1 84 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
the Hague, to ask leave to come over to England for a fort- night or three weeks ; for I do believe any mony affair is better solicited personally then by letter and you wouM be better able to judge who are and who can be your best friends. I met the Duke of Argile yesterday again at the Back stair and he told me, if I thought you wou'd be upon you way to the Hague, as the town talk't, he wou'd not writ to you, for his letter might miss and he shou'd see you himself there. I told him you always took care before you remov'd to give notices to the Post Masters of 'tother side where they shou'd send your letters that they might come soonest to hand, and that you might have the pleasure of hearing from him as well as seeing of him, so he promised to writ to you this post. I shall be sure to keep the secreet of the Order of St. Andrew, but how to bring it out to the man that shou'd know it, is what I have been thinking and find it very difficult, for I can never find him alone, and the little while he has to stay in England, and there being never a one now vacant, makes it appear almost impossible to be brought about, tho' I had the happiness to meet with a fitt opportunity and sound him with all the adress and dexterity I cou'd wish ; whilst he stays I will not fail to put myself into his way as much as possible. Before this you know Mr. Cecil is gone with Lord Orerry to Holland. At Wills Coffee house I did take the Duke of Argile aside and told him I had writ you some account of the Debates of the Lords upon the Spainish affairs and among
other things I had writ that the Duke of M had reckon'd
your Regiment as one that was taken from the Flanders esta- blishment and had never been made up to him, and that you had not writ to him to tell him the manner 'twas made up, because you did not know but I might have made a mistake
in what the Duke of M said. The Duke of Argile told
he remember very well the Duke of M did say so, and
that he remember then he told him 'twas not then a proper time to answere him but ^yhen it was he cou'd answere, the Debate then running upon the Deficiences at the battle of Almansor ; and afterwards went and sat by him and told him of Cadogan, Ross, and Stairs troops coming over wch made
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