ABSTRACT
In 1681 it was the business of the Secretaries to conduct a correspondence with the English envoys and Consuls in foreign countries and to send them ‘Instructions’ and orders. They also gave interviews to the envoys of foreign states in London and negotiated with them on any matters that might arise. The Secretaries indeed were not the only Ministers to correspond with envoys even in the eighteenth century, but the greater and the more important part of the work was regularly done by them. It should be added, however, that the Northern and Southern Departments were—with one exception—alone concerned with foreign business. Neither those Secretaries whose province was Scotland—except for Queensberry during a brief period—nor the Secretaries for the Colonial Department dealt directly with foreign affairs. On the whole, however, the conduct of foreign affairs was left to the Secretaries. It may be added in this connexion that Chatham, while Privy Seal and Prime Minister, corresponded with Sir Andrew Mitchell.
