L30/14/346/3

From St. Saphorin, the Hague to 2nd Baron Grantham. (In French):

13 Aug 1782

From: 1782 To: 1782

Translation: My Lord, There is certainly no-one among all the people who have heard with joy that Your Excellency has been appointed to the post of Secretary of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, for whom this advancement has caused a livelier satisfaction than for me. I beg that you will accept my heartiest congratulations, and that you will be persuaded that I will always take an interest as sincere as it is respectful, in all that touches you, and that I will never forget the constant marks of your kindness, that I received for the whole duration of my stay in Spain. I rejoice in your frank dealings and friendship towards Max[word illegible] de Juel and towards his successors, which I flatter myself to be an indication of your way of thinking in regard to our Court. What a satisfaction it would be if we were ever to have as Great Britain’s Minister here, Mr Robinson, whose character makes him loved and cherished wherever he goes. In the midst of the difficulties of the moment and those inseparable from an important post, are you able to find, in the lively satisfaction of serving your King and your respected country, a true compensation for the personal pleasures that you sacrifice to this work, as honourable to you as it is useful to your nation and those who are its natural friends? I have also learned with pleasure of the distinguished position which Mr Maddison occupies with you Mylord, the more so, as you know his exactness of mind and his patience at work, and his rare good heart, and I am sure that you are congratulating yourself on having his compatriot, Mr Pole Carew, whose distinguished worth and amiability will certainly not escape the penetrating eyes of Your Excellency when you know him, May I beg you to bring me to the remembrance of the worthy and respected Chevalier Yorke, and to accept the distinguished and unalterable consideration with which I have the honour to be My Lord, Your Excellency’s very humble and obedient servant, de St Saphorin.

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Juel,
Robinson, Frederick,
Maddison,
Carew, Pole