Folios 79-87. Letter dated [February 22 new style] at Paris from Lord Portland to...

Folios 79-87. Letter dated [February 22 new style] at Paris from Lord Portland to the King. Reports on his review with Monsieur de Pomponne of his audience with the King, and public interest of the French on the one hand and the English and Dutch on the other in the outcome of the Kings' discussions on the questions of King James' remaining at Court, and how those who attempted to assassinate King William would be treated, given their continued security and peace depended upon it. Lord Portland stressed the bad impression and negative impact it could have for the French King to allow the attempted assassins to move freely about his Court, even in the presence of Lord Portland. Moreover, Lord Portland complained of the lack of trust shown in the fact that all of his letters to Holland were stopped, opened and thus delayed in arriving at their destination. Monsieur de Pomponne excused himself with difficulty and asserted that it certainly was not done by his orders, and not therefore by the French postal officials, who are under him. Lord Portland reports on his visit to the French King and the Dauphin at Meudon, where it seemed that to put the best complexion on what they refused to do it would be put to him that the French King was honour bound to do nothing given that the two points raised by Lord Portland were publicly discussed before he spoke to the French King or his Ministers of them. Lord Portland believes that the English in attendance on King James will not be allowed in future to come where he is, and perhaps that is all that can be expected. He complains that the flooded river prevents his baggage coming beyond Rouen, and without it he cannot make his entry.