Autograph letter signed : Utrecht, to The Duke of Leeds, 1708 May 1.

Mentioning that he wrote to Mrs. Herbert last Tuesday with news of "My Lord's health", which continues to be good: "It is the only Subject whereupon my Letters must run, when the Publick news afford me nothing worth acquainting your Grace withall"; writing that they hear from letters that Frederick I, King of Prussia, is trying to increase "his dominions & consequently his power in Germany"; passing on the news from Berlin that the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin is so deeply in debt that the king has reverted his dukedom, in return for an annual stipend; writing that they hear the same thing has happened with the "Late Prince of Culmback" (probably Kulmbach), whose two sons are currently in Utrecht and who have made the acquaintance of the two Osborne boys; telling him that the Prince of Kulmbach lost not only his title, but all claim to lands that could have come to him or his heirs by succession; commenting that this means "the Power of that king will come to such a height in the two Circles of Saxony & Francony, as it will be uncontrollable"; telling the Duke that he has learnt all this from the tutor to the young princes of Kulmbach, a man "who has had a great share in the Management of them, specially in respect of his Pupils, whom he has perswaded to ratify all what their father had done, as soon as they have been of age"; adding that in order to get the young princes to consent to this, they have been kept in Utrecht for five years, "lest they should have met in other places some body or other that would have disswaded them from giving it"; apologizing for writing such a tedious letter.