16 James Muilenburg 



John de Witt, but the popular reversion against the French party 

 caused him to turn to the Prince of Orange with whom he was 

 closely associated for the rest of his life. 54 William saw in Dykvelt 

 a skilful diplomat who could help him work out the great aim of 

 his life. Burnet has characterized Dykvelt thus: 



His great abilities, and the insinuating smoothness of his temper, he being per- 

 haps the smoothest man that ever was bred in the commonwealth, procured him so 

 many friends, that the prince was prevailed on to receive him into his confidence. 

 He had a very perfect knowledge of all the affairs of Europe, and a long practice 

 in the government at home. He is very fit for embassies, and it is believed that 

 he loves them. He speaks long and slow, but with great weight; he is a man of a 

 good understanding, and in his private deportment a virtuous and religious man, 

 and a zealous protestant. In the administration of his province, which was chiefly 

 trusted to him, there were great complaints of partiality, and of a defective justice. 55 



Fruin's characterization is enthusiastic: 



He was a born diplomat and possessed the art of listening in such a way that 

 he understood everything, even that which one wished to conceal from him. He 

 also had the knack of speaking so that he never said more than what he wished to be 

 known. Above all, he was, by his manners as well as by his previous sojourns in 

 England, preeminently fitted for this mission. 56 



Dykvelt had already been in England on several important 

 occasions. At the close of the second Dutch war, he was one of 

 three Dutch diplomats in London to negotiate peace. 57 Upon the 

 accession of James, he was again sent to England with the con- 

 gratulations of his government. 88 He had many friends there, 



54 Upon the accession of William to the throne, Dykvelt was sent from Holland 

 as a representative of that nation. In 1689, William secured for Dykvelt the 

 rank of "most favored ambassador." Dykvelt was occupied until the time of his 

 death in 1702 sometimes on the field of battle, sometimes in the courts of the Ger- 

 man princes, often on commissions from William to the Hague, and always on the 

 great diplomatic enterprise, which has helped to give William III his standing as 

 the consummate diplomat of his time. For Dykvelt's leadership at the Congress 

 of Ryswick, see Coxe's Shrewsbury Correspondence, Grimblot's Letters, Archief 

 Heinsius, and the Denbigh Manuscripts in the Historical Manuscripts Commission. 



55 Burnet, History of His Own Time, p. 219, as corrected by Foxcroft. 



56 Fruin, Prins Willcm III in zijn verhouding tot Engeland, p. 151. 



57 Dalrymple, Memoirs, vol. ii, Appendix to Part I, p. 180. 

 De Grovestins, Guillaume et Louis XIV, vol. v, p. 352. 



58 Burnet, p. 416. 



Avaux, Negociations, vol. iv, p. 304, p. 333; vol. v, p. 185. 



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