David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

“ But as for Ruvigny — in the first place, the list has been erroneously called Ruvigny’s. It professes to be Barillon’s list. And secondly, any moral charge may be safely denied on the ground of the continued affection and admiration of the Russells for Ruvigny as a man and a Christian. It is incomprehensible how Lord Macaulay could believe the accusations, and could conclude by extolling modern statesmen as having a more elevated standard than even Sidney and Russell, and as soaring above Ralph Montague’s creed, that “in this world nobody does anything for nothing.” ”

“ We should be treacherous to ourselves were we in our prayers to forget you. If God hears those prayers, you will rejoice and we shall live in peace; you will enjoy the king’s favour and we the repose and liberty which his edicts give us. Our welfare is united to your person. ”

“ In 1678, being in his thirty-first year, and Barillon being the accredited ambassador, Henri came over on a secret mission, or rather on two errands, both aimed against the Earl of Danby. This nobleman, to whom all generations owe much for his promotion of the marriage of the Prince of Orange to the Princess Mary, was known in France to be against the French Government, while he was suspected in England to be its tool — a charge which he could not refute consistently with the reserve which official life imposed upon him. ”

“ His [young Ruvigny’s] chief errand is to let the king know that the King of France did hope he was so firm to him as not to be led away by the Grand Treasurer [Danby] who was an ambitious man, and, to keep himself with the people, would gratify their inclinations by leading his master into an unreasonable war against France — that as for money, if he wanted that, he should have what he would from hence. His instructions are (if this does not take) , by the means of William Russell and other discontented people, to give a great deal of money, and cross all your measures at court. ”

“ And that which, above all, delights us is, that he who seconds you is your other self, and that we see you wholly reproduced in him. His lordship is doubly your son, both by birth and also by his good qualities, which are the native image of your own virtues. ”

“ However, as soon as they had had some experience of the capacity of the young lord, they found that the churches had lost nothing by the change. They found him to be always accessible, always prepared for action, full of expedients and overtures, finding his greatest pleasure in his duties, and though residing at a court where a thousand agreeable amusements might enervate a young man, giving to the diversions of persons of his years only the time which remained after the hours of business. ”

“ The king, nettled at what seemed to hit himself, mentioned this answer to Condé. So to restore his complacency, Condé said, “My nephew speaks like a young man. The winning of a battle is no great matter. The commander gets the glory, but the subalterns do the deed.”
On the return of the troops to France, old Ruvigny claimed for his son the rank of brigadier, and the reversion of his own office of Deputy-General of the Reformed Churches. ”

“ He had so thoroughly prepossessed all the court in his favour, that his merits procured him neither enemies nor detractors. At first the churches were uneasy on account of his youth. They thought that in the confusion of their affairs, a deputy of more weight and experience was wanted. But the father promised not only to aid his son with his advice, and to interest himself in all the business put into his hands, but also to continue publicly to discharge the functions of the office, when the service of the church required this. ”

“ The third accusation is, “Algernon Sidney took a bribe and Russell connived at it.” The charge against Sidney is founded upon a list of public men who had taken French money, in Barillon’s handwriting. Barillon’s accounts may have been incorrect, like those of other unjust stewards. Or money might have been offered and accepted as a donation to some charitable object. On either supposition Sidney took no bribe, and there was nothing for Russell to connive at. If France had possessed any damaging secret against our patriots, the secret would not have slumbered for many years. ”

“ The Prince of Condé, who arrived soon afterwards, to command in chief, admitted the young Marquis to his friendship. An anecdote, which young Ruvigny repeated to Burnet, is a memento of this campaign. Condé, laughing heartily, told him how he had pleased Louis XIV. by disparaging the glory of great commanders, a glory which the King coveted, yet, through political prudence, and the instinct of self-preservation, had always missed. ”