Folio 15. To Blathwayt. First audience of the elector on Oct 5/15, obtained with...

Folio 15. To Blathwayt. First audience of the elector on Oct 5/15, obtained with Friesen's assistance. Elector cool, observing only that he was ready for a stricter alliance with the King, but progress could only be made after the arrival of the Emperor's envoy. Ascribes lack of civility from high court officials to the elector's 'disgust .... at the instigation of ill men', that the King has not honoured him with an envoy extraordinary, but, by the Saxon court officials' choice, only a 'commissary', not a 'minister' or 'depute'. - Ham, the Dutch envoy extraordinary, who arrived on Oct 6/16 and had his first audience on the same day, is somewhat critical of the 'enterprizes' of the English fleet, particularly the project of a descent. Otherwise he is not at variance with Stepney's views and thinks if the 50,000 rixdollars [subsidies], which are in dispute, can be 'adjusted', the Schöning business ought not to be a great obstacle, despite intrigues planned by Schöning's family and party. Prince Frederik Augustus does not concern himself with the Schöning affair and the elector of Brandenburg with whom that of Saxony plans a meeting at Torgau may exercise a steadying influence on the latter. - Ham informed him that he is 'as good as provided' with the part the States are to pay of the 50,000 rixdollars remaining for this year's subsidies. He, Stepney, hopes the King will soon order payment of the two thirds of his share. - Has not yet paid his courtesey call to countess Rochlitz who has always been with the elector. - Boineburg not yet expected in the electorate, whereby much time is lost. - Reports on a brawl between two Swedish aristocratic adventurers in Leipzig, a count Horn and a Col Bannier (?Banèr) in the course of which the former was slain by the latter. - All papers of the late Sir William Colt recovered by Schweinfurt, except those which deal with transactions at Frankfurt whence Colt was to accompany the elector into the field and which he sent to Hamburg by mistake. - Wishes Blathwayt 'a most safe and easy voyage into England'. Encloses a 'compliment' received through Ham from Eberhard von Danckelmann, chief minister of the elector of Brandenburg, on hearing of his appointment to the Dresden mission. Appends a 'severe epigram' in Latin on the duke of Croy and general count Aspremont after repassing the Save and quitting the siege of Belgrade. It is said to have originated at Ratisbon.

Date and Place: 1693 Oct 7/17 Leipzig