Page 61 - Fenning_Scoland

1692 - Edinburgh to Rotterdam letter endorsed 'with hazard,

during the War of the Grand Alliance (the Nine Years War)

25th March 1692. Letter from Edinburgh to Rotterdam via London, charged 1 Od
(Sterling) paid. This was the double rate as the letter contained an enclosure for
forwarding to Maastricht. The Edinburgh Letter Office endorsed the letter:

'p: pd to Lond 10d with hazard'

This is the only letter recorded to date with this manuscript endorsement. 'With
hazard' almost certainly relates to the disruption of foreign mails at this date
due to France's threatened invasion of England and expected attack on the
Spanish Netherlands. In the week this letter was written, the London Gazette
reported 'There are three Mails wanting from Holland' indicating the level of
disruption to the mails between England and Holland. (Ret London Gazette Issue 2855;
March 20 - 23 1692)
The War of the Grand Alliance (1688 - 1697) was fought between France and a
European-wide coalition. In March 1692, England was anticipating a possible
invasion from France and an attack on the Low Countries. On 14th March 1692,
King William Ill addressed the English Parliament:
The posture of affairs does necessarily require my presence abroad, but I shall take
care to leave such a number of troops here as may be sufficient for the security of the
Kingdom against any attempts of our enemies'.
William then left for Holland, staying there for the remainder of March to consult
with the allied command and to strengthen his forces in the Low Countries.

On 31st March, a report from Paris stated The Regiment of French Guards has
Orders to begin its march towards Flanders the 1cl' of next month. The troops of the
Household Guard follow in few days after'. (Ret London Gazette)

The '15' in red was the charge in stuivers applied on the Continent and paid by
the recipient in Rotterdam. It is possible that the Dover to Ostend route was
closed and the letter went via Harwich to Hellevoetsluis, the home port of the
Dutch war fleet.