20
11. LORD MALmSBURY AAN HENDRIK FAGEL, 26 Nov. 1813
2).
My dear Greffier, I have read Lord Grenville's letters with great
attention and with that deference and respect due to the opinioiis
given by so honest, able and experienced a statesman.
2) Archief-Fagel. - De brieven van Lord Grenville aan Hendrik Fagel uit dezen
tijd zun in het archief-Fagel niet door mij aangetroffen, op een kort briefje van
van 30 Nov. 1813 na, van den volgenden inhoud: ,,There was no need of any apology for not answering my letters. I had not the least desire of engaging you in a
discussion of the point to which they relate. I wished only to lay before you the
thoughts of a bystander on the interesting scene in which you are again called upon
to act a part. Having done so, I have gone quite as far as either duty or inclination
prompt me, and I have only to add my sincere wishes, of which you will not doubt,
that elevation you do, or concur in doing, may be as satisfactory in the result as I
am sure it will be on your part upright wid honourable in the intention."
De
brief van Fagel, waarop deze het antwoord is, ontbreekt eveneens.
-
21
I
sutisfied he lia.; told yon his siiiuere and geiiuiiie sentiiilciits
subject highly interesting to him opeiily , honorably and witli
the confidence of' a friend.
He indeed says distinctly, what could not be doubted, that in the
~inha1)11~
event. as lie terms it, of the Prince of Orange being named
Sovereign, he will give these opinions in Parliament; but unless he
sripports them with more cnuviiicing argiimeuts than he sets forth in
those letters, lie will iiot riiake a speech worthy of himself or one
that will produce n i i j &eet.
As those arguments iiow stand, they rest on this single position:
is it, or is it not the wisli of tlie Dutch Natiou to call upon the
Prince to talie the covereigiitj of their Country? If it is, Lord
Grenville confesses he should accept it, and on this he says, andsays
most truely. the whole liiiiges. W e say the same, the same pwcisehj,
hut we kuow. what he does iiot, from all the information come over,
froiii the letters of the Provisional Goveriiment, from the words of
the members 01' the Provisional Government confirmed this afternoon,
thiit it is the general wish of' the Nation that the Prince of Orange
d o u l t l assume tlie Sovereignty : according therefore to Lord Grenville's
own avowal lie ought to accept i t , under what title is of no other
conseqiieiice except that no title slioiild belong to him which the
h t c l i Nation might be hurt b j , or its feeling or prejudices affected.
The two cases Lord Grenville refers to of the Restoration and
Revolution, is provoking an historical polemic controversy in which
few persons would be a match for him-in some points they assimilate, but in many others diíi'er widely froin the present case, and
neither can ever be acted upon as precedents.
I wish the Prince of Orange to take King William for his model.
On his landing a t Torbay he was hailed as E n g ; he proceeded
gradually before he took tlie title or exercised Kingly authority,
perhaps too gradually, since by his forbearance he experienced many
vexations during his reign.
The Prince of Orange should do the sanie. Let him meet the
wishes of the country iii the ñrst instance, itnd make a merit of so
doing. Being once declared their Sovereign, let him extend his
authority according to circiiuistances; let l i i n sound his way. The
Dutch people know the sort of Government necessary for their pïosperity, security and interests, and the Prince when on the spot will
ascertain the degree of power he can obtain. But besides their wishes,
much must also depend on contingencies not to be foreseen, or if
foreseen, not to be prevented: on tlie projects of the allies, on military events, on peace or the duration of war, in B word on all those
uncertainties to which Europe is still liable.
But these are all collateral considerations. To calculate retrospectively
oil
iìrui
it
22
is to presume too mudi un the regularity of hiimau events; to calculate prospectively is presuming too much on our own wisdonl. It is
on the present we can only act, and firmness and decision should
determine this. If the Nation call the Prince of Orange to the
Sovereignty, it would be the height of folly to refuse it.
Lord Grenville admits this and we ask no more.
All great and good events have beeu produced by quick and unshaken decision-and many lost by hesitation and what is called
cnutiolz.