| Content Description | Asks to be informed 'how to dispose of your chamberluck', and also for a summary of the letters that were lost; comments that Fagel must appoint someone to fight Mr Stuart [Stewart] for him; informs him that 'the people here have got a foolish maggot in their head, that the Prince [of Orange] is coming over with an Army'; sends greetings to 'Mr Bonet' [Bentinck].
The second part of the letter is written in 'white ink' [invisible ink]; discusses the rumours about the prince coming over; comments that 'even wise men say that there is no ground to believe that this is a true child' [Prince of Wales]; thinks that even if the child is true, the Prince of Orange can use people's humour to his advantage; notes that 'Hawley' [Hampden] thinks there are two questions to be considered - firstly, if 'the present opportunity be sufficient for the business' and secondly if a better opportunity can be expected; notes that Hampden believes that in 3 months the chance will have passed by altogether, as people will have accepted the prince's right, there will have been a parliament, a regency will have been established, and the armed forces will have been increased; discusses further the timing of any action.
Thinks there will be great irritation if the king [James II] proceeds against the whole clergy; expects that a new army will be raised next winter; refers to the dispute between Sunderland and Melfort, commenting that Sunderland believes the queen [Mary of Modena] to be his friend, but that she is Melfort's friend; notes that elsewhere in the country people hope the prince [of Orange] will bring the Duke of Monmouth with him, as 'they neither believe his death, nor the Pr. of Wales's life'.
'Mr Rivers' is identified as James Johnston in Carswell's 'The Descent on England'.
Copy of Pw A 2174.
Copy made in 1733 and forming part of a bundle of papers sent from Holland to England and referred to in the papers of the 3rd Duke of Portland (Pw F 1261). |