respecting the Duchy of Guastalla, in order that there may be no suspicion of his going into France. He is agreed upon this point with me; and by the reckoning we have made together of his course, and the halts he will make, I can assure you, Sir, that you will not see him for these two months. It will be still easier for you, when he does arrive, to detain him at least as long; and thus the campaign will be nearly finished without the Duke of Mantua’s being able to complain of the delay, or to take measures contrary to the King’s intentions. Since this Prince left Venice, he is travelling about his territories, without ever stopping more than three or four days in a place, in order to avoid giving audience to the Spanish envoys, who are waiting for him at Mantua, and to whom he has sent word that they may address themselves to his Council; that for himself, he has no answer to give them to their propositions, because he is waiting for intelligence from Vienna, by which he intends to regulate his conduct. The Count Matthioli went to him the beginning of this week, in order to receive his instructions for his journey to Paris, and to give him an account of his negociation with the Republic. He will afterwards return here to explain to the Senate his Master’s sentiments; and so, Sir, I shall perhaps have a further opportunity of deferring his departure for a still longer time. * * * I am, &c. THE ABBÉ D’ESTRADES.[191] [191] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris. No. 19. ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. Venice, April 2d, 1678. SIR, * * * * * * I have nothing to add to what I have already had the honour of writing to you, upon the affair which regards the Duke of Mantua. I have received this morning a note from the Count Matthioli, in which he gives me intelligence that he shall be here to-morrow; and that he will come the same day to me, an hour after sunset. I will not fail to give you an account, in my next letter, of the conversation I shall have with him. I am glad that he did not return to Venice so soon as he originally intended; because his journey to Paris will be, in consequence, deferred some days longer. I will try to obtain intelligence why the Resident from Mantua has had such frequent audiences of the College for the last few days. * * * * * * THE ABBÉ D’ESTRADES.[192] [192] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris. No. 20. POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. Approval of Matthioli’s Mission to France.--Permission to Estrades to leave Venice. April 5th, 1678. SIR,