XIV. Marlborough au Grand-Pensionnaire

PACE (26 Maert 1706 (*).) SIT , | | Wee had yesterday four maiïles from Holland, so that

(*) Cette date, qui manquait à la lettre du Duc, y a été ajoutée par Heiïinsius lui-même.

J am to thank you for yours of the 12%, Ï am very much of your opinion, that the placing of the King of Frances Housold (*) so as that thay may be sent either to Garmany or Flandres, is a plaine instance that thay intend to take their motions from what wee shall do, which confermes me in my opinion of their being resolved to act in both places defensiv’ly.

Lt. Gen. Doppf (+) has sent me his sceeme as to the cantoning of the troupes, so as that thay may be easily drawn into the camp that is to be near Bilson ((). Ît is certainly very right to be in a condition to opose any attempts of the enemy; but in case thay shou’d attempt nothing and that we have no desione of our own, it wou’d then be very wrong to put the States to an unnecessary expence, and at the same time hurt the troupes. — 1 am very much perswaidd, that the Refugie Redof can not be compleat’d in England; but if thay can find one half here (**), I hope thay may find the rest very easily where thay are intend’d to be sent. — [ am very sensible that there are very just objections to this Project, but I cañt hinder being off opinion that it aught to be attempted tho the success shou’d not be a third part of what is promised; for we shou’d attempt everything that is in

(*) Household, la Maison du Roi, la garde royale. (t) Dispatches, IT. 445. (Lettre du 15 Mars 1706 v. st.) 483. ($) Bilsen. Coxe, Memoirs, IT. 339.

(*) De Lamberty, T. IV. 6. ,, On resolut aussi d’envoier en ces quartiers-là un nommé Cavalier, qui avoit été chef de Camisards. Il demanda des officiers réfugiez pour aller avec lui, & pour lever un régiment, — La vue de ce chef étoit de rentrer dans les Sevennes depuis la Catalogne, pour donner du soulagement aux Reformez de ce Canton à. On lui accorda la levée d’un bataillon de 700 François refugiez. Pour en faire le nombre, il projetta de faire venir 100 hommes du païs de Wirtemberg, 400 de Suisse & 200 du pais de Brandebourg.”

our power this campagne ; for the troupes of France were at no time so devided as thay now are. When we shal consider that thay have an army in Spain, another in Italie, a thord in Garmany, and a fourth in Flanders, we may conelude that this is the time , that we aught to do some thing that thay do not expect, and we may be sure, that if thay are surpris’ d, thay will find it very difficult to opose us, their armys bemg at so great a distance from etch other. I am with truth, Sir Your most obedient humble servant,

Marlborough.

Je vous prie de servir Mons.

Dopff, en tout ce que vous pouviez.