disposition in the States General, immediately orders were sent to Mr. Prior, to inform the ministers of the French court, "That her majesty had now some hopes of the Dutch complying with her measures; and therefore she resolved, as she had always declared, whenever those allies came to themselves, not to make the peace without their reasonable satisfaction." The difficulty that most pressed was, about the disposal of Tournay and Condé. The Dutch insisted strongly to have both, and the French were extremely unwilling to part with either.
The queen judged the former would suffice for completing the barrier of the States. Mr. Prior was therefore directed to press the marquis de Torcy effectually on this head: and to terminate all that minister's objections, by assuring him of her majesty's resolution to appear openly on the side of the Dutch, if this demand were refused. It was thought convenient to act in this resolute manner with France; whose late success against Holland, had taught the ministers of the most christian king, to resume their old imperious manner of treating with that republick; to which they were farther encouraged by the ill understanding between her majesty and the allies.
This appeared from the result of an idle quarrel that happened, about the end of August[1], at Utrecht, between a French and a Dutch plenipotentiary, mons. Mesnager and count Rechteren[2];
wherein
- ↑ July.
- ↑ The count de Rechteren had filled the highest offices in the state; he had been field deputy, and ambassador extraordinary at the Im-
