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DIRECTOR   Gary Collins

ABOUT

No apology, therefore, can be deemed necessary, for presenting to the reader the Correspondence of the Duke of Shrewsbury, who was a principal actor in the Revolution, who possessed the full confidence of king William, and held the office of Secretary of State during the greater part of his reign. The value of these papers will be more highly estimated, when it is considered, that they are not mere official documents, but private correspondence, never intended for the public eye. The Collection is divided into three Parts : The First Part contains the Correspondence with king William. It comprises the earliest period of the duke of Shrewsbury's official career, from his appointment as Secretary, at the Revolution, to his resignation, in 1690; the ineffectual negotiations, in 1693, to induce him to resume the seals ; and, finally, his epistolary communications with the sovereign, from his second appointment, in April, 1694, to his departure for the continent, in 1700. Little needs be said, to prove the value and interest of this Correspondence, which not only developes many important transactions of state, but exhibits, in the clearest light, the characters both of the sovereign and the minister. The letters of the king are distinguished by good sense and firmness, as well as by a tone of simplicity and condescension, seldom found in the correspondence of a sovereign; those of the secretary, are marked by a respectful frankness, and spirit of independence, which as seldom occur in that of a courtier. With these are blended a few letters, which passed between the duke of Shrewsbury and the earl of Portland, because they may be considered equally as confidentia 1 though indirect communications with the king, snd, in general, explain subjects, alluded to in the royal correspondence.