CXXI. Lord Halifax (*) au Grand-Pensionnaire. Sir

Ï have read your letter of the 8'h instant, with all the care and attention, that the importance of the subject requires, and with that resuard for the arguments, that is due to their weisht, and to your person and character. And I most readily subscribe to the greatest part of what you say. |

Î most entirely agree with you, that it is necessary, Holland should have a sure, and sufficient Barriere: ’t is our interest, and ’t is our inclination, that you should be safe for the future, against the ambitious attempts of

(*) Ci-dessus, p. 55, 57, 59. — V. aussi de Torcy, Mém. III. 142. »Les Whigs, entr’ autres Sunderland & Halifax, ee comme à la tête du parti.”

France, which have so long disturbed your quiet: and, tho this were not particularly specifyed in the Grand Allyance, I think wee should make that use of our great successe , to obtain a lasting security for our nearest, and best Allys.

I should be content, to have the general words of the 5th and 9h article extended as far, as shall be judged necessary for your safety, tho it did exceed the proper notion of a Barriere.

For Ï doubt, these words in the 15t* Article viz: uf recuperent Provincias Hispano-Belgicas , ut sint obex ct. repagulum (*), vulgo Barriere , Galliim a Belgio Focderato removens et separans, pro securitate Dominorum Ordinum Generalium , quemadmodum .ab omni tempore inservierunt, — were never meant to promise, that the Spanish Netherlands should be put into your hands: nor would they give so much asihe Jus Praesidi & fortalitü, unlesse it could be proved that the usage in all times had been such. And [ hope, Holland and England will so firmly stick to the letter, of this article, that wee shall never give over the war, till wee have entirely recovered those Provinces. |

I likewise think it reasonable, that Holland should be so far masters of their own security, that what shall be agreed upon by the Allys, to be the Barriere, should remain in their own hands; that it may not be left in the power of others, either by their weaknesse, negligence or treachery (-:) again to expose you. And, tho it may

(*) Mém. de Torcy II. 39. ,,On n’entend parler que de Barrière, terme si inconnu dans les anciennes négociations, que le Pensionnaire

(Heinsius) avouoit hier qu'ils avoient été fort embarrassés à l’exprimer en Latin dans leurs derniers Traités.”

(+) Ci-dessus p. 77.

be urged , that this is more, then the notion of a Barriere dos import, yet the fatal accident, that happen’d in the beoinning of this war, will justifie the Allyes taking new measures, to ouard Holland against à new and unknown sort of treachery.

Nor can any body think it just, that you should be put to the expence of maintaïining their fortifications, and euarding their frontier: it were much more equitable, that wee should joyn with you, in finding an expedient to lessen your burthen in maintaïning so great a number of iroops in time of peace. ñ

But yet, [ cannot think it adviseable for the Queens Ministers, to signe the Resolution of the States of Holland, as it was delivered to me, the day before I left the Hague: which dos extend ,.or may be thought to extend, much further then all this. '

T am apt to think, that if the best lawyers in Holland had been to draw an instrument of conveyance, to passe away all the Spanish Netherlands to the States, they could not have worded the orant stronger, or left lesse room to except any place. — But [ was told, before I left Holland y that this was not your meaning, and [I beleive it. Yet, since the words will bear such an interpretation, should they not be changed, and fitted to expresse your sense? [If after this Treaty is ratifyd and the Barriere comes to be assigned, any difference of opinions should arise, how shall it be understood ? by the expressions , or the reserved meaning? shall wee have recourse to the French “way of expounding Treatys, and pretend, that the spirit differs from the words ?

You seem to inferr, that the general and uncertain expressions in this Resolution, may be afterwards explained, and ascertained: but how shall They be escused

who signe a Treaty, which dos in terms deliver up Tous les Païs-bas Espagnols, et toutes les villes, forts et places, nulles exceptés, qu'ilz jugeront a propos de choisir. — Is it fit, to give such an indefinite power to any Nation, in dure they will be very moderate in the use of it, and very reasonable in the choice they shall make? what an opinion will our other Allys, and the world have of such a Treaty, till it comes to be explained, and the places you shall chuse, are known? will any one of the great towns in Brabant or Flanders, be out of aprehension, that their city may not accommodate you in the Barriere? And, [ am very sure, it will not be proper, to give such grounds of jealousy to the subjects of the Spanish Netherlands, at this time.

You are pleased to say, that some of the places bemg yet in the Enemys hands, you could neither judge, which would be most convenient , nor know, what troops would be necessary, nor what sum of money required for maintaining them. But except these particulars are agreed on, what use is there of this Treaty? unlesse, to explain the general words of the Grand Allyance, by more gencral and uncertain terms , in this.

The use and importance of all the places is as much known, as if they were now in your own possession. And I cannot but think, that whatever places shall be judged necessary for your Barriere, in order to our common security, whether they be at present in our own hands, or the hands of the Enemy, ought to be the expresse subject of this stipulation. Nor can it be thought more improper, to specifñie Namur, Luxemburgh or Ipres (*) etc.,

(*) V. la lettre de Heinsius à Marlborough, 25 Août 1706. Ci-dessus p. 102.

then to stipulate Que tous les Païs-bas Espagnols, et ce que l'on pourroït en outre trover necessaire, soit à l'equard des villes et places, conquises ou non-conquises , serviront de Barriere à l'Estat.

The number of the troops, that the Spanish Netherlands should maintain, may be as well adjusted now, as at any other time, and with lesse diffiiculty, when there can be no difference of opinion or dispute, about the uncertainty of former Treatys.

If you, and the Duke of Marlborough, can agree upon these heads, and fix, between your selves, what places are necessary to cover your dominions against France, I hope you would change the form of your Resolution, and name the places, that should be put into your hands, and setle what number of troops should be kept for the defense of those places, and what sum of money should be pay’d by the Spanish Netherlands for the defraying this expence: this would make you masters of your Barriere, and ease you of a great charge, in your own garrisons, w‘ are remote from danger.

If your Barriere was thus ascertained, and fixed between Holland and England, all the Allys should be invited to confirm it, and I hope none of them but would think, wee had well purchased such a security by the great expenses wee have born. And ïf the Enemy was convinced, that wee were firmly united and resolutely determined , not to harken to peace, but upon those conditions, that wee have judged safe and lasting, wee should soon see a happy end of this war. |

You find, how cordialy [ espouse your Barriere, which I desire should be adjusted to your own satisfaction , provided it be expressed in plain and certain words. [ wish,

Ï could say Ï had met with the same concern for our Succession in Holland, but ! must own, there were so many and such kind of objections made to it, that surprized me; which made me more willing to wave med- Jing any further with that matter (*), for which [ had no other Commission, but my zeal for the good of both Nations. | Hier

Sir, [ bes pardon, for having troubled you so long, and beg you would beleive, that I, and those, to whom I have communicated this are entire friends to the interest and security of the States, which I look upon to be our own. [ hope, you will contrive some such manner of seiling your Barriere, that wee may obtain reason from our Enemy, justice from our Allys, and a lasting peace and security to both Nations. |

I am with the utmost respect,

gr Your most humble & most obedient servt Halifax,

819 Octob' 1706.

CXXII Marlborough au Grand-Pensionnaire.

Au camp de Cambron, ce 23 Oct. 1706.

Monsieur (+), je me donne l'honneur de vous envoyer icy la copie d’une lettre que Je viens de recevoir de Mons l’Electeur de Baviere: Messieurs les Deputéz à l’ar-

(*) Ci-dessus p. 63, 86, 88, 94, 108, 132.

(*) Cette lettre se trouve parmi les Dispatches, III. 188. V. aussi les lettres de Marlborough, même date, au Roi de Prusse & à son ministre, le Comte de Wartenberg. III 187. — Coxe, III. 77. (Lettre de Marlborough à Lord Godolphin, 24 Oct.)

mée ont une pareille qu'ils doivent aussi vous faire tenir (*). La personne de confiance, dont Monsr l’Electeur fait mention dans sa lettre à ces Messieurs, ne peut estre autre que celui qui a esté employé dans l'affaire, qui vous sçavez, a esté confiée à Monsieur de Renswoude et moi; car il y a trois jours qu'on l’a envoyé chercher. Si à son retour il me dit quelque chose de plus que ne contiennent ces lettres, je vous le ferai sçavoir d’abord. — Vous aurez la bonté, s’il vous plait, de faire part de celle qui m'est addressée , à ceux de l’Estat à qui vous communiquerez l’autre. — Je fais partir un Exprès pour l’Angleterre sur cette affaire, à fin de recevoir les ordres de la Reine (+). Tout ce que je puis vous dire en attendant est, qu’il faut se tenir bien sur ses gardes, afin que les ennemis ne nous imposent point.

Je suis tres sincerement, Monsieur ,

Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur,

Le Pr. et Duc de Marlborough.

Mons le Grand-Pensionnaire.

CXXIIT. Marlborough au Grand-Pensionnaire.

Cambron Octr 232, 1706.

I have write to you in French, and sent you the copie of the letter I have receiv’d from the Elector, so that

(*) V. ces lettres dans Lamberty, T. IV. 301—308.

(+) V. la réponse de la Reine, qui parvint au Duc par le Secrétaire d'État Sir Charles Hedges, 21 Oct., 1 Nov. 1706, dans Coxe, III. 80

suiv.

you will be pleas’d to show them to such as you shall communicat the letter, which is write to the Deputys. — T am afraid the French may not be sincere in this matter, but that thay may hope by it to make us less zealous in our preparations for the next campagne; and that in steade of curing jealoussys thay hope to augment them; for otherways what need was there, of their mentioning in their letters that thay had been treating for this last itwelf month? — I have sent mine for England and have hopes of receiving the Queen’s commands at my arrival at the Hague, which I intend shou’d be about the fourth of the next month. I think you wou’d do well in derecting (*) Mr. Vriberg to know the Queens intentions on this matter. — EI am with truth,

Sir, Your most obedient humble servant ,

\ À Monsieur, Mons le Grand-Pensionaire

d’Holland, à la Haye. |

eee