76

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XXV.

1701 .

was complete and irreparable, he began to feel serious' uneasiness. His ministers were directed to declare every-where that their master had no intention of affronting theEnglish government, that he had not violated the Treatyof Ryswick, that he had no intention of violating it, thathe had merely meant to gratify an unfortunate familynearly related to himself by using names and observingforms which really meant nothing, and that he was re-solved not to countenance any attempt to subvert thethrone of William. Torcy, who had, a few days before,proved by irrefragable arguments that his master couldnot, without a gross breach of contract, recognise the Pre-tender, imagined that sophisms which had not imposed onhimself might possibly impose on others. lie visited theEnglish embassy, obtained admittance, and, as was hisduty, did his best to excuse the fatal act which he haddone his best to prevent. Manchester’s answer to this at-tempt at explanation was as strong and plain as it could bein the absence of precise instructions. The instructionsspeedily arrived. The courier who carried the news of therecognition to Loo arrived there when William was attable with some of his nobles and some princes of the Ger-man Empire who had visited him in his retreat. The Kingsaid not a word: but his pale cheek flushed: and he pulledhis hat over his eyes to conceal the changes of his coun-tenance. He hastened to send off several messengers. Onecarried a letter commanding Manchester to quit Prance