Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 2

356
Willem Bentinck aan de gravin van Portland

[B.M., Eg. 1714]

Aken, 9 juni 1748

I promised you that after I had been at marechal Batthyany's quarters¹⁾, I would let you fairly know how he took what had passed. And I can now tell you that as to that point, I succeeded in the end of my journey, for informed as he was, he was easy to persuade that notwithstanding all that could be said on t'other side of the question, the circumstances we were all in, made necessary what was done, and I clear'd myself, so as to shew him plainly the part I had taken, and my reasons for it, in a manner that I sure left him convinced. And I see by what count Kaunitz says, as well as by the letters I have from Burmania at Vienna²⁾, that I have not been mistaken in my judgement. I must own that till I have been clear into this affair, I have not been quite easy, having my reputation very much at heart, and besides that having for my own affairs much reason to manage the court of Vienna³⁾. (Lord Anson is hier geweest met zijn broer en een zekere heer Mytton. Hij heeft hem zijn boek gegeven, dat Bentinck bewondert. Bentinck ontving wat geld uit Varel).

1) Zie Bentinck II, nr. 335, 338.

2) Barthold Douwe van Burmania, gezant der Republiek in Wenen.

3) Gedoeld wordt hier op het proces, dat Bentinck na hun echtscheiding tegen zijn gewezen vrouw Charlotte Sophia van Aldenburg voerde. Zie Van Huffel, p. 104 vlg. en vooral p. 118 vlg.