For the history of the last twenty years of the seventeenth century the correspondence of William III, if collected and published in the manner in which Groen van Prinsterer has edited the Remains of William I, would be of inestimable value. Groen's last publication, in 1861, of William's Letters up to 1688, is of much importance.

It is of course obvious that this kind of work cannot be complete or, as is commonly said, ‘done once for all.’ Much supplementary matter will yet be forthcoming from the English libraries and archives.

For instance, the British Museum possesses a Collection of William's letters to Ossory during the years from 1675 to 1679, which even in their present fragmentary state would repay investigation, especially as they are extremely confidential on political matters:

‘Vous aimant et estimant,’ says the Prince in one of them, ‘autant que je fais. Dieu veuille que les bonnes dispositions qu'il y a chez vous pour notre parti ayent l'effet que je souhaite passionnement, sans quoi nous sommes assurement fort mal à cheval.’

From the first they shew us William absorbed in the combined system of English and European politics, to which he was destined to devote his life with incomparable success; his high-minded purposes are very manifest: ‘J'espère que le tems fera voir à tout le monde que je ne ferai jamais rien, qui soit contre mon honneur et mon devoir.’