CONCLUSION
l'honneur nî à la prospérité des deux nations *. S'il en est ainsi, quelle responsabilité pèsera donc sur ceux qui prétendent, au contraire, qu'il n'y a pas assez de place dans le monde pour que deux grands peuples puissent s'y mouvoir sans se heurter?
i. Coxe, Memoirs of iord Walpole, t. II, p. 66.
(Page 32.)
LORD TOWVSHBND À SIE ROBEBT WALPOLE.
Hano^er^ sept. 25^ 1723.
Dear Sir,
Tou \vill see by the inclosed, i^hich the King bas seen and approved of, ihat I bave bad tbe good fortune to bring about in a quiet way, and \(ritbout our coUeague's being consulted, vjhsâ we of ail things bad tbe most reason to wbisb for» wbicb is tbe prevailing mtb tbe King to take sucb a step, as cannot fail to set our interest in a clearer ligbt, and to put us on a better foot wilb tbe court of France, For tbo'my Brotber Horace
Walpole's instructions are not to own to any one living, his being employed by the Ring (which he must be sure strictly to comply with, that we may be irreproachable on that head) yet ail the world will easily comprehend, that he does not take Paris in his way to Hanover, merely out of curiosity, or without the King*s approbation
If Horace Walpole exécutes his commission with his usual dexterity, the effect will either be that he will make such discoveries as must end in getting Schaub recalled, or at least that Schaub, fînding we hâve crédit enôugh to get so near a relation sent over to superintend him, will so far consider his own situation, as to act in a more open and sincère manner towards us, and think it necessary to make a merit to himself, of appearing to throw that interest into our hands, which, after such a tacit déclaration in our favour, it may no longer be in his power to withhold from us. And as that interest has hitherto been the chief, and is at présent in a manner the only hold on support of our antagonists, thîs affair, if managed with discrétion, will wound them in the most vital and sensible part.
( Walpole papers,)
(Page 102.) H. WALPOLE A LORD TOWNSHEND.
Paris, xber ihe 6 «» N. S. 1723.
My Lord,
Without troubling y' Lordship wilh Sir Luke Schaub's thoughts that the Duke of 0. was determined, had he lived, to grant tbe Dukedom, aud particularly from a conversation of an hour he had with Him the very afternoon he dyed (which I am perswaded was only to amuse him on the Duke's side) he is still bent upon having this thing done immediately (and with ail my heart, I hâve none nor ever had any objection to it) but I am obliged to acquaint you, I think, with what passed bctween us last night at Versailles, least he should represent anything in a wrong light. He told me that he must exact it of me to know whether upon his renewing his application to bave the Dukedom granted by speaking to M' le Duc I would joyn with Him in it ; I let him know that I would speak freely to him, viz that
he knew very well I had no knowledge before I left England of this negotiation besides what my Brother Walpole hinted to me in an accidentai conversation as what was m agitation, and as what every body wished might succeed for the sake of the countess of Platen who was generally esteemed, and that since I came hither I had received no orders about it, aor any other information but what he communicated to me, that the matter was gone so far before my Arrivai by a partîcular negotiation through bis hands, that .he was the only jndge of the manner in which it was carried on, and of the D. of Orleans's disposition to do it during the course of transacting it, that I had said or done nothing against it, bot behaved myself otherwise where it properly occurred in my way, that as he had once or twice after we had taiked with the late D. of Orléans of other matters, mentioned this thing to H. R. H. while I was by, so I was willing to àccompany him in the same manner if he thought proper to renew bis Instances to the D. of Bourbon, but that I hoped he would first consider whether it was adviseable, since His Majesty's letter had not been yet delivered to the M. C. Ring, to stir m this matter, unless the D. of Bourbon Himself should take notice of it first, until he should
hear from Hanover on occasion of the D. of Or-
leans's death, and in answer to what I suppose
he had wrote on this affair, since he had deli-
vered His Majesty*s letters lo H. R. H. especially
anless he was firmly perswaded that M*^ le Duc
would immcdiateiy dispatch it : He told me he
was sure the D. of Bourbon was for it, and had
spoke for itbefore the D. of Orleans's death, and
even sincc the delivery of the Letters, and had
assured Madame de la Yrilliere that he would
wave His prétentions for making the marquis de
Prie a Duke (whose wife is the D. of Bourbon's
mistress and Favourite) which He had formerly
so earnestly sollicited, to make this thing more
easy, 1 then asked him whether supposing the D.
of Bourbon was well disposed for the thing be-
fore*He came to be Prime minister, he had since
been assured his Highness continued still of the
same mind ; he told me he had not thought it yet
proper to mention it any where by which he
might be cerlainly informed, but he did not at
ail doubt it, because M' de Morville had told
Him thus much, that when M' le Duc cxamined
with Him the D. of Orleans's papers and had
found His majesty*s letter in the Portefeuille He
had put that letter into His own Pocket; I confess,
my Lord, I am not able to détermine how far
36t APPENDICE.
that is a proof, and then I left the matter with Him by letting him know that I was ready to joyn în any thing that he thought adviseable for His majesty's service and Honour.
I was in hopes by this time to hâve seen M' de Morville alone, because as soon as I had seen M' le Duc on Pryday în the Crowd, Morville appointed me at 4 a clock in the afternoon at his own Lodgings, but ordered the Porter aflerwards to let me know that he was, since he saw me, obliged to go at 3 a clock with M' de Maurepas et J\f' d'Argenson to the latc D. of Orleans's Palace at Paris, as he accordingly did for some papers there, and He has been so taken up since and I so attended by my colleague that I hâve had no dpportunity since to see him in particular ; but I hope to do it soon, tho' I am not in so much haste because I would willingly first learn îrom others how Morville stands and is like to support himself at court, etc.
P. S. The Duke of Berwick in a Visit Crawfurd made to him Yesterday, said he believed Schaub was not sorry for the D. of Orleans's death, H. R. H. being grown very weary of his impertinent behaviour, and had of late made him sensible of it.
{Walpole papers.)
APPENDICE. . 3eS
(Page 103.)
H. WILPOLE A SON FRÈRE.
Paris, January 31, 1724.
Dbar Brothbr,
ir some hasty expressions fell from my pen, last night, you must attribute it to the disorder I was in, upon the receipt of your letter of the 12 th and 13 th,which struck me ail of a heap : my heart was full, and is still so, even ready lo burst; and npon mature thoughts of a restless night, my sentiments are still the same, that the step you bave taken to make me more easy S and semé amends for not getting Schaub recalled, will make my situation more uneasy, and less capable to act for the service of bis majesty, of my firiends, and myself.
Whelher you were able to succeed in the at-
1. Il menait d'ôtre nommé envoyé extraordinaire et ministre jplénipotentiaire, ce qui le mettait avec sir Luke Schaub sur le pied d'une égafité parfidte.
tempt for recalling Schaub, and whether that success might not be attended i^ith the ill conséquences you apprehended, you certainly are the best judges. But to think the character you hâve obtained will give such marks of distinction as must bring ail the crédit and confidence of the court and ministers to center in me, is the weakest of imaginations; for it cannot fail of having, if I take it upon me, a quite contrary effect.
A minister that is occasionally sent to act hère, by virtue of a letter of cachet, as plenipotentiary for his master, is considered as having the crédit and perhaps the secret of his court, and is regarded accordingly ; but as soon as he is invested with the lowest character, that is admitted hère, the friends under whose protection he is sent, are looked upon as not having the chief inlerest at home, or as having a mean opinion of the person tbey send. This is so true, that no crowned head, nay no republic, ever employs a minister in France, that they intend shall bave crédit, but that they make him embassador extraordinary, or let him act as plenipotentiary by virtue of a private letter; that of a public envoy being no ways considered or respected hère. This may look like pride or partia-
lity in me; but I am afraid the application is too strong in the présent case, with this différence only, that the crédit and confidence I had at first by a privale letter, is by the continuation of Schaub, and the support he has met with from friends at home, displayed in a proper manner, by his airs and insolence, already become doubtfui and precarious, and, should I take upon me the public character of envoy, whill be sunk to nothing; so that I cannot possibly rest any longer hère, in either capacity, with honour, or be of any use at ail.
For some time the circumstance of being related to lord Townshend and you, and of being known to several foreign ministers of the first rank, the Httle réputation of my own, as to foreign affairs, gave me immediately crédit and attention, and, in the minds of ail sensible persons, foretold with pleasure the fall of Schaub; but he having had time to recollect himself, his being engagea in a transaction that his majesty has secretly much at heart, has suspended the judgment of peopie, and begins to make them imagine it a doubtful case : who has the crédit at home, Townshend or Carteret, or who' the crédit abroad, Schaub or Walpole. Several little incidents, too trifling în themselves to name, which he impro-
ves to his own adyantage, and which I scorned io take notice of, thinking the essential stroke would corne at last, bave contributed to this opinion; and howeyer mortifying this honour done to me may be to Scbaub's patron, Schaob hîmself will despise it; for as it is in itself hère no great honour, he will say with justice, it only puts me upon an equal foot with him ; he bas already tbe pay of it, and nothing but bis being a foreigner bas hindered bis having that and a greater character too. That as I had at first only a full power to sign the accession of the king of Portugal^ so I bave now the character of Envoy, ta enable me to act in some cases wbere he cannot; but the secret is still with him, and that will be soon seen. This is bis language, and I am afraid tbe conséquence will prove it too true; and you yourself will be startled wben you read in the inclosed paper, marked n*" 1, conceming an intrigue I bave diaeovered carrying on, and is to be put in exécution by count de Buy.
The circumstance of that gentleman's being sent as ambassador to Ëngland, and of my being declared about the same time envoy ezlraordinary in France, will conûrm ail I bave said, and expose my relations and me to tbe greatest degrée. The pitiful circumstance of ail tbe dispat-
ches wrole to us bolh jointly being carried ( I suppose by private intimation to the messengers) to Schaub directly to Versailles, being opened by him fîrst, and communicated to Morville, or other ministers there, before I know any thing of the matter; the dispatches for Spainand Cambray being inclosed to him, perused by him, forwarded by him, and made such use of as he shall think fit, Tvithout my communication or knowledge, I hâve thought hitherto below me to take notice of, and 'tis too late to do it now.
Hœ nugse séria ducunt In mala
In short, 1 am determined not to deliver my credentials, but hâve wrote a letter to lord Carteret açknowledging the receipt of them, and hâte given such a tum to it that I dare say you will not be uneasy at it, and therefore I send you a Gopy inclosed. His letter, by the bye, was the most dry, not to say the most impertinent, I eyer read from a secretary of State to a minister; but that don't trouble me at ail. I hâve wrote à letter to you, marked n*" 3, on this occasion, thaï perhaps you may not think it amiss to be imparted to his majesty, although it is conceived in terms as designed only for yourself.
{Wûlpole papers.)
(Page 191.)
