Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 2

338
Willem Bentinck aan de gravin van Portland

[B.M., Eg. 1714]

Den Haag, 10 mei 1748

You will have seen from my last what I think about what has been done at Aix.

If our circumstances had been better, our transactions would have been more safe and more honourable. But upon looking back

[p. 10]

on what has past, I don't yet see that I could do otherwise than I have done. I know that people who always will find fault, will not spare me¹⁾. But there are some occasions where one must take one's part finally, and rather submit to some misrepresentations for a while, however disagreable, than do an imprudent or a wrong thing.

I believe that is my case at present. I can assure you that I have acted to the best of my judgment, and have no other business to attend to but that one, I gave it all the attention I was capable of. The worst of all is that I cannot make publick all the reasons which determin'd me, without making myself useless for the future. Those that know the inside of things, even among the Austrians, have nothing to answer to me; I put this morning monsieur Reischach²⁾ quite at a stand: and I intend to go back to Aix next tuesday, thro' the dukes army, to see maréchal Batthyany, to talk the same affair over with him, and ask him upon his honour, what he would have done in my place. When I have been there, I will fairly let you know what he has said to me³⁾. But I am sure beforehand what it will be.

Yesterday I made my report to the secret committee⁴⁾, and everything that I have done has been entirely approved, I name only myself, because the whole affair was left to me, tho' I made the report in the name of all three⁵⁾, notwithstanding monsieur Hasselaer did not know there were any articles drawn, or even preparing, till seven at night; the same evening they were signed at nine. But this between ourselves. I mean you, Charles and Trembley⁶⁾. If I was sensible to ungrounded praise, I have had within these three days enough to satisfy the vainest man. But I had much rather have the approbation of three or four on whose judgment and integrity I rely.

1) Hij had de preliminairen getekend ondanks de duidelijke opdracht dit slechts te doen onder de voorwaarde dat zij de hernieuwing van het handelstractaat met Frankrijk van 1739 en handelsvoordelen in Spanje zouden bevatten en bovendien zonder voorkennis van Oostenrijk en buiten Hasselaer om. Hij vreesde kritiek van Amsterdam. Zie Bentinck I, p. 469 en II, nr. 332.

2) Oostenrijks gezant in Den Haag.

3) Zie Bentinck II, nr. 356. Reischach en Batthyani beschouwden Bentinck als een eerlijk man en vriend van Oostenrijk. Zie Beer, p. 29, n. 1.

4) Het Secreet Besogne.

5) Zijn mede-gedelegeerden op het congres.

6) Abraham Trembley, opvoeder van Bentincks kinderen tot 1747, daarna een jaar bij Bentincks moeder. Zie Haag IX, p. 415.

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This letter is for Charles too. I do not write to him because the greffier sends him copys of all that passed yesterday⁷⁾, with relation to the transaction at Aix, to the fate of Maestricht. (Financiële zaken, bemoeienissen ten aanzien van Trembley, etc.). Charles must know that I had writ to the Prince about Pallardy⁸⁾ in the strongest terms (I have kept copy) after having settled the method of finishing that affair, according to my promise before I left The Hague⁹⁾. But nothing being done hitherto, I have apply'd to the Princess in the first flight of good humour she was in on occasion of the agreable news I brought her, to engage her to make it her affair. And I will see how this will operate, and speak to her again tomorrow. This affair grieves me, and I suffer more for Pallardy than he knows or thinks. I have a point of honour of it. The truth is that there are people in the court of justice¹⁰⁾ who had intention to draw another use out of this affair, and make it serve to attack the pensionary¹¹⁾ and the old French party¹²⁾: and that has embroil'd and spoilt it, but yet it is to be remedy'd, if the Prince would but give the attention due to it for his own honour. But he will do everything himself, and so the three quarters of what ought to be done, remains undone.

7) In het Secreet Besogne.

8) Hij moest terecht staan voor de krijgsraad op de beschuldiging van plichtsverzuim als officier bij de overgave van Sluis (22 april 1747) en voor het Hof van Holland wegens zijn openlijke verklaring dat de Franse generaal Löwendahl gezegd had: ‘...est fait en concert avec vos Messieurs’, te weten de anti-stadhouderlijke regenten, die daarmee indirekt van heulen met de vijand beticht werden. Zie Geyl, Willem IV, p. 213, 338 en Dichtk. Praal-Toneel I, p. 34 vlg.

9) Brief van 16 maart 1748, Zie Archives IV, I, p. 198.

10) Het Hof van Holland.

11) Jacob Gilles, raadpensionaris.

12) Hoogstwaarschijnlijk doelt hij op mensen als Van Hoey en anderen, die voor april 1747 duidelijk hun pro Franse gezindheid toonden.