Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 1

CCXLVII.
De Hertog van Newcastle aan Willem Bentinck¹⁾.

[B.M., Add. 32810]

1) Kopie.

Newcastle House, 6/17 November 1747.

(Heeft met de beantwoording van Bentincks brief van 3 November N.S. gewacht, in de hoop uit Holland bericht te ontvangen dat het antwoord op de Memorie van de Abbé De la Ville gegeven was, dat orders waren verstrekt aan de Admiraliteiten de Franschen overal ter zee aan te vallen, en dat de handel met Frankrijk verboden was.)

When these Resolutions are passed, we shall be enabled to enforce our opinion with more weight than we can do before these points are determined. And as to that essential one, upon which you lay so much stress, viz. the encreasing our contingent to 70.000 men, nothing would facilitate that so much as proofs on the part of the Republick that they will be able to furnish 70.000

[p. 312]

effective me(n), at the opening of the Campaign, which hitherto is much doubted here. The troops of the Republick at present, according to Lord Sandwich's account, do not exceed 35.000 men, which, with the addition of the 15.000 Russians, amounts only to 50.000. Of the proposed augmentation of 30.000, there are but 20.000 actually engaged for, and great part of that 20.000 not raised. The remainder is intended to be had from Switzerland, whither Mr. Van Haren¹⁾ has just set out to negociate it, and by the accounts of all those that are best acquainted with that country, and particularly Sir Luke Schaub, it will be impossible to have any troops from Switzerland, which are now to be raised, ready before the end of the next campaign, and that the Republick in that case would want great part of their 70.000 men almost the whole campaign.

I wish you would clear up these doubts, and then I should be better able to do, what I much wish; which is, to remove all points of dispute between us and contribute all that is in my power to the forming such an army for next campaign, as may oppose the enemy with success. You know my inclinations; nothing shall be wanting on my part; but I must have materials from you to work upon.

In our present circumstances the best that can be done is to suspend any resolution relating to the points in question, till the arrival of the Duke of Cumberland, whom we expect by the first fair wind. I am persuaded he will set things in such a light that everything will be settled to mutual satisfaction and I shall not fail to acquaint you with what shall be determined on His Royal Highness's arrival, and then write more fully to you upon the several parts of your letter. The Prince of Orange's assurance relating to the declaration of war, - - tho' it must be managed with great caution - - will be of service to us. We depend upon its being duly complyed with.

I think we do our part at sea. I hope you will like the King's speech, and the assurances of support that will be certainly contained in the addresses.

1) O.Z. van Haren; vgl. Archives, IV, I, blz. 117 vlgg.