Letter – Charles Montague to William Blackett – 27 May 1699

Sir

      I have received the Honour of your Letter of the 19th instant, and have read it to the King, who I assure you was mightily concerned that you waved coming into busnesse, and was much affected and pleased with the handsomenesse of your expressions towards him and his Gooermt [Government]: He was unwilling to take your letter for a positive answer, and was very Desirous to have Me presse you to comply. but there no being time enough to have your answer till so near his going away that a new Commission could not pass, He resolved on this Expedient (which may be a secret to other people) that He would keepe Sir Stephen Fox in the Commission, whom he had design’d to put out, that if in the winter upon Discoursing all matters wee can Encline you to come in, there may be no difficulty in making room for you. And pray let me advise you impartialy to consider How much good you may do to the Publicke and not obstinately refuse a King that is so much inclined to have you in His businesse.

      The Treasury at present will be Mr. Montague, my Ld. Tankerville, Sir S. Fx., Mr Smith [John Smith], who will be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Boyle [Henry Boyle]. The King would not let Me go out at present, ‘tho I was very unwilling not to be quiet, and the Hopes of being in Commission with you made Me more readily comply with the Kings comands, and nothing can make one so easy as the prospect of being yet so happy. I am

      your most humble and	 most Obedient servt

      Charles Montague