that she would exert all her power to
conclude a speedy peace; that she should be glad to live upon good terms
with the king of France, to whom she was so nearly allied in blood; she
expressed her hope that there would be a closer union after the peace
between them, and between their subjects, cemented by a perfect
correspondence and friendship. The earl of Strafford, who had been
lately recalled from the Hague where he resided as ambassador, was now
sent back to Holland, with orders to communicate to the pensionary the
proposals of peace which France had made; to signify the queen's
approbation of them, and propose a place where the plenipotentiaries
should assemble. The English ministers now engaged in an intimate
correspondence with the court of Versailles; and mareschal Tallard being
released from his confinement at Nottingham, was allowed to return to
his own country on his parole. After the departure of Menager, the
preliminaries were communicated to count Gallas the emperor's minister,
who, in order to inflame the minds of the people, caused them to be
translated, and inserted in one of the daily papers. This step was so
much resented by the queen, that she sent a message desiring he would
come no more to court; but that he might leave the kingdom as soon as he
should think proper. He took the hint, and retired accordingly; but the
queen gave the emperor to understand, that any other minister he should
appoint would be admitted by her without hesitation.

THE FRENCH KING'S PROPOSALS DISAGREEABLE TO THE ALLIES.

The states of Holland, alarmed at the preliminaries, sent over Buys, as
envoy-extraordinary, to intercede with the queen that she would alter
her resolutions: but she continued steady to her purpose; and the
earl of Strafford demanded the immediate concurrence of the states,
declaring, in the queen's name, that she would look upon any delay, on
their part, as a refusal to comply with her propositions. Intimidated by
this declaration, they agreed to open the general conferences at Utrecht
on the first day of January. They granted passports to the French
ministers; while the queen appointed Robinson, bishop of Bristol, and
the earl of Strafford, her plenipotentiaries at the congress. Charles,
the new emperor, being at Milan, when he received a copy of the
preliminaries, wrote circular letters to the electors and the princes of
the empire, exhorting them to persist in their engagements to the grand
all