renunciationsofallrightswhatsoevertothewholeSpanishmonarchy，andtoeverypartofit。TheprovincesclaimedbyFranceatthistimewerepartsofit。Toclaimthem，wasthereforetoclaimthewhole；foriftherenunciationswerenobartotherightsaccruingtoMaryTheresaonthedeathofherfatherPhiliptheFourth，neithercouldtheybeanytotherightsthatwouldaccruetoherandherchildren，onthedeathofherbrotherCharlestheSecond：anunhealthfulyouth，andwhoatthisinstantwasinimmediatedangerofdying；fortoallthecomplicateddistempershebroughtintotheworldwithhim，thesmall-poxwasadded。YourlordshipseeshowthefatalcontingencyofunitingthetwomonarchiesofFranceandSpainstaredmankindintheface；andyetnothing，thatIcanremember，wasdonetopreventit：notsomuchasaguarantygiven，oradeclarationmadetoassertthevalidityoftheserenunciations，andforsecuringtheeffectofthem。ThetripleallianceindeedstoppedtheprogressoftheFrencharms，andproducedthetreatyofAixlaChapelle。ButEngland，Sweden，andHolland，thecontractingpowersinthisalliance，seemedtolook，andprobablydidlook，nofarther。Francekeptagreatandimportantpartofwhatshehadsurprisedorravished，orpurchased；forwecannotsaywithanyproprietythatsheconquered：andtheSpaniardswereobligedtosetalltheysavedtotheaccountofgain。TheGermanbranchofAustriahadbeenreducedverylowinpowerandincreditunderFerdinandtheThird，bythetreatiesofWestphalia，asIhavesaidalready。LouistheFourteenthmaintained，duringmanyyears，theinfluencethesetreatieshadgivenhimamongtheprincesandstatesoftheempire。ThefamouscapitulationmadeatFrankfortontheelectionofLeopold，whosucceededFerdinandabouttheyearonethousandsixhundredandfifty-seven，wasencouragedbytheintriguesofFrance：andthepowerofFrancewaslookeduponasthesolepowerthatcouldratifyandsecureeffectuallytheobservationoftheconditionsthenmade。TheleagueoftheRhinewasnotrenewed，Ibelieve，aftertheyearonethousandsixhundredandsixty-six；butthoughthisleaguewasnotrenewed，yetsomeoftheseprincesandstatescontinuedintheiroldengagementswithFrance：
　　whilstotherstooknewengagementsonparticularoccasions，accordingasprivateandsometimesverypaltryinterests，andtheemissariesofFranceinalltheirlittlecourts，disposedthem。Inshort，theprincesofGermanyshowednoalarmatthegrowingambitionandpowerofLouistheFourteenth，butcontributedtoencourageone，andtoconfirmtheother。InsuchastateofthingstheGermanbranchwaslittleabletoassisttheSpanishbranchagainstFrance，eitherinthewarthateludedbythePyreneantreaty，orinthatwearespeakingofhere，theshortwarthatbeganinonethousandsixhundredandsixty-seven，andwasendedbythetreatyofAixlaChapelleinonethousandsixhundredandsixty-eight。Butitwasnotthisalonethatdisabledtheemperorfromactingwithvigorinthecauseofhisfamilythen，northathasrenderedthehouseofAustriaadeadweightuponallherallieseversince。Bigotry，anditsinseparablecompanion，cruelty，aswellasthetyrannyandavariceofthecourtofVienna，createdinthosedays，andhasmaintainedinours，almostaperpetualdiversionoftheimperialarmsfromaneffectualoppositiontoFrance。ImeantospeakofthetroublesinHungary。
　　Whatevertheybecameintheirprogress，theywerecausedoriginallybytheusurpationsandpersecutionsoftheemperor：andwhentheHungarianswerecalledrebelsfirst，theywerecalledsofornootherreasonthanthis，thattheywouldnotbeslaves。ThedominionoftheemperorbeinglesssupportablethanthatoftheTurks，thisunhappypeopleopenedadoortothelattertoinfesttheempire，insteadofmakingtheircountrywhatithadbeenbefore，abarrieragainsttheOttomanpower。Francebecameasure，thoughsecretallyoftheTurks，aswellastheHungarians，andhasfoundheraccountinit，bykeepingtheemperorinperpetualalarmsonthatside，whileshewasravagedtheempireandtheLowcountriesontheother。Thuswesaw，thirty-twoyearsago，thearmsofFranceandBavariainpossessionofPassau，andthemalcontentsofHungaryinthesuburbsofVienna。Inaword，whenLouistheFourteenthmadethefirstessayofhispower，bythewarofonethousandsixhundredandsixty-seven，andsounded，asitwere，thecouncilsofEuropeconcerninghispretensionsontheSpanishsuccession，hefoundhispowertobegreatbeyondwhathisneighbors，orevenheperhapsthoughtit：greatbythewealth，andgreaterbytheunitedspiritofhispeople；greaterstillbytheillpolicyanddividedintereststhatgovernedthosewhohadasuperiorcommoninteresttoopposehim。Hefoundthatthemembersofthetriplealliancedidnotsee，orseeingdidnotthinkpropertoownthattheysaw，theinjustice，andtheconsequenceofhispretensions。TheycontentedthemselvestogivetoSpainanactofguarantyforsecuringtheexecutionofthetreatyofAixlaChapelle。Hekneweventhenhowintheguarantywouldbeobservedbytwoofthematleast，byEnglandandbySweden。Thetreatyitselfwasnothingmorethanacompositionbetweenthebullyandthebullied。Tournay，andLisle，andDoway，andotherplacesthatIhaveforgot，wereyieldedtohim：andherestoredthecountyofBurgundy，accordingtotheoptionthatSpainmadeagainsttheinterestandtheexpectationtoooftheDutch，whenanoptionwasforceduponher。ThekingofSpaincompoundedforhispossession：buttheemperorcompoundedatthesametimeforhissuccession，byaprivateeventualtreatyofpartition，whichthecommanderofGremonvilleandthecountofAversbergsignedatVienna。ThesameLeopold，whoexclaimedsoloudly，inonethousandsixhundredandninety-eight，againstanypartitionoftheSpanishmonarchy，andrefusedtosubmittothatwhichEnglandandHollandhadthenmade，madeonehimselfinonethousandsixhundredandsixty-eight，withsolittleregardtothesetwopowers，thatthewholetenprovinceswerethrownintothelotofFrance。
　　ThereisnoroomtowonderifsuchexperienceasLouistheFourteenthhaduponthisoccasion，andsuchafaceofaffairsinEurope，raisinghishopes，raisedhisambition：andif，inmakingpeaceatAixlaChapelle，hemeditatedanewwar，thewarofonethousandsixhundredandseventy-two；
　　thepreparationshemadeforit，bynegotiationsinallparts，byallianceswhereverhefoundingression，andbytheincreaseofhisforces，wereequallyproofsofability，industry，andpower。Ishallnotdescendintotheseparticulars：
　　yourlordshipwillfindthemprettywelldetailedinthememorialsofthattime。ButoneoftheallianceshemadeImustmention，thoughImentionitwiththeutmostregretandindignation。EnglandwasfatallyengagedtoactapartinthisconspiracyagainstthepeaceandthelibertyofEurope，nay，againstherownpeaceandherownliberty；forabubble’spartitwas，equallywickedandimpolitic。ForgivethetermsIuse，mylord：nonecanbetoostrong。
　　Theprinciplesofthetriplealliance，justandwise，andworthyofakingofEngland，werelaidaside。Then，theprogressoftheFrencharmswastobechecked，thetenprovincesweretobesaved，andbysavingthemthebarrierofHollandwastobepreserved。Now，wejoinedourcounselsandourarmstothoseofFrance，inaprojectthatcouldnotbecarriedonatall，asitwaseasytoforesee，andastheeventshowed，unlessitwascarriedonagainstSpain，theemperor，andmostoftheprincesofGermany，aswellastheDutch；andwhichcouldnotbecarriedonsuccessfully，withoutleavingthetenprovincesentirelyatthemercyofFrance，andgivingherpretenceandopportunityofravagingtheempire，andextendingherconquestsontheRhine。ThemedalofVanBeuninghen，andotherpretencesthatFrancetookforattackingthestatesoftheLowcountries，wereridiculous。Theyimposedonnoone：andthetrueobjectofLouistheFourteenthwasmanifesttoall。
　　ButwhatcouldakingofEnglandmean？CharlestheSecondhadreasonsofresentmentagainsttheDutch，andjustonestoonodoubt。Amongtherest，itwasnoteasyforhimtoforgettheaffronthehadsuffered，andthelosshehadsustained，when，dependingonthepeacethatwasreadytobesigned，andthatwassignedinBredainJulyheneglectedtofitouthisfleet；andwhenthatofHolland；commandedbyRuyter，withCorneliusdeWitonboardasdeputyorcommissionerofthestates，burnthisshipsatChathaminJune。
　　Thefamousperpetualedict，asitwascalled，butdidnotproveintheevent，againsttheelectionofastadtholder，whichJohndeWitpromoted，carried，andobligedthePrinceofOrangetosweartomaintainaveryfewdaysaftertheconclusionofthepeaceatBreda，mightbeanothermotiveinthebreastofkingCharlestheSecond：asitwascertainlyapretenceofrevenueontheDutch，oratleastontheDeWitsandtheLouvesteinfaction，thatruledalmostdespoticallyinthatcommonwealth。Butitisplainthatnetherthesereasons，norothersofamoreancientdate，determinedhimtothisalliancewithFrance；sincehecontractedthetriplealliancewithinfourorfivemonthsafterthetwoevents，Ihavementioned，happened。Whatthendidhemean？Didhemeantoacquireoneofthesevenprovinces，anddividethem，astheDutchhadtwicetreatedforthedivisionoftheten，withFrance？
　　Ibelievenot；butthisIbelieve，thathisinclinationswerefavorabletothepopishinterestingeneral，andthathemeanttomakehimselfmoreabsoluteathome；thathethoughtitnecessarytothisendtohumbletheDutch，toreducetheirpower，and，perhaps，tochangetheformoftheirgovernment；
　　todeprivehissubjectsofthecorrespondencewithaneighboringprotestantandfreestate，andofallhopeofsuccorandsupportfromthenceintheiroppositiontohim；inawordtoabetthedesignsofFranceonthecontinent，thatFrancemightabethisdesignsonhisownkingdom。This，Isay，Ibelieve；
　　andthisIshouldventuretoaffirm，ifIhadinmyhandstoproduce，andwasatlibertytoquote，theprivaterelationsIhavereadformerly，drawnupbythosewhowerenoenemiestosuchdesigns，andontheauthorityofthosewhowerepartiestothem。ButwhateverkingCharlestheSecondmeant，certainitis，thathisconductestablishedthesuperiorityofFranceinEurope。
　　Butthischarge，however，mustnotbeconfinedtohimalone。Thosewhowerenearerthedanger，thosewhowereexposedtotheimmediateattacksofFrance，andeventhosewhowereherrivalsforthesamesuccession，havingeitherassistedher，orengagedtoremainneuters，astrangefatalityprevailed，andproducedsuchaconjunctureascanhardlybeparallelledinhistory。
　　Yourlordshipwillobservewithastonishment，eveninthebeginningoftheyearonethousandsixhundredandseventy-two，alltheneighborsofFrance，actingasiftheyhadnothingtofearfromher，andsomeasiftheyhadmuchtohope，byhelpinghertooppresstheDutchandsharingwithherthespoilsofthatcommonwealth。“DelendaestCarthago“wasthecryinEngland，andseemedtooamaximonthecontinent。
　　Inthecourseofthesameyear，youwillobservethatallthesepowerstookthealarm，andbegantouniteinoppositiontoFrance。EvenEnglandthoughtittimetointerposeinfavoroftheDutch。Theconsequencesofthisalarm，ofthissuddenturninthepolicyofEurope，andofthatwhichhappened，bythemassacreoftheDeWits，andtheelevationoftheprinceofOrange，inthegovernmentofthesevenprovinces，savedtheseprovinces，andstoppedtherapidprogressofthearmsofFrance。LouistheFourteenthindeedsurprisedthesevenprovincesinthiswar，ashehadsurprisedtheteninthatofonethousandsixhundredandsixty-seven，andravageddefencelesscountrieswitharmiessufficienttoconquerthem，iftheyhadbeenpreparedtoresist。Inthewarofonethousandsixhundredandseventy-two，hehadlittlelessthanonehundredandfiftythousandmenonfoot，besidesthebodiesofEnglish，Swiss，Italians，andSwedes，thatamountedtothirtyorfortythousandmore。
　　Withthismightyforcehetookfortyplacesinfortydays，imposedextravagantconditionsofpeace，playedthemonarchalittlewhileatUtrecht；andassoonastheDutchrecoveredfromtheirconsternation，and，animatedbytheexampleofthePrinceofOrangeandthehopesofsuccor，refusedtheseconditions，hewentbacktoVersailles，andlefthisgeneralstocarryonhisenterprise：
　　whichtheydidwithsolittlesuccess，thatGraveandMaestrichtaloneremainedtohimofalltheboastedconquestshehadmade；andeventheseheofferedtwoyearsafterwardstorestore，ifbythatconcessionhecouldhaveprevailedontheDutchatthattimetomakepeacewithhim。Buttheywerenotyetdisposedtoabandontheirallies；foralliesnowtheyhad。TheemperorandthekingofSpainhadengagedinthequarrelagainstFrance，andmanyoftheprincesoftheempirehaddonethesame。Notall。TheBavariancontinuedobstinateinhisneutrality，and，tomentionnomore，theSwedesmadeagreatdiversioninfavorofFranceintheempire；wheretheDukeofHanoverabettedtheirdesignsasmuchashecould，forhewasazealouspartisanofFrance，thoughtheotherprincesofhishouseactedforthecommoncause。Idescendintonomoreparticulars。ThewarthatLouistheFourteenthkindledbyattackinginsoviolentamannertheDutchcommonwealth，andbymakingsoarbitraryanuseofhisfirstsuccess，becamegeneral，intheLowCountries，inSpain，inSicily，ontheupperandlowerRhine，inDenmark，inSweden，andintheprovincesofGermanybelongingtothesetwocrowns；ontheMediterranean，theOcean，andtheBaltic。Francesupportedthiswarwithadvantageoneveryside：andwhenyourlordshipconsidersinwhatmanneritwascarriedonagainsther，youwillnotbesurprisedthatshedidso。Spainhadspirit，buttoolittlestrengthtomaintainherpowerinSicily，whereMessinahadrevolted；
　　todefendherfrontieronthatsideofthePyrenees；andtoresistthegreateffortsoftheFrenchintheLowCountries。Theempirewasdivided；and，evenamongtheprinceswhoactedagainstFrance，therewasneitherunionintheircouncils，norconcertintheirprojects，nororderinpreparations，norvigorinexecution：and，tosaythetruth，therewasnot，inthewholeconfederacy，amanwhoseabilitiescouldmakehimamatchforthePrinceofCondé；ortheMarshalofTurenne；normanywhowereinanydegreeequaltoLuxemburg，Crequi，Schomberg，andothergeneralsofinferiornote，whocommandedthearmiesofFrance。TheemperortookthisverytimetomakenewinvasionsonthelibertiesofHungary，andtooppresshisprotestantsubjects。ThePrinceofOrangealoneactedwithinvinciblefirmness，likeapatriot，andahero。NeithertheseductionsofFrancenorthoseofEngland，neitherthetemptationsofambitionnorthoseofprivateinterest，couldmakehimswervefromthetrueinterestofhiscountry，norfromthecommoninterestofEurope。Hehadraisedmoresieges，andlostmorebattles，itwassaid，thananygeneralofhisagehaddone。Beitso。Buthisdefeatsweremanifestlydueinagreatmeasuretocircumstancesindependentonhim：
　　andthatspirit，whicheventhesedefeatscouldnotdepress，wasallhisown。Hehaddifficultiesinhisowncommonwealth；thegovernorsoftheSpanishLowCountriescrossedhismeasuresometimes；theGermanalliesdisappointedandbrokethemoften：anditisnotimprobablethathewasfrequentlybetrayed。
　　HewassoperhapsevenbySouches，theimperialgeneral；aFrenchmanaccordingtoBayle，andapensionerofLouvoisaccordingtocommonreport，andverystrongappearances，Hehadnotyetcreditandauthoritysufficienttomakehimacentreofuniontoawholeconfederacy，thesoulthatanimatedanddirectedsogreatabody。