Folio 136. From Colt. Replies at length to Stepney's letter of Mar 8/18. Though certain...

Folio 136. From Colt. Replies at length to Stepney's letter of Mar 8/18. Though certain circles remain 'obstinate' towards the march of the troops led by the Elector, the latter is 'in earnest' and 'Chauvet's presence cannot faile of a good success'. Heeckeren obviously continues his intrigues from afar, there is a tendency to send Ham 'back again with a flea in his ear, and that he should never dare to appear more here', so that Heeckeren might be recalled from Sweden next winter to manage affaires here in this court, especially if this Elector be not brought into the Grand alliance before, as so many hope he will not, nor is it expected without 400,000 dollers yearly be[ing] secured to', as promised him by Sternberg. Reflects at length on Stepney's good relations with his Brandenburg colleague at Vienna [Nicholas Bartholomew] D[anckelman, brother of Eberhard, the Brandenburg minister], the value of his judgment and information. Complains about the ill-use he was subjected to by the Lüneburg courts when 'they' found out that he was particularly trusted by the 'Electrice of Brunswick' [i.e. Sophia of Hanover]. The Elector and Electoress of Brandenburg have 'in earnest' invited him and his wife to stay at Berlin en route to Hanover [whither he is to return]. PS.: Reports arrival from Denmark of the ratification of the Saxon-Danish treaty. He has been promised a sight of it 'because it will give satisfaction to all the allies'. Haxthausen ordered to return home via Wolfenbüttel.

Date and Place: 1693 Mar 24/Apr 3 Dresden