one of the Burgomasters went in, and I passed by him. I asked him if he had any good news. He said, "Pas mauvais." When the Prince came up, he said he had another kind of opinion of our business than he had an hour ago; he had now good hopes, and said Monsieur Van Beuninghen had talked the town of Amsterdam into it. He told me how the French Ambassador had been three times to see those of Amsterdam—that he advised them to go to him—that he believed some deputies would be appointed to acquaint him with the reasons—that when one was sure of being able to do a business, he was for making it as easy as they could to them. One good thing the Prince said, that there was not one man in the Senate of Amsterdam that was against it.
25th.A Committee of the States met about ten o'clock, and sate till four. When they came out, I asked them how matters went; and they said they could not tell me, for they were under an oath of secrecy; but I said to one of our friends, that they might tell me whether they went well or ill, and he told me, "well." The French Ambassador does storm most horribly, and says he believes the King his Master will immediately declare war with them for daring to make any kind of alliance without ac-
