Autograph letter signed : Utrecht, to The Duke of Leeds, 1708 February 28.

Reporting on the weather and the political and military news; saying "After a very sharp cold weather, which has lasted near three weeks, it is come so faire that it wants but leaves in the trees, to make it look like May weather. This forwardness of the Season makes me fear that the french will be beforehand of us in the field, & be able to make amends for their disappointment about fribourg. Y'r Grace, I suppose, has read in the news Letters of the motions of the french about the high Rhine, which seemed to threaten Neuchastel, & which Marshal de Villars took care to make the Germans believe, to hide a design he had upon fribourg. By means of one Stubben (formerly an officer in the Troops of Hesse, & at present in y'e french) who had been great friend to a Swiss Lieutenant Colonel now in the Castle of fribourg, which command the town, the Marshal engaged the sayd Swiss into a correspondence, agreed with him that he should admit the french troops into the castle, upon promise of ten thousand pistoles reward, of which 1000 were payd in hand. The Swiss advised the Commandant of the Town of this treat & was ordered by him to go on with it & to endeavour to draw the whole sum from the Marshal & to engage him to send a body of 5000 men, to take possession of the Castle. Mean while General Thungen, who was acquainted with the Plot, commanded twelve or fifteen thousand men to march from their quarters by several ways & had disposed their march so as to Inclose the 5000 french if they should come to the place appointed; But Marshal de Villars being informed of that unseasonable march of the Germans, suspected his design was discovered & kept him self close & at least sent back the troops into the winter quarters. The name of the Swiss is Tellier; I have the matter from good hands. all the news speak of an Interview of the Elector of Brunswick, Prince Eugene & the Duke of Marleborough, at Hanover, to concert the operations of the campagne. They must, to my mind, make hast, lest the french do act whilst we deliberate. I am forced to make use of Publick news (which perhaps y'r grace knows already) to fill up my Letter;" expressing his concern that they have not heard from him in a month and are worried about his health.