1712.0907.Ta

Addressed:
To Mr. Prior.

Whitehall, 27th Auguſt, 1712.

Dear Mat, ¹

The diſpatches of buſineſs will come to
you from the other office, and from me you
ſhall have now and then a letter of friendſhip.

When I arrived at Court, I did not find the
differences between us and France, on the
article of North America, and on thoſe in
the treaty of commerce, concerning which I
ſpoke to you, either conſidered, or put in a
way of being conſidered. This afflicted my
ſoul, becauſe, though we cannot be ready
to ſign till the great article has received its ²
completion in France and Spain, yet the
ſooner the terms of our treaty are ſettled the
better it muſt be for the Queen's intereſt.
A cloud of arguments back this way of rea-
ſoning; but it is ſufficient to reflect, that
when the States are once enough humbled
to ſubmit, and they are very near reduced
to this point already, as the French will be
leſs in need of our interpoſition, ſo will they
have leſs regard to our inſtances.

I hope my Lords of the Council are deter-
mined to have ſuch alternatives, and ſuch
expedients³ found on theſe litigated articles,
as may enable our Plenipotentiaries to reſt
on ſomething practicable, to render their
work the⁴ more eaſy and conciſe.—You will
be inſtructed to begin; and I own to you I
think we muſt depend on Monſieur de Torcy,
when we know what we would have, to get
it for us.

The blunder committed about the paſſes
is very great—becauſe the French cannot
import during the war ſeveral ſorts of goods
into Britain, ergo, do not give to them, nor
take to yourſelves, the advantage of ſailing
unmoleſted all over the world: whatever
impoſitions may be laid, either here or in
France, muſt continue, till by a treaty of
commerce they are taken off, and the ſub-
jects of both kingdoms muſt ſubmit to them.
But the paſſes do not pretend to diſpenſe
with the laws, and ſhould therefore not have
been on any account delayed. I hope the
courier who brings this diſpatch is loaded
with a large number; you cannot make too
much haſte in returning as many hither;
the want of them occaſions no little clamour.

Since I writ thus far, I find you will be⁵
inſtructed to make an end as to the diſputes
ſtill remaining between us and France.

There is great induſtry uſed by the Whigs
to repreſent the ſuſpenſion of arms as inſig-
nificant, or rather hurtful, to trade; the
French, they ſay, will not take our ſhips as
French, but as Nieuport and Spaniſh pri-
vateers they will. You may remember I
ſpoke to Monſieur de Torcy about the caſe
of the Elector of Bavaria's giving commiſ-
ſions. I⁶ think the convention provides
ſufficiently for Spain; however, pray take
care to ſet this matter paſt diſpute, and let
Monſieur de Torcy know I deſire it of him.
If the Elector of Bavaria makes any diffi-
culty, we have ways enough to make him
repent it, which I think you would⁷ do well
to inſinuate.⁸

I am in a prodigious hurry, but cannot
conclude without entreating you to make my
compliments to every body.

About Drift and your own affairs, you
ſhall hear from me at the end of the week.

Adieu, dear Mat,
I am, and ever will be, &c.

Bolingbroke.