Robert Harley as Secretary of State and his Intelligence Work: 1702–1708

This article seeks to reassess Robert Harley's role as Secretary of State (1704–10) and especially his work in the intelligence espionage fields day. It examines not only reputation such affairs but skills techniques early eighteenth-century espionage, also failures. sets out important administrative background work, how he handled processed secret material through secretarial office. explores cases some agents, that notorious William Greg, who was later exposed an agent French government cost Harley for astuteness, post State. Above all, however, secretaryship state shows by eighteenth-century, had become essential part routine modern state.