| Content Description | Refers to the speech given by the king [William III] at the beginning of the last session of parliament; says when the oath was brought into the House of Commons, Seymour and many of the court were violently against it; notes a similar situation occurring when Lord Devonshire took a like oath to the House of Lords; claims the dispute between Mr Russell and Lord Nottingham was managed to the prejudice of the king's affairs; one of the results of this was the 'clamour concerning the miscarriages of Ireland'; refers to the conduct of the ministers during the session, and to the fact that the king was accused of breaking his word; comments on the turning out of Lord Bellamont and to the appointment as privy councillor of Lord Conningsby.
Concludes with the observation that the descent is now carrying on, but without possibility of success since there is no money for the army; observes that 'the whole government is loose, no respect paid to it, no order in any of the counsells, nor care of any thing'; says the king went away thinking he had done too much.
The letter is not dated; the date provided is that given N. Japikse, 'Correspondentie van Willem III en van Hans Willem Bentinck, Eersten Graaf van Portland', Rijks Geschiedkundige Publicatiën (the Hague, 1928), No. 24, p 819.
Pw A 1219/2-3 is a transcript of the memorial.
Enclosure at Pw A 1220. |