388

[388. Letters Historical and Galant. Vol. 6]

As all men do not think alike, some thought this Answer was Judicious and Reasonable; others condem
ned it, and the French Gentlemen were desired again and again to explain themselves in writing, but to no pur
pose. They still persisted in the same Sentiments, and not long after, some incidents happened that put a stop to
the Conferences. In the mean time, Madam, you are not to think that the Emperor has been the Sole Oppo-
ser of the peace. I told you already that most of the Allies were no more satisfied than he withe the Conditions
that were porposed; And you may see the Elector of Hanover's Sentiments by reading the following Memoir.

The Memorial of the Baron de Bothmar, Envoy Extraordinary from
his Electoral Highness of Hanover, relating to the Peace, presented to the Queen
of Great Britain, December. 9th. 1711.

"His Electoral Highness of Brunswick Lunenburgh having sent back his underwritten Minister
"of State, and of his Privy Council, the Baron de Bothmar, to the COurt of Great Britain, has principally or-
"dered him most humbly to thank her Majesty for the Honour she has done him in communicating to him what
"has lately passed touching the Negotiation of Peace, by a Person of such Distinction and Trust as the Earl
"of Rivers, and for the New proof of the honour of her Friendship, which on this Occasion she has been
"pleased to give him and his most Serene family, by her generous care for it's interests.

"His Electoral Highness refers himself particularly to the Sentiments which he declared to my Lord
"Rivers, and to the Answer which he caused to be given him in writing on his Propositions. He thinks he
"should be wanting to the Respect due to the Confidence with which her Majesty has honoured him, if he should
"not answer it with that Sincerity which she has reason to expect from her true and most Zealous Servant &
"Friend, who is more concerned for her Glory and Interest than any Person in the world. He hopes her Majesty
"will do him the honour to accept in that sense and in that Intention, as well what he has taken the Liberty to
"cause to be reported to her of his Sentiments, by the abovesaid Lord Rivers, as what he has ordered his un-
"derwritten Minister to represent further to her Majesty's Ministers.

"The Sentiments of his Electoral Highness on the Peace, and on it's Negotiation are, That the Allies
"have need not only of Positive Declarations, but likewise of Real Securities, especially having to do with an
"Enemy, whose Methods of Acting are well Known. This the former Preliminaries provided for, by Obliging
"France to give up previously some Places of Security. In these there is neither any real Security, nor any
"clear and Distinct Declaration. All is couched in indefinite general Terms, which in Reality express
"nothing, and upon which, years might be spent in Negotiatin. 'Tis left to be consideered, which is the su
"rest way to put a speedy End to the war, whether by previously Insisting on such Conditions from France
"that nothing may remain to be done in a general Assembly, but to give them the form of a Treaty, or to Open
"that Assembly upon Articles that are Captious and Obscure, which leave an Open field for France to put in
"Practise her usual Intrigues and Chicanes.

"Nothing but a perfect Union between the Allies, while the General Peace shall be treating, and the mu-
"tual Guaranty they shall give each other upon what shall therein be concluded, can secure them for the future.
"Without this, all Europe will fall into Confusion, and sooner or later into Slavery; Especially if Spain and the
"Indies be left in the Possession of a Prince of the House of Bourbon. We cannot flatter our selves that after a
"Peace Concluded, even in this manner, Great Britain can be in safety, and maintain it self in a Quiet and flourishing
"Condition, unless it continue with the States General and the other Allies, in an Union that may defend all of them to-
"gether against the Enterprises of France. All their forces united, have hardly been sufficient to save them; whence it
"may be Judged what would happen, if that Crown should have the Fortune to divide them, and what it would be
"able to put in Execution after having taken breath some Years, and reinforced it self by Spain, and the Riches of
"the Indies. Tis not doubted therefore, that her Britannick Majesty proposes to Act in this whole affair jointly
"and in Concert with her Allies, conformably to the Assurances which she has given them. But to Banish all
"Distrust, it would be necessary that there should be no secret Negotiation, which might give ground for Suspicion
"that one or other of the Allies might make their own Treaty separately.

"All the Allies will gladly concur to conclude the Peace, provided they may have their Security in it, there
"not being any one Among them who is not weeary of the Expence and Inconveniences of the War, or would be
"willing to Continue it when it shall cease to be necessary. Further, not one of them but would take plea-
"sure to contribute with all his Power to Obtain for Great Britain such Conditions and Advantages as it can