himself the worthieft and ableft to fucceed fo great and fo good a Queen.

Permit me alfo, Meffieurs, to inform you, that by the Act of Succeffion, we are to continue in Employment fix Months after the Demife of the Queen, unless the King, her Succeffor, thinks fit to difpofe of it otherwise; wherefore, till then, you will be pleas'd to look upon me as Embaffador of the Crown of Great Britain.

The next Day the States General came to the following Refolution:

Extract of the Register of the Refolutions of their High Migh tineffes the Lords the States General of the United Provin ces. Thursday Aug. 16. N. S. 1714.

Having heard the Report of the Sieur d'Effen, and the

other Deputies of their High Mightineffes for foreign Affairs, who, purfuant tc, and in difcharge of their Commifforial Refolution of the 15th Inftant, have examin'd the Propofal made Yefterday, in a Conference, to the faid Deputies, by the Earl of Strafford, Embaffador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, in relation to the Sicknefs and Death of her Majefty the Queen of Great Britain, and defiring that their High Mightineffes will affift in maintaining the Proteftant Succeffion in the most Serene Houfe of Brunswick; the whole being mention'd more at large in the faid Propofal, and in the Acts of Yefterday.

Which having been taken into Confideration, it was thought fit, and refolv'd, that to the aforefaid Propofal of the faid Earl of Strafford, Anfwer fhall be return'd, That the News their High Mightineffes have receiv'd, first of the Sicknefs, and afterwards of the Death of her faid Majefty, have caft them into the utmost Affliction.

That in this Conjuncture, it is a great Comfort to them to fee, by the Communication the Earl of Strafford has given them, the prudent Measures the Privy Council have taken, even while her faid Majefty was ftill alive, both to defire his Electoral Highness of Brunswick to repair to England with all Speed, and to preferve the Tranquillity of the Kingdom. That their High Mightineffes have ever look'd upon the good Intelligence, Friendship, and Union between the Crown of Great Britain, and this State, as the most folid Foundation of the Safety and Profperity

of

of both Nations, of the Prefervation of the Proteftant Religion, and of the Liberty of Europe; that for that Reafon, they have always endeavour'd to cultivate and improve that good Intelligence and Union, and will still endeavour to do it on this Occafion: That remembering full well the Engagements they have enter'd into by the Treaty of mutual Guaranty, for the Maintenance of the Succeffion in the Proteftant Line, of the most Serene Houfe of Brunswick, they are also refolv'd to perform the fame; and, in order thereto, to take all Measures that fhall be judg'd neceffary: That he, the Earl of, Strafford, may be affur'd, that thefe are the true Sentiments of their High Mightineffes, and he may give thefe Affurances to the Regents of Great Britain, during his Majesty's Abfence; their High Mightinesses wishing, as much as any Men in England can do, that his Electoral Highness of Brunswick, to whom the Succeffion to the Crown is devolv'd, and who is already proclaim'd King, may, without Oppofition, quickly enjoy the Poffeflion of his Kingdoms; and that they will contribute thereto all that shall be in their Power; hoping to find in the Friendship and Affection of his prefent Majelty, what they have loft by the Death of the Queen of moft glorious Memory; of whose Affection and Friendship for this Republick, they have had Proofs on feveral Occafions.

That, moreover, their High Might ineffes will readily continue to acknowledge the Earl of Strafford, in Quality of Embaffador of the Crown of Great Britain.

And an Extract of this prefent Refolution fhall be put into the Hands of the faid Earl of Strafford.

The Night before, after the Arrival of Baron de Bothmar's Secretary with the News of the Death of the Queen of Great Britain, Monfieur Klingraeff, Refident of Hanover, prefented to the States General a Memorial, with a Letter from King George, which was lodg'd in his Hands even tualiter, that is, to be in a readiness if there fhould be occafion; by which his Majefty requir'd of the States, the Performance of their Guaranty of his Succeffion to the Crown of Great Britain; and which was the Refult of a prudent Forecaft, in order to baffle any finifter Defign to defeat the faid Succeffion, which the Modellers of the New Barrier-Treaty might have had in View, when in the 14th Article of it they ftipulated, That the States 'General fhould, at the Requeft of her Royal Majefty, or (after her Deceafe) of the next Heir, born of her Body,

D 3

or.

(on Failure thereof) of the next Proteftant Heir, who fhould, at that Time, have a Title to, and poffefs the Crown, by Virtue of the Acts and Statutes of Great Britain, and not otherwife, furnish the Succours, to make good the Guaranty, concerning the Succeffion to the Crown of Great Britain." (A) The States General affembled upon it that very Night; and the next Day came to the following Refolution':

An Extract from the Regifter of the Refolutions of the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Netherlands.

I

Mercurii die, 15 Augufti, 1714.

N the Affembly to Day, a Memorial was read, prefented by M. Klingraff, Refident of his Electoral Highnefs of Brunswick Lunenbourg, now King of Great Britain, who with it deliver'd likewife to their High Mightinesses a Letter from his faid Electoral Highness, by which they are defir'd in the prefent Occurrence of the Decease of the Queen of Great Britain, to perform their Guaranty, purfuant to the Treaty concluded between her Majesty of glorious Memory, and this State.

Which being taken into Deliberation, 'tis thought fit and refolv'd, that Anfwer fhall be return'd to his faid Electoral Highness, now his Majefty of Great Britain, Piz. That as foon as their High Might ineffes were inform'd of the Sicknefs and Death of her faid Majefty of Great Britain, of glorious Memory, they immediately berhought themselves of the Engagements they had enter'd into, for the Guaranty of the Succeflion to the Crown of Great Britain in the Proteftant Line, fo as it is fettled by Acts of Parliament; that at the fame Time they confider'd with themselves, not only how much it concerns the Kingdoms of Great Britain, that the Settlement of

the

(A) Similiter que Domini Ordines Generales, requifitione facta ex Parte Regia Sua Majeftatis, aut poft Obitam ipfius, HÆREDIS PROXIMI EX ILLA NATI, aut iifdem defici entibus, Succefforis Proximi Proteftantis, qui Titulum & Coronam tunc temporis habuerit, Virtute Actorum Statuto rumque Magne Britanniæ, & NON ALITER, auxilia Subminiftrabunt ad præftandam ipforum Fid juffionem, five Guarantiam fuper Succeffionem ad Coronam Magnæ Britanniæ, &c.

the Succeffion in the Proteftant,Line fhould have entire Effect, but also how deeply the Proteftant Religion, the Safety of this State, and the Liberty of all Europe are interested therein; that therefore they unanimoufly refolv'd to perform their Engagements, and to execute all that by the Treaty of mutual Guaranty they have promis'd; whereto they are the more readily induc'd by the firm. Affurance which his Majefty in the faid Letter is pleas'd to give them of his Good-will towards this State: That as they receiv'd the Acccount of the Death of her faid Majesty with Grief, fo it was very acceptable News to them, that his Electoral Highness, as the next Heir in the Proteftant Line, was inftantly proclaim'd King, by the unanimous Advice of the Council, and with the Acclamations of the People: That they moft heartily congratulate his Majefty thereupon, and with him all farther happy Succeffes in a profperous Reign: That from this good Beginning, they hope his Majefty will take peaceable Poffeflion of his Dominions, without any Oppofition: That nevertheless, their High Might ineffes are willing and ready to perform their Engagements, and to take all proper Measures with his Majefty for that End : That it being likely his Majefty will fpeedily go for England, their High Might ineffes will be very glad if his Majefty will please to take his Journey through they Dominions; that they will endeavour to facilitate his Majefty's Paffage with all that is in their Power; and that they will at all Times fhew the high Esteem they have for his Majesty's Perfon and Friendship, and that they have his Interests as much at Heart as their own.

Which Answer, with a Copy thereof, fhall be put into the Hands of the Refident M. Klingraff, that he may fend the Original to his Majefty, and at the fame Time have a Reply to his own Memorial: Likewife a Copy of this Refolution of their High Might inelles, together with the faid propos'd Anfwer, fhall be deliver'd to M. Van Borfelen, the High Mightineffes Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of Great Britain, who is at prefent here, to ferve for his Inftruction, and for his giving the like Affurance to the Regency in England on his Arrivaļ

there.

On the 16th of Auguft, N. S. this Refolution, with a Letter conformable to it, to King George, was deliver'd to the Refident of Hanover; and, at the fame Time, their High Mightineffes difpatch'd Letters to the States of the

D 4

feveral

feveral Provinces, defiring them, forthwith to provide the neceffary Funds for fitting out a ftrong Squadron of Men of War; of which Twelve, which were faid to be defign'd for the Baltick, were almost ready to put to

Sea.

On the 18th, the Earl of Strafford, Embaffador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, notify'd to the Penfionary of Holland the Death of the late Queen, and the Acceflion of his Majesty King George to the Crown of Great Britain. Two Days after, his Excellency made the fame Notification to the Prefident of the Affembly of the States General; upon which he receiv'd, the usual Vifits and Complements of Condoleance and Congratulation from the Prefident, and chief Members of that Republick. The fame Night, the Earl of Strafford receiv'd two Expreffes by his Majefty's Meffengers; one from Hanover, with a Letter from the King, directing him to continue to take Care of his Majefty's Affairs at the Hague; the other Meffenger came from London; and his Excellency immediately fent him forward, with fome Difpatches for the King.

About the Middle of Auguft, the Count de Tarouca, Enibaffador Plenipotentiary of Portugal, in a Conference with the States Deputies, notify'd to them, the favourable Declaration which the Lords Regents of Great Britain had caus'd to be made to Monfieur de Bruciado, the Portugueze Envoy at London, viz. That Spain should be oblig'd to conclude Peace immediately. with the Crown of Portugal, or that in Cafe of Refufal, his Fortugueze Majefty might depend upon being affifted by the Crown of Great Britain, conformably to the Treaty of defenfive Alliance between thofe two Crowns. This Declaration having been reported to the States General, their High Mightineffes caus'd Affurances to be given to the Portugueze Minifter, That they would readily concur in all Measures,

his Britannick Majefty might judge proper to be taken for obliging Spain to agree with Portugal on fair and juft Conditions of Peace."

On the 28th of August, in the Morning, the Earl of Strafford receiv'd a Letter from the King by a Meffenger, and two Days after, his Excellency made the following Speech to the States General,