Well, but to pursue him in his Reveries; I should publish, says our mortal Foe to Vanity, p. 9. juster and more solid Memoirs than Sir W. T. has done, if I had any Inclinations to appear in Print; and yet to see what a strange Spirit of Contradiction possesses some people, he adds in the very next Lines that follow, Not that I have the Presumption to imagine my self more capable of performing such an Undertaking than He is. In the first place he proclaims it to all Mankind, that he is fitter to write just and solid things than Sir W. T. and secondly, before the Words are well out of his Mouth, he would not be guilty of so much presumption as to think himself better qualified for such an Undertaking than Sir W. T. If there be any meaning in this sensless inconsistent passage, it amounts only to this, viz. That 'tis possible for a Man to write more justly and solidly than another (as for instance Monsieur de Cros (if you'll take his own Word for it) can write more justly and solidly than Sir W. T.) and yet after all, with these two Qualifications, is not capable of writing better than he that has neither of them. Writing justly and solidly are none of Monsieur de Cros's Talents; and therefore he was resolved to be revenged upon them.
What follows is extremely surprizing. Whenever I put Pen to Paper, says Monsieur de Cros, p. 9. I will write without Complaisance, without Flattery, without Passion: 'Tis strange he did not add without Sence and Meaning. No doubt but Monsieur de Cros will write without Complaisance let him begin when he will; so far we readily believe him: But that he will ever be persuaded to renounce two of the dearest Qualities about him, Flattery and Passion, is somewhat hard to digest. 'Tis true he promises fine things all along, but is still so unkind to himself as to give us but very small hopes that he'll remember to be as good as his Word. And 'tis very natural for the censorious World not to regard what a Man promises, especially if he does not regard them himself. In this small inconsiderable Letter, as short as it is, he has taken care to exercise both his Flattery and his Passion; and if it was impossible for him to write four Sheets without calling them both to his Assistance, can it be supposed he can write threescore without a spice of them? Nay, continues the sweet-tempered Monsieur de Cross, I will not express the least Passion, no, not so much as against Sir W. T. but will do him the kindness to instruct him in abundance of things, which he poor Man has executed without knowing the true Reason why he was set on to do them. This is an Effort of good Nature which Sir W. T. little imagined to receive at his Adversary's hand, and upon that score very much questions the continuance of it. Perhaps, as was intimated before, the Court might employ Sir W. T. in some Affairs, without acquainting him with the true Grounds and Motives; and 'tis evident Sir W. T. no where denies it. However if Monsieur de Cros will so far oblige him as to give him a true Light into those Matters, he promises to receive it with all due Gratitude and Deference.
I came not by this Intelligence, says Monsieur de Cros, p. 9. by being a Counsellor of State to King Charles the II. How then in the name of Wonder came he by it? But by having had the Happiness for several years to possess no small room in the confidence of a certain Minister, who has in several occasions of the last Importance been as it were the Primum Mobile of that Conduct, which has surprized all Europe. 'Tis a scurvy Complement, this to the Memory of K. Charles (whom for all that de Cros pretends still to honour) to tell the World that Monsieur Barillon (for that is the first Letter of this certain Minister's Name) an Ambassador of a foreign Prince, and one engaged in Interests visibly opposite to those of England, knew more of his Affairs than any of his own Subjects and Privy-Counsellors. The whole Nation is indeed satisfied that our Court was at that juncture too much influenced by French Councils; but few will be brought to believe that the French knew more of our own Affairs than we our selves did. By their Bribes and constant Application to the Ministry then reigning we grant they might know as much as we, but hardly more, unless it be proved that we did their Business implicitly, just as Sir W. T. run through several Negotiations for K. Charles, without knowing the Reasons and Grounds of them. As we have already observed, 'tis no new thing for our mighty Statesman to contradict himself, and he does it trés grossiérement in this particular. Here he informs us that he owes all his Intelligence to his frequent Conversations with Monsieur Barillon; and a little below, where we shall, perhaps, examine this Matter more carefully, we are told, p. 29. that this Ambassador came not to London till several years after his Arrival there, and that then he never maintain'd any Commerce with him au prejudice de son devoir, i. e. to the prejudice of his Duty. Now how Monsieur de Cros as Counsellor of State to King Charles the II. should be ignorant of several important Affairs relating to that Prince, but as the Confident of Monsieur Barillon, should be made acquainted with them, and yet all this while preserve his Duty inviolate, is a contradiction fit to be reconciled by no Man but the Party that made it.
Having thus made it appear from whence he borrowed his Materials, Monsieur de Cros very gravely assures his noble Lord, p. 11. that after his death infallibly, and perhaps while he is alive (for alas, poor Gentleman, he never knew his own Mind above a quarter of an hour) his Memoirs shall appear in publick, and there he will discover abundance of things the truth of which has been hitherto concealed with so much Address and Dexterity. Lord what an insufferable deal of Impertinence and Noise have we already had about the intended Writings of Monsieur de Cros. First of all he promises, p. 8. to print a Book of Remarks upon Sir W. T's Memoirs, and this Book is to be at least full as big as the Memoirs. In the second place, p. 9. he promises to visit the World with a Book of his own Memoirs, in which (to see how strangely Children and Books do sometimes degenerate from their Parents) there is to be neither one Word of Complaisance, nor Flattery, nor the least grain of Passion. Nay what is more remarkable, it shall reveal several important but hidden Truths; it shall unlock the Cabinets of Princes; it shall turn Whitehall and Versailles inside out, and in short come out with a hundred more Advantages than ever any Book before it could boast off.
But what will you say to him, if after all this Parade and Ostentation, he never publishes his Memoirs; for upon my Word the thing is extremely doubtful. Can it be imagined that a Man of Monsieur de Cros's Christian Temper and Complexion will ever be accessary to any Man's Ruine, but especially to that of a great Minister of State, who can be reproached with nothing in the World, p. 12. but only a blind Obedience to the Will of the King his Master? No, no, he is far from pursuing the Destruction of any one, tho' never so great an Enemy to him; and therefore since his Memoirs will most infallibly ('tis his own Expression, ibid) produce so tragical an effect, there's no Question but he may be easily prevailed with to suppress them. Besides what may serve to confirm us farther in this Opinion, he solemnly professes, p. 12. that he still preserves a profound respect for the Memory of the late King, and that he has a great regard for several Persons of Quality who even at this time of day are deeply interested that he should hold his Tongue. Now from hence I gather that as 'tis impossible for him to write his Memoirs without being somewhat familiar with the Reputation of King Charles the II. (and if so, why does he quarrel with Sir W. T. p. 38. for prostituting that Prince's Reputation, since by this passage 'tis apparent that a Man cannot avoid the doing of it, provided he designs to write sincerely) so 'tis probable that this Consideration may incline a Man of his Compassion and Bowels to forbear the sacrificing a dead Monarch to his Indignation; especially since it must be attended with the unavoidable ruine of several eminent Persons still alive. Thus after a due Examination of the Matter, I find 'tis a difficult Case to resolve whether Monsieur de Cros will infallibly publish, or else infallibly suppress his Memoirs.
If Monsieur de Cros designed this Letter as a Specimen of what he shortly resolves to enrich the World with, he's extremely mistaken in his Politics. To pretend it is an Answer to the Impostures of Sir W. T. Réponse aux impostures de Monsieur le Chevalier Temple (for all this it threatens to perform in the Title Page) and yet not to prove him faulty in one single Matter of Fact, but only in general Terms to say he is frequently mistaken, which yet the best Man in the World may be without deserving the Name of Impostor; and that care shall be taken to satisfie him better at some other Opportunity, was certainly the grossest and most absurd Solœcism in the World. But not to dwell any longer upon this nauseous Chapter, I am sorry for my Reader's sake, who it may be expected a more agreeable Entertainment, that I have obliged my self to pursue Monsieur de Cros from Paragraph to Paragraph: For Connexion being the least thing he troubles his Head with, his Answerer, of Consequence, must be forc'd to ramble along with him: But this being too late to be prevented now, I return to him once more.
My Lord 'tis not my Design (cries Monsieur de Cros, p. 13.) to write you a Letter full of Invectives against Sir W. T. Now if that were not his Design, he would very much oblige the World to let them know at his first Convenience what it was. Neither shall I descend into the Particulars of his Conduct. A wonderful great Favour! and Sir. W. T. to show he is resolved not to be behind-hand with him in Courtesie, promises by way of requital, never to trouble himself with the Particulars of his. I shall say no more at present than what is barely necessary to convince your Lordship and all the World, that I have the means in my hands to revenge my self abundantly for the injuries he has done me. To return a full Answer to this last period, we need only put him in mind of the Proverb, Canes timidi vehementiùs latrant quam mordent, and much good may it do him.
The next Paragraph carries a very mournful Mien with it; for there he complains that Sir W. T. set upon him first, that he writes with a Spirit of Vengeance, that he suffers himself to be transported with ungovernable Heats like a Man who fancies he is touch'd to the Quick: But now mind what follows, As for my self p. 13. I protest to you My Lord, that I write de Sang Froid in cold Blood. How consistent Writing in cold Blood and a hot Head is, I leave it to Monsieur de Cros to determine at his Leisure. In the mean time an inconsidering Man who sees such sort of Stuff so often repeated would imagine that our Letter-writer had all the Meekness of a Primitive Saint, and carried no such thing as a Gall about him; when 'tis plain, we may say the same thing of his Gall, what some Physicians have observed of the Liver in a vitiated Constitution, crescente Liene decrescit reliquum Corpus; and that his has increased at the Expence of the rest of his Body.
To be fully satisfied of the Truth of this, let us examine what follows next. 'Tis true, says Monsieur du Cros, p. 14. that Sir W. T. has glittered for some time, but then he borrowed all his Lustre principally from the Protection of a certain Noble-Man whom at last he betray'd, and of whom he makes insolent mention in his Memoirs, and that with the blackest Ingratitude that may be. This is a very severe Charge, if it could be made out: But neither did Sir W. T. derive all his Lustre from my Lord A——n, nor does he treat him insolently any where in his Memoirs. As soon as that Lord forsook his Master's and the Kingdom's real Interests to cultivate the growing Power of a Neighbouring Nation, Sir W. T. thought it high time to leave him; but it never enter'd so much as into his Thoughts to betray him. After this, continues our Pamphleteer, he advanced himself by the Patronage of some other Persons, to whose Service he intirely devoted himself, to the Prejudice of his Duty; and so well did he insinuate himself into their Confidence and good Graces, the Post he was in giving him the privilege to have a frequent Access to their Persons, that he was in a Capacity to have rendred very considerable Services both to the King his Master and to his Country if he had made the best Use of that Advantage. If Sir W. T. ever failed of doing the best Offices he could for his King and Country, it might perhaps proceed from want of better Information, but his Duty and Affection were never in fault. This he thinks a sufficient Reply to this ill-grounded Calumny; for he never dedicated himself so intirely to the Service of other Persons (Monsieur de Cros must here mean the P. of O.) as to make the least Infringement of his Allegiance. And this will notoriously appear by several Passages in the Memoirs, but particularly p. 153. where Sir W. T. gives a large Account of a long Conversation between the P. of O. and himself in the Garden at Hounslerdyke. The Prince had been telling him before, that the Dispositions and Designs of the Court were generally thought so different from those of the Nation, especially upon the Point of Religion, that his Friends there did not believe the Government could be long without some great Disturbance unless they chang'd their Measures, which was not esteem'd very likely to be done. To which Sir W. T. answered That his Friends (as they pretended) in England must see farther than he did to believe the King in any such Dangers and Difficulties as they imagined. That the Crown of England stood upon surer Foundations than ever it had done in former times, and the more for what had passed in the late Reign; and that he believed the People would be found better Subjects than perhaps the King himself believ'd them. That it was however in his Power to be as well with them as he pleased, and to make as short Turns to such an End; if not, yet with the help of a little good Husbandry he might pass his Reign in Peace, tho not perhaps with so much Ease at home or Glory abroad as if he fell into the Vein of his People. What could Monsieur de Cros himself have done more in such a Station? Here was not the least Injury design'd to the late King, and as for the other Part of Sir W. T's Discourse, his Obligations as well as Ties of Friendship to the Prince necessitated him to give him a faithful Representation of Affairs in England. But our furious Counsellor of State is still inveighing against Sir W. T. for being often deficient in an exact Fidelity, which every Minister is obliged to preserve inviolably even in Matters of the least Consequence. Sir W. T. to his great Comfort is not the first Minister that has sometimes made bold to disobey or suspend his Masters Orders, by the same Token that there are the Names of several upon Record, who after they have transgress'd upon this Point, instead of Frowns or Punishments, have received Rewards from their respective Princes as soon as they came to be better inform'd. After all an implicite blind Obedience may do well in France, or under a despotick Climate; but all the Application in the World will never bring it to Perfection in England.
Well, but says Monsieur de Cros, p. 15. the late King of England found him out at last, and was so sensible of it, that tho he dispatch'd him with a Commission into Holland, he did it only out of a Consideration of the Acquaintance he had there. And a little lower, Nor was he then made use of but only in such Occasions as are never devolv'd upon a Man with whose Conduct and Trust a Prince is well satisfied, or for whom he has any regard and esteem; a Truth owned and acknowledged by Sir W. T. himself in his Memoirs. If Sir W. T. had half the Vanity that makes so large a Share in the Composition of Monsieur de Cros, he has here a fine Opportunity to tell the World what particular Confidences his Prince reposed in him; but as this can be no News to his Friends in England, so he does not esteem it worth the while to proclaim it to Foreigners, some of whom perhaps are too much prejudiced against him to receive any thing in his Behalf. 'Tis true indeed, that Sir W. T. frequently takes notice in his Memoirs of the many Marches and Counter-Marches of our Court, as he had just Reason to do, and as all Europe observed as well as he. However he must humbly beg Monsieur de Cros's Pardon, if he cannot believe that they were done with any Design to prostitute him to the World: For if that were true, he thinks they carried on their Revenge too far, and instead of prostituting his Character did but prostitute their own more effectually.