Wouldnotthishavebeenenough，mylord，forthepublicsecurity，forthecommoninterest，andforthegloryofourarms？Tohavehumbledandreduced，infivecampaigns，apowerthathaddisturbedandinsultedEuropealmostfortyyears；tohaverestored，insoshortatime，thebalanceofpowerinEuropetoasufficientpointofequality，afterithadbeenmorethanfiftyyears，thatisfromthetreatyofWestphalia，inagradualdeviationfromthispoint；inshorttohaveretrieved，inonethousandsevenhundredandsix，agamethatwasbecomedesperateatthebeginningofthecentury。Tohavedoneallthis，beforethewarhadexhaustedourstrength，wastheutmostsurethatanymancoulddesirewhointendedthepublicgoodalone：andnohonestreasoneverwas，noreverwillbegiven，whythewarwasprotractedanylonger；whyweneithermadepeaceafterashort，vigorous，andsuccessfulwar，norputitentirelyoutofthepowerofFrancetocontinueatanyratealongone。Ihavesaid，anditistrue，thatthishadbeenentirelyoutofherpower，ifwehadgivengreaterinterruptiontothecommerceofOldandNewSpain，andifwehadhinderedFrancefromimportingannually，fromtheyearonethousandsevenhundredandtwo，suchimmensetreasuresasshedidimportbytheshipsshesent，withthepermissionofSpain，totheSouthSea。Ithasbeenadvanced，anditisacommonopinion，thatwewererestrainedbythejealousyoftheDutchfrommakinguseofthelibertygivenbytreatytothemandus，andwhich，withouthisimperialmajesty’sleave，sinceweenteredintothewar，wemighthavetaken，ofmakingconquestsintheSpanishWestIndies。Beitso。ButtogototheSouthSeas，totradethereifwecould，topillagetheWestIndieswithoutmakingconquestsifwecouldnot，and，whetherwetradedorwhetherwepillaged，tohindertheFrenchfromtradingthere；wasameasurethatwouldhavegiven，oneoughttothink，nojealousytotheDutch，whomight，anditistobesupposedwould，havetakentheirpartintheseexpeditions；orifithadgiventhemjealousy，whatcouldtheyhaverepliedwhenaBritishministerhadtoldthem，“ThatitlittlebecamethemtofindfaultthatwetradedwithorpillagedtheSpaniardsintheWestIndiestothedetrimentofourcommonenemy，whilstweconnivedatthemwhotradedwiththisenemytohisandtheirgreatadvantage，againstourremonstrances，andinviolationoftheconditionuponwhichwehadgiventhefirstaugmentationofourforcesintheLowCountries？“WemighthavepursuedthismeasurenotwithstandinganyengagementthatwetookbythetreatywithPortugal，ifIrememberthattreatyright：butinsteadofthis，wewastedourforces，andsquanderedmillionsaftermillionsinsupportingouralliancewiththiscrown，andinpursuingthechimericalprojectwhichwasmadetheobjectofthisalliance。Icallitchimerical，becauseitwasequallyso，toexpectarevolutioninfavorofCharlestheThirdontheslenderauthorityofsuchatriflerastheadmiralofCastile；and，whenthisfailedus，tohopetoconquerSpainbytheassistanceofthePortuguese，andtherevoltoftheCatalans。Yetthiswasthefoundationuponwhichthenewplanofthewarwasbuilt，andsomanyruinousengagementsweretaken。
　　Theparticularmotivesofprivatemen，aswellasofprincesandstates，toprotractthewar，arepartlyknown，andpartlyguessed，atthistime。
　　Butwheneverthattimecomes，andIampersuadeditwillcome，whentheirsecretmotives，theirsecretdesigns，andintrigues，canbelaidopen，I
　　presumetosaytoyourlordshipthatthemostconfusedsceneofiniquity，andfolly，thatitispossibletoimagine，willappear。Inthemeanwhile，ifyourlordshipconsidersonlythetreatyofbarrier，asmylordTownshendsignedit，without，nayintruth，againstorders；fortheDukeofMarlborough，thoughjointplenipotentiary，didnot：ifyouconsiderthefamouspreliminariesofonethousandsevenhundredandnine，whichwemadeamock-showofratifying，thoughweknewthattheywouldnotbeaccepted；forsotheMarquisofTorcyhadtoldthepensionarybeforehelefttheHague，asthesaidMarquishasassuredmeveryoftensincethattime：ifyouinquireintotheanecdotesofGertruydenberg，andifyouconsultotherauthenicpapersthatareextant，yourlordshipwillseethepolicyofthenewplan，Ithink，inthislight。
　　Thoughwehadrefused，beforethewarbegan，toenterintoengagementsfortheconquestofSpain，yetassoonasitbegan，whenthereasonofthingswasstillthesame，forthesuccessofourfirstcampaigncannotbesaidtohavealteredit，weenteredintotheseveryengagements。Bythetreatywhereinwetooktheseengagementsfirst，Portugalwasbroughtintothegrandalliance；thatis，sheconsentedtoemployherformidableforcesagainstPhilip，attheexpenseofEnglandandHolland，providedwewoulddebarourselvesfrommakinganyacquisitions，andthehouseofAustriapromised，thatsheshouldacquiremanyimportantplacesinSpain，andanimmenseextentofcountryinAmerica。Bysuchbargainsasthis，thewholeconfederacywasformed，andheldtogether。SuchmeanswereindeedeffectualtomultiplyenemiestoFranceandSpain；butaprojectsoextensiveandsodifficultastomakemanybargainsofthiskindnecessary，andnecessaryforagreatnumberofyears，andforaveryuncertainevent，wasaprojectintowhich，forthisveryreason，EnglandandHollandshouldnothaveentered。ItisworthyyourObservation，mylord，thatthesebadbargainswouldnothavebeencontinued，astheywerealmosttoourimmediateruin，ifthewarhadnotbeenprotractedunderthepretendednecessityofreducingthewholeSpanishmonarchytotheobedienceofthehouseofAustria。Now，asnootherconfederateexceptPortugalwastoreceivehisrecompensebyanydismembermentofdominionsinOldorNewSpain，theengagementswetooktoconquerthiswholemonarchyhadnovisiblenecessarycause，buttheprocuringtheaccessionofthispower，thatwasalreadyneuter，tothegrandalliance。Thisaccession，asIhavesaidbefore，servedonlytomakeusneglectimmediateandcertainadvantages，forremoteanduncertainhopes；andchoosetoattempttheconquestoftheSpanishnationatourownvastexpense，whomwemighthavestarved，andbystarvingreducedboththeFrenchandthem，attheirexpense。
　　IcalledthenecessityofreducingthewholeSpanishmonarchytotheobedienceofthehouseofAustria，apretendednecessity：andpretendeditwas，notreal，withoutdoubt。ButIamapttothinkyourlordshipmaygofurther，andfindsomereasonstosuspect，thattheopinionitselfofthisnecessitywasnotveryreal，inthemindsofthosewhourgedit：inthemindsIwouldsayoftheablemenamongthem；forthatitwasrealinsomeofourzealousBritishpoliticians，Idothemthejusticetobelieve。Yourlordshipmayfindreasonstosuspectperhaps，thatthisopinionwassetuprathertooccasionadiversionoftheforcesofFrance，andtofurnishpretencesforprolongingthewarforotherends。
　　Beforetheyearonethousandsevenhundredandten，thewarwaskeptalivewithalternatesuccessinSpain；anditmaybesaid，therefore，thatthedesignofconqueringthiskingdomcontinued，aswellasthehopesofsucceeding。
　　ButwhythendidtheStatesGeneralrefuse，inonethousandsevenhundredandnine，toadmitanarticleinthebarriertreaty，bywhichtheywouldhaveobligedthemselvestoprocurethewholeSpanishmonarchytothehouseofAustria，whenthatzealouspoliticianmyLordTownshendpressedthemtoit？Iftheiropinionofthenecessityofcarryingonthewar，tillthispointcouldbeobtained，wasreal；whydidtheyrisktheimmenseadvantagesgiventhemwithsomuchprofusegenerositybythistreaty，ratherthanconsenttoanengagementthatwassoconformabletotheiropinion？
　　Aftertheyearonethousandsevenhundredandten，itwillnotbesaid，Ipresume，thatthewarcouldbesupportedinSpainwithanyprospectofadvantageonourside。WehadsufficientlyexperiencedhowlittledependencecouldbehadonthevigorofthePortuguese；andhowfirmlytheSpanishnationingeneral，theCastiliansinparticular，wereattachedtoPhilip。OurarmieshadbeentwiceatMadrid，thisprincehadbeentwicedrivenfromhiscapital，hisrivalhadbeenthere，nonestirredinfavorofthevictorious，allwishedandactedforthevanquished。Inshort，thefalsehoodofallthoselures，bywhichwehadbeenenticedtomakewarinSpain，hadappearedsufficientlyinonethousandsevenhundredandsix；butwassogrosslyevidentinonethousandsevenhundredandten，thatMrCraggs，whowassenttowardstheendofthatyearbyMrStanhopeintoEngland，oncommissionswhichheexecutedwithmuchgoodsenseandmuchaddress，ownedtome，thatinMrStanhope’sopinion，andhewasnotapttodespondofsuccess，especiallyintheexecutionofhisownprojects，nothingcouldbedonemoreinSpain，thegeneralattachmentofthepeopletoPhilip，andtheiraversiontoCharlesconsidered：thatarmiesoftwentyorthirtythousandmenmightwalkaboutthatcountrytilldoomsday，soheexpressedhimself，withouteffect：thatwherevertheycame，thepeoplewouldsubmittoCharlestheThirdoutofterror，andassoonastheyweregone，proclaimPhiliptheFifthagainoutofaffection：thattoconquerSpainrequiredagreatarmy；andtokeepit，agreater。Wasitpossible，afterthis，tothinkingoodearnestofconqueringSpain，andcouldtheybeingoodearnestwhocontinuedtoholdthesamelanguage，andtoinsistonthesamemeasures？Couldtheybesointhefollowingyear，whentheemperorJosephdied？CharleswasbecomethenthesolesurvivingmaleofthehouseofAustria，andsucceededtotheempireaswellastoallthehereditarydominionsofthatfamily。Couldtheybeinearnestwhomaintained，eveninthisconjuncture，that“nopeacecouldbesafe，honorable，orlasting，solongasthekingdomofSpainandtheWestIndiesremainedinthepossessionofanybranchofthehouseofBourbon？“DidtheymeanthatCharlesshouldbeemperorandkingofSpain？Inthisprojecttheywouldhavehadthealliesagainstthem。DidtheymeantocalltheDukeofSavoytothecrownofSpain，ortobestowitonsomeotherprince？Inthisprojecttheywouldhavehadhisimperialmajestyagainstthem。Ineithercasetheconfederacywouldhavebeenbroken：andhowthenwouldtheyhavecontinuedthewar？Didtheymeannothing，ordidtheymeansomethingmorethantheyowned，somethingmorethantoreducetheexorbitantpowerofFrance，andtoforcethewholeSpanishmonarchyoutofthehouseofBourbon？
　　BoththeseendsmighthavebeenobtainedatGertruydenberg。Whyweretheynotobtained？Readthepreliminariesofonethousandsevenhundredandnine，whichweremadethefoundationofthistreaty。Informyourselfofwhatpassedthere，andobservewhatfollowed。Yourlordshipwillremainastonished。I
　　remainsoeverytimeIreflectuponthem，thoughIsawthesethingsatnoverygreatdistance，evenwhilsttheywereintransaction；andthoughIknowmostcertainlythatFrancelost，twoyearsbefore，bythelittleskillandaddressofherprincipalminister，inansweringoverturesmadeduringthesiegeofLislebyaprincipalpersonamongtheallies，suchanopportunity，andsuchacorrespondence，aswouldhaveremovedsomeoftheobstaclesthatlaynowinherway，havepreventedothers，andhaveprocuredherpeace。Anequivalentforthethirty-seventharticleofthepreliminaries，thatis，forthecessionofSpainandtheWestIndies，wasthepointtobediscussedatGertruydenberg。NaplesandSicily，orevenNaplesandSardiniawouldhavecontentedtheFrench，atleasttheywouldhaveacceptedthemastheequivalent。
　　BuysandVanderdussen，whotreatedwiththem，reportedthistotheministersoftheallies：anditwasuponthisoccasionthattheDukeofMarlborough，asBuyshimselftoldme，tookimmediatelythelead，andcongratulatedtheassemblyonthenearapproachofapeace；said，thatsincetheFrenchwereinthisdisposition，itwastimetoconsiderwhatfurtherdemandsshouldbemadeuponthem，accordingtothelibertyreservedinthepreliminaries；
　　andexhortedalltheministersofthealliestoadjusttheirseveralulteriorpretensions，andtopreparetheirdemands。
　　Thisproceeding，andwhatfollowed，putmeinmindofthatoftheRomanswiththeCarthaginians。TheformerwereresolvedtoconsenttonopeacetillCarthagewaslaidinruins。Theysetatreatyhoweveronfoot，attherequestoftheiroldenemy，imposedsometerms，andreferredthemtotheirgeneralsfortherest。Theirgeneralspursuedthesamemethod，and，byreservingstillarightofmakingulteriordemands，theyreducedtheCarthaginiansatlasttothenecessityofabandoningtheircity，orofcontinuingthewaraftertheyhadgivenuptheirarms，theirmachines，andtheirfleet，inhopesofpeace。
　　Francesawthesnare，andresolvedtorunanyriskratherthantobecaughtinit。Wecontinuedtodemand，underpretenceofsecuringthecessionofSpainandtheWestIndies，thatLouistheFourteenthshouldtakeonhimtodethronehisgrandsoninthespaceoftwomonths；andifhedidnoteffectitinthattime，thatweshouldbeatlibertytorenewthewarwithoutrestoringtheplacesthatweretobeputintoourhandsaccordingtothepreliminaries；
　　whichwerethemostimportantplacesFrancepossessedonthesideoftheLowCountries。Louisofferedtoabandonhisgrandson；and，ifhecouldnotprevailonhimtoresign，tofurnishmoneytotheallies，whomightattheexpenseofFranceforcehimtoevacuateSpain。Thepropositionmadebytheallieshadanairofinhumanity：andtherestofmankindmightbeshockedtoseethegrandfatherobligedtomakewaronhisgrandson。ButLouistheFourteenthhadtreatedmankindwithtoomuchinhumanityinhisprosperousdays，tohaveanyreasontocomplainevenofthisproposition。Hispeople，indeed，whoareapttohavegreatpartialityfortheirkings，mightpityhisdistress。Thishappened，andhefoundhisaccountinit。PhilipmusthaveevacuatedSpain，Ithink，notwithstandinghisownobstinacy，thespiritofhisqueen，andtheresoluteattachmentoftheSpaniards，ifhisgrandfatherhadinsisted，andbeeninearnesttoforcehim。Butifthisexpedientwas，asitwas，odious，whydidweprefertocontinuethewaragainstFranceandSpain，ratherthanaccepttheother？whydidweneglecttheopportunityofreducing，effectuallyand