to returne them if itt be in my power. What use your Lordship will make of this, I know, will be with such cautions of honour, as makes me speake freely to your Lordship, because I do itt safely, knowing by experience, that upou the account of freindship, as well as of relation, I am obliged to be, my Lord, your Lordships most devoted servant and brother-Danby." THOMAS OSBORNE, Marquis of Carmarthen and Earl of Danby, to the EARL OF LINDSEY. 1690, July 21st, London.-"I have 2 of your Lordships for which I returne my thanks, viz. of the 12th and 17th, by which I perceive your Lordship's Militia is in very good order, and has given the lie to one Mr. John Westmoreland (if you know him), who in a letter to Major Wildman from Redding (dated the 8th instant) amongst other things saies, that the safety of the kingdome is not lookt after in Oxfordshire as itt ought to be where Lord Abingdon is Lord Lieutenant. -I therefore showed your last both in Councill and to the Queene, whom you have complemented in itt, and shee has taken itt very kindly.That your Lordship will now receive another letter from the Councill, requiring all your Militia as well foot as horse to bee raised, upon information of an intended designe to land a strong force before the fleet can be ready to take the sea, and although itt falls out att an unseasonable time for harvest, itt is supposed to bee indispensably necessary.The Queene goes this day into Hyde Park to see the Citty Militia, and they are raising both theire Auxiliaries and a Regiment of horse and another of dragoons. Some are undertaking to raise a troop of horse each, and to pay them themselves for some time, amongst which are the Earle of Essex and Mr. Wharton. The East India Company also and the Tower Hamletts do each of them raise a troop, and the towne of Nottingham and Citty of Bristoll do offer to do the same, but I know not whither they will bee accepted.-Itt is under consideration of the Judges how my Lord Torrington shall bee tried, and the Queene has declared the fleet to bee commanded by a Commission of three persons, whereof Sir Richard Haddock and Sir John Ashby to bee two, but has reserved the nomination of the third till the King's pleasure bee knowne. At this moment my brother Peter Bertie has brought mee a letter from your Lordship of the 23th, with a note of men said to bee prest for my son by one Jo. Hayward for the St. Michael, which is very false, for my son has no comand att sea, and itt is very fitt that such rascalls should bee severely punished. I dare say nothing of myself concerning the coach horses you mention (the Councill att this time being very strict about horses), but I will move itt to the Councill which sitts to morrow att ten a clock. I believe you will receive fresh orders by this post about your Militia, itt being in the number of those counties which are to march nearer this place. The French fleet are now in Torbay with their gallies, and most thinke they will land there, but I am not of that opinion, but that itt will bee to attempt something upon Plymouth (if ntt all) Your most humble servant and affectionate brother-Carmarthen." VIII. ORMONDE PAPERS. Together with less important writings, this group of evidences touching the inglorious career of James Butler, the second Duke of Ormonde, contains several manuscripts that should not be overlooked by the peruser of this volume, as they will aid him in realising the vexatious and ignominious position of the commander-in-chief of a British army who, at a moment when England's allies were eager for action that would have been decisive, held his office in the Low Countries under the famous "restraining orders," that required him to remain inactive until he should receive permission from Queen Anne's ministers to wage war with the enemy. Of the especially noteworthy papers the most important are:-(1) Letter, dated from the Hague on 26th April 1712, from James Butler, second Duke of Ormonde, to Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, announcing that the writer landed last evening at Rotterdam, and proceeded at once to the Hague. "The next morning," the Duke writes, "I went to visite the Pensionary who received me "with great civility and proffessiones of friendeshipe, and told me, "that the States relyed on her Majesty, and were sure that she "would not consent to any peace but what was safe and honourable "for her allies." (2) Letter, dated from Gand on 5th May 1712, from the same to the same. (3) Letter, dated from Gand on 5th May 1712, from James Butler, second Duke of Ormonde, to Mr. Secretary St. John. (4) Letter, dated from the camp at Marchienne on 25th May 1712, from the same to the same, containing these remarkable words, "I received last night the honour of yours of the 10th, "with her Majesty's commands to me not to engage in a battle, or "to undertake any seige, untill I receive her Majesty's further orders, "which I shall obey as 'tis my duty, and will keep secret my having "received any such commands and will endevour to hinder its being "suspected my receiving any such orders, tho' it will be very difficult for me considering the situation we are now in. 66 66 66 Prince Eugene and the States deputys, as I mentioned in my last, proposed "the attacking the enemy or beseiging of Quesnoy, but now [are] very pressing for the beseiging of Quesnoy, if the engageing the 66 enemy be found too difficult. These circumstances makes (sic) it very difficult for me to disguise the true reason of my opposing all proposals that shall be made me for undertaking any thing, haveing no excuse for delays, all the troops we expect and the heavy cannon "being to be here on Saturday next. I shall do all that is possible for me to hinder the true reason to be guessed." (5) Letter, dated from the Camp at Solemn on 4th June 1712, from James Butler, second Duke of Ormonde, to Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, containing these words, "This is the fourth letter that I have done myself the honour to write "to your Lordship without hearing from you, which I believe the "multiplicity of business is the cause off (sic). I send this to let your 66 66 Lordship know that I have done all that I could to keep secret and to "disguise the orders that I received from her Majesty by Mr. Secretary "St. John, but it is above 10 days since I received the Queen's pleasure, "and now I can't make any more excuses for delaying entering upon action. "When I was pressed to it, I made my Lord Strafford's sudden journey to England my excuse, and desired that I might hear from England "before I undertook anything. I have been again pressed this day by "two of the Deputys in their Masters name to know if I would undertake "anything in conjunction with them. I still made the same answer, that "I had not heard from England, but expected letters every moment. "This would not satisfy, nor could I give any other answer, being, as your "Lordship knows, obliged to keep secret the Orders I have received. "will not trouble your Lordship with more on this subject, for Mr. "Secretary St. John's letter will informe you of all this matter." (6) 66 Lengthy epistle in French, dated from the Camp d'Avesnes Le Sec on 4th June 1712, from MM. W. Hoost, W. J. Haerfolte, and P. F. Vegilin van Claerbergen, Deputies of the States at the Army, to James Butler, second Duke of Ormonde, in which the Deputies protest with energy and contemptuous force against the British Commander-in-Chief's inaction, as alike beneficial to France, hurtful to the Allies and discreditable to England. (7) Letter, dated from the Camp at Chateau Cambresis on 14th July, n.s., 1712, from James Butler, second Duke of Ormonde, to Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, in which the writer says, "Mr. Bulean was "with me this morning, and told me that he had received orders from "his Master not to seperate his troops from those of the Empire. I 66 suppose the Prince of Analte will tell him the same, which he has "already done to me, and the Duke of Wirtemberg told me that he "would follow the example of the other forreigners in the Queen's pay. I hear that my acquainting the Mareshall de Villars "with the refusall the Forreign Generalls made of seperating from "Prince Eugene's army, was not approved off. This was so publickly "known in the Camps, that it could not be a secret to him. Therefor "I thought propper to acquaint him with it, it being what he would "have known in some few houers, and might have given him a sus"picion of my not dealing fairly with him, which I thought out (sic) to be "avoided. I have been under many difficultys this campagne, but have "done what I thought was most for the Queen's service. "This is the fifth letter I have writt to your Lordship, without haveing "the honour to hear from you, since my being on this side the water." (8) Letter, dated from Chateau Cambresis on 16th July 1712, from the same to the same, in which the writer repeats much of the contents of his afore-mentioned letter of the 14th inst., and says further, "My Lord Strafford arrived here before the 12, and will "informe your Lordship of what passt between him and the General "Officers of the Forreign Troops in her Majesty's pay and in the "joynt pay. I am sorry he could not persuade them to break their "resolutions of seperating from us, and joyning with the Imperallists "and Dutch, which they have done this day, upon the Prince Eugene's "marching to invest Landerey. Ther is only Walleffs Dragoons "with one batallion of that country that will stay with me. 66 66 This morning I received a letter from Sir James Abercrombie and "Collonel King, informing me that they had adjusted everything "with Count de Lemon for the reception of the Queen's troops, "and would evacuate the same on their arrivall. Tomorrow "I shall declare a Cessation of Arms from the Queen's army, and I design to march towards the Schelde, and to pass that river, and "continowe marching until I come to the Liss near Warneton, where I "shall stay to receive her Majesty's orders." (9) Letter, dated from London on 5th August 1712, from Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, to James Butler, second Duke of Ormonde, in which the writer says, "No pen or tongue is able to expresse the great pleasure I took in your "Grace's successes. It was a very great satisfaction to see so much "done for the Public, to see such an example of steady conduct in so great a nobleman, and so courageous a heart is what has made you "envied by some, dreaded by your ennemys, and applauded by al men "of knowledge and understanding. Your Grace's march to Ghent &c. " is a coup de maître. It is owned so in France and Holland, and I "must owne I take a double pleasure in it, because it is done by the "Duke of Ormond, to whose person I have so intire a friendship, and "in whose success I take so particular an interest." The Duke was 66 66 even a duller man than history represents him to have been, if he did not see the contemptuous satire of the Lord Treasurer's affected admiration of the coup de maître. 1697, LETTERS touching THE PEACE OF RYSWICK. to October 21st The Hague. Nineteen letters in May 27th June 6th French, by the same hand, without signature or superscription. Giving particulars of proceedings at the negotiation of the Peace of Ryswick, the letters being dated respectively on 18th June 24th June August August May 27th June 6th 8th July 29th July July 28th July 4th.' 11th' 18th August 8th' 12th 19th August 26th 22nd' 29th September 5th' 16th September 23rd September 30th October 3rd 10th June June 13th' 20th' The BARON DE STAFFHORST to the DUKE OF ORMONDE. 1704, August 9th. Stoucart. An epistle of courtesy, accompanying the copy of a letter which his Serene Highness, the Baron's master, "vient d'écrire à Sa Majesté Britannique pour la feliciter sur la victoire, remportée dernierement au Danube par ses Armes glorieuses." The DUKE OF ORMONDE to HENRY WATKINS, Esq. [1712, March 1st.] Sunday two o'clock.-"I just received yours as I was going out, and I must tell you, that I am sorry it is not in my power to serve you in this business you mention, Mr. Crawford having spoken to me on Friday morning and the Queen having granted it to him, on my speaking to her for him. Believe I shall be very glad of any opportunity to show you that I am very dear Sir kind and 1712, March 14th, London.-" Mr. Lumley has informed me that you are willing to be employed by me, in the same station, as Mr. Cordonell was in to the Duke of Marleborough. I doe not doubte, but that you will deserve all encouragement, which you may depend on frome me. I desire you will take care to procure an order from the States, that the British cloathing may not be stoped or be delayed att Sass van Ghent. You will lett me hear from you as soon as opportunity offers. Praye believe me, Sir, your humble servant-Ormonde." The DUKE OF ORMONDE to the EARL OF OXFORD, Lord Treasurer. 1712, April 26th, Hague.-"I landed on Monday in the evening att Rotterdam, and came that night to this place. The next morning I went to visite the Pensionary, who received me with greate civility and proffessiones of friendshipe, and told me that the States relyed on her Majesty, and were sure that she would not consent to any peace but what was safe and honourable for her allies, but that he believed wee knew more of what related to the peace than they did. He told me that there was no particular project for the opperations of the Campagne, but that it was lefte to theire Generalles who were the best judges of what was fittest to be done. The Prince Eugene went from this place on Satturday last to the army. I do not belive the destruction of the furage [? forage] att Arras to be near so greate as was reported. The enemy are retrenched behind the [? lousett]. I have not yett an account of the number of the troops encamped near Douay. I send your lordship the coppy of a letter that I have had from Mr. Cadogan, and am very willing that he should be imp[1]oyed, if her Majesty pleases. I send your lordship an abstract of a letter from Mr. Lumley. I designe leaving of this place on Friday or Saturday at farthest. I have nothing more to trouble your lordship with, but only to asure you of my being sensible of the honor of your friendeshipe which I will endever to preserve and am with great truthe and respecte ."-Copy in the Duke's handwriting. The DUKE OF ORMONDE to the EARL OF OXFORD, Lord Treasurer. 1712, May 5th, Ghent.-" I came to this place on tuesday last, and go to-morrow to Tournay, wher I shall meet the Prince Eugene. Ther is forty battallions and twelve squadrons retained betweene Hordaine and Lieu St. Amand, which secure the passage of the Schelde. The enemy have most of their foot posted from Arras to Pallancourt, and have but sixteen squadrons with them. Their horse is on the Somme and the Sambre. They have put 25 battalions into Valencienne, which place they cannot hinder us from beseiging, should it be thought for the service, but that place is not of the consequence of either Cambray or Arras; I have not had any letters from England since I received those of the 11th of last month, o.s., and am impatient to know how affairs go relating to the Peace. The recruit horses and clothing can't be at Tournay till monday or tuesday next, wher the Queen's troops are incamped. Some of the Imperiallists are come to Brussells; the rest of them with the Pallatins will not join the army till the 15th at soonest. I hope your Lordship dos me the justice to beleive me with great truth and respect, my Lord. Ormonde.-P.S. Mr. Cadogan came here last night and makes great proffessions of zeall and duty for her Majesty's service."-Copy in the Duke's handwriting. The DUKE OF ORMONDE to Mr. SECRETARY ST. JOHN. 1712, May 5th, Ghent.-"I came to this place on tuesday night, and go to-morrow to Turnay (sic) wher I shall see the Prince Eugene. Ther is forty Battallions and twelve Squadrons entrenched between Hordaine and Lieu St. Amand, which secures the passage over the Schelde. The enemy's foot are posted from Arras along the Seuset to Pallancourt, they have not above 16 squadrons in the Field, the rest of their horse lie along the Sone and on the Sambre. They have put 25 battallions into Valencienne, they cannot hinder us from beseiging it, should it be thought for the service, but that place is not of the consequence as Cambray or Arras would be. When I come to Tournay, I |