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362 Letters Historical and Galant. Vol: 6

"after the Conclusion of the Peace; on Condition, that for the fortifications of that place, a proper Equivalent that may content him, be given him; and, as England cannot furnish that Equivalent, the Discussion of it shal be referred to the Conferences to be held for the Negotiation of the Peace.

"VII When the Conferences for the Negotiation of the Peace shall be formed, all the Pretensions of the Princes, and States engaged in the present War, shall be therein discussed bona fide and amicably: and nothing shall be Omitted to regulate and terminate them, to the Satisfaction of all the Parties.--

Upon there Preliminaties, Madam, the first Foundations of Peace were laid, or at least, upon those the Assembly meet to go on with it. Tho' the 12th of January 1712 was appointed for this Assembly, it was not opened notwithstanding till the 30th the Same Month, Some Incidents putting a Stop to it. Tis held in the Town House, where there is a very large Hall, proper for it, with several Doors, to prevent any disorders that might happen in point of Precedency. All the Places are equal, there is no upper or lower End, and every body sits in the next place to him. By the Advice of Marshal D'Uzelles the very Looking Glass and Chimney were taken down, the nearness to which might have been taken to be the most honourable place. At one of the Ends of thsi Hall, is one in which the Ministers of the Allies Assemble by temselves, and at the other End another for the French Ministers. So that both Parties, enter from their Apartments into the great Hall, where the General Assembly is Held: And those different appartments have likewise different Doors, through which those Different Ministers enter the Town house, which is very properly Situated for it. I ought to give you a description of it, But I believe I will be much better to send you the Plan, which is easier done, and will give you a more exact Idea of it. You see from the Plan, that this house has several Doors.

--The following is a Copy of a Regulation, made by the Plenipotentiaries among them selves, to avoid all accidents that might happen between their Coachmen and Domesticks.

A Regulation made by the Plenipotentiaries, touching what is to be observed during the Continuance of the Congress.

"I. The Plenipotentiaries shall come to the Conferences each in a Coach with two Horses, and very slender Retinue. They shall go into the Town house at the Door which leads to their Appartment, which they have fixed upon for their Convenience; and to avoid all Quarrels between Coachmen, they shall range their Coaches, at the Side, where their Masters shall go in at.