H. WALPOU; AU DUC DE NEWCASTLE

Paris, april 28 N. S. 1727.

My Lord,

I hâve the bon' to send Y. G. incloscd a copy of a letter which I wrote to the card‘ the 26 Inst in answer to his of the 25 ; which 1 thought necessary to do, that he migbt perceive that 1 stili insisted in sticking close to the Preliminaries which we vent to the lmp' court, in order to dispose him to déclaré his opinion to that purpose at the Council of State, which was to be held the next day, or at least to shew him, that thcre were not the least hopes of his Ma'r* departing from tbem. M* Crawfurd the Mess' carryed this letter to the Gard', who was at his Countiy house at Issy, a league and a half from hence, H, E. after having made him wait aboutaquar-

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ter of an hour, called him into his closet, and bid hira tell me for answer, that I should not be uneasy, for that he would certainly do (which he repeated twice) what I desired.

I hâve, since I wrote to Y. G. hy Crew the Messenger, been informed from undoubted hands, that afler the long conférence, which I had whith M. deMorville on Thursday morning. Baron Fonseca being returned from Versailles had likewise an Audience the same day of that Minister, who tâlked so warmly and in so high a strain to him upon the subject of the Emp^’* Counterproject as being exceptionahle and captious in every article, and as by no means shewing the least inclination on the part of the Imp‘ court to corne to a general pacification, that he, M. Fonseca, went that very afternoon to Issy and made his comptai nt to the Cardinal of the manner in which M. de Morville had rec^ him. H. M. may dépend upon the truth of this fact, and to give M. de Morville his due, his conduct ever since the arrivai of the Counterproject from Vienna, in his discourse with me, as well as with some of the foreign Ministers, has been such as could be desired.

I hâve heen this day with the Card’ at Versailles, where after some strong but friendly expostu-

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lations between us, in \vhich we differed about the way of treating the lmp’ court in order to bring them to reason, and in which he renewed on bis part bis solcmn protestations of standing by bis engagements to which 1 readily agreed, but earneslly prest him on my part, to put them in execution at this juncture, by keeping to our Preliminaries, and by concurring with H. M. in an immédiate déclaration of war against Spain, he at last to convince me, that he had fully pursued H. Mï * intentions with regard to the preliminaries, produced a paper he had drawn, of which the inclose is a copy, and desired me to read it aloud, which I having donc he asked me, whelher he had not etfectually kept up to the substance of our Preliminaries, altho’ he had in some places given a turn or extenlion to them, that might be more agréable to the temper of the lmp’ court, and said that if I approved them, they should be immediately sent by express to Vienna, and Madrid, and no longer lime allowed for the acceptation of them, than what was necessary for their being considercd there, and for the going and retùrning of the courier between this place and Vienna, w’hich he imagined might be abont the space of a month from this time. In the mean w'hile copies of this paper

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might be sent to H. M. and the States for their approbation, and for authorising the Minisiers here to be ready to sign in case these Preliminaries as now drawn should be accepted by the Emp% or eise he would do nothing in this matter, untill I had sent an Express into Ëngland and reC* his Maj‘y* sentiments upon it.

I told him that 1 had no exception to the paper with regard to the preliminaries, but I must observe to him that no time was set and expressed in this new draught for the accepting of them, that I thought, considering the expédition which Couriers could make, at this season of the Year, and the time, which the lmp* court has already had to weigh and reflect upon what has been offered to the same purpose, three weeks at most would be sufficient to hâve their answer, and in the mean while I did not believe H. M. would forbear declaring war against Spain, and would require France to do the same thing.

The Gard' did not oppose H. M’* doing it, but intimated that France should be allowed some time, after his M’* déclaration of war against Spain. I told him I believed that after so great a forbearance, and considering the solemn déclarations and assurances H. M. had so often rec* from hence, and that the case of its being a common

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cause, by the siégé of Gibraltar had so long existed, the Ring would expect that -the two Crowns should déclaré war the same-day against Spain, but that I should soon know H. M’* sentiments on this head. In the mean time I had nothing to say against his sending this paper, as from himself by express to Vienna in case he took care to let that court know, that lhese preliminaries must be accepted -or refuscd in three weeks from the day of their being sent from hence, and y et as France as well as England had suspended their déclaration of war against Spain, on account of the Siégé of Gibraltar, purely for ^ the sake of Peace, and in expectation that the preliminaries lately otfered would hâve been accepted, so France dayly expected considering the réception which the late offers had met with at Vienna, that Ëngland would require France to joyn in a déclaration of war against Spain, which H. M. G. M. must, on such a réquisition, be obli- .

ged to do, pursuant to the Engagements he is under to England. This I told hira was necessary to be made known both to the Courts of Vienna and Madrid, at the same time that he should send this new draught of preliminaries to them, which he must do as from himself, since I could not prétend to take any thing upon myself in so weighty

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a matter, and at so crilical a jnncture. The Gard* said that he would certainly write to theD. of Richelieu in a manner that he hoped would please me upon this whole affair, et would send me a Copy of his letter to be transraitted to H. M. and would take care that the same sentiments should likewise be conveyed by a proper canal to their

G. Majesties. I shall not trouble Y. G. with a great deal of discourse which we had about the conduct of the D. of Richelieu, wherein I treated him as he deserves, and altho’ I cannot flatter myself that the Gard', who seems by no means satisfyed with him, will give him a reprimand suitable to his behaviour, yet I am persuaded that he will absolutely tye up his hands and confine him entirely to the présent project.

As this is enlirely the Gard*’* own plan, and I am persuaded his intentions are sincere, and that besides his being desirous to avoid coming to a * rupture with Spain as long as he can, consistent with his engagements, he thinks he shall be sufficiently justifyed, even in the Eyes of France, after he has made this last effort for pregerving the peace.

For these reasons I was induced to believe that

H. M. would pardon my having without expecting an answer from Y. G. not opposed the

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Gard*’* dispatching immediately this new model ofPreliminaries to the Imp‘ court, for I look upon it as so much time gained, sincel cannot help thinking but the représentation that G. Broglio will hâve orders to make of the Gard*’* steadiness and integrity, and of the advantages he proposes by this way of proceeding, would hâve obtained H. M’* consent to it, as what will leave the Gard' without excuse, and oblige him to joyn with us in pursuing the most vigorous measures, should these preliminaries be refused a second time, under his sole conduct and management. In the mean time H. M. may, if he thinks fit take the method I hinted in my last of wriling to the French Ring and the Gard' in a stile full of confidence and affection to require that France should joyn wilh him in declaring war against Spain at a fixt time as supposing about three weeks from Wednesday next, which is the day the Gard' proposes for haviog the Preliminaries dispatched lo Vienna by M. Fonseca, and to Spain hjbthe Nuntio, so that the consent of France and every thing necessary may be ready for the déclaration of war, as soon as the Preliminaries shall be rejected, and likewise care should be taken to oblain from G' Broglio a positive assurance that the negotiation shall not be spun out

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any langer, by answers backward and forward of a trifling and dilatory nature, wbich is what lhe Card‘ and M' de Morville bave both promised me.

I asked H. E. before I took my leave of him, whether he really was of opinion that the Imp‘ court would accept of the preliminaries as now explained; he said he would not prétend to judge of the heart of man, but by the dispatches which Fonseca shewed him, as well as by bis discourse, and olher intelligence he has had from the Court of Vienna, he is disposed to think they will corne into them and on this occasion he desired 1 would send for a full power without the title of Âmbassador, or any other character but that of Plenipotentiary for that purpose, that there might be no difflculty in my signing after M' Fonseca, who has a full power, but no character, and jet thinks that he must not condescend to sign alter any other Minister.

In a short conversation I had alone with M. de Morville, he took a great deal of pains to» assure me, that I might dépend upon the Gard*’* performing his promise in case these preliminaries should not be accepted, and told me in confidence, that it is impossible to speak stronger than the- Gard* did to that purpose, when he

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opened his sentiments Yesterday in Council, in presence of H. M. C. M. but owned at tbe same Urne that he was not cntirely of the Gard"* opi-’ nion, with respect to the disposition of the lmp* court. I must not forget to tell Y. G. that they begin to think here by the intelligence they hâve lately rec^ from Spain and the West Indies that the Galbons are careened and are preparing to corne home, ifthatshould happen, it will slrike such a damp upon their spirits here, as well as keep them so much in awe, on account of the considérable effects which the French nation has in thera, and which would be at the raercy of the King of Spain, thati cannot tell what ill elfect it may hâve.

The Mars' de Berwick is likewise of an opinion that there will be certainly a war, and he told me this day that he likes the plan, which M. Armstrong read to him, very well in the main, and seems much disposed to act in such a manner, as will be agreeable to H. M. and hinted to me, dcsiring me not to take notice of it as from him, as if he sbould be extremely glad of an opportunity of waiting upon the Ring in person ; I must own I think it would be of great service to H. M’* affairs, in case of a war, but where and when it can be done I do not prétend to say, in

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case such a thing should be agréable to the KÎDg, intimation of it should, I suppose, corne from U. M. to me io mention it to the Gard'.

( Walpole papet's.)