London, 10 June 1709.
Dear Brother,
By this post our Politians of this side the water expected to hear the French were come to, and that they wou'd yeild to sign the preHmarys of Peace, but by all that appears in prints it looks to them as if they were determine to stand the fate of another campaigne. Monsr Shamirards being turn out, and Madam Mentenon's going into a covent is interpreted as the Old King's resigning in a manner the Government in his life time to the Dauphin. But a Gentle- man told me that Sir Harry Furnas told him he read a letter of the Duke of Marlborough's which had these words, that if they did not hear from the French in a day or two, they wou'd then begin again, from whence some people will still conclude that the Peace will still be this Summer, and that the delay the French has made is concerted and is only to save appearance to the Spainers, and a little to the Elector of Bavarior. At our coffee houses we are very angry that the news talks of our beseigeing Douay; for their opinion is that we ought not to amuse ourselves in taking towns, but march directly to Paris. When they are told that an army can't march without having before provided magasins, or at least to have such a train of provisions with them as will subsist an army that is to burn and distroy all before them, they give no answere to this but— How did Prince Eugene march his army over the mountains without such a train or mony, and his march to the releif of Turin was in like manner; 'tis but to employ him and the business is done. Or — why not go on with the scheme that was talk't of before the Peace was thought so near a conclusion, that an army shou'd march from Flanders into Pickardy, and that a fleet from hence should land upon the coast, with all necessary to support such an army. — If they are told 'tis too late to provide such provision, then they fall upon the credulity of those that gave so much into the faith of the French King's sincerity to peace. I have given you a strange medley of discourse, but there
