being most of it rents reserved on leases, would otherwise have come into the Exchequer and helpt to have defrayed the necessary payments for the support of the Government. And it appears by the account now sent this affaire is not mended by the present Commissioners, there being at this day due to them three hundred pounds more then they have brought into the Treasury, as I was certified by their Register (sic) Mr. Bonnell. "Soe that 'tis plainely for the Kings service to have this Commission superseded, and the management of the said forfeited estates put into the hands of the Commissioners of the Revenue, who by their under clerkes and agent[s], which are many and some of them very good officers having sallaryes already, will doe the works without any further expense. to the King.

"I desire your Lordships will take this matter into your consideration and let me know his Majesties or the Lords Justices' pleasure herein. [P. S.] I had almost forgot to tell your Lordships that Mr. Dering the Auditor refused to joyne with the other Commissioners in signeing the representacion inclosed."

Signed-Capell,' this instructive and important letter is endorsed "A copy of my Letter to the Lords of the Treasury about the Commission of Inspection into Forfeitures"; the signature, body of the paper, and the endorsement being by the same hand.

SIR WILLIAM BLATHWAYTE to HIS HIGHNESS.

1696,

March 31st

April 10th'

Whitehall.

"Monseigneur. Le vent est devenu bon

ce matin et Le Duc de Wirtemberg est parti en mesme temps. pour Gravesende d'ou il mettra incessament a la voile avec les dix bataillons pour Vlissinge.

"Samedi se fera l'embarquement de chevaux de recrue et de l'infanterie. Il y en aura plus de quinze cents, tous destines a Willemstadt.

"On met tout en œuvre icy pour faire tenir de l'argent aux Troupes en Flandres comme Votre Altesse souhaitte par l'honneur de sa lettre du 2a du courant. Nous attendons avec impatience des nouvelles de notre Flotte de Cadiz."

RALPH EARL OF MONTAGUE to

1696, August 11th, London.-"Sir, I am to acknowledg the favor of yours wherein you are pleased to give me notice of his Maiestys gracious condescention in giving the Lords Justices leave to repreive Thomas White and at the same time to return you my humble thanks for the part you had in inetining [sic, ? inciting] his Majestye to soe greate an act of mercye: Mr. Vernon tells me [he] has given you an account at large, what the saide Thomas White has discovered, and what services he may doe the publick; his repreive now is but for three weekes. Mr. Nuton Warden of the Mint is of opinion that he may deserve his life, whereupon I have presumed to write to his Maicstye to beg that he maye be repreived till his return which can in noe way be of ill consequence and [1] entreate you to contribute what you can to it in which you will extreamlye cblige, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, Montagu."

The "Mr. Nuton Warden of the Mint" was Mr. (afterwards, Sir Isaac) Newton, who was appointed in 1695 to be Warden of the Mint.

LORD VILLIERS to MR. BLATHWAYT.

1697, May 25th N. S., Hague.-"I have the favour of yours of the 23rd. I interest my self so much in Mr. Prior's concerns that I thank you for the kindness you have done him. I think without troubling his Majesty any more in it, the easiest way will be for you to acquaint the Justices of Ireland with his Majesty's recommending him. I do not doubt but they will dispence (sic) with his absence for some time, and give leave that the other Secretary may do the duty. I am sure you will represent this as favourable as you can for his interest, and this I will likewise intimate to my Lord Galloway next post. I find by a letter from his Lordship, that an order must first come from his Majesty before the Treasury will do anything in our appointments, which I leave to your favour to dispatch. I am going to the Congress; if we do anything there, you shall have it by the first.

JOHN DENNIS, the Critic, to HENRY Davenant.

1706, March 20, London.-" Sir. You will receive together with this a little book which I have writt against the new operas which some people are endeavouring to produce upon the English stage. I had not deferrd writing soe long if I had not staid till this essay was printed, the publishing which has been retarded by accidents of which it is needlesse to give an account here. I am at present in a little hurry or else I could send you a long account of some alterations and resolutions that have happened in the pleasures of this wicked town since I wrote to you last, which was about this time twelvemonth. I presume if that letter had come to your hands, you would have answered it before now." Addressed to " Mr. D'Avenant."

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN NORRIS to HIS EXCELLENCY CHARLES, SECOND VISCOUNT TOWNSEND.

1710, June 10, Renelagh in the Gulph of Ayasso.-"Since my letter to Your Lordship from Vaia I sailed from thence the 1st of June, and the wind being westerly I passed to the eastward of Corsica. The 3rd my cruizers a-head of me gave chace to a French ship, who anchoring near the town of Bassur, which being a streight shoar, and no port for shiping, I ordered the taking of her, in doing which the town fired some cannon but did not prejudice: I gained intelligence that the Duke of Tursis with his galies were sailed from Corsica to make his dessent upon Sardinia, upon which we made the best of our way to that coast; and the 5th in the morning I sailed across the Boke (sic) of Boniface and seeing nothing of the ennemy I made sail for the Gulph of Terra Nova to gain some intelligence of them, but towards noon being becalmed I sent my boat into the said Gulph, who brought me an account there were four of ennemy's sattees in that place, which had brought troops thither. In the evening I had the opportunity of the wind which carried me into that Gulph, and that night we took the four Sattees, t[w]o of which belonging to France and two to Sicilly, and by the examination of the prisonners we found they had brought to that place the Count de Castilio, and the Marquis de Montalvo with several gentlemen of Sardinia, and about 400 troops, all which being landed had taken possession of the town of Terra Nova, which stands at the head of a Lake about 6 miles further than we could come at with our ships; I that night held a

Councill of Warr wherein we agreed to land the troops as soon as it was day, which we accordingly did with General Brown, who marching with them to the Town, they surrendered according to the Capitulation that is herewith, and our troops joining about the said place a party of 70 Horse under Major Mabbo, that belongs to King Charles, our troops. that day marched back again to reimbarck, and brought with them all the prisonners of war, thinking it dangerous to leave them in the Island of Sardinia. We understood by the said prisonners, that the Duke of Tursis with the rest of the troops was, at the same time they landed, to have attempted landing near Sassara, which is in the Boke (sic) of Boniface, but that by a violent westerly wind he had been putt back, since which time they could not give account of him. The 7th inst. the morning we imbarcked the troops and prisonners, upon which I held a Councill of War, which is herewith, where it was agreed for our going to Calvari, the Pilots we had with us declaring they were unable at this season of the year by reason of the calmns and different currents to carry us through the Boke of Boniface. We sailed that evening out of the Gulph of Terra Nova, and the 8th having a favourable wind easterly, I steered through the Boke of Boniface, where I met a Neopolitan Felucca, that came from the Port of Bonifacio and gave me account the Duke of Tursis was sailed the second time from thence to make his landing near Sassara, but that upon his meeting with intelligence of my being on the coast, he changed his resolution, and that morning was sailed along the coast of Corsica to the Westward towards Ayasso. I communicated this intelligence to the Dutch Rear Admirall, and we both resolved to pursue them as fast as possible, and endeavour to take or destroy them wherever we could find them, though under the cannon

of any place in Corsica. The wind continued very favourable for us, but in our sailing one of the Dutch Men of War struck upon a shoal, tho' I hope his damage will not be much. Towards night we got in sight of the Gulph of Ayasso, but the winds proving contrary and calmn for the night, we were obliged to return into the said Gulph. The 9th inst. the morning we spoke with a fisherman, who gave us an account that the Duke of Tursis with 8 gallys did last night go from this Gulph towards Cap Calvi and that his seven Sattees with 600 men and his ammunition and provisions were at an anchor near Ayasso. The small air of wind we had being northerly we could have no hopes to come up with the Gallys. I communicated this intelligence to the Dutch Rear Admirall, and proposed to him the taking or destroying the Sattees and the 600 troops; but he had changed his former resolution, by reason that they were not all together, and refused joyning with me to attack them by reason of their being in a neutral port. I used what arguments I could with him, as that upon considering that without destroying their ammunition and provisions and imbarcations it might give the ennemy an opportunity of making a further attempt upon Sardinia; which would take up so much time as to make the troops we had with us useless in Catalonia, and likewise communicated to him Her Majesty's commands to me by the hands of the Secretary of State to pursue the said Duke of Tursis and use what endeavours I could to disappoint his enterprise. But he having no particular orders from the States would not joyn with me in this; but I understanding it to be Her Majesty's intentions that I should undertake it, I sent my Captain to the Governor of Ayasso to acquaint him that I was in pursuit of the ennemy, who had attempted twice a descent upon Sardinia, and that I desired he would not permitt ther to land, and that if he any wise attempted to hinder my intentions by fireing from his Castle, I should take it to be an act of War, and endeavour to do what I could against

him; upon which he returned me an answer, that he would not permitt the troops to land nor fire at us; but it being little wind before I could get in with our 5 English ships, the ennemy had landed their troops and taken to the mountains. I took the 7 Sattees who had in them the provision and ammunition for their troops; upon a further message to the Governour, wherein he was told since he had admitted the ennemy's troops to land, we would land ours and pursue them, he sent to me several gentlemen to desire we would not laud our people, and he would answer to us that the ennemy, which had landed against his will, should not be received into any of their towns, nor have any subsistence from them, upon considering that and the difficulties we should have to come up with them, and the time it would take us up to remain in these parts, whereby it might be prejudiciable to the service in Catalonia, Generall Brown with myself were of opinion it was best not to pursue them further; upon which I held a Council of War, which is here inclosed, for our proceeding with the troops to Barcellona. I have this morning got accordingly under sail and shall loose no time in proceeding according to the resolution. I pray your Lordship grant me the honour of your protection and procure me that of His Highness the Prince and Duke of Marlborough, for I doubt not but the Genoese will make their complaints against me, though the French on all occasions make no scruple of doing every thing they can against the Allies on the neutral coasts, whenever they have opportunity, as in this war they did on Her Majesty's Ship Resolution at Vintimiglia and several other ships, and in the former to the late Sir George Rook's convoy under the Castles of Portugal. . . .”

Copy of the original letter.

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN NORRIS to HIS EXCELLENCY CHARLES, SECOND VISCOUNT TOWNSEND.

1710, July 7th, Renelagh in Barcelona Road. "Herewith you will receive duplicates of my last dispatches to your Lordship of the 10th past from Ayasso on the coast of Corsica, giving account of our proceedings, since we left Vaia. I am now to acquaint your Lordship We sailed that day from that place with the fleet and prisonners, and next day (the 11th) meeting with bad weather, and the small vessels not being able to keep in company, I ordered the Summerset and Terrible to take care of them, and see them save (sic) to Barcellona, where I arrived the 18th with the fleet and set a shoar the prisonners. That day I received a letter from the King, dated the 13th June N.S. at Balagner from the camp, signifying that it was proper to debarck part of the troops from Italy in the neighbourhood of Valencia, to be commanded by Generall Stanhope, and that it would be of great service, that the fleet joyn as soon as possible at Tarragona. I immediately called a Councill of War, a copy of which [ ]herewith, wherein it was resolved that in pursuance of His Majesty's commands we should forthwith proceed with the fleet and troops to Tarragona, leaving orders for Vice-Admiral Baker and all Commanders of Her Majesty's ships that should arrive at Barcellona, to follow us without loss of time to Tarragona; and in pursuance of the same we sailed immediately, without comeing to an anchor, for Tarragona, and arrived there the 20th, where, not meeting Generall Stanhope, nor any orders from His Majesty, I landed the troops the 21st. Next day I had a letter from the King, signifying his Majesty's pleasure, that after having landed all the troops at Tarragona we should endeavour to make ourselves masters

of Vinaros, a small town on the coast of Valencia, where his Majesty was informed, that the ennemy had laid up a magazin, which he recommended to us to take or destroy, as also that I should send a convoy to fetch 300 horses from Sardinia to reinforce his army, and separate the fleet in two bodies in order to appear both on the coasts of Valencia and Roussillon at the same time; upon which I held a Councill of War, and came to the result herewith sent your Lordship, in pursuance of which we sailed the 24th from Tarragona, and that afternoon were joyned by Vice-Admiral Baker in the Sterling Castle with the Captain, Resolution, Bedford, Nassau, and Griffin fire-ship, and the 26th arrived before Vinaros; I immediately ordered as strong a detachment as we could spare from our ships, into the boats, and sent the small frigatts with them close into the shoar to cover their landing. But as we drew near the shoar, we discovered several parties of regular Horse and some regular foot posted to oppose our landing, and it being a great sea, all the officers were of opinion with me, that it was impracticable to land. Upon examination of a Genouese we found in the road with King Charles's pass we were assured that the ennemy had no magazins there, and that the Governour of Peniscola, being jealous that the inhabitants were in King Charles's interest, allowed them to keep only provisions for their bare subsistence; upon which we came to another resolution, herewith also sent your Lordship, that the fleet should proceed to the westward along the coast of Valencia for a day or iwo to allarm the ennemy, and then return to Barcellona, and having performed the same we arrived here the 30th, but the Summerset and Terrible are not yet arrived. Just upon our arrivall, I received a letter from Generall Stanhope by express, acquainting me the King had given his consent that I should imbarck the regiment of Collonel Stanhope from Tarragona and a detachment of 300 men from Port Mahon, to execute Mons" Sesan's project in the Gulph of Lyons; I have accordingly sent ships to receive the said regiment from Tarragona, and others to fetch the troops from Port Mahon. The 3rd instant the ships returned to me from Port Mahon with the 300 troops, and all the utensills of war for our project; upon which I held a Councill of Flags, the result of which I herewith send your Lordship, we finding it necessary to hire 4 Tartans to carry on our first landing without being discovered by the ennemy, I hope to have the same ready and if the wind presents sail as tomorrow to attempt our project, at which time I shall send to acquaint His Royal Highness the Duke of Savoy of our proceedings, that if H.R.H. sees proper to direct his Army to make any motions, that may divert the enemy for our protection. I Copy of the original letter.

am

MR. W. CHETWYND to MR. A. CARDONNEL.

1711, September 3rd, Genoa.-" Since my last a Catalan bark is arrived here in five days from Spain. The letters she has brought do not only confirm our army's having taken the field, but also that Marshal Staremberg was got the 15th past to St. Colona with the greatest part of it, where the Duke of Argyll was to join him that night with the English troops. The general conjecture made of our progress was that it could not be very great this campain, both by reason we wanted money, and by the enemie's being superiour in Horse. As to the first difficulty, it is removed at present by the arrival of two Men of War, which sailed from hence the beginning of last week