WILLIAM LEGGE, EARL OF DARTMOUTH, to PRIOR, 11/[22] September 1712, Whitehall
Table of contents
1712.0922.Ta
Addressed:
M.r PriorWhitehall 11 Sep.br 1712Sr
The Merchants appear so much in
pain for the safety of their Ships wch
carry Corn from hence and Fish from
Newfoundland to Portugal and Barcelona,
that it has been thought fit since my
letter of yesterday was closed, I should
write another to You on that subject,
I am therefore to acquaint You, that
You make immediate application to
the Court to explain themselves clearly
on that head, and if You find them
ready to comply, You are without loosing
time to draw up an additional article
and sign it in quality of her Majtys
Minister Plenipotentiary, under which
character You will be furnished with Cre
dentials and full Powers, as soon as they
can poſsibly be [...]˂prepared˃,1 in the mean
time I beleive M.r Torcy will make no
difficulty to treat with You as such, es
pecially in a matter of so little con
sequence; They cannot well refuse
us this freedom of Trade to Lisbon, since
the Portugueese have agreed to the sus
pension, and the quantity's We send to
Barcelona, are so small that it is not
worth their while to dispute it, since
We desire only to carry thither Fish &
Corn from the Queens own Dominions,
I may therefore hope this Meſsenger
will bring Us your agreement perfected.
My Lord Lexington will set out for
Spain in two days, That You may be the
more exactly informed what his Instruc
tions are, relating to the recognition &
renunciation I send You inclosed a Copy
of them together with the form of the
latter, and the amendments We propose
in the Margin.
Her Maj.ty having ordered two Men
of War to receive the Duke of
Argyle at Thoulon, it is proper You
should acquaint the Court with the
occasion of their coming into that
Port.
The twelve Paſses You ask for Spain
shall be sent as soon as they are ready.
I am &c.a
Dartmouth