672 
quate reward.’ His instructions were, 
to inform those who directed the 
_affairs of Louis XIV. that the Queen of 
England was desirous of peace, but that 
the members of the cabinet were unable 
to open a separate negotiation with 
France, being obliged, for their own pre- 
servation, to act with extreme caution. 
It was therefore necessary, on the part 
of the Monarch in question, to propose 
to the Dutch, that they should renew 
the conferences for a general pacifica- 
tion, and that when this occurred, 
England would adopt such decisive 
measures, as should render it impossible 
for the United Provinces to manage the 
negotiations, in the same manner as 
hitherto, with a view of rendering them 
abortive. 
“ Gaultier immediately embarked on 
board a vessel, landed at Nieuport on 
the 15th of January, 1711, and inti- 
mated to M. de Torcy, the French mi- 
nister, that he was about to repair to 
Paris, where he would wait for further 
orders, by which he might regulate his 
future conduct. On his arrival there, he 
was sent for to Versailles, aud on being 
introduced, spoke to the Secretary of 
State, as foilows: ; 
«© Tf you are desirous of peace, I am 
ready to communicate the means of ac- 
complishing that great object, independ- 
ently of Holland, the indecent conduct, 
and exaggerated pretensions of which, 
have doubtless wounded the feelings of 
his Majesty, and bereaved him of all 
desire of treating threugh such a chan- 
nel with the allies. 
“The Abbé afterwards communicated 
the present situation of the English go- 
vernment, as well as the views of the 
new miistry, which had succeeded in 
destroying the influence of the whigs, 
more especially of the Duke of Marl- 
borough and his principal friends, whose 
object had ever been to push the war to 
the most violent extremities. It was at 
the same time added, that all at present 
required, was for M. de Torcy to trans- 
init by him a letter to Lord Jersey, who 
was still minister in Holland, merely to 
state, that he was happy to hear he en- 
joyed good health, and thanked him for 
his kind recoilections. It was observed, 
that this letter would be sutficient to de- 
monstrate that the French King was de- 
sirous of peace, and had authorised his. 
minister to listen to the propositions of 
England, whither he would instantly re- 
turn, to bring them back with him as 
fast as possible to Versailles.” 
Retrospect of French Laterature—History~ 
There is, however, another version of . 
this curious intrigue, that finally led first 
toa treaty, and then toa peace. The 
Abbé Alari, who afterwards became a 
frequent _ guest at Lord . Bolingbroke’s 
table, was accustomed to state this 
anecdote in a different manner, observ- 
ing, that he had learned the particulars. 
of his mission to France from the Abbé’s 
own mouth. Gaultier, he said, fre-_ 
quented a coffee-houseé im London, 
where it was usual to discourse freely 
on public affairs. A young man, secre~ 
tary to Mr. St. John, repaired thither 
frequently, and staid so long, that he 
was often absent from the office at the 
hours required for his attendance. The 
minister, who attributed his irregularities 
to dissipation, often reprimanded him - 
for his conduct; but one day, by way 
of apology, he told his patron freely, that 
his neglect originated in’ the pleasure 
enjoyed by him, in a public coffee-room, 
where the company was constantly em-_ 
ployed in discussing the affairs of Europe. 
He added, that the chief orator was a well 
informed Frenchman, who spoke very 
good English. On this St. John was de- 
sirous of seeing Gaultier; and after dis- 
coursing with him, he was so well satis- 
fied with his talents and diseretion, that. 
he determined to send him to France. 
On his arrival at Paris, he informed M. 
de Torcy of the object of his mission, in — 
a letter, written in such a manner as te 
interest the minister, who immediately 
appointed an interview in the Plain of © 
Mount Rouge; and after the Abbé had 
there detailed the particulars entrusted _ 
to him, he was admitted to an audience 
of Louis XIV. But,” continues the 
editor, “is it possible that the presence 
of so obscure a man as Gaultier, at Ver- - 
sailles, where M. de Torcy saw sucha 
crowd of strangers, should be accom- 
panied with the least inconvenience? 
Or that a minister should appoint a ren- 
dezvous in the open air, and amidst 
snow, in the month of January, at the ~ 
risk of exciting suspicion, and discover- 
ing the whole mystery, in order to hear 
a recital, that could be made with 
so much greater ease in his own cabi- _ 
net?” 
In whatever manner the negotiation 
commenced, there can be no manner of 
doubt, but that such a propsition coming 
from England, ata period of unexampled 
prosperity, could not fail to be highly 
flattering and agreeable to the French, 
- King, who was by this time reduced to a 
most humiliating state of depression. —_ 
“« England,” 
