immediately，theexorbitantpowerofFrance，andofrenderingtheconquestofSpainpracticable？bothwhichmighthavebeenbroughtabout，andconsequentlytheavowedendsofthewarmighthavebeenanswered，byacceptingtheexpedientthatFranceoffered。“France，“
　　itwassaid，“wasnotsincere：shemeantnothingmorethantoamuse，anddivide。“Thisreasonwasgivenatthetime；butsomeofthosewhogaveitthen，Ihaveseenashamedtoinsistonitsince。Francewasnotinaconditiontoactthepartshehadactedinformertreaties：andherdistresswasnobadpledgeofhersincerityonthisoccasion。Buttherewasabetterstill。Thestrongplacesthatshemusthaveputintothehandsoftheallies，wouldhaveexposedher，ontheleastbreachoffaith，tosee，notherfrontieralone，buteventheprovincesthatliebehindit，desolated：andprinceEugenemighthavehadthesatisfaction，itissaid，Iknownothowtruly，hedesired，ofmarchingwiththetorchinhishandtoVersailles。
　　Yourlordshipwillobserve，thattheconferencesatGertruydenbergendinginthemannertheydid，theinflexibilityofthealliesgavenewlifeandspirittotheFrenchandSpanishnations，distressedandexhaustedastheywere。ThetroopsoftheformerwithdrawnoutofSpain，andtheSpaniardslefttodefendthemselvesastheycould，theSpaniardsaloneobligedustoretreatfromMadrid，anddefeatedusinourretreat。Butyourlordshipmaythinkperhaps，asIdo，thatifLouistheFourteenthhadboundhimselfbyasolemntreatytoabandonhisgrandson，hadpaidasubsidytodethronehim，andhadconsentedtoacknowledgeanotherkingofSpain，theSpaniardswouldnothaveexertedthesamezealforPhilip；theactionsofAlmenaraandSaragossamighthavebeendecisive，andthoseofBrihuegaandVillaViciosawouldnothavehappened。Afteralltheseevents，howcouldanyreasonablemanexpectthatawarshouldbesupportedwithadvantageinSpain，towhichthecourtofViennahadcontributednothingfromthefirst，scarcebreadtotheirarchduke；
　　whichPortugalwagedfaintlyandwithdeficientquotas；andwhichtheDutchhadinamannerrenounced，byneglectingtorecruittheirforces？HowwasCharlestobeplacedontheSpanishthrone，orPhilipatleasttobedrivenoutofit？Bythesuccessoftheconfederatearmsinotherparts。Butwhatsuccess，sufficienttothispurpose，couldweexpect？Thisquestionmaybeansweredbest，byshowingwhatsuccesswehad。
　　PortugalandSavoydidnothingbeforethedeathoftheemperorJoseph；
　　anddeclaredinform，assoonashewasdead，thattheywouldcarryonthewarnolongertosetthecrownofSpainontheheadofCharles，sincethiswouldbetofightagainsttheveryprincipletheyhadfoughtfor。TheRhinewasasceneofinaction。Thesoleefforts，thatweretobringaboutthegreateventofdethroningPhilip，werethosewhichtheDukeofMarlboroughwasabletomake。Hetookthreetownsinonethousandsevenhundredandten，Aire，Methune，andSt。Venant：andone，Bouchain，inonethousandsevenhundredandeleven。Nowthisconquestbeinginfacttheonlyonetheconfederatesmadethatyear，Bouchainmaybesaidproperlyandtrulytohavecostournationverynearsevenmillionssterling：foryourlordshipwillfind，I
　　believe，thatthechargeofthewarforthatyearamountedtonoless。ItistruethattheDukeofMarlboroughhadproposedaverygreatproject，bywhichincursionswouldhavebeenmadeduringthewinterintoFrance；thenextcampaignmighthavebeenopenedearlyonourside；andseveralothergreatandobviousadvantagesmighthavebeenobtained：buttheDutchrefusedtocontribute，evenlessthantheirproportion，forthequeenhadofferedtotakethedeficiencyonherself，totheexpenseofbarracksandforage；
　　anddisappointedbytheirobstinacythewholedesign。
　　Wewerethenamusedwithvisionaryschemesofmarchingourwholearmy，inayearortwomore，andafteratownortwomoreweretaken，directlytoParis，oratleastintheheartofFrance。Butwasthissoeasyorsosureagame？TheFrenchexpectedwewouldplayit。Theirgeneralshadvisitedtheseveralpoststheymighttake，whenourarmyshouldenterFrance，toretard，toincommode，todistressusinourmarch，andeventomakeadecisivestandandtogiveusbattle。ItakewhatIsayherefromindisputableauthority，thatofthepersonsconsultedandemployedinpreparingforthisgreatdistress。
　　Hadwebeenbeaten，orhadwebeenforcedtoretiretowardsourownfrontierintheLowCountries，afterpenetratingintoFrance，thehopesonwhichweprotractedthewarwouldhavebeendisappointed，and，Ithink，themostsanguine，wouldhavethenrepentedrefusingtheoffersmadeatGertruydenberg。ButifwehadbeatentheFrench，foritwasscarcelylawfulinthosedaysofourpresumptiontosupposethecontrary；wouldthewholemonarchyofSpainhavebeenourimmediateandcertainprize？Suppose，andIsupposeitongoodgrounds，mylord，thattheFrenchhadresolvedtodefendtheircountryinchbyinch，andthatLouistheFourteenthhaddeterminedtoretirewithhiscourttoLyonsorelsewhere，andtodefendthepassageoftheLoire，whenhecouldnolongerdefendthatoftheSeine，ratherthansubmittothetermsimposedonhim：whatshouldwehavedoneinthiscase？Mustwenothaveacceptedsuchapeaceaswehadrefused；orhaveprotractedthewartillwehadconqueredFrancefirst，inordertoconquerSpainafterwards？DidwehopeforrevolutionsinFrance？WehadhopedfortheminSpain：andweshouldhavebeenbubblesofourhopesinboth。ThattherewasaspiritraisedagainstthegovernmentofLouistheFourteenth，inhiscourt，nay，inhisfamily，andthatstrangeschemesofprivateambitionwereformedandformingthere，Icannotdoubt：
　　andsomeeffectsofthisspiritproducedperhapsthegreatestmortificationsthathesufferedinthelatterpartofhisreign。
　　AlightinstanceofthisspiritisallIwillquoteatthistime。Isupped，intheyearonethousandsevenhundredandfifteen，atahouseinFrance，wheretwopersons，ofnosmallfigure，whohadbeeningreatcompanythatnight，arrivedverylate。Theconversationturnedontheeventsoftheprecedentwar，andthenegotiationsofthelatepeace。Intheprocessoftheconversationoneofthembrokeloose，andsaid，directinghisdiscoursetome，“Vousauriezpunousé；craserdanscetems-là；：pourquoinel’avez-vouspasfait？“Iansweredhimcoolly，“Parcequedanscetems-là；
　　nousn’avonspluscraintvô；trepuissance。“Thisanecdote，tootrivialforhistory，mayfinditsplaceinaletter，andmayservetoconfirmwhatIhaveadmitted，thattherewerepersonseveninFrance，whoexpectedtofindtheirprivateaccountinthedistressoftheircountry。Butthesepersonswereafewmenofwildimaginationsandstrongpassions，moreenterprisingthancapable，andofmorenamethancredit。IngeneraltheendeavorsofLouistheFourteenth，andthesacrificesheofferedtomakeinordertoobtainapeace，hadattachedhispeoplemorethanevertohim：andifLouishaddeterminednottogoanyfartherthanhehadofferedatGertruydenberg，inabandoninghisgrandson，theFrenchnationwouldnothaveabandonedhim。
　　ButtoresumewhatIhavesaidorhintedalready；thenecessaryconsequencesofprotractingthewarinordertodethronePhilip，fromtheyearonethousandsevenhundredandeleveninclusively，couldbenootherthanthese：ourdesignofpenetratingintoFrancemighthavebeendefeated，andhavebecomefataltousbyareverseoffortune：ourfirstsuccessmightnothaveobligedtheFrenchtosubmit；andwemighthavehadFrancetoconquer，afterwehadfailedinourfirstattempttoconquerSpain，andeveninordertoproceedtoasecond：theFrenchmighthavesubmitted，andtheSpaniardsnot：andwhilsttheformerhadbeenemployedtoforcethelatter，accordingtotheschemeoftheallies；orwhilst，thelattersubmittinglikewise，PhiliphadevacuatedSpain，thehighalliesmighthavegonetogetherbytheearsaboutdividingthespoil，anddisposingofthecrownofSpain。Totheseissueswerethingsbroughtbyprotractingthewar；byrefusingtomakepeace，ontheprinciplesofthegrandallianceatworst，inonethousandsevenhundredandsix；andbyrefusingtograntit，evenonthoseofthenewplan，inonethousandsevenhundredandten。SuchcontingenteventsasIhavementionedstoodinprospectbeforeus。Theendofthewarwasremovedoutofsight；andthey，whoclamoredratherthanarguedforthecontinuationofit，contentedthemselvestoaffirm，thatFrancewasnotenoughreduced，andthatnopeaceoughttobemadeaslongasaprinceofthehouseofBourbonremainedonaSpanishthrone。WhentheywouldthinkFranceenoughreduced，itwasimpossibletoguess。WhethertheyintendedtojointheImperialandSpanishcrownsontheheadofCharles，whohaddeclaredhisirrevocableresolutiontocontinuethewartilltheconditionsinsisteduponatGertruydenbergwereobtained：whethertheyintendedtobestowSpainandtheIndiesonsomeotherprince；andhowthisgreatalterationintheirownplanshouldbeeffectedbycommonconsent。howpossessionshouldbegiventoCharles，oranyotherprince，notonlyofSpainbutofallSpanishdominionsoutofEurope，wheretheattachmenttoPhilipwasatleastasstrongasinCastile，andwhereitwouldnotbesoeasy，thedistanceandextentofthesedominionsconsidered，toobligetheSpaniardstosubmittoanothergovernment：Thesepoints，andmanymoreequallynecessarytobedetermined，andequallydifficulttoprepare，wereneitherdeterminednorprepared；sothatwewerereducedtocarryonthewar，afterthedeathoftheemperorJoseph，withoutanypositiveschemeagreedto，astheschemeofthefuturepeace，bytheallies。Thatofthegrandalliancewehadlongbeforerenounced。
　　Thatofthenewplanwasbecomeineligible；and，ifithadbeeneligible，itwouldhavebeenimpracticable，becauseofthedivisionitwouldhavecreatedamongthealliesthemselves：severalofwhomwouldnothaveconsented，notwithstandinghisirrevocableresolution，thattheemperorshouldbekingofSpain。Iknownotwhatparttheprotractersofthewar，inthedepthoftheirpolicy，intendedtotake。Ournationhadcontributed，andactedsolongunderthedirectionoftheircouncils，forthegrandeurofthehouseofAustria，likeoneofthehereditarykingdomsusurpedbythatfamily，thatitislawfultothinktheirintentionmightbetounitetheImperialandSpanishcrowns。ButI
　　ratherthinktheyhadnoverydeterminateview，beyondthatofcontinuingthewaraslongastheycould。ThelateLordOxfordtoldme，thatmyLordSomersbeingpressed，Iknownotonwhatoccasionnorbywhom，ontheunnecessaryandruinouscontinuationofthewar；insteadofgivingreasonstoshowthenecessityofit，contentedhimselftoreply，thathehadbeenbredupinahatredofFrance。Thiswasastrangereplyforawiseman：andyetIknownotwhetherhecouldhavegivenabetterthen，onwhetheranyofhispupilscouldgiveabetternow。
　　Thewhigpartyingeneralacquiredgreatandjustpopularity，inthereignofourCharlestheSecond，bytheclamortheyraisedagainsttheconductofthatprinceinforeignaffairs。Theywhosucceededtothenameratherthantheprinciplesofthisparty，aftertherevolution，andwhohavehadtheadministrationofthegovernmentintheirhandswithverylittleinterruptioneversince，pretendingtoactonthesameprinciple，haverunintoanextremeasviciousandascontrarytoalltherulesofgoodpolicy，asthatwhichtheirpredecessorsexclaimedagainst。Theoldwhigscomplainedoftheingloriousfigurewemade，whilstourcourtwasthebubble，andourkingthepensionerofFrance；andinsistedthatthegrowingambitionandpowerofLouistheFourteenthshouldbeopposedintime。Themodernwhigsboasted，andstillboast，ofthegloriousfigurewemade，whilstwereducedourselves，bytheircouncils，andundertheiradministrations，tobethebubblesofourpensioners，thatis，ofourallies：andwhilstwemeasuredoureffortsinwar，andthecontinuationofthem，withoutanyregardtotheinterestsandabilitiesofourowncountry，withoutajustandsoberregard，suchanoneascontemplatesobjectsintheirtruelightandseesthemintheirtruemagnitude，tothegeneralsystemofpowerinEurope；and，inshort，withaprincipalregardmerelytoparticularinterestsathomeandabroad。Isayathomeandabroad：
　　becauseitisnotlesstrue，thattheyhavesacrificedthewealthoftheircountrytotheformingandmaintainingapartyathome，thanthattheyhavedonesototheformingandmaintaining，beyondallpretencesofnecessity，alliancesabroad。Thesegeneralassertionsmaybeeasilyjustifiedwithouthavingrecoursetoprivateanecdotes，asyourlordshipwillfindwhenyouconsiderthewholeseriesofourconductinthetwowars；inthatwhichpreceded，andthatwhichsucceededimmediatelythebeginningofthepresentcentury，butaboveallinthelastofthem。Intheadministrationsthatprecededtherevolution，tradehadflourished，andournationhadgrownopulent：butthegeneralinterestofEuropehadbeentoomuchneglectedbyus；andslavery，undertheumbrageofprerogative，hadbeenwell-nighestablishedamongus。
　　Inthosethathavefollowed，taxesupontaxes，anddebtsupondebts，havebeenperpetuallyaccumulated，tillasmallnumberoffamilieshavegrownintoimmensewealth，andnationalbeggaryhasbeenbroughtuponus；underthespeciouspretenceofsupportingacommoncauseagainstFrance，reducingherexorbitantpower，andpoisingthatofEuropemoreequallyinthepublicbalance：laudabledesignsnodoubt，asfarastheywerereal，butsuchas，beingconvertedintomerepretences，havebeenproductiveofmuchevil；someofwhichwefeelandhavelongfelt，andsomewillextenditsconsequencestoourlatestposterity。Thereignofprerogativewasshort：andtheevilsandthedangers，towhichwewereexposedbyit，endedwithit。Butthereignoffalseandsquanderingpolicyhaslastedlong，itlastsstill，andwillfinallycompleteourruin。Beggaryhasbeentheconsequenceofslaveryinsomecountries：slaverywillbeprobablytheconsequenceofbeggaryinours；
　　andifitisso，weknowatwhosedoortolayit。Ifwehadfinishedthewarinonethousandsevenhundredandsix，weshouldhavereconciled，likeawisepeople，ourforeignandourdomesticinterestsasnearlyaspossible：
　　weshouldhavesecuredtheformersufficiently，andnothavesacrificedthelaterasentirelyaswedidbytheprosecutionofthewarafterwards。Youwillnotbeabletoseewithoutastonishment，howthechargeofthewarincreasedyearlyuponusfromthebeginningofit；norhowimmenseasumwepaidinthecourseofittosupplythedeficienciesofourconfederates。Yourastonishment，andindignationtoo，willincreasewhenyoucometocomparetheprogressthatwasmadefromtheyearonethousandsevenhundredandsixexclusively，withtheexpenseofmorethanthirtymillions，IdonotexaggeratethoughIwriteuponmemory，thatthisprogresscostustotheyearonethousandsevenhundredandeleveninclusivelyUponthisviewyourlordshipwillbepersuadedthatitwashightimetotaketheresolutionofmakingpeace，whenthequeenthoughtfittochangeherministrytowardstheendoftheyearonethousandsevenhundredandten。Itwashightimeindeedtosaveourcountryfromabsoluteinsolvencyandbankruptcy，byputtinganendtoaschemeofconduct，whichtheprejudicesofaparty，thewhimsyofsomeparticularmen，theprivateinterestofmore，andtheambitionandavariceofourallies，whohadbeeninvitedasitweretoascramblebythepreliminariesofonethousandsevenhundredandnine，alonemaintained。Thepersons，therefore，whocameintopoweratthistime，