towhichthegeneralinterestofEuropewassacrificedsoentirely，thatifthetermsinsistedonbytheconfederateshasbeengranted，nayifeventhosewhichFrancewasreducedtogrant，inonethousandsevenhundredandten，hadbeenaccepted，suchanewsystemofpowerwouldhavebeencreatedasmighthaveexposedthebalanceofthispowertodeviations，andthepeaceofEuropetotroubles，notinferiortothosethatthewarwasdesigned；whenitbegan，toprevent。Whilstyouobservethisingeneral，youwillfindparticularoccasiontolamentthefateofGreatBritain，inthemidstoftriumphsthathavebeensoundedsohigh。Shehadtriumphedindeedtotheyearonethousandsevenhundredandsixinclusively：butwhatwerehertriumphsafterwards？
　　Whatwashersuccessaftersheproceededonthenewplan？Ishallsaysomethingonthatheadimmediately。Hereletmeonlysay，thatthegloryoftakingtowns，andwinningbattles，istobemeasuredbytheutilitythatresultsfromthosevictories。Victories，thatbringhonortothearms，maybringshametothecouncils，ofanation。Towinabattle，totakeatown，isthegloryofageneral，andofanarmy。Ofthisglorywehadaverylargeshareinthecourseofthewar。Butthegloryofanationistoproportiontheendsheproposes，toherinterestandherstrength；themeanssheemploys，totheendssheproposes，andthevigorsheexerts，toboth。Ofthisglory，Iapprehend，wehavehadverylittletoboastatanytime，andparticularlyinthegreatconjunctureofwhichIamspeaking。Thereasonsofambition，avarice，andprivateinterest，whichengagedtheprincesandstatesoftheconfederacytodepartfromtheprinciplesofthegrandalliance，werenoreasonsforGreatBritain。Sheneitherexpectednordesiredanythingmorethanwhatshemighthaveobtainedbyadheringtothoseprinciples。Whathurriedournation，then，withsomuchspiritandardor，intothoseofthenewplan？
　　Yourlordshipwillanswerthisquestiontoyourself，Ibelieve，bytheprejudicesandrashnessofparty；bytheinfluencethatthefirstsuccessesoftheconfederatearmsgavetoourministers；andthepopularitythattheygave，ifImaysayso，tothewar；byancientandfreshresentments，whichtheunjustandviolentusurpations，inshortthewholeconductofLouistheFourteenthforfortyyearstogether，hishaughtytreatmentofotherprincesandstates，andeventhestyleofhiscourt，hadcreated；and，tomentionnomore，byanotion，groundlessbutprevalent，thathewasandwouldbemasteraslongashisgrandsonwaskingofSpain，andthattherecouldbenoeffectualmeasuretaken，thoughthegrandalliancesupposedthattheremight，topreventafutureunionofthetwomonarchies，aslongasaprinceofthehouseofBourbonsatontheSpanishthrone。Thatsuchanotionshouldhaveprevailed，inthefirstconfusionofthoughtswhichthedeathandwillofCharlestheSecondproduced，amongthegeneralityofmen，whosawthefleetsandarmiesofFrancetakepossessionofallthepartsoftheSpanishmonarchy，isnottobewonderedatbythosethatconsiderhowillthegeneralityofmankindareinformed，howincapabletheyareofjudging，andyethowreadytopronouncejudgment；
　　infine，howinconsideratelytheyfollowoneanotherinanypopularopinionwhichtheheadsofpartybroach，ortowhichthefirstappearancesofthingshavegivenoccasion。But，evenatthistime，thecouncilsofEnglandandHollanddidnotentertainthisnotion。Theyactedonquiteanother，asmightbeshowninmanyinstances，ifanyotherbesidesthatofthegrandalliancewasnecessary。Whenthesecouncilsthereforeseemedtoentertainthisnotionafterwards，andactedandtookengagementstoactuponit，wemustconcludethattheyhadothermotives。Theycouldnothavethese；fortheyknew，thatastheSpaniardshadbeendrivenbythetwotreatiesofpartitiontogivetheirmonarchytoaprinceofthehouseofBourbon，sotheyweredrivenintothearmsofFrancebythewarthatwemadetoforceathirduponthem。Ifweactedrightlyontheprinciplesofthegrandalliance，theyactedrightlyonthoseofthewill：andifwecouldnotavoidmakinganoffensivewar，attheexpenseofformingandmaintainingavastconfederacy，theycouldnotavoidpurchasingtheprotectionandassistanceofFranceinadefensivewar，andespeciallyinthebeginningofit，accordingtowhatIhavesomewhereobservedalready，byyieldingtotheauthorityandadmittingtheinfluenceofthatcourtinalltheaffairsoftheirgovernment。Ourministersknewtherefore，thatifanyinferencewastobedrawnfromthefirstpartofthisnotion，itwasforshortening，notprolonging，thewar；fordeliveringtheSpaniardsassoonaspossiblefromhabitsofunionandintimacywithFrance；
　　notforcontinuingthemunderthesamenecessity，tillbylengthoftimethesehabitsshouldbeconfirmed。Astothelatterpartofthisnotion，theyknewthatitwasfalse，andsilly。Garth，thebestnaturedingeniouswildmanIeverknew，mightbeintheright，whenhesaid，insomeofhispoemsAnAustrianprincealoneIsfittonoduponaSpanishthrone。
　　ThesettinganAustrianprinceuponitwas，nodoubt，thesurestexpedienttopreventaunionofthetwomonarchiesofFranceandSpain；justassettingaprinceofthehouseofBourbononthatthronewasthesurestexpedienttopreventaunionoftheImperialandSpanishcrowns。Butitwasequallyfalsetosay，ineithercase，thatthiswasthesoleexpedient。Itwouldbenoparadox，butapropositioneasilyproved，toadvance，thatiftheseunionshadbeeneffectuallyprovidedagainst，thegeneralinterestofEuropewouldhavebeenlittleconcernedwhetherPhiliporCharleshadnoddedatMadrid。Itwouldbelikewisenoparadoxtosay，thatthecontingencyofunitingFranceandSpainunderthesameprinceappearedmoreremote，aboutthemiddleofthelastgreatwar，whenthedethronementofPhilipinfavorofCharleswasmadeaconditionofpeacesinequanonthanthecontingencyofaunionoftheImperialandSpanishcrowns。Nay，Iknownotwhetheritwouldbeaparadoxtoaffirm，thattheexpedientthatwastaken，andthatwasalwaysobvioustobetaken，ofexcludingPhilipandhisracefromthesuccessionofFrance，bycreatinganinterestinalltheotherprincesoftheblood，andbyconsequenceapartyinFranceitself，fortheirexclusion，wheneverthecaseshouldhappen，wasnotinitsnaturemoreeffectualthananythatcouldhavebeentaken：andsomemusthavebeentaken，notonlytoexcludeCharlesfromtheempirewheneverthecaseshouldhappenthathappenedsoon，thedeathofhisbrotherJosephwithoutissuemale，buthisposteritylikewiseinallfuturevacanciesoftheimperialthrone。TheexpedientthatwastakenagainstPhilipatthetreatyofUtrecht，theywhoopposedthepeaceattemptedtoridicule；butsomeofthemhavehadoccasionsincethattimetosee，thoughthecasehasnothappened，howeffectualitwouldhavebeenifithad：andhe，whoshouldgoabouttoridiculeitafterourexperience，wouldonlymakehimselfridiculous。Notwithstandingallthis，hewhotransportshimselfbacktothattime，mustacknowledge，thattheconfederatedpowersingeneralcouldnotbutbeofGarth’smind，andthinkitmoreagreeabletothecommoninterestofEurope，thatabranchofAustria，thanabranchofBourbon，shouldgathertheSpanishsuccession，andthatthemaritimepowers，astheyarecalledimpertinentlyenoughwithrespecttothesuperiorityofGreatBritain，mightthinkitwasfortheirparticularinteresttohaveaprince，dependentforsometimeatleastonthem，kingofSpain，ratherthanaprincewhosedependence，aslongashestoodinany，mustbenaturallyonFrance。Idonotsay，assomehavedone，aprincewhosefamilywasanoldally，ratherthanaprincewhosefamilywasanoldenemy；becauseIlaynoweightonthegratitudeofprinces，andamasmuchpersuadedthatanAustriankingofSpainwouldhavemadeusreturnsofthatsortinnootherproportionthanofhiswantofus，asIamthatPhilipandhisracewillmakenootherreturnsofthesamesorttoFrance。Ifthisaffairhadbeenentire，therefore，onthedeathofthekingofSpain；ifwehadmadenopartition，norheanywill，thewholemonarchyofSpainwouldhavebeentheprizetobefoughtfor：andourwishes，andsucheffortsaswewereabletomake，inthemostunprovidedconditionimaginable，musthavebeenonthesideofAustria。Butitwasfarfrombeingentire。
　　AprinceofthehouseofAustriamighthavebeenonthespot，beforethekingofSpaindied，togatherhissuccession；butinsteadofthis，aprinceofthehouseofBourbonwastheresoonafterwards，andtookpossessionofthewholemonarchy，towhichhehadbeencalledbythelateking’swill，andbythevoiceoftheSpanishnation。ThecouncilsofEnglandandHollandthereforepreferredverywisely，bytheirengagementsinthegrandalliance，whatwasmorepracticablethoughlesseligible，towhattheydeemedmoreeligible，butsawbecomebythecourseofevents，ifnotabsolutelyimpracticable，yetanenterpriseofmorelength，moredifficulty，andgreaterexpenseofbloodandtreasure，thanthesenationswereabletobear。orthantheyoughttobear，whentheirsecurityandthatoftherestofEuropemightbesufficientlyprovidedforatacheaperrate。Iftheconfederatescouldnotobtain，bytheforceoftheirarms，theendsofthewar，laiddowninthegrandalliance，towhatpurposewoulditbetostipulateformore？Andiftheywereabletoobtainthese，itwasevidentthat，whilsttheydismemberedtheSpanishmonarchy，theymustreducethepowerofFrance。Thishappened；theLowCountrieswereconquered；theFrenchweredrivenoutofGermanyandItaly：andLouistheFourteenth，whohadsolongandsolatelysetmankindatdefiance，wasreducedtosueforpeace。Ifithadbeengrantedhiminonethousandsevenhundredandsix，onwhatfootmustithavebeengranted？Theallieshadalreadyintheirpowerallthestatesthatweretocomposetheteasonablesatisfactionfortheemperor。Isay，intheirpower。becausethoughNaplesandSicilywerenotactuallyreducedatthattime，yettheexpulsionoftheFrenchoutofItaly，andthedispositionofthepeopleofthesekingdoms，considered，itwasplainthealliesmightreducethemwhentheypleased。TheconfederatearmsweresuperiortilltheninSpain，andseveralprovincesacknowledgedCharlestheThird。Iftheresthadbeenyieldedtohimbytreaty，allthatthenewplanrequiredhadbeenobtained。IftheFrenchwouldnotyethaveabandonedPhilip，aswehadfoundthattheCastilianswouldnotevenwhenourarmywasatMadrid，allthattheoldplan，theplanofthegrandalliancerequired，hadbeenobtained；butstillFranceandSpainhadgivennothingtopurchaseapeace，andtheywereincircumstances，nottoexpectitwithoutpurchasingit。Theywouldhavepurchasedit，mylord：andFrance，aswellasSpain，wouldhavecontributedalargershareoftheprice，ratherthancontinuethewar，inherexhaustedstate。Suchatreatyofpeacewouldhavebeenathirdtreatyofpartitionindeed，butvastlypreferabletothetwoformer。Thegreatobjectiontotheformerwasdrawnfromthatconsiderableincreaseofdominion，whichthecrownofFrance，andnotabranchofthehouseofBourbon，acquiredbythem。Iknowwhatmaybesaidspeciouslyenoughtopersuade，thatsuchanincreaseofdominionwouldnothaveaugmented，butwouldratherhaveweakenedthepowerofFrance，andwhatexamplesmaybedrawnfromhistorytocountenancesuchanopinion。Iknowlikewise，thatthecompactfigureofFrance，andthecontiguityofallherprovinces，makeaveryessentialpartoftheforceofhermonarchy。HadthedesignsofCharlestheEighth，LouistheTwelfth，FrancistheFirst，andHenrytheSecond，succeeded，thedominionsofFrance，wouldhavebeenmoreextensive，andIbelievethestrengthofhermonarchywouldhavebeenless。IhavesometimesthoughtthateventhelossofthebattleofSt。Quentin，whichobligedHenrytheSecondtorecalltheDukeofGuisewithhisarmyoutofItaly，wasinthisrespectnounhappyevent。Butthereasoningwhichisgood，Ithink，whenappliedtothosetimes，willnotholdwhenappliedtoours，andtothecaseIconsiderhere；thestateofFrance，thestateofherneighbors，andthewholeconstitutionofEuropebeingsoextremelydifferent。Theobjectionthereforetothetwotreatiesofpartitionhadarealweight。ThepowerofFrance，deemedalreadyexorbitant，wouldhavebeenincreasedbythisaccessionofdominioninthehandsofLouistheFourteenth：andtheuseheintendedtomakeofit，bykeepingItalyandSpaininawe，appearsinthearticlethatgavehimtheportsontheTuscancoast，andtheprovinceofGuipuscoa。ThiskingWilliammight，and，Iquestionnot，didsee；butthatprincemightthinktoo，thatforthisveryreasonLouistheFourteenthwouldadhere，inallevents，tothetreatyofpartition：andthattheseconsequencesweremoreremote，andwouldbelessdangerous，thanthoseofmakingnopartitionatall。Thepartition，eventheworstthatmighthavebeenmade，byatreatyofpeaceinonethousandsevenhundredandsix，wouldhavebeentheveryreverseofthis。Francewouldhavebeenweakened，andherenemiesstrengthened，byherconcessionsonthesideoftheLowCountries，ofGermanyandSavoy。IfaprinceofherroyalfamilyhadremainedinpossessionofSpainandtheWestIndies，noadvantagewouldhaveaccruedtoherbyit，andeffectualbarswouldhavebeenopposedtoanunionofthetwomonarchies。ThehouseofAustriawouldhavehadareasonablesatisfactionforthatshadowofright，whichaformerpartitiongaveher。ShehadnootherafterthewillofCharlestheSecond：andthismaybejustlytermedashadow，sinceEngland，Holland，andFrancecouldconfernorealrighttotheSpanishsuccession，nortoanypartofit。Shehaddeclinedaccedingtothatpartition，beforeFrancedepartedfromit，andwouldhavepreferredtheItalianprovinces，withoutSpainandtheWestIndies，toSpainandtheWestIndieswithouttheItalianprovinces。TheItalianprovinceswouldhavefallentohersharebythispartition。TheparticulardemandsofEnglandandHollandwouldhavesufferednodifficulty，andthosethatwewereobligedbytreatytomakeforotherswouldhavebeeneasytoadjust。