Folio 159. From Colt. Ham and he have 'inclined' Clary 'by protocol' to make certain...

Folio 159. From Colt. Ham and he have 'inclined' Clary 'by protocol' to make certain propositions [to his court] regarding the subsidies for the Elector of Saxony. 'If the whole sum of 400,000 [Rix] dollars is continued to this Elector, there is hopes of success'. The Elector has issued orders to his troops to commence their march on May 1/10, but these will only reach such as are furthest away from the frontiers, 'so that I fear the whole will not be in motion in 14 days afterwards at soonest'. Gives the Elector's movements; he himself intends to meet him at Leipzig, where all the envoys now at Dresden may take their leave. Judges Clary as a man who, though his character may be just, 'values himself too much and ... will never faile to sett up his own glory at the expence of those who he flatters most and might be usefull to him in the persute of the comon interest ...'. Two commissaries of the [Frankish] circle have arrived, some more are expected 'every moment', but Colt thinks 'these seem rather the instruments of some particular princes, to prevent the troopes from passing their countreys'. Any thought of a 'disturbance' between the Elector and his brother [Frederick Augustus] is denied by the former. PS.: Has just received orders from Blathwayt to 'solicite' Clary to 'pursue' the Grand alliance and 'not to be too forward ourselves' [i.e. himself and Ham] and that he, Colt, was to write Stepney who should press the ministers at Vienna to order 'that nothing be neglected to bring the Elector into the party of the allies, which possible I fancy this prank of his brother's may make more easy to be compassed'. On the whole, the King and the States are not willing to continue above 100,000 dollars yearly subsidies, 'so that none of us must shew great forwardness for the matter'.

Date and Place: 1693 Apr 28/May 8 Dresden