Stuart dynasty

236 The Stuart Dynasty.
Paper XLIX.
Lord Bolingbroke to Chevalier de St. George.
(Extract.)
" Vaugirard, near Paris,
" Monday near six in ye evening.
(No date.)
" Sir,
" The Valet de Chambre who brings you this letter is just
returned from Versailles, and would no longer defer sending
to you, since tho' ye King is not dead, his Death is equally
sure. Mons. de Torcy sent me word that ye gangreen is got
into his belly, and y* he must dye in few hours.
" Since this I have seen another who comes with like
account from another friend. All centres in Overbury (the
Regent Orleans) ; for God sake let me know whether I should
not, or rather Charles (Ormond) ask to see him and speak to
him in your name ; he is left Eegent.
" Tho' I never saw L d Peterborow, yet his conversation
with Iberville seems to answer perfectly the character I have
had of him.
" Your intimacy with him makes you the most proper judge
of what may most contribute to dipp him."
Paper L.
Clievalier de St. George to Lord Bolingbroke. The writer is
apprehensive of the death of Louis XIV.
" Tuesday, 27th August,
at 8 at night.
" To E. Bol.
" Your Cousin brought me yours of last night an hour ago.
I reckon the good King dead before this, and therefore too
many advances cannot be made to the Eegent. By my last
I authorised you to speak to him from me, that is now neces-
sary and more natural for you to do it than another, being
in the post I placed you, but that doth not hinder Charles
(Ormond) from going also — I even think 'tis proper for you
both to do so.
" What is to be said in particular and how far Overbury
(the Eegent Orleans) should be trusted I leave to friends
with you, tho I do not see how trusting him now can be
avoided. Talon (de Torcy) can advise you in this, and when