LORD TOWKSHEND A SIR ROBERT WALPOLE

Ilanover, sept. 25, 1723.

Dear Sir,

You will see by the inclosed, which the King bas seen and approved of, that I bave had tbe good fortune to bring about in a quiet way, and witbout our colleague’s being consulted, what we of ail things had the most rcason to whish for, which is the prevailing with the King to take such a stcp, as cannot fail to set ourinlerest in a clearer light, and to put us on a beller foot w ilb tbe court of France. For tho’my Brotber Horace

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Walpole’s instructions are not to own to any one living, his being employed by the King (which he must be sure strictly to comply with, that we maybe irreproachable on that head) yetall the w’orld 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 executes his commission with his usual dexterity, the effect will either he that he will make such discoveries as must end in getting Schauh recalled, or at Icast that Schaub, finding we hâve crédit enough 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 sincere manner towards us, and think it necessary to make a merit to hiinself, of appearing to throw that interest into our hands, which, after such a tacit déclaration in oar favour, it may no longer he in his power to wilhhold from us. And as that interest has hitherto heen the chief, and is at présent in a manner the only hold on suppoit of our antagonists, this aCfair, if managed with discrétion, will wound them in the most vital and sensible part.

( Walpole papers.)

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(Page 102.)

H. WALPOLE A LORD TOWNSIIEND.

Paris, the 6 N. S. 1723.

My Lord,

Without Iroubling Lordship wilh Sir Luke Schaub’s thoughts thaï lhe Duke of O. was detcrmined, hacthe lived, to grant Ibe Dukedom, and particularly from a conversation of an bour 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 iipon having Ibis Ihing donc iramediately (and with ail my hearl, I hâve none nor ever had any objection to it) but I am obliged to acquaint you, I Ihink, with what passed between us -last night al Versailles, least he should represent anything in a wrong light. He lold me thaï he must exact it of me to know whether upon his renewing his application to hâve lhe Dukedom granted by speaking to

le Duc I would joyn with Him in it; I let him know that I would speak freely to him, viz lhat

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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 in agitation, and as what* every body wished might succeed for the sake of the countess of Platen w’ho was generally esteemed, and that since I came hither I had received no orders about it, nor any other information but what he communicated to me, that the matter was gone so far before my Arrivai by a particular negotiation through his hands, that he was the only judge 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 donc nothing against it, but behaved myself otherwise where it properly occurred in my way, that as he had ouce or twice after we had talked 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 accompany I him in the same manner if he thought proper to rencw his Instances to the D. of Bourbon, but that 1 hoped he would fîrst consider whether it was adviseable, since His Majesty’s letter had not been yet delivered to the M. G. Ring, to stir in this matter, unless the D. of Bourbon Himself should take notice of it first, until he should

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hear from Hanover on occasion of the D. of Orleans’s death, and in answer lo \vhat I suppose he had wrote on this affair, since he had delivered His Majesfy’s letlers to H. R. H. especially uniess he was flrmly perswaded that M' le Duc would immcdiately 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 Vrilliere 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 before 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 mucb, that when M' le Duc cxamined with Him the D. of Orleans’s papers and had found His majesty’s lelter in the Portefeuille He had put that letter into His own Pocket; I confess, my Lord, I am not able to détermine how far

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that is a proof, and then I left the matter with Him by lelting him know that I was ready to joyn in 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 Fryday in the Crowd, Morville appoinled me at 4 a dock in the afternoon at his own Lodgings, but ordered the Porter afterwards to let me know that he was, since he saw me, obliged to go at 3 a dock with M*" de Maurepas et M' d’Argenson to the late 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 opportunity 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 from others how Morville stands and is like to support himself at court, e(,c. •

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 dcath, H. R. H. being grown very weary of his impertinent behaviour, and had of late made him sensible of it.

(Walpole papers.)

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(Page 103.)