Den Haag, 8 Juli 1746.

......Last Saturday I went after the assembly to

[p. 179]

Utrecht, in hopes of getting the same night to Soesdyk, but not being able to get horses at Utrecht, was forced to lye there, and to go next morning betimes, and arrived there before the Prince and Princess were up. I found them both in perfect good health, the Princess Royal very big, which gave me very great pleasure. As to public affairs, I shall say nothing of 'em to day, not being able to stop where I ought. The Pensionary is going to Spa, and Mr. Buys¹⁾ - - your old acquaintance - - is in the Pensionary's absence to do his function in the Assembly of the States General and assist the secret committee. You may perhaps be surprised at the choice, knowing him²⁾; but I can assure you that there is nobody in the whole Assembly but what is much worse than he. And Monsieur de s'Gravemoer will have the direction of the Assembly of the States of Holland.

The Austrian succours arrived for the greatest part the 4th at Venlo, and t' is beleived that Maré(chal) Batthyany will move forwards to meet them.

1) Mr. Willem Buys (1661-1749), Secretaris van de Staten van Holland, vóor dien pensionaris van Amsterdam.

2) Buys, die nu 85 jaar oud was, had een rol van beteekenis gespeeld in de diplomatie van de Spaansche Successie-oorlog. De teleurstelling daarbij ondervonden had hem anti-Engelsch gemaakt; zie P. Geyl, a.w., blz. 185.