Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/319

 services you have done our Queen and Country obliges me to set the highest marks of esteem on you.

I coulld not refuse the request of Brigadier Devenish made me notwithstanding a sort of resohition I have taken not to meddle in anything that doth not particularly concern myself. I found such ingratitude (and I may justly call it soe) and insincerity from the two cheifs in the late Ministry, and soe little politenesse from two in the present, one that in this coniuncture makes the most figure, that I allmost took an oath never to have to do with any one. I tooke notice of it to a Lady in or neare the court, an old acquaintance of mine ; and she answered me with prudence and caution that she cer- tainly believed it was not for want of a due esteem but out of policy. That can be nothing but that they imagine I am obnoxious and a corresponder elsewhere, or at least thought to be soe. Some years before I came out of England I rid my hands of all that past follies, and ever since I have kept firm to the resolution, and since the Queen's coming to the crown I defie any one to cast a blot on me. I confesse that during the Whig ministry, I was silent and submissive and gave my interest in making members to noe side, because I coulld not give it to a Whig. Since the happy change it lay in my power to render the Queen great services, and I may say I was not idle ; for not only the States Deputies here on that change and those of the Council of State that were not hardened, were much satisfied with what I told them, for they all came to me as distracted persons, imagining the new Ministry either woulld not or coulld not carry on the war ; for they had notions inspired into them as if there was noe mony amongst the Tories and some hinted as if the Queen and new ministry had not the will as well as the power to support the alliance. That last until the arrival of my Lord Orrery. I am here as at the head of the River, I have the good fortune to be thought an honest man and persons of all parties speakes to me freely, and then 'tis impossible but to pick up. I had a thing of the last importance communicated to me ; I did communicate it to the secretary for this district, that is, he sent some one on purpose, I stated all in writing,

�� �