Report to the Right honourable the master of the rolls upon the documents in the archives and public libraries of Venice / by Thomas Duffus Hardy.
- Thomas Duffus Hardy
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report to the Right honourable the master of the rolls upon the documents in the archives and public libraries of Venice / by Thomas Duffus Hardy. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.
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![walk was terminated by the King's going to table ; he supped in public with the above-mentioned Duchess and a number of officers of the Crown. I was the only foreigner who had the honour to sit at the royal board. The King seemed to treat me with partiality and confidence ; he addressed himself to me very often, and asked me for some of the viands which were placed before me. He discussed a variety of topics, and alluded to bis journey to Venice, saying he shall be able to find his way from St. Stae, where he lodged, to Rialto and St. Mark's. He then went to bed, and on Wednesday morning I attended his levee, and as he was invited to dine at Lord Glocestre [sic, Lord Rochester's?], in a house two miles from Hampton Court, towards London, I preceded him thither; and on that same evening at the Court I saw Secretary Stanhope, to whom I an- nounced the King's will about granting the passport [for Colombo]. He pledged himself to send one to the Britannic Minister at the Porte by the first opportunity for dispatching letters thither, and that he would place a second in my hands, which I shall have the honour to forward to your Excellencies, as I do not suppose it will be any longer in time to find Colombo at Smyrna. Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, Prince Curasino (sic) [Karaskin ?] came to my house, apologizing for having failed to hold the conference promised me at his own residence. This Minister answered my inquiries with as much frankness as I could possibly desire, owing to the good friendship maintained by me with him at several German courts. Concerning the purchase of ships made by him for his master the Czar [Peter the Great], from 1712 down well nigh to the present time, he told me that he had purchased 13 in all, viz., one of 74 guns, four of 64, the rost of 54, and one, the'smallest, of 48 ; they were all lately-built vessels, of from six to seven years old, only one numbering eight years. Part of them half fitted out, and the rest rather less. He obtained them through merchants, and promised to give me the names of some of them, or of those best informed. He said that this would be for me as for him, the most direct method, and the easiest and most advantageous. He promised me some notes of the prices paid by him, and in conclusion said that a ship of 80 guns, completely found, had been offered him, which the Czar declined to purchase. I know not what scruples induced him to request me to keep his communications a close and confidential secret, but as I was obliged to give him my word of honour to this effect, I venture to beseech your Excellencies to make me appear punctual and discreet. This Prince Caraxino (sic) [Karaskin ?] took leave yesterday of the King, to whom I shall give account of the interview, as he suggested it to me, and will assuredly be glad of the result. If necessary, I shall ask him to grant me his royal favour, quite in a private way, for the sake of obtaining every possible advantage, though of this there is small need, as with merchants the strongest recommendations proceed from good bills of exchange. On foundations of this sort, should hope not to deceive myself in promising your Excellencies some such purchases as you desire. I shall be on the watch for your most revered orders, and in the mean- while will not fail to keep on foot such negotiations as may best enlighten and render me more capable of serving you. I am, with profound veneration, etc. Giacomo Querini, Cavr. London, — June 1715. ■Si From the same to the same. On Wednesday the charges against some of the four persons impeached, [Ormond, Oxford, Bolingbroke, Strafford] were to have been taken up to the House of Lords; but for good reasons this was delayed until that day week. Both parties employ all possible devices. The Whigs seek to annihilate the Tories utterly, and to place them under the yoke : they](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21021284_0102.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
