Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 4.djvu/73

Rh opportunity might arise, of resuming his endeavours toward a peace.

There was at this time in England a French ecclesiastick, called the abbé Gaultier, who had resided several years in London, under the protection of some foreign ministers, in whose families he used, upon occasion, to exercise his function of a priest. After the battle of Blenheim, this gentleman went down to Nottingham, where several French prisoners of quality were kept; to whom he rendered those offices of civility, suitable to persons in their condition, which, upon their return to France, they reported to his advantage. Among the rest, the chevalier de Croissy told his brother, the marquis de Torcy, "That, whenever the French court would have a mind to make overtures of peace with England, monsieur Gaultier might be very usefully employed, in handing them to the ministers here." This was no farther thought of at present. In the mean time the war went on; and the conferences at the Hague, and Gertruydenberg, miscarried, by the allies insisting upon such demands, as they neither expected, nor perhaps desired should be granted.

Some time in July, 1710, mons. Gaultier rereceivedreceived [sic] a letter from the marquis de Torcy, signifying, "That, a report being spread of her majesty's intentions to change her ministry, to take Mr. Harley into her councils, and to dissolve her . IV.