Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 2

419
R. Wolters aan Willem Bentinck

[B.M., Eg. 1746]

Rotterdam, 24 september 1748

I have had the honour of paying my respects last saturday¹⁾ to the prince of Orange, by which opportunity I have given him an account of the state of the affairs in our city, which seemed to please H.H. much, as we have brought things so far, that I believe that we may assure you, that the following articles will be observed.

1. The number of regents which the burgers will desire to have discharged is reduced to six²⁾ viz. Van Teylingen, Van Berckall, Van der Hoeven, Hogendorp, Schoonhoven and Cossard³⁾.

2. The petition⁴⁾ will be drawn up in general terms and so that H.H. will thereby be desired to consider of the complaints of the burgers and to satisfy them, as he shall think best.

3. The choice of persons to replace the dismissed magistrates will be left intirely to H.H. and my friend and fellow patriot Swijn-

1) 21 september.

2) Begin september wilden zij twaalf regenten afzetten. Zie Geyl, De agent Wolters, p. 104, 115.

3) Theodorus van Teilingen, Diderik van Hogendorp en Pieter van Schoonhoven waren oud-burgemeesters van Rotterdam en hadden zitting in de vroedschap. Engelbert van Berckel was oud-burgemeester en schout van Rotterdam. Zie voor Elias van der Hoeven Bentinck II, nr. 410. Jacob Cossart Jansz. was lid van de vroedschap. Zij werden 24 oktober 1748 afgezet. Zie Ned.Jb. 1748, p. 976 vlg.

4) Reeds in augustus ontstond er weer een beweging onder de Rotterdamse burgers. De Oranjepartij wist de gevolgen hiervan echter te beperken tot het aanbieden van deze petitie aan de Prins op 19 oktober. Zie hiervoor Bentinck II, nr. 410, 411 en Geyl, De agent Wolters, p. 104, 115, 120.

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drecht⁵⁾ and I will take care to represent to H.H. the candidates in their proper colours; for, excepting Paats⁶⁾, we have nobody in particular in view and our sole motive is to procure such magistrates as by either their parts integrity or sentiments will cooperate with our two burgomasters for the good of the country; if these two gentlemen keep their credit I can safely assure you that the prince of Orange may allways depend upon the city of Rotterdam, acting cordially and reddily for the good of the Republick and of the common cause.

So much for Rotterdam and I am now come to relate to you an affair which you will perhaps not think so important, as I do, but which will at least show you that I have your intrest warmely at heart, from the true knowledge, that I have of your distinguished and disinterested sentiments for the good of the publick: as I am not sure of the post, I shall put the names in cyphers, of which the key will come to you by an other hand.

As I have not seen Van der Meer⁷⁾ since his return from Amsterdam I have taken some pains to know the reason of this his conduct so different from what he professed before his departure from Amsterdam. I have so far succeeded in my inquiries, that I have yesterday found out that Van der Meer has not onely complained to his friends of count Bentinck, saying that count Bentinck by deceiving him, had hurt the affairs of the prince of Orange att Amsterdam saying at the same time that mister Grovestein⁸⁾ the only honest man about the prince of Orange and advising his friends never to apply to anybody else. I have allso learnt that Van der Meer has printed a letter in which he exposes his case and which he has sent a copy of to the princess of Orange, but that he has been ordered to destroy all the copies that he had left. You know the caracter of mister Grovestein

5) Vermoedelijk François van Swijndrecht, schoonzoon van de pensionaris Nicolaas Montauban.

6) Adriaan Paets, bewindhebber der VOC te Rotterdam, in oktober tot lid van de vroedschap benoemd. Een lofdicht op hem in Dichtk. Praal Toneel I, p. 150 vlg.

7) Op het origineel zijn de personen en plaatsen, die oorspronkelijk in cijferschrift gegeven waren, opgelost. De volgende cijfers zijn gebruikt: 11 Van der Meer; 12 Amsterdam; 13 mister Grovestein; 14 the princess of Orange; 15 the prince of Orange; 16 count Bentinck.

8) Douwe Sirtema van Grovestins, Fries edelman en opperstalmeester van Willem IV. Hij stond bijzonder in de gunst bij de Prinses en was één der leden van het ‘Cabael’, dat vooral na de dood van de Prins Bentinck op de achtergrond drong.

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better than I do, but I can not help thinking that there is some court intrigue att the bottom of the conduct of Van der Meer, or at least that Van der Meer is not discouraged by some people in those out of the way sentiments. If this is only from Van der Meer alone, he is a scrub not worth your notice and I think it would be generous in you not to stop his preferment; but if you think the mischief lyes farther, you may as you think proper make use of this, provided you inform me of your intentions beforehand, that I may have liberty from the person who gave me the intelligence to make use of it as you shall think proper; but I could wish that this could be spared, as it cannot be discovered without bringing by the ears together some people of this city which we still want to keep together.

I can assure you without any manner of compliment that I do not give you this intelligence by way of making my court, but from the true sense that I have that count Bentinck and his brother are the two onely people with the prince of Orange that have really and sincerely the good of the country att heart and upon whom alone we must depend to reap the good effects of the change of government.

As the prince of Orange has given me leave to inform him of what passes I shall speak sincerely to him, which I can the easier do, as I am byassed in these affairs by no friendship of attachment to any one person in this city barring the two burgomasters, from the just sense that I have of their disintrested and sincere sentiments.

N.B. I am the only person to whom the contents of the second part of my letter has been communicated.

We have such various reports here about the negociations att Aix and what is spread by malicious people, has so bad an effect, that I must beg the favour of you, whenever you can lett me have anything that may be publick upon this head that you will do it, as you may be sure that I shall make no bad use of it; my two friends join in their request to you on this head.