FN 616 There is a noble, and I suppose, unique Collection of the newspapers of William’s reign in the British Museum.  I have turned over every page of that Collection.  It is strange that neither Luttrell nor Evelyn should have noticed the first appearance of the new journals.  The earliest mention of those journals which I have found, is in a despatch of L’Hermitage, dated July 12/22, 1695.  I will transcribe his words:—­“Depuis quelque tems on imprime ici plusieurs feuilles volantes en forme de gazette, qui sont remplies de toutes series de nouvelles.  Cette licence est venue de ce que le parlement n’a pas acheve le bill ou projet d’acte qui avoit ete porte dans la Chambre des Communes pour regler l’imprimerie et empecher que ces sortes de choses n’arrivassent.  Il n’y avoit ci-devant qu’un des commis des Secretaires d’Etat qui eut le pouvoir de faire des gazettes:  mais aujourdhui il s’en fait plusieurs sons d’autres noms.”  L’Hermitage mentions the paragraph reflecting on the Princess, and the submission of the libeller.

FN 617 L’Hermitage, Oct. 15/25., Nov. 15/25. 1695.

FN 618 London Gazette, Oct. 24. 1695.  See Evelyn’s Account of Newmarket in 1671, and Pepys, July 18. 1668.  From Tallard’s despatches written after the Peace of Ryswick it appears that the autumn meetings were not less numerous or splendid in the days of William than in those of his uncles.

FN 619 I have taken this account of William’s progress chiefly from the London Gazettes, from the despatches of L’Hermitage, from Narcissus Luttrell’s Diary, and from the letters of Vernon, Yard and Cartwright among the Lexington Papers.

FN 620 See the letter of Yard to Lexington, November 8. 1695, and the note by the editor of the Lexington Papers.

FN 621 L’Hermitage, Nov. 15/25. 1695.

FN 622 L’Hermitage Oct 25/Nov 4 Oct 29/Nov 8 1695.

FN 623 Ibid.  Nov. 5/15 1695.

FN 624 L’Hermitage, Nov. 15/25 1695; Sir James Forbes to Lady
Russell, Oct. 3. 1695; Lady Russell to Lord Edward Russell; The
Postman, Nov. 1695.

FN 625 There is a highly curious account of this contest in the despatches of L’Hermitage.

FN 626 Postman, Dec. 15. 17. 1696; Vernon to Shrewsbury, Dec. 13. 15.; Narcissus Luttrell’s Diary; Burnet, i. 647.; Saint Evremond’s Verses to Hampden.

FN 627 L’Hermitage, Nov. 13/23. 1695.

FN 628 I have derived much valuable information on this subject from a Ms. in the British Museum, Lansdowne Collection, No. 801.  It is entitled Brief Memoires relating to the Silver and Gold Coins of England, with an Account of the Corruption of the Hammered Money, and of the Reform by the late Grand Coinage at the Tower and the Country Mints, by Hopton Haynes, Assay Master of the Mint.

FN 629 Stat. 5 Eliz. c. ii., and 18 Eliz. c. 1

FN 630 Pepys’s Diary, November 23. 1663.