“That Gibraltar and Minorca should be annexed to the British crown.

“That the Assiento should be granted to Britain for thirty years, with the same advantage as to France; with an extent of ground on the river of Plata, for keeping and refreshing the negroes.

“That Spain should grant to the subjects of Britain as large privileges as to any other nation whatsoever; as likewise an exemption of duties, amounting to an advantage of at least fifteen per cent.

“That satisfaction should be demanded for what should appear to be justly due to Her Majesty, from the Emperor and the States.

“Lastly, That the plenipotentiaries should consult with those of the Protestant allies, the most effectual methods for restoring the Protestants of France to their religious and civil liberties, and for the immediate release of those who are now in the galleys.”

What part of these demands were to be insisted on, and what were to be given up, will appear by the sequel of this negotiation.  But there was no difficulty of moment enough to retard the peace, except a method for preventing the union of France and Spain under one prince, and the settling the barrier for Holland; which last, as claimed by the States, could, in prudence and safety, be no more allowed by us than by France.

The States General having appointed Mons. Buys to be one of their plenipotentiaries at Utrecht, that minister left England a few days after the lord privy seal.  In his last conference with the lords of the council, he absolutely declared, “That his masters had done their utmost, both by sea and land:  That it was unreasonable to expect more:  That they had exceeded their proportion, even beyond Britain; and that as to the Emperor, and other allies, he knew no expedient left for making them act with more vigour, than to pursue them with pathetical exhortations.”

This minister was sent over hither, instructed and empowered by halves.  The ferment raised by the united endeavours of our party leaders, among whom he was a constant fellow-labourer to the utmost of his skill, had wholly confounded him; and thinking to take the advantage of negotiating well for Holland at the expense of Britain, he acted but ill for his own country, and worse for the common cause.  However, the Queen’s ministers and he parted with the greatest civility; and Her Majesty’s present was double the value of what is usual to the character he bore.[3]

[Footnote 3:  Compare this passage with one in Bolingbroke’s “Correspondence” (vol. ii., pp. 108-109):  “He [Buys] came over instructed and empowered by halves.  The ferment which had been created by the joint efforts of the faction here, and of that in Holland, confounded him; and thinking to take this advantage of negotiating well for Holland at the expense of Britain, he has negotiated ill for both and ill for the common cause.  We parted in terms of the greatest civility, and Her Majesty’s present to him was a thousand pounds, which is double the value of what is ever given here to an envoy-extraordinary.” [T.S.]]