Coxe expresses surprise at “the blindness of Lord Galway.” But his Lordship’s vindication is as complete as was the great Duke of Wellington’s in a similar case. The Czar Nicholas having made to Wellington certain statements which he from such authority had received as facts, Canning pointed out some written information received from St. Petersburg undoubtedly authentic but totally incompatible with the imperial statement. Wellington read it attentively, and then said to Canning, “Yes, I see what you mean; but could I suppose that the fellow was a liar?” So Lord Macaulay vindicates our ambassador from the imputation of a strange blindness by simply mentioning that the Duke of Savoy solemnly assured Lord Galway that there was no ground for the suspicion that he was secretly treating with France.
The following document is the crowning act of his Highness’s treachery:—
The Duke of Savoy to King William.
“June 17, 1696. — I doubt not that my Lord Galway, whom I have acquainted with what passes here, has sent a very accurate report to your Majesty. My duty and inclination, however, compel me to inform you of it myself by this letter, which encloses copies of one from Marshal Catinat, and of the answer I ordered to be returned, with his reply and mine. The sentiment of the allied chiefs here has been to gain time for keeping the enemy in suspense. This is my view also; and of what shall ensue I will render a faithful account to your Majesty, who will allow me to represent that (if your service would permit it) the return of your fleet to the Mediterranean would be very advantageous to your Majesty and to the good of the common cause, particularly to whatever related to the affairs of this country.
“I humbly entreat your Majesty to give the necessary orders that I may receive, as soon as possible, the subsidy which I enjoy from your royal generosity, assuring you that I never was under so pressing a necessity. It shall be applied solely for the service of your Majesty and of the common cause in this country. I solemnly promise that I will cherish the most ardent zeal for both. And my strongest desire will ever be to merit, on all public occasions, the continuation of your Majesty’s powerful protection, and the honour of declaring myself, with the highest respect and truth, &c, &c.
“V. Amede.”[1]
The request for the pecuniary subsidy was the real object of this letter. “He had” (says Smollett) “concealed the treaty until he should receive the remaining part of the subsidies due to him from the confederates. A considerable sum had been remitted from England to Genoa for his use; but Lord Galway no sooner received intimation of his new engagement than he put a stop to the payment of this money, which he employed in the Milanese for the subsistence of those troops that were in the British service.”
The Emperor Leopold of Austria, learning at last how matters stood, paid counter-addresses to his highness, and attempted as a rival courtier to outbid the Grand Monarque. But the imperial negotiations only gave the duke an opportunity of confessing that he had concluded a treaty with France. So Lord Galway wrote to the Duke of Shrewsbury from the Camp of Civasso, August (6) 16, 1696:—
“Since I wrote last, Count Mansfeld came hither with new proposals from the Emperor to his Royal Highness. But he found him too deeply engaged to be shaken in his resolutions; for he declared that at any price he must have Pignerol, and would treat only with those who would put it immediately into his possession. He asked him, ‘Will the allies without delay restore me that important place, for which I will admit no equivalent?’ adding, ‘Since you know they cannot, I am determined to accept the proposals of France, who can restore it by the treaty I shall conclude with that crown, the conditions of which are that the allies shall accept a neutrality for Italy, and withdraw their troops.’ Monsieur de Mansfeld represented that his orders from the Emperor were to do nothing without the consent of all the allies, who were too distant to arrange an affair of such importance in so limited a time. His Royal Highness, apparently impressed by these just reasons, at once offered to procure a prolongation of the truce to the end of September, which the marshal refused. We were apprized of the course of this negotiation before the arrival of Count Mansfeld. The question is reduced to the acceptance of the neutrality before the 20th of September, or the renewal of the war.”
The next letter of Lord Galway’s, from which I shall quote, states his feelings as a soldier, and his conduct as an ambassador. Camp at Saluzze, August (17) 27, 1696:—
- ↑ His domestic and military papers were written in Italian, and signed “V. Amedeo.” His foreign correspondence was in French, and from the signature the final O was omitted.
