PRIOR to ROBERT HARLEY, EARL OF OXFORD, [18]/29 December 1712, Paris
Table of contents
1712.1229.Fa
Addressed:
Lord Treasurer
Paris the 29 December 1712.My Lord
I have writ a Book instead of a Letter to my Lord
Bolingbroke, which I desire Your Lordship would be
pleased to run over that knowing what I have done here
you may honour me with your Commands as to what
I am to do.
The whole Affair of Newfoundland both as it had
been cooked at Utrecht, and delivered to me to be discuſsed
at Paris, was a Brouillon, upon which the Plenipoten:rs
on both sides are at this moment fighting in the Dark:
I hope this proposal which I send Your Lordship here in
closed and have explained to Lord Bolingbroke is such
as may terminate that affair infinitely to our Advantage.
If Your Lordship is of the same opinion I shal have
an entire Satisfaction; In all Cases her Majesty has the
Liberty of embracing or refusing it as She pleases1 it being
a matter of so great Consequence, I send You the Extract
of that part of my Letter, which relates to Newfoundland,
for as Sunday is the Day for the Dutch to conclude
finally, We ought immediately to know here that this
point is accommodated upon which and what I have
sent to Lord Bolingbroke relating to the methods in
General of our opening Commerce we shal have no
obstruction to the Signing with this Crown in caſe our
Neighbours (which is hardly probable) should continue
Frantic.
Another obstacle (of which I have likewise writ)
is that the Chevalier must be out of France at the
Signing of the Peace, and the Emp:r will not let him
have paſseports sufficient to secure his stay in Lorraine.
The Monarch is a good deal troubled upon this head,
lest (as Mons:r Torcy expreſses it)2 the Young Man
should fall into the hands of the Huſsars or
Barbarians, and Mons:r D'Aumond has I presume
Orders to speak to our Ministry upon it.
As to the Dowry, I shal not only be Dunned to
Death, but hanged, for the Dowager sends Messengers
to me, which you in England do not think it extremly
lawfull to receive. But if it is to be paid, pray let it be
done in the handsome manner that may show the
Charity of the Queen, and the generosity of Her Lord
Treasurer. Mons:r Torcy thought I should have orders
concerning it, and so, as I am otherwise told, did the
Monarch. The Duke of Argyle is in my Lodgings;
The Germains stil remain in Catalonia. The last
Letters, which this Court received from their Army in
thoſe parts sayd that the Duke of Berwick was
marching towards Staremberg with an Amy of
50 Squadrons and 40 Battalions, which was much
superior to their Enemy
Argyle I find much Discontented that he is
not made a General of the Foot.
I expect the Duke of Shrewsbury in 2 Days,
One of his Servants being already arrived.
I hope Lord Harley has sent the Cæsar3 and
other Books to our Young Marquis de Torcy. Mad:me
Noailles, and Madame Torcy will never forgive You for
not sending them Fanns. Robin n'est pas Gallant.
S:r Thomas is here at the head of the Engish, my
Countrymen are very kind and obliging to Him, but I
know not how it is, it dos not do; He is too serious for
my Comical [...]˂N˃ation.
The Dutchess of Portsmouth complains in a
Letter which I send inclosed to You that Her Son is
undutiful to Her, and the Queen. It is well I tell You the
substance of her Letter for her Hiroglypics are something
unintelligible, and if her hand had been good for nothing but
to write, our Nation would have saved a Million of Money
Yesterday the King went to Marly, the Young Dauphin
was brought to him, and stayed with him during his
Dinner at Versailles (before his going to Marly) the child
seems likely enough to Live, has his Teeth very white &
strong, looks a little pale, has fine Eyes and is very handsom
(thô not quite so handsome as Robin or Tommy)
Madame Ventadour is Gouver[n]ante, has taught him even
at his Age to make his Court to the King. She asked me
how I liked him, I said so well that I wished the Queen
had just such another; The Monarch upon it asked
me how many Children Her Majesty had had, and upon
my telling him, said a very civil thing upon Her
having sustained so many Loſses of that kind.
30 December
The Duke of Shrewsbury (as one of His Servants
here says) will be at Paris on Saturday (too morrow)
or Sunday; It is with great difficulty that we have got
him a great appartment and conveniences in the
Hôtel de Soiſsons.
Pray My Lord write to me thô but 3 Lines, &
send it by the Courier, La Vigne, who will return
in few Days.
I am ever with the greatest respect.
My Lord,
Your Servant,M:P:
2.
Scribal notation:
This Letter was sent
by La Vigne.