.MTQ.NzI

the ballance of Power in Italy was formerly greatly attended to by us, which we had the levant trade, which I fear we shall now entirely having by either the weakness or neglect of some lost Minorea where we had the best part in the Mediterranean. It is our interest & that of Spain to live well together, & we are natural allies; at present that Power seems to chooset o be neuter, & first to see how things tend, before they declare waht part they will take. We have long liv'd on good terms with the K. of Portugal, our mutual trade makes this very necessary for both; & when Spain & Port. quarrell'd we sent'a fleet to Libbon, which protected those people from being insulted. Nothing can so much contribute to our happiness, & to that of the Dutch as a constant good harmony; which will make both increase in wealth, & consquently be rever'd. It is impossible to say, but two months may again change the System, of affairs, so that it is wisest not to prtend to explain what is yet in the Womb of Fate.