unfinished state of the last Partition Treaty, made William acknowledge King Philip’s letter in a congratulatory reply.
The deaths of the Duke of Gloucester and of the King of Spain were the prominent topics of the king’s speech to the new parliament on the 2ist of February 1701. During this session, the acquittal of Lord Somers and the other “partition” councillors by the House of Lords, was gratifying to the Williamite statesmen, notwithstanding the rage and invectives of the Commons. The latter incivilities were passed over by the king in majestic silence; but they hastened the end of the session. On June 24th His Majesty went down for the prorogation; and he left England for Holland on the 1st July.
War with France was a dark cloud on the very point of bursting forth. The first French aggressions were in Holland. Louis broke the Ryswick Treaty with Holland, by introducing French troops into the several fortresses, and his Ambassador, le Comte d’Avaux, took his leave. Maximilian, Elector of Bavaria, father of the deceased heir-presumptive of Spain, had now sided with the French. Clement, Elector of Cologne, was Maximilian’s brother.
At this point we have to return to the Earl of Galway. We last saw him in England on the 22d June. He accompanied the Earl of Marlborough to Holland, and arrived there before the 12th July. It was his duty and happiness to visit his Dutch Guards. And his presence was soon desired at the palace of Loo. It was Lord Galway’s lot to be sent on unpromising missions, and William despatched him to negotiate with the Elector of Cologne. This Prince was also the Archbishop; and under him the Dean and Chapter of Cologne acted as a political administration. He had already accepted French money to raise troops in the Bourbon interest. The Chapter discovering the secret, and being adverse to France, obtained Prussian troops for their defence; and the Diet of Bonn, having been summoned by the Elector, had refused him supplies. The only hope that William could have cherished was, that the Elector, after such opposition, might be willing to listen to proposals more agreeable to the public men in his own dominions. The king’s biographer thus reports the ineffectual mission:— “To omit nothing that might tend to the security of the Dutch Republic, in case of a rupture (which, as things stood, seemed unavoidable), His Majesty endeavoured to bring over the Elector of Cologne to the interest of the Empire, England and Holland. The wise and sagacious Earl of Galway was employed in this important negotiation; but though he was supported by the Chapter of Cologne, he was not able to shake that Elector from the engagement he was entered into with France, at the instigation ot his brother, the Elector of Bavaria.”
About this time Lord Galway, accompanied by Lord Albemarle, inspected the Dutch forces at a grand military review, at the Camp on the Moerdyke, near the frontier town of Nimeguen. Luttrell states that he had the rank of a full General in Holland.
On the 7th September, the Second Grand Alliance was concluded for keeping the French power in check. In a very few days an immense field for action was created by the arrogance of the French king. The abdicated King of England died at the Palace of St. Germain on the 16th. Louis immediately caused the pretended Prince of Wales to be proclaimed as King James III. The French potentate thus broke the Ryswick Treaty with Great Britain; though he disclaimed the treachery, declaring that by the mere publication of a title, he was not disturbing William in the possession of the British dominions. Such an apology overlooked the words “directly or indirectly,” which were in the bond.
William’s fetters now fell off. Hitherto, although the Dutch had shrewdly appreciated the Alliance against France, the English had been disinclined towards it. But by taking upon himself to be a king-maker for our snug little island, Louis succeeded in arousing the feeling of the British people, not only against himself, but against all Jacobites and semi-Jacobites. William, though in feeble health, took the animated resolution of freeing himself from the counsels of the latter ministers. His desires were immediately directed towards Lord Somers and the Earl of Sunderland.
The Earl of Galway was the negotiator whom he employed, and who had the honour of presenting to Lord Somers the following note written in the French language, and dated at Loo, October 10, 1701:—
“I have charged Lord Galway to speak to you from myself with much frankness. I hope you will accord an entire reliance to what he will say to you, and that you will be pleased to treat it with the same frankness, without any reserve, and to be persuaded of the continuance of my friendship.
“William R.”[1]
- ↑ See “The Hardwicke State Papers.”
