Page:English Historical Review Volume 37.djvu/63

 1922 COUNCIL AND CABINET, 1679-88 55 the business of Tangier '- 1 It is, therefore, surprising that, with the exception of one volume for the committee of intelligence, 2 no consecutive series of minutes has come to light, though a stray minute can be found here and there in the register of the privy council itself. It remains now to consider the most interesting of these stand- ing committees, that for intelligence, and to trace the rebirth of the cabinet council. 3 The committee of intelligence was more important than any other committee, and owed its importance chiefly to two factors. One was the presence of the king, who generally but not invariably attended its meetings, 4 and the other was the absence of any restriction as to the topics to be discussed beyond the caprice of the sovereign. 5 The regular diplomatic correspondence from ambassadors abroad was read at this committee and directions were given to the secretary of state concerned as to the replies to be sent. It was sometimes required to interview foreign ambassadors or even to negotiate a treaty. 6 It discussed the answers to be sent to memorials from foreign envoys, and suggested that the resident of the duke of Neuburg might be expelled for harbouring priests. It also dealt with much miscellaneous business referred to it by the privy council. Thus on 2 November 1679 it was ordered to examine the present condition of the Tower ; 7 on 18 August 1680 its report on the ill posture of affairs in Ireland, with recom- mendations to provide for its safety, was read in the privy council. 8 On 23 June 1680 the king ordered that all instructions for naval commanders should always be first brought to the committee of intelligence ' as heretofore they have been to the comittee for forreine affairs '. 9 But the advice of the committee was not sought on the great questions which agitated political circles. 1 Privy Conn. Reg. Ixviii. 26. 2 Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 15643, fos. 1-52. A complete transcript of this volume was placed at my disposal by Professor C. H. Firth, who also lent me some of his own notes on the council, and made many fruitful suggestions. 3 The only reference by an official to the cabinet I have noticed for the period April 1679 to February 1681 is that of Southwell in a letter dated 17 February 1680. It is clear, however, that he is really referring to the committee of intelligence (Register of the committee, 15 and 24 February 1680). 4 There is some evidence to show that he occasionally attended other committees in Anglesey's Diary, Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 18730. 5 The members ' or any three of them (a secretary of state being always one) [were] to be a committee of intelligence for the opening and considering all advices, as well forreigne as domestique and to meete where and as often as they shall think fit ' (Privy Coun. Reg. Ixviii. 5). 6 Register of the committee of intelligence, 16 July,- 7 August, 8 December 1679. 7 Privy Coun. Reg. Ixviii. 267, 461-3 ; Register of the committee, 23 November, 2 December 1679. 8 Privy Coun. Reg. Ixix. 72-3 ; Register of the committee, 8 August, 9 November 1680. 9 Register of the committee, 23 June 1 680.