III

1748. Nov.l — 194 —

and ill-conduct, and in lamenting the low and weak condition of the Republick of Holland, and thus, by neglecting in time the means of redressing the errors and removing the just causes of complaint against one or both of those Powers, we may be obliged at last to dépend solely upon the good will of France for the préservation of the Peace; or perhaps (which is most likely) be drawn in to take some joint measures against some of our former allies. The expérience of this summer has shewed, that no solid dependence can be had upon any assistance from Prussia ^). It is not sufficient to secure to the King of Prussia the quiet possession of the immense acquisition he has made, but he is not to be had without, at the same time, substituting his power in the room of the House of Austria; the conséquence of which must be most fatal to England in particular and Europe in gênerai. For, the moment any steps are taken for that purpose , the whole Empire (except the House of Brandenburg) with Russia and some others of the Northern Powers, would join immediately with France, and neither Holland nor any of our présent allies would concur in any measure, that could hâve that conséquence. The only way of acting with Prussia in my opinion is to give them no handle to break with you, or to imagine that you wait for an opportunity to fall upon them. On the contrary, if the King of Prussia will give those guaranties, which it is plainly the intention of the définitive treaty ^) that he should , I am of opinion , that it should be insisted upon with the Queen of Hungary, that she should fulfill every part of the treaty of Dresden, and particularly what relates to

') 11 vise les négociations de l'envoyé Legge. Cf. Forschz. Brand. u. Freuss. Gesch. 1. 527.

2) Le traité d'Aix.

— 195 — [1748. Nov.

the guaranty of the Empire. That would put auy supposed latent intention of recovering Silesia to the Queen of Huugary quite out of the question, and leave the King of Prussia perfectly at ease in that respect. But to dépend upon the King of Prussia for maintaining the peace in any degree, will, I am persuaded, be amusing ourselves.

Your Lordship thus sees my notions; they are singly occasioned by my appréhension, that, if we don't take our défensive measures in time , the alHance will by degree moulder away, tillitis totally dissolved, our friends grow inactive, and many considérable Powers, who would join with us in the establishing the peace, take part afterwards with France and Prussia, to protect themselves from the conséquences of the next war; and this will inevitably oblige us (as I hâve said) either to dépend upon the good will of France for our safety, or (what is still worse) eveu to join with France in modelling and governing the other Powers of Europe. A reflection, which my Lord Chesterfield made on such a supposed System, has long determined me never to border upon it hereafter; which was: What must be the fate of that alliance, when even the success of it is the thing most to be apprehended? And hère I will end with only observing to your Lordship, that one reason of my giving y ou this trouble is, that we may hâve amongst ourselves a System; the fatal conséquences of hav(ing) none, I think I hâve seen in the time of some of my predecessors. I am far from saying, that many altérations or additions may not be made to what I hâve hère put together, but it is a groundwork for us to go upon, and as such only I send it. I am. . . .

HOLLES NEWCASTLE.

1748. Janvier.] — 196

Notes de W. Bentinck. Procès du général Oronsirom.

20 Janvier 1748.

Le greffier et M^ de Back *) mandés chez le Prince où étoient le Pensionnaire^), Pretorius ^) et Wibo*); il y fut question de Cronstrom. J'allai le soir vers les 8V2 à la cour, où j'appris que tous ces messieurs étoient dans le cabinet du Prince depuis 6 heures. Je me fis annoncer; comme il ne venoit pas de réponse, je voulois m'en aller. Mais Heyden^) me pria pour plusieurs raisons d'attendre un peu. J'attendis jusqu'à 9 heures, que Pretorius et Wibo sortirent. On me fit entrer. Le Prince me dit qu'il avoit été question de Cronstrom; il m'avoit déjà dit deux jours auparavant que Cronstrom étoit tombé en enfance et que le conseil de guerre en étoit embarrassé, et j'avois d'abord appris par le greffier au sortir de chez le Prince qu'il avoit été résolu de pousser les procédures contre Cronstrom et de voir s'il étoit simple ou non; que le Prince étoit un peu mou, mais que lui greffier et le pensionnaire avoient été pour la vigueur ausssi bien que de Back, et je ne doute pas que c'est à cause de ce que j'avois dit au Prince deux jours auparavant, que je n'y avois pas été appelle.

•) J. de Back, secrétaire du Prince.

^) Le conseiller-pensionnaire J. Gilles.

^) Général d'infanterie.

*) J. Wybo, fiscal du Haut Conseil de Guerre; en 1749 il fut nommé avocat-fiscal et procureur-général de Hollande.

^) Probablement R. A. W. C. van Heyden, seigneur de Reinestein, chambellan du Prince.

— 197 — [1748. Mars.