LETTRE D€€X

Newcaatle à W. Bentinck. Compliments et remercîments au nom du Roi. Les principes de Bentinck par rapport au commerce sont inadmissibles.

Newcastle House, January 23, 1759.

Dear Sir.

I hâve the honour of your two letters of the 16*^ which came at the same time with the melancholy news of the death of the Princess Royal. I read your letter to the King, knowing the comfort and satisfaction which it would give His Majesty in his présent most afflicted situation. The loss of Her Royal Highness has extreamly affected the King and the only consolation His Majesty has is the prudent and firm part, which His friends in Holland hâve acted, to préserve the form of government there and the rights and prérogatives of the Stadholder, His Majesty's grand-son. The King has ordered me particularly to return you His thanks for the continuation of that firmness and zeal, which you hâve always shewed for His Majesty and His Family and for the true interest of the two countrys, to which you belong. Give me leave to congratulate you upon the success of your endeavours with those of the Pensionary and ail the well intentioned. For I agrée with you that the part, which the States hâve acted upon this occasion and in the prosent conjuncture, is even more commendable than that at the time of the death of the late Prince of Orange.

The part Prince Louis will necessarily hâve in the government, will, I am persuaded, be an additional strength to those who mean well ; and I am sure

— 19 — ri759. Janvier.

His Highness will allways hâve your support and assistance.

I beg you would make my best compliments to the Pensionary and assure him that I hâve done him justice to the King, who has ordered me, both by the gênerai Yorke and Prince Louis, to return him His Majesty's thanks for the steady and honest part he has acted upon this occasion, and for the assurances he gave that he would do so, in case this unfortunate event should happen. I beg also you would assure the Pensionary, that I shall be very happy to act in concert with him and the rest of our friends in Holland to promote the most perfect union and good understanding between His Majesty and the Republick, so necessary at ail times for the interest of both countrys and more particularly so at présent, when there are such dangerous combinations formed against us.

I am this moment going to a meeting of the King's servants upon our disputes with Holland. I cannot therefore novv enter into the reasonings of your letter upon this subject. I must only say that, having talked to our best friends upon it and those who wish the best and are for an accommodation, we ail see the impossibility of agreeing upon the principles of that letter. For by that, tho' the formai trade is given up, the effectuai conveyance of the ennemies property in the West-Indies to Europe, is secured. You admitt that the treaty of 1674 does not extend to the West-Indies. If so, things may remain upon the foot of the law of nations, and by that rule that which is really the property of the ennemy, if found on board the ship of a friend, is lawful price ....