“Nor was the envoy at first desirous of remaining. . . .  Nevertheless, he yielded reluctantly to Barneveld’s request that he should, for the time at least, remain at his post.  Later on, as the intrigues against him began to unfold themselves, and his faithful services were made use of at home to blacken his character and procure his removal, he refused to resign, as to do so would be to play into the hands of his enemies, and, by inference at least, to accuse himself of infidelity to his trust. . . .

“It is no wonder that the ambassador was galled to the quick by the outrage which those concerned in the government were seeking to put upon him.  How could an honest man fail to be overwhelmed with rage and anguish at being dishonored before the world by his masters for scrupulously doing his duty, and for maintaining the rights and dignity of his own country?  He knew that the charges were but pretexts, that the motives of his enemies were as base as the intrigues themselves, but he also knew that the world usually sides with the government against the individual, and that a man’s reputation is rarely strong enough to maintain itself unsullied in a foreign land when his own government stretches forth its hand, not to shield, but to stab him. . . .

     “‘I know,’ he said, that this plot has been woven partly here in
     Holland and partly here by good correspondence in order to drive me
     from my post.

“’But as I have discovered this accurately, I have resolved to offer to my masters the continuance of my very humble service for such time and under such conditions as they may think good to prescribe.  I prefer forcing my natural and private inclinations to giving an opportunity for the ministers of this kingdom to discredit us, and to my enemies to succeed in injuring me, and by fraud and malice to force me from my post. . . .  I am truly sorry, being ready to retire, wishing to have an honorable testimony in recompense of my labors, that one is in such hurry to take advantage of my fall. . . .  What envoy will ever dare to speak with vigor if he is not sustained by the government at home? . . .  My enemies have misrepresented my actions, and my language as passionate, exaggerated, mischievous, but I have no passion except for the service of my superiors.’

“Barneveld, from well-considered motives of public policy, was favoring his honorable recall.  But he allowed a decorous interval of more than three years to elapse in which to terminate his affairs, and to take a deliberate departure from that French embassy to which the Advocate had originally promoted him, and in which there had been so many years of mutual benefit and confidence between the two statesmen.  He used no underhand means.  He did not abuse the power of the States-General which he wielded to cast him suddenly and brutally from the distinguished post which he occupied,