h silenced Pomponne
and Torcy.

If renunciations were of any value, the Dauphin and his posterity were
excluded from the Spanish succession; and, if renunciations were of
no value, it was idle to offer England and Holland a renunciation as a
guarantee against a great danger.

The French Ministers withdrew to make their report to their master,
and soon returned to say that their proposals had been merely first
thoughts, that it was now the turn of King William to suggest something,
and that whatever he might suggest should receive the fullest and
fairest consideration.

And now the scene of the negotiation was shifted from Versailles
to Kensington. The Count of Tallard had just set out for England as
Ambassador. He was a fine gentleman; he was a brave soldier; and he was
as yet reputed a skilful general. In all the arts and graces which were
priced as qualifications for diplomatic missions of the highest class,
he had, among the brilliant aristocracy to which he belonged, no
superior and only one equal, the Marquess of Harcourt, who was entrusted
with the care of the interests of the House of Bourbon at Madrid.

Tallard carried with him instructions carefully framed in the French
Foreign Office. He was reminded that his situation would be widely
different from that of his predecessors who had resided in England
before the Revolution. Even his predecessors, however, had considered
it as their duty to study the temper, not only of the Court, but of the
nation. It would now be more than ever necessary to watch the movements
of the public mind. A man of note was not to be slighted merely because
he was out of place. Such a man, with a great name in the country and a
strong following in Parliament, might exercise as much influence on the
politics of England, and consequently of Europe, as any minister. The
Ambassador must therefore try to be on good terms with those who were
out as well as with those who were in. To this rule, however, there was
one exception which he must constantly bear in mind. With nonjurors and
persons suspected of plotting against the existing government he must
not appear to have any connection. They must not be admitted into his
house. The English people evidently wished to be at rest, and had
given the best proof of their pacific disposition by insisting on
the reduction of the army. The sure way to stir up jealousies and
animosities which were just sinking to sleep would be to make the French
e