who were fully fatisfied with the affurance he gave them, that the King (i. e. of France) is convinced it is not his intereft to make the King of England ab• folute master in his kingdom; and that his majefty (i. e. of France) would con

tribute his endeavours to bring about ⚫ the diffolution of this parliament, as foon as the time fhould appear favourable. Lord Ruffel told him, he would engage lord Shaftesbury in this affair, and that he fhould be the only man to whom he • would speak of it explicitly; and that they would work underhand to hinder an augmentation of the fum, which has been offered for carrying on the war; and would cause to be added to the offer of the million fterling, fuch difagreeable conditions to the king of England, as they hoped would rather make him with

to re-unite himself with France than to

con

⚫ consent to them. He gave Mr. de Rouvigny to understand, that he suspected your majesty approved of the king of England's declaring war against you, only to give him an opportunity of obtaining money, and under a promise that, as "foon as he had got the money, he would -conclude a peace. Mr. de Rouvigny told him, that to fhew him clearly the contrary, I was ready to distribute a con• fiderable fum in the parliament, to pre

vail with it to refuse any money for the and folicited him to name the

6 war,

per

• fons who might be gained. Lord Ruffel

replied, that " he should be very forry "to have any commerce with persons ca"pable of being gained with money:" but 'he appeared pleased to fee by this proposal, that there is no PRIVATE UNDERSTAND"ING between your majesty and the king of England, TO HURT THEIR CONSTI6 TUTION:

TUTION: He told Mr. de Rouvigny, that • he and all his friends wanted nothing • farther than the diffolution of parliament; that they knew it could only come • from the help of France;" that fince he • affured them it was the design of your

majefty to affift in it, they would trust • him, and would do all in their power

to oblige the king of England to ask your ❝ friendship once more, and by this means put your majesty in a state to contribute

to your fatisfaction: This he affured him • would be lord Shaftesbury's fentiments, 'who was one of these days to fee Mr.

de Rouvigny at lord Ruffel's.' It is added, that Lord RUSSEL told Mr. de Rouvigny, that he had taken the resolution to fupport the affair against the

6

treasurer (lord Danby), and even attack

the duke of York, and all the Catholics'.'

2

Dalrymple's Memoirs, vol. II. p. 132, 133.

ADMITTING the whole of this relation to be true, it does not appear, that lord RUSSEL had any private views to answer by his negociation with the French minifter, or that he promoted any measures which he confidered as detrimental to the interests of his country. In his converfation with de Rouvigny, he intimated his fufpicions, that the French king in tended to affift the king of England in enflaving his fubjects; and that the war which was talked of, was only a concerted

3 From a paffage in a Letter quoted in the "Se"cret History of Europe," (Part I. p. 203.) it appears, that there was a great intimacy between lord RUSSEL and de Rouvigny; and the former might poffibly confider much of what he faid to the latter, as fpoken in the confidence of friendship. Lord RusSEL might alfo converfe with him the more freely, because De Rouvigny was confidered as a firm Proteftant. Vid. Burnet's Hift. of his own Times, vol.

I. p. 366. edit. folio, 1724.

fcheme

fcheme between them, in order to afford Charles a pretence of raifing troops, which might afterwards be employed against his people. RUSSEL and his colleagues were extremely folicitous to prevent this; and were willing even to promote fome of Lewis's views, if by that means they might detach him from any connexions with Charles, which were unfavourable to the national liberties. But it may not be improper here, in order to throw fome light upon the fubject, to make a few obfervations on the fituation and character of lord RUSSEL, on the state of public affairs at that time, and on the connexions then fubfifting between the French court and that of England.

LORD RUSSEL was the eldest surviving fon of William Earl of Bedford, and of course heir to the title and eftate of that nobleman. He was not more distinguished

by