pelle, in quality of his Majesty's Embassador Extraordinary and Mediator. To his address upon that occasion is, principally, to be ascribed the prompt compliance of the Spanish ministers with the conditions proposed; as Sir Leoline Jenkins, his predecessor, had met with nothing but evasions and delays before his arrival.

On his return to Brussels, he found letters from the Secretary of State informing him, that he was again appointed Embassador Extraordinary to the States General, in order to confirm the Triple Alliance, and to solicit the accession of the Emperor and the German princes.' Accordingly, he set out for the Hague in August, and was specially honoured during his stay with the confidence of the Prince of Orange, afterward William III. But the measures of the English court changing in September, 1669, in favour of France, he received orders to hasten to England. Here, he at first met with a cool reception; and was even pressed to return to the Hague, in order to sow the seeds of a quarrel with Holland, with which country he had, not two years before, so satisfactorily concluded a treaty of peace. But excusing himself from having any share in this gross transaction, he retired to his house at Shene near Richmond.

In this interval of his recess from public employments, he drew up his Observations on the United Provinces,' and one part of his Miscellanies.'

It redounds greatly to the honour of Sir William Temple, that so long as the Duchess of Orleans, by her fatal influence over her brother Charles II., kept him the dupe of France, he refused to accept of any

function at home or abroad; but on a subsequent change in the politics of the court in 1673, his Majesty, weary of the second Dutch war,* resolved

"The first Dutch war," says Mr. Fox, "had been undertaken against all maxims of policy, as well as of justice; but the superior infamy of the second, aggravated by the disappointment of all the hopes entertained by good men from the Triple Alliance, and by the treacherous attempt at piracy with which it commenced, seems to have effaced the impression of it, not only from the minds of men living at the time, but from most of the writers who have treated of this reign. The principle, however, of both was the same, and arbitrary power at home was the object of both. The second Dutch war rendered the King's system and views so apparent to all, who were not determined to shut their eyes against conviction, that it is difficult to conceive how persons, who had any real care or regard either for the liberty or honour of the country, could trust him afterward, And yet even Sir William Temple (he adds) who appears to have been one of the most honest, as well as of the most enlightened, statesmen of his time, could not believe his treachery to be quite so deep as it was in fact; and seems occasionally to have hoped, that he was in earnest in his professed intentions of following the wise and just system that was recommended to him. Great instances of credulity and blindness in wise men are often liable to the suspicion of being pretended, for the purpose of justifying the continuing in situations of power and employment longer than strict honour would allow : but to Temple's sincerity his subsequent conduct gives abundant testimony. When he had reason to think that his services could no longer be useful to his country, he withdrew wholly from public business, and resolutely adhered to the preference of philosophical retirement (which, in his circumstances, was just) in spite of every temptation, which occurred to bring him back to the more active scene. The remainder of his life he seems to have employed in the most noble contemplations, and the most elegant amusements: every enjoyment heightened, no doubt, by reflecting on the honourable part he had acted in public affairs, and without any regret on his own account (whatever he might feel for his country) at having been driven from them." Speaketh not the Historian this of himself?

to send him to Holland to negotiate a peace. Full powers, however, having been transmitted for that purpose to the Marquis de Fresne, the Spanish Embassador in London, Temple was ordered to treat with him at home, and in three days toncluded the whole affair.

As a reward for his success, he was offered the embassy to Spain: but this, to oblige his old and infirm father, he declined; as he did soon afterward the Secretaryship of State, which he could not afford to purchase at the stipulated price of six thousand pounds.

In June 1674, he was again sent Embassador to the Hague, and was afterward one of the Embassadors and Mediators in the treaty of Nimeguen. It was during his residence in Holland upon this occasion, that he was the great instrument of securing the religion and the liberty of his country, by arranging a marriage between the Prince of Orange and the Princess Mary, daughter of James Duke of York.

This important affair, concerted by Sir William Temple and the friends of the Protestant Religion, was chiefly by his address brought to maturity in 1677, as it was contrary to the will of her father, and not much to the satisfaction of the King himself. In the latter part of the transaction, indeed, he availed himself of the assistance of the Lord Treasurer Danby (afterward Duke of Leeds) who, from his view of the magnitude of the object, declared in print, 'that he would not suffer that part of his service to be buried in oblivion:' yet that Temple was an important agent in this momentous business, is sufficiently proved by a letter (dated November,

1677) which he addressed to his father upon the subject, and which is still extant.*

"Though I do not trouble you often with public news or business, yet I am sensible of having too much neglected it of late, considering what has passed; which I know you will be more pleased with, than any you have been entertained with a great while: for I remember how often, and how much, you have desired to see the Prince of Orange married here; not only from your good wishes to him, but from your apprehensions of some greater matches that might befall us, and with consequences ill enough to posterity, as well as to the present age. I am in a good deal of haste at this present time, and therefore shall sum up a great deal in a little room.

"The Prince of Orange came to the King at Newmarket, where he was mighty well received, both of King and Duke. I made the acquaintance there between the Prince and my Lord Treasurer; and in such a manner, as though they were not at all known before to one another, yet they fell very soon into confidence.

"The Prince said not a word to any of them of any thoughts of a wife, while they stayed at Newmarket; and told me, 'No consideration should move him in that affair, till he had seen the lady.' The day after he saw her here, he moved it to the King and Duke; and though he did it with so good a grace that it was very well received, yet in four or five days' treaty it proved to be entangled in such difficulties, that the Prince sent for me one night, and uttering his whole heart told me, He was resolved to give it over, repenting him from the heart of his journey, and would be gone within two days and trust God Almighty with what would follow and so went to bed, the most melancholy that ever I saw him in my life. Yet, before eleven o'clock the next morning, the King sent me to him, to let him know he was resolved on the match, and that it should be done immediately, and in the Prince's own way.'

"Thus far what had passed went no farther than the King, the Duke, the Prince, the Lord Treasurer, and me: but that afternoon it was declared at the Foreign Committee, and next day at Council; you will easily imagine, with what general joy.

After having performed such important services to the crown and kingdom, Sir William in 1679 was

I cannot but tell you, that no man seems to lay it to heart so much as my Lord Arlington, having had no part in it, which he could not but take notice of to the Prince; who told me, his compliment to him upon it was, That some things, though they were good in themselves, yet were spoiled by the manner of doing them; but this was in itself so good, that the manner of doing it could not spoil it.' I am told, he lays it upon me, and will never forgive me, which I must bear as well as I can: but yet, because you know how we have formerly lived, I will tell you, that it was not only impossible my Lord Treasurer and he should concur in one thing, but he had likewise lost all the Prince's confidence and opinion since his last journey into Holland. Besides, for my own part, I found these two years past, he could not bear my being so well neither with the Prince nor with the Treasurer: but endeavoured by Sir Gabriel Sylvius to break the first, by steps which the Prince acquainted me with; nor could he hold reproaching me with the last, whenever I went to him, though he himself had first advised me to apply myself to my Lord Treasurer all I could, upon my last embassy into Holland, and though I had ever since told them both, I would live well with them both, let them live as ill as they would one with another; and my Lord Treasurer had been so reasonable, as to be contented with it.

"Since the marriage, the King and the Prince have fallen into the business abroad, and agreed upon the terms of a peace, which the King will offer to France; and such as, they both conclude, will secure Flanders. They both agree, that I must of necessity go to Paris immediately upon this errand, and bring a positive answer from that court within a time prefixed. I never undertook any journey more unwillingly, knowing in what opinion I stand already at that court: how deeply they resent the Prince's match without their communication, or the least word to their Embassador here; and with how little reason I can hope to be the welcomer for this errand. But the King will absolutely have it: and so I have made all my small preparations, and think to be gone within two days; which is all at present, but to ask your blessing, and assure you of my being,

"Sir, yours, &c.

"W. T."