am called
Newbourg-house, situated between the Hague and Delft, close by the
village of Ryswick; and to this proposition the ministers agreed. Those
of England were the earl of Pembroke, a virtuous, learned, and popular
nobleman, the lord Villiers, and sir Joseph Williamson: France sent
Harlay and Crecy to the assistance of Callieres. Louis was not only
tired of the war, on account of the misery in which it had involved his
kingdom; but in desiring a peace he was actuated by another motive. The
king of Spain had been for some time in a very ill state of health, and
the French monarch had an eye to the succession: this aim could not
bo accomplished while the confederacy subsisted; therefore he eagerly
sought a peace, that he might at once turn his whole power against Spain
as soon as Charles should expire. The emperor harboured the same design
upon the Spanish crown, and for that reason interested himself in the
continuance of the grand alliance. Besides, he foresaw he should in a
little time be able to act against France with an augmented force.
The czar of Muscovy had engaged to find employment for the Turks and
Tartars. He intended to raise the elector of Saxony to the throne of
Poland; and he had made some progress in a negotiation with the circles
of the Rhine for a considerable body of auxiliary troops. The Dutch had
no other view but that of securing a barrier in the Netherlands. King
William insisted upon the French king's acknowledging his title; and the
English nation wished for nothing so much as the end of a ruinous war.
On the tenth day of February, Callieres, in the name of his master,
agreed to the following preliminaries: That the treaties of Westphalia
and Nimeguen should be the basis of this negotiation; that Strasbourg
should be restored to the empire, and Luxembourg to the Spaniards,
together with Mons, Charleroy, and all places taken by the French in
Catalonia since the treaty of Nimeguen; that Dinant should be ceded to
the bishop of Liege, and all reunion since the treaty of Nimeguen be
made void; that the French king should make restitution of Lorraine,
and, upon conclusion of the peace, acknowledge the prince of Orange as
king of Great Britain, without condition or reserve. The conferences
were interrupted by the death of Charles XI. king of Sweden, who was
succeeded by his son Charles, then a minor: but the queen and five
senators, whom the late king had by will appointed administrators of the
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