n honourable place in
history. There is a letter of Lady Temple's, written to her husband in
1670, which shows how interested she was in the part he took in
political life, and how he must have consulted her in all State
matters. It is taken from Courtenay's _Life of Sir William Temple_,
vol. i. p. 345. He quotes it as the only letter written after Lady
Temple's marriage which has come into his hands.

THE HAGUE, _October 31st, 1670_.

My Dearest Heart,--I received yours from Yarmouth, and was very glad you
made so happy a passage. 'Tis a comfortable thing, when one is on this
side, to know that such a thing can be done in spite of contrary winds.
I have a letter from P., who says in character that you may take it from
him that the Duke of Buckingham has begun a negotiation there, but what
success in England he may have he knows not; that it were to be wished
our politicians at home would consider well that there is no trust to be
put in alliances with ambitious kings, especially such as make it their
fundamental maxim to be base. These are bold words, but they are his
own. Besides this, there is nothing but that the French King grows very
thrifty, that all his buildings, except fortifications, are ceased, and
that his payments are not so regular as they used to be. The people here
are of another mind; they will not spare their money, but are
resolved--at least the States of Holland--if the rest will consent, to
raise fourteen regiments of foot and six of horse; that all the
companies, both old and new, shall be of 120 men that used to be of 50,
and every troop 80 that used to be of 45. Nothing is talked of but these
new levies, and the young men are much pleased. Downton says they have
strong suspicions here you will come back no more, and that they shall
be left in the lurch; that something is striking up with France, and
that you are sent away because you are too well inclined to these
countries; and my cousin Temple, he says, told him that a nephew of Sir
Robert Long's, who is lately come to Utrecht, told my cousin Temple,
three weeks since, you were not to stay long here, because you were too
great a friend to these people, and that he had it from Mr. Williamson,
who knew very well what he said. My cousin Temple says he told it to
Major Scott as soon as he heard it, and so 'tis like you knew it before;
but there is such a want of something to say that I catch at everything.
I am my best dear's most affectionate