"Sure I am," he said, "there is but one way for our safety, and that is, that her Majesty may take that upon her which I fear she will not." Thomas Wilkes, who now made his appearance on the scene, held the same language.

This distinguished civilian had been sent by the Queen, early in August, to look into the state of Netherland affairs.

Leicester having expressly urged the importance of selecting as wise a politician as could be found--because the best man in England would hardly be found a match for the dullards and drunkards, as it was the fashion there to call the Dutch statesmen--had selected Wilkes.

After fulfilling this important special mission, he was immediately afterwards to return to the Netherlands as English member of the state-council, at forty shillings a-day, in the place of "little Hal Killigrew," whom Leicester pronounced a "quicker and stouter fellow" than he had at first taken him for, although he had always thought well of him.

The other English counsellor, Dr.Bartholomew Clerk, was to remain, and the Earl declared that he too, whom he had formerly undervalued, and thought to have "little stuff in him," was now "increasing greatly in understanding." But notwithstanding this intellectual progress, poor Bartholomew, who was no beginner, was most anxious to retire.