Французский авантюрист при дворе Петра I. Письма и бумаги барона де Сент-Илера

Ж. Халлер.

21 марта 1712 г.

N.° 15 Халлер — лорду Оксфорду 29 марта 1712 г.

То the Right Honorable the Earl of Oxford and Mortimer Lord High

Treasurer of Great Britain.

The Humble Petition of Joseph Hallere.

Humbly Representeth Onto Your Lordship that it is very hard, that after my discovery of the pernicious designs intended by the court of Portugal to Her Allies, in making a secret peace with France and Spain, and my having hind’red that the English Troops in that country were not sacrificed to the fury of the Spaniards by a sham battle which they designed to give, after the conclusion of their intended secret peace, to serve them for a pretext to excuse their designs to her allies; that I must have a prison for a reward of all my services, seeing that my aim and real intention in all was designed only for the good and advantage of this Nation; for by such discovery I have sustained the loss of all my estate which was very considerable, except about 700 sterl. which was saved by some of my friends, the which is but a part, according to the account which Milord Dartmouth ordered me to give him of it at my arrival from Portugal. Had I not, Milord, been soe happy by the means of my friends to have rescued what is above mentioned, I visibly saw my self exposed to the Extremest Poverty. Moreover Your Lordship knows very well that my conduct during my stay in Holland was only for the particular service of Your Lordship. I could not but think that after my affectionate carriage and behaviour, Your Lordship would have been pleased to have granted me Your Protection and the pension, which was promised by Your Lordship’s letter to His Excellency the Earle of Strafford on my behalf, and that Your Lordship would have also procured me the protection of Her Majesty.

I humbly beg further of Your Lordship to consider that my real loss is about 9000 sterl.; and that I have been for about a year like a poor distressed wandered in the world. These reflections will, I hope, mover Your Lordship to pity my condition, and give order that a just and equitable satisfaction may be done, which is due to the merits of my cause; and that Your Lordship will not suffer me to spend in a prison that little which I have saved, for ever since I have been under arrest, I have been obliged to live at my own proper costs, having had nothing from Mr. Chapman the messenger, but boarding and fire.

It seems to me reasonable that Your Lordship will be pleased to order that I may have my daily expense reimbursed, and think it just that seeing I been put under arrest by order of the Greatest Queen in the World; I should not live at my own charges while kept in prison.

I therefore most humbly beg of Your Lordship to procure my liberty that I may thereby by enabled to settle my commerce in this country as I design’d; of which I have given an account in the letters which I have had the honour to write to onto Your Lordship.

I hope that from the justice and goodness of Your Lordship; Your Lordship will be pleased to grant me the favours which I most humbly beg of Your Lordship; and for which Mylord; as a just and due acknowledgment I shall ever pray for the prosperity and continual preservation of Your Lordship; of whom I am with profound respect and veneration, Mylord,

Your Lordships most obedient and most humble and devoted servant

Joseph Hallere.

NA. State Papers. Domestic. Anne. SP 34/33. F. 135-136

Перевод:

Достопочтенному Графу Оксфордскому и Мортимеру, Лорду Казначею Великобритании.

Смиренное прошение Жозефа Халлера.