hearkened，andtheydidwelltohearken，tothefirstoverturesthatweremadethem。Thedispositionoftheirenemiesinvitedthemtodoso，butthatoftheirfriends，andthatofapartyathomewhohadnursed，andbeennursedbythewar，mighthavedeterredthemfromit；forthedifficultiesanddangerstowhichtheymustbeexposedincarryingforwardthisgreatwork，couldescapenoneofthem。Inalettertoafriend，itmaybeallowedmetosay，thattheydidnotescapeme：andthatIforesaw，ascontingentbutnotimprobableevents，agoodpartofwhathashappenedtomesince。Thoughitwasaduty，therefore，thatweowedtoourcountry，todeliverherfromthenecessityofbearinganylongersounequalapartinsounnecessaryawar，yetWastheresomedegreeofmeritinperformingit。Ithinksostronglyinthismanner，Iamsoincorrigible，mylord，thatifIcouldbeplacedinthesamecircumstancesagain，Iwouldtakethesameresolution，andactthesamepart。Ageandexperiencemightenablemetoactwithmoreability，andgreaterskill；butallIhavesufferedsincethedeathofthequeenshouldnothindermefromacting。Notwithstandingthis，IshallnotbesurprisedifyouthinkthatthepeaceofUtrechtwasnotanswerabletothesuccessofthewar，nortotheeffortsmadeinit。Ithinksomyself，andhavealwaysowned，evenwhenitwasmakingandmade，thatIthoughtso。
　　Sincewehadcommittedasuccessfulfolly，weoughttohavereapedmoreadvantagefromitthanwedid：and，whetherwehadleftPhilip，orplacedanotherprinceonthethroneofSpain，weoughttohavereducedthepowerofFrance，andtohavestrengthenedherneighborsmuchmorethanwedid。Weoughttohavereducedherpowerforgenerationstocome，andnottohavecontentedourselveswithamomentaryreductionofit。Francewasexhaustedtoagreatdegreeofmenandmoney，andhergovernmenthadnocredit：butthey，whotookthisforasufficientreductionofherpower，lookedbutalittlewaybeforethem，andreasonedtoosuperficially。Severalsuchtherewerehowever；forasithasbeensaid，thatthereisnoextravagancywhichsomephilosopherorotherhasnotmaintained，soyourexperience，youngasyouare，musthaveshownyou，thatthereisnoabsurdextreme，intowhichourpartypoliticiansofGreatBritainarenotpronetofall，concerningthestateandconductofpublicaffairs。ButifFrancewasexhausted，sowerewe，andsoweretheDutch。Faminerenderedherconditionmuchmoremiserablethanours，atonetime，inappearanceandinrealitytoo。Butassoonasthisaccident，thathaddistressedtheFrenchandfrightenedLouistheFourteenthtotheutmostdegree，andtheimmediateconsequencesofitwereover；itwasobvioustoobserve，thoughfewmadetheobservation，thatwhilstwewereunabletoraiseinayear，bysomemillionsatleast，theexpensesoftheyear，theFrenchwerewillingandabletobeartheimpositionofthetenth，overandabovealltheothertaxesthathadbeenlaiduponthem。Thisobservationhadtheweightitdeserved；andsurelyitdeservedtohavesomeamongthosewhomadeit，atthetimespokenof，andwhodidnotthinkthatthewarwastobecontinuedaslongasaparliamentcouldbeprevailedontovotemoney。Butsupposingittohavedeservednone，supposingthepowerofFrancetohavebeenreducedaslowasyouplease，withrespecttoherinwardstate，yetstillIaffirm，thatsuchareductioncouldnotbepermanent，andwasnotthereforesufficient。
　　Whoeverknowsthenatureofhergovernment，thetemperofherpeople，andthenaturaladvantagesshehasincommerceoverallthenationsthatsurroundher，knowsthatanarbitrarygovernment，andthetemperofherpeopleenableheronparticularoccasionstothrowoffaloadofdebtmuchmoreeasily，andwithconsequencesmuchlesstobefeared，thananyofherneighborscan：
　　thatalthoughinthegeneralcourseofthings，tradebecrampedandindustryvexedbythisarbitrarygovernment，yetneitheronenortheotherisoppressed；
　　andthetemperofthepeople，andthenaturaladvantagesofthecountry，aresuch，thathowgreatsoeverherdistressbeatanypointoftime，twentyyearsoftranquillitysufficetore-establishheraffairs，andtoenrichheragainattheexpenseofallthenationsofEurope。Ifanyonedoubtsofthis，lethimconsidertheconditioninwhichthiskingdomwasleftbyLouistheFourteenth：thestrangepranksthelateDukeofOrleansplayed，duringhisregencyandadministration，withthesystemofpublicrevenue，andprivateproperty：andthenlethimtellhimselfthattherevenuesofFrance，thetenthtakenoff，exceedalltheexpensesofhergovernmentbymanymillionsoflivresalready，andwillexceedthembymanymoreinanotheryear。
　　Uponthewholematter，mylord，thelowandexhaustedstatetowhichFrancewasreduced，bythelastgreatwar，wasbutamomentaryreductionofherpower；andwhateverrealandmorelastingreductionthetreatyofUtrechtbroughtaboutinsomeinstances，itwasnotsufficient。ThepowerofFrancewouldnothaveappearedasgreatasitdid，whenEnglandandHollandarmedthemselvesandarmedallGermanyagainsther，ifshehadlainasopentotheinvasionsofherenemies，asherenemieslaytohers。Herinwardstrengthwasgreat；butthestrengthofthosefrontierswhichLouistheFourteenthwasalmostfortyyearsinforming，andwhichthefollyofallhisneighborsintheirturnssufferedhimtoform，madethisstrengthasformidableasitbecame。ThetruereductionoftheexorbitantpowerofFrance，Itakenonoticeofchimericalprojectsaboutchanginghergovernment，consistedthereforeindisarmingherfrontiers，andfortifyingthebarriersagainsther，bythecessionanddemolitionofmanymoreplacesthansheyieldedupatUtrecht；
　　butnotofmorethanshemighthavebeenobligedtosacrificetoherownimmediaterelief，andtothefuturesecurityofherneighbors。Thatshewasnotobligedtomakethesesacrifices，Iaffirm，wasowingsolelytothosewhoopposedthepeace：andIamwillingtoputmywholecreditwithyourlordship，andthewholemeritsofacausethathasbeensomuchcontested，onthisissue。Isayacausethathasbeensomuchcontested；forintruth，Ithink，itisnolongeradoubtanywhere，exceptinBritishpamphlets，whethertheconductofthosewhoneitherdeclinedtreating，aswasdoneinonethousandsevenhundredandsix；norpretendedtotreatwithoutadesignofconcluding，aswasdoneinonethousandsevenhundredandnineandten，butcarriedthegreatworkofthepeaceforwardtoitsconsummation；ortheconductofthosewhoopposedthisworkineverystepofitsprogress，savedthepowerofFrancefromagreaterandasufficientreductionatthetreatyofUtrecht。Theveryministerswhowereemployedinthisfatalopposition，areobligedtoconfessthistruth。Howshouldtheydenyit？ThoseofViennamaycomplainthattheemperorhadnottheentireSpanishmonarchy，orthoseofHollandthattheStateswerenotmademastersdirectlyandindirectlyofthewholeLowCountries。Butneitherthey，noranyoneelsethathasanysenseofshameabouthim，candenythatthelatequeen，thoughshewasresolvedtotreatbecauseshewasresolvedtofinishthewar，yetwastotheutmostdegreedesiroustotreatinaperfectunionwithherallies，andtoprocurethemallthereasonabletermstheycouldexpect；andmuchbetterthanthosetheyreducedthemselvestothenecessityofaccepting，byendeavoringtowrestthenegotiationoutofherhands。ThedisunionofthealliesgaveFrancetheadvantagessheimproved。Thesolequestionis，Whocausedthisdisunion？
　　andthatwillbeeasilydecidedbyeveryimpartialman，whoinformshimselfcarefullyofthepublicanecdotesofthattime。Iftheprivateanecdotesweretobelaidopenaswellasthose，andIthinkitalmosttimetheyshould，thewholemonstrousscenewouldappear，andshocktheeyeofeveryhonestman。Idonotintendtodescendintomanyparticularsatthistime：butwhateverI，oranyotherpersonaswellinformedasI，shalldescendintoafulldeductionofsuchparticulars，itwillbecomeundeniablyevident，thatthemostviolentoppositionimaginable，carriedonbytheGermansandtheDutchinleaguewithapartyinBritain，beganassoonasthefirstoverturesweremadetothequeen；beforeshehadsomuchasbeguntotreat：andwasthereforeanoppositionnottothisorthatplanoftreaty，butintruthtoalltreaty。
　　andespeciallytoonewhereinGreatBritaintookthelead，orwastohaveanyparticularadvantage。ThattheImperialistsmeantnotreaty，unlessapreliminaryandimpracticableconditionofitwastosetthecrownofSpainontheemperor’shead，willappearfromthis；thatprinceEugene，whenhecameintoEngland，longafterthedeathofJosephandelevationofCharles，uponanerrandmostunworthyofsogreataman，treatedalwaysonthissupposition：
　　andIrememberwithhowmuchinwardimpatienceIassistedatconferencesheldwithhimconcerningquotasforrenewingthewarinSpain，intheverysameroom，attheCockpit，wherethequeen’sministershadbeentoldinplainterms，alittlebefore，bythoseofotherallies，“thattheirmasterswouldnotconsentthattheImperialandSpanishcrownsshoulduniteonthesamehead。“ThattheDutchwerenotaversetoalltreaty，butmeantnonewhereinGreatBritainwastohaveanyparticularadvantage，willappearfromthis；thattheirministerdeclaredhimselfreadyandauthorisedtostoptheoppositionmadetothequeen’smeasures，bypresentingamemorial，whereinhewoulddeclare，“thathismastersenteredintothem，andwereresolvednottocontinuethewarfortherecoveryofSpain，providedthequeenwouldconsentthattheyshouldgarrisonGibraltarandPortMahonjointlywithus，andshareequallytheAssiento，theSouthSeaship，andwhatevershouldbegrantedbytheSpaniardstothequeenandhersubjects。“Thatthewhigsengagedinthisleaguewithforeignpowersagainsttheircountry，aswellastheirqueen，andwithaphrensymoreunaccountablethanthatwhichmadeandmaintainedthesolemnleagueandcovenantformerly，willappearfromthis；thattheirattemptsweredirectednotonlytowrestthenegotiationsoutofthequeen’shands，buttoobligetheircountrytocarryonthewar，onthesameunequalfootthathadcostheralreadyabouttwentymillionsmorethansheoughttohavecontributedtoit。Fortheynotonlycontinuedtoabettheemperor，whoseinabilitytosupplyhisquotawasconfessed；buttheDutchlikewise，aftertheStateshadrefusedtoratifythetreatytheirministersignedatLondontowardstheendoftheyearonethousandsevenhundredandeleven，andbywhichthequeenunitedherselfmorecloselythanevertothem；engagingtopursuethewar，toconcludethepeace，andtoguarantyit，whenconcluded，jointlywiththem；“providedtheywouldkeeptheengagementstheyhadtakenwithher，andtheconditionsofproportionateexpenseunderwhichournationhadenteredintothewar。“UponsuchschemesasthesewastheoppositiontothetreatyofUtrechtcarriedon：
　　andthemeansemployed，andthemeansprojectedtobeemployed，wereworthyofsuchschemes；open，direct，andindecentdefianceoflegalauthority，secretconspiraciesagainstthestate，andbasemachinationsagainstparticularmen，whohadnoothercrimethanthatofendeavoringtoconcludeawar，undertheauthorityofthequeen，whichapartyinthenationendeavoredtoprolongagainstherauthority。Hadthegoodpolicyofconcludingthewarbeendoubtful，itwascertainlyaslawfulforthose，whothoughtitgood，toadviseit，asithadbeenforthosewhothoughtitbad，toadvisethecontrary：andthedecisionofthesovereignonthethroneoughttohaveterminatedthecontest。Buthewhohadjudgedbytheappearancesofthingsononeside，atthattime，wouldhavebeenapttothink，thatputtinganendtothewar，ortoMagnaCharta，wasthesamething；thatthequeenonthethronehadnorighttogovernindependentlyofhersuccessor；noranyofhersubjectsarighttoadministerthegovernmentunderher，thoughcalledtoitbyher，exceptthosewhomshehadthoughtfittolayaside。Extravagantastheseprinciplesare，noothercouldjustifytheconductheldatthattimebythosewhoopposedthepeace：andasIsaidjustnow，thatthephrensyofthisleaguewasmoreunaccountablethanthatofthesolemnleagueandcovenant，Imighthaveadded，thatitwasnotverymanydegreeslesscriminal。Someofthese，whochargedthequeen’sministers，afterherdeath，withimaginarytreasons，hadbeenguiltyduringherlifeofrealtreasons：andIcancomparethefollyandviolenceofthespiritthatprevailedatthattime，bothbeforetheconclusionofthepeace，and，underpretenceofdangertothesuccession，afterit，tonothingmorenearlythantothefollyandviolenceofthespiritthatseizedthetoriessoonaftertheaccessionofGeorgetheFirst。Thelatterindeed，whichwasprovokedbyunjustandimpoliticpersecution，brokeoutinopenrebellion。Theformermighthavedoneso，ifthequeenhadlivedalittlelonger。Buttoreturn。
　　TheobstinateadherenceoftheDutchtothisleague，inoppositiontothequeen，renderedtheconferencesofUtrecht，whentheywereopened，nobetterthanmockconferences。Hadthemenwhogovernedthatcommonwealthbeenwiseandhonestenoughtounite，atleastthen，cordiallywiththequeen，and，sincetheycouldnothinderacongress，toactinconcertwithherinit；weshouldhavebeenstillintimetomaintainasufficientunionamongtheallies，andasufficientsuperiorityovertheFrench。Allthespecificdemandsthattheformermade，aswellastheDutchthemselves，eithertoincumberthenegotiation，ortohaveinreserve，accordingtotheartificeusuallyemployedonsuchoccasions，certainpointsfromwhichtodepartinthecourseofitwithadvantage，wouldnothavebeenobtained：butalltheessentialdemands，allinparticularthatwerereallynecessarytosecurethebarriersintheLowCountriesandofthefourcirclesagainstFrance，wouldhavebeenso。ForFrancemusthavecontinued，inthiscase，rathertosueforpeace，thantotreatonanequalfoot。Thefirstdauphin，sonofLouistheFourteenth，diedseveralmonthsbeforethiscongressbegan：