the British Minister was not the bubble of it--that whilst he
concerted measures on one hand to traverse the Pretender's designs,
he testified on the other all the inclination possible to his
service. A mad fellow who had been an intendant in Normandy, and
several other politicians of the lowest form, were at different
times taken into this famous Junto.

With these worthy people his Grace of Ormond negotiated; and no care
was omitted on his part to keep me out of the secret. The reason of
which, as far as I am able to guess at, shall be explained to you
by-and-by. I might very justly have taken this proceeding ill, and
the duke will not be able to find in my whole conduct towards him
anything like it; I protest to you very sincerely I was not in the
least moved at it.

He advanced not a step in his business with these sham Ministers,
and yet imagined that he got daily ground. I made no progress with
the true ones, but I saw it. These, however, were not our only
difficulties. We lay under another, which came from your side, and
which embarrassed us more. The first hindered us from working
forward to our point of view, but the second took all point of view
from us.

A paper was sent into England just before the death of the King of
France, which had been drawn by me at Chaville in concert with the
Dukes of Ormond and Berwick, and with Monsieur de Torcy. This paper
was an answer to the memorial received from thence. The state of
this country was truly represented in it: the difference was fixed
between what had been asked, and what might be expected from France;
and upon the whole it was demanded what our friends would do, and