n, which had been resigned by the earl of
Dorset, a nobleman of elegant talents and invincible indolence, severe
and poignant in his writings and remarks upon mankind in general, but
humane, good-natured, and generous to excess, in his commerce with
individuals.

NEGOTIATIONS AT RYSWICK.

William having made some promotions * and appointed a regency, embarked
on the twenty-sixth day of April for Holland, that he might be at hand
to manage the negotiation for a general peace.

* Somers was created a baron, and appointed lord-chancellor
of England; admiral Russel was dignified with the title of
earl of Orford. In February the earl of Aylesbury, who had
been committed on account of the conspiracy, was released
upon bail; but this privilege was denied to lord Montgomery,
who had been imprisoned in Newgate on the same account.

By this time the preliminaries were settled between Callieres the French
minister, and Mr. Dykvelt in behalf of the states-general, who resolved,
in consequence of the concessions made by France, that, in concert with
their allies, the mediation of Sweden might be accepted. The emperor and
the court of Spain, however, were not satisfied with those concessions;
yet his imperial majesty declared he would embrace the proffered
mediation, provided the treaty of Westphalia should be re-established;
and provided the king of Sweden would engage to join his troops
with those of the allies, in case France should break through the
stipulation. This proposal being delivered, the ministers of England
and Holland at Vienna presented a joint memorial, pressing his imperial
majesty to accept the mediation without reserve, and name a place
at which the congress might bo opened. The emperor complied with
reluctance. On the fourteenth day of February all the ministers of the
allies, except the ambassador of Spain, agreed to the proposal; and
next day signified their assent in form to M. Lillienroot, the Swedish
plenipotentiary. Spain demanded, as a preliminary, that France should
agree to restore all the places mentioned in a long list which the
minister of that crown presented to the assembly. The emperor proposed
that the congress should be held at Aix-la-Chapelle, or Franckfort,
or some other town in Germany. The other allies were more disposed to
negotiate in Holland. At length the French king suggested, that no place
would be more proper than a palace belonging to king Willi