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An EngUJhman\ Advice, in the Year 1701, how we ought to aft in Cafe of a New War : with the Opinion of a Dutchman^ touching what the Bri- tijb and other Nations might hope from relying on French Faith. TJX ^yERirUR BELLO. Oliver Cromwell's Motto. By an Old Englishman. LONDON: printed for J. Swan, near Nortbumherlmd Houfe in the Strand-, and J, Woody ER, in Fleet-Jirett. MDCCLV. « ( • I* la ^ } THE PREFACE. T Hough I may have faid nothing more in what is here offered to the PubHck than many knew be- fore, yet perchance (leeing the prefent State of our Affairs in the Eaji and Weft Indies) fome may find Matter in it worthy of Obfervation, which, till the late Difcoveries, they did not think were of fo much Confequence as to take up any Part of their At- tention. A 2 There- IV The PREFACE. Therefore, all that can be faid by way of Apology for this Publication is, *_. If the Fadls here brought for- ward are truly ftated, it may ferve to help others to make eafier Conclufions from them, and at the fame Time refrefh the Memories of Men of fu- perior Genius, whofe greater Affairs might not permit them to keep fuch Memorandums. ii THE 1 n o IS e •s ( 5 ) THE MAN'S Mistaken, b'r. TTIS MAJESTY'S admirable Wifdom I ]^ and his Fatherly Affection for the Wel- fare of his Subjeds have been fo confpicuous for more than Twenty feven Years, that we ought juftly to be accounted one of the moft ungrateful People in the World, Ihould we ever fail in our Duty and Acknowledgment of the Bleffings we enjoy under the Govern- ment of fo good and amiable a Prince *. The * The Writer heard with the greatefl: Satisfaftion what was declared in a G — d A y the other Day, i. e. Their firm Re- folution of {landing by and fupporting the prefent Royal Family and the Rights and Priviledges of the Britij'h Nation, in Oppofi- tion to any that fllould daro to attempt to deltroy them ; and that if needful, they wwild fpend their iaft Shilling in fo glorious a Caufe : and that Men were greatly miflaken who weakly think the Nation is unable to maintain a War And this, fays an old Briiijh Nobleman^ we dcfire all the World ftiould know. ^ ( « ) The univerfal Talk of War, and the Oc-' cafion of it, would certainly make a Man ap- pear ftupid ftiould he attempt to difpute that ourMinifters will in the leaft be wanting (un- der the Direction of fo mild and gracious a Royal M after) to alTert the juft Rights of the Imperial Crown of Great Britain^ wherefo- ever they (hall find it attacked, either in Home Brit am or in the Eaft or t^eft Indies y let the invading Prince be ever fo great and potent; and that naturally leads us to con- clude, they will with the fame Spirit be as watchful to fupport our Trade and Naviga- tion againft any Attempt that may be made to dcftroy either one or the other. This being our happy Situation at Home at this Critical Conjuncture, which cannot but be extremely pleafing to every Loyal and Faithful Briton. — Still as fome give out, that our Taxes are iilready fo grievous that we are unable to maintain a War, and that it would be more advifeable to accept of the beft Terms we can get, than to enter into one with fo crafty and i:^ politick an Enemy as that we are likely to meet with. — I fhall therefore undertake to fhew the Falfe- hood of this Aflfertion, for two Reafons. Firji^ Should this Dodrine be believed by our Enemy abroad, it muft neceflarily make him the more unwilling to do that Juftice which the Nation has a Right to demand. ;: ■> H ^ Se- ,9 1 Se- ( 7 ) Secondly y Such a Belief will make the Peo- ple at Home very uneafy and impatient even fo far as to make them apprehenfive of our being upon the Eve of ceafing to be a Free People. — We hope our Countrymen have had Experience enough of Negotiating : Witnefs what happened in the Reign of James I ; whilft we were fo employed, the Emperor ftripped the poor unfortunate King of Bohc'- mia of all his Dominions. But before I enter upon the Enquiry as to thofe who are moft afFc£ted by the Taxes, this I am affured for a Truth, that the Peo- ple would rather pay much more, than (land by and fee our Nation tamely fubmit to any Infults, from what Quarter foever, without properly refenting it, becoming a Free and Warlike People^ hopeing thro' the Bles- sing or Heaven, by making fuch Stands, not only to reap from it great and lafting Advantages to thefe Kingdoms in refped to Wealth, but above all the further Security of the Proteftant Religion and our Liberty and Properties in Times to come upon a more Iblid and lafting Foundation. To profecute therefore what I propole, Ihall proceed to confider the whole Body of the People under thefe Six ClafTes, I. The Landed Men\ \\,*X\\QClergy\ IH. The il/(?r- chants\ lY .The Manufa5iurers\ V. The Shopkeeprs ; and, VI. The Farmers. First, ( 8 ) First, The Landed Men^ it is true, have in Time of War been taxed 4 ShiHings in the Pound, and which by the Way they have generally paid without repining, when they were fatisfied the Neceflities of the State re- quired it. — But it is to be remembered, that tho* the Tax is called Four Shillings ir *"he Pound, it is very well known that in feveral Parts of England the Land is not even then rated at Two Shillings in the Pound, what- ever it may be in London and fome of the Counties round it. Now, for Argument fake, fuppofe, as in this Gale, fhould the full Four Shillings in the Pound be paid, is not the Land theirs for ever? does it not belong to them to defend it? for this is not a Quarrel of Ambition and Humour, but to aflert the Nation's juft Rights in the molt ef- fential Part ; for ihouid our Enemy prevail in conquering and deftroying our Settlements in the Eaft and JVefi Indies^ how long will Home Britain be free from thofe Inva- ders? — I fhudder at the very Thoughts of it, and therefore make no Doubt of the Readinefs of the Landed Men^ to affift on fo arduous an Occafion ; for if otherwife, God knows who may become PoffefTors of their Lands, and consequently in fuch a Confufion the glorious Names of Freemen and Free- holders will be foon buried in the Ruins of their Country. Se- Se- ( 9 ) SficoNDLY, The Clcrq^'s^ fomc fay, have a Right to complain of the Land Tax, bccaalc they arc only Tenants for Life^ this I can by no Means agree to, nor do I believe thofc: Reverend Gentlemen dcfire to be free from paying any Land Tax, when they ice the Caufe of their Country requires it \ but I tiippofe and hope the Aireflbrs and Commil- fioners take their Cafes into Confideration when the Tax is laid, remembering their Si- tuation, and that their Condition is not up- on a Foot with the Hereditary freeholders '>> ' — and here I mull oblerve, to the Honour of the Clergy of the Church of England^ that no Body of Men v/hatever are more ready to contribute towards the Support of the Tem- poral Government than they arc in Time of Need, well knowing that if our happy Con- ftitution fhould be deftroyed (ijulmh Heaven of Its infinite Mercy advert) that of our holy Religion muft at the fame Time perilh with it. Thirdly, TheiV/^rf^//;/^j-mayat firft View think the Duties burthenfome that are laid upon the Imports and Exports, and that War is extremely hurtful to them, by inter- rupting their Commerce abroad ; which I agree is in fome Meafure true^ and it would be well if the Neceffities of the State did not require it. As to the Reftraint on Trade, by LofTes in Time of War, 1 anfwer, The Price of the Commoditv that comes in fafe B fells C >o ) fells of Courfe dearer, which in fome Sort makes Amends for the Lofs, and that the Du- ty paid is always confidered with Intercft in the Sale of the Goods to them that buy them. Add to this, which I believe no Body will deny, — If there fhould be a War, it will be undertaken toproted our Settlements abroad, and to get reftored what has been unjuftly fevered from them, either in Peace or W"ar; in which are included that of fupporting oar Trade and Navigation in the moft fenlible Parts : For, furely, it cannot be denyed that the Merchants are highly concerned in the Event, cfpecially if it be true what has been lately afTerted, that our Trade to the JVefi Indies only amounts to no lefs than Four Millions Eight Hundred Thoufand Pounds yearly; and by that Branch no lefs than 300G00 Seamen are employed. — In fhort, I think it ufelefs to fpeak further, as to the Merchants^ becaufe former Experience has ftiewcd that none of their Fellow Subjeds have been more ready to affift with their Purfes* and Perfons whenever any Attempt has been made to infringe on the Rights and Liberty of thcfe Kingdoms than they; fb there * Witnefs the Readinefs of the late Sir Theodore Janjpn and other eminent Merchants to affift the Government, when they were dillreflcd during the Wars in the Reigns of .the late King William and Queen Ann : And the fame glorious Zeal 10 fup- port the Public Credit was fliewn by i\[Z Merchant s of this grcu: City in the late Rebellion. ( II ) there is no Doubt, fliould their Aid be again requefted, they will as readily aflift with the fame Zeal as heretofore. Fourthly, The Mechankks or MamifaC" turers\ thefe may fuffer by Duties on Coals and Candles, efpecially thofe who arc obliged to make long Days-work in the Winter, and perform it by Fire • and even in thofe Cafes I believe it will be allowed they make them- felves Amends by raifing the Prices of their Labour.- As to Excife upon Liquor, which is called the Great One, is not a very grievous Tax, nor that of Malt and Hops, being the only expeniive Ingredients from which it is made ; yet it is to be re- marked, that the^Vo-Pcny Pot before the additional Excifes were laid on was not much ■above a fourth Part bigger than the Thrce- •halfpeny Pot is now * : And for the additio- nal Duty on Small Beer, it is fo inconiider- able as fcarce to be worth mentioning. But furpofing they fliould for a Time fuffer fome further Inconveniencies by a War, is it not the Duty of the meaneft of his Majefty's Subjeds to lend their utmofl Afliftance in Time of Danger in con^mon with their Maf- ters, whofc Duty and Loyalty there is not the leafl Doubt of; for, to carry it yet fur- ther, fhould our Enemy prevail, will not our B 2 Ma- * Thofe 7'wo-Peny Pots are now ufcd in h 'anJ^ where there w little or no Excife. * i ' . • ' •9^ I i C 12 ) Manufa^lures be deftroyed, and our People made Slaves to Foreigners? that, I believe, %vill be iufficicnt to induce every Man (let his Condition be what it will) who wifhes well to his native Country to ufe in his Sta- tion his utmoft Zeal in Defence of it againft . her open or fecret Enemies. It has been urged, that the Window Tax is a large Duty upon thole Mamtfa6iurers who are obliged to have large Houles to carry on their Bufinefs in; to this it is an- fwered : There was heretofore a Tax called Chimney Money, and that this and other Taxes were impofcd at the Time we were under a Ncccflity of carrying on a War for the Prefervation of thcfe Kingdoms, when our Rights and all that was dear to us were endeavoured to be fub verted through the Wickedncls of our Domeftick as well as the Artifice of our Foreign pretended Friends. Taking it at the worft, that we cannot by fair Means get Satisfadion for the Inju- ries we have fuffered, and War Ihould cnfue, Has is not been found, from former Expe- rience, that though fomeManufadures have for the prefent been hurt by it, have not o- thcrs been greatly increafcd, and fome new ones introduced into the Nation even in the Time of War? Have we not greatly im- proved in the following Manufiidures fmce the Revolution, to wit, that of making line GI4I5, Hatts, Paper, Linncn, Wrought Silks, fmcc ; line Dught Silks, i ( 13 ) Silks, and diverfe other Home-made Goods, which we now export in great Quantities, that before we were obliged to purchale with our Money, and bring into England from Foreign Countries ? Can any One deny the Care that his prefent Majefty and his Royal Father always took to encreafc and prcferve our Shipping, the Bulwark of the Nation ? and it is to be hoped, if Occafion requires, our Enemies will find our Maritime Affairs were never in a better Con(3ition than at this Day : And mull not every One own that we are greatly indebted to this Royal Attention for it, as well as a prodigious Increafc of our Mercantile Shipping and Trade to the rc- motcft Part of the VVorld, and that by the Increafe of the former? Have not our Maf- ters of Ships been employed at Times as the common Carriers of Goods for the diiFerent Nations o{ Europe? In {hort^ I cannot help repeating it again, What would not a brave and Free People hazard to fupport the In- dependency of thefe Iflands againll the Ma- chinations of a fecret Enemy ? Fifthly, ThetSZ^^/^/^^e/'^rj'^which are a ve- ry large Body of Men; Thcfc to be fure, fay Ibme, will fuffcr by a War, particularly thro' the Gentry's IciTening their Expences, from being obliged to pay additional Taxes; and what, fay they, mull further add to the Shopkeepers Prejudice, will be that of the people's keeping their Money in the Funds, and I f V if i I ( 14 ) and by fiich Means negled to pay their Tradefmen, and likewife make others forbear buying feveral Things which they would o- thefwife have done, not knowing what Oc- cafion they might have for their Money ; and that by high Duties impofed on the Goods they fell will encreafe the Shopkeepers Stock (if not his Lofs) without that of his Profit : And laftly, that the Poor by a War will be greatly ii.creafed, towards whofe Mainte- nance the Shopkeepers muft contribute very largely. As to the Gentry s not buying fo much as in Time of Peace, may be true ; but then others who may be Gainers by the War vvili naruraily buy of the Shopkeepers feveral Things; and that will make fome Amends. And as, to Perfons keeping their Money in the Funds and negled paying their Debts, the Law will compel them fhould they re- fufe fo to do. — As to the Increafe of the High Duties, this is to be obferved, that in former Wars the Shopkeepers were fo far from falling off, that it was taken Notice that their Shops were better ftocked than before the Wars begun ; which is to be accounted for no other Way I know of, than either they became more induftrious, or their Gains cncreafed by fome other Means which they could not come at in Time of Peace. As to the Encreafe of the Poor, whenever that happens in Time of War, it is more owing to the Wilfulncfs of fome Manufafturers, when Jli when ( 15 y when their own falls off, in refufing to be- take the mfe Ives to other Bufinefs, that they might be employed in, than to the War ^ fa that upon the Whole, in refpect to the Sbop-' keepers, the Taxes certainly are not lb hurt- ful to them as to deter us from entering into a juft War : On the contrary, I rather be- lieve that all the principal Shof keepers in thefe Kingdoms would rather we fhould en- ter into one, and contribute as largely to- wards the Support of it as any of his Majef- ty's Subjeds, than abate one Jot of our juft Rights, wifely confidering, that it is much better to contribute a Part, than Rand by and fee the Whole fvvallowed up thro' our Negligence and Inadiviry. There is one Matter which I have omit- ted to mention. The Complaints in refped to Bankrupcies in Time of War; that if the War is concerned in refped to Bankrupts, it is but obliquely ; for the Lolfes at Sea are the Rcafons for very few of them, and thofe of- ten owing to the Hardinels and Temerity of unskilful Traders who make too much hafte to grow rich. As to the wealthy Merchants who carry on Foreign Trade, they in Time of War ad very cautioufly, contenting them- lelves with fmall Profits with Safety, rather than run too great Hazards ; nor do they for- get toafilil in the Manner I have before men- tioned : add to that, every one knows how readily they contributed in the laif War to- wards II If I ( I^ ) Wards fitting out feveral Privateers that greatly annoyed the Enemy, and were of great Service to their Country, as there was cer- tainly lomc Chafm in Trade : By the rich Merchants afting fo cautioufly, Pray, how was it filled up? why, by Perfons of fmall Stocks and little Skill; (though Ibme of them perhaps well cafcd in Knavery) if fuch as thofe foon run themfelves a-ground, it is not much to be wondered at. In fhort, this with Truth may be afTerted, that fome have remarked that there have been more Bankrupts in Time of Peace than in Time of War. Sixthly, and Laftly, The Farmer ^ let us confider how far he will be affeded by a War, and that of the Publick Taxes : As to that on Malt and Hops, it may be faid pro- perly to belong to him ; but then it is well known he repays himfelf, by raifing the Prices of thofe Commodities : and 1 believe no Body will deny but that Corn generally fells better in Time of War than in Peace, efpecially where there are large Armies and Fleets employed in different Parts; fo that, as to that valuable Body of ufeful Men, there does not fccm to be the leaft Colour to decline a juft War on their Account : and, as far as I can learn, they are ready and willing to afllft in fup- porting the Honour of the Nation as any Set of Men whatever. I hope therefore, from what is here of- fered, I have plainly demonltrated that our Taxes ( •;) Taxes are not fo grievous as render us una- ble to enter into a War j and it is likewile to be hoped that no People under the Sun will be more zealous, upon this Occafion, to defend his Majefty's, the prelent Royal Fa- mily and the Nation's jult PJghts and the Liberty of their Country, than thofe o^ Great Brlta'tHy in Oppofition to any Power, let it be ever fo great, that fhall attempt to injure or deftroy either the One or the Other : And that Heaven in its Divine Goodnefs may maintain in us the Spirit of Union, Strength and Courage, which is now more necelTary 1 Tl than ever, are the hearty and ardent Prayers of all his moft Sacred Majefty's dutiful and loyal Subjeds. Here I fliall fubjoin, as Memorials never to be forgot by all the Faithful in thefe Kingdoms, the Advice of an Englishman, in the Year 1701, how we ought to a£t in Cafe of a New War : — Together with the Opinion of a Dutchman^ in the Year 1713, touching what the Br'ttijh and other Na- tions were to hope from relying on French Faith. THE ( i8 ) - — — - ■ ' ■ ■ ■ I III . j » Englishman's Advice,^^^. ni I! iH THE Year 1701 was produdive of ve- ry great Events j the Death of the un- fortunate James II, and the Acknowledging by Frafice the Title of his pretended Son, in dired Violation of the Treaty at Ryfwkk^ were none of the lead, France did not flop there ; as fhe had placed one of her Grandfons on the Throne of Spain, fhe be- gan to ad more openly, by plainly fhewing that fhe had nothing lefs in View than to fubjed all the other Powers in Europe to her arbitrary V/ill : to ftem therefore the further Progrcfs of fo dangerous an Enemy was the chief Reafon that induced thofe Powers to enter into the Grand Alliance, and that pro- duced almoft a general War in Europe \ hap- py if the Conclufion had been equal to the Succefs that attended it for ten Campaigns! a Succefs Icarcely to be parallelled in ancient or modern Relation, and railed the Reputation of the Brtttjh Arms to a Height not known bclore. But 4 I ,^c. : of ve- the un- kdging Son, in yfw'ick^ iid not of her fhe be- hcvving :han to ? to her further vas the vers to at pro- ?; hap- to the igns! a :icnt or utation known But C ^9 ) But before the Commencement of this War fcveral Pamphlets were publiflicd • One, Ipeaking of the Condition o{ France in rc- fpcd of carrying on a War againffc fo many Allies y He proceeds to point out how Z.'//^- land ought to act on that Occafion • one Part of which we too fatally neglcded, and which 1 fear is one of the principal Caufes of the prefent Conteft. But to attend our Au- thor : ' Taking it for granted that fomc Powers * in Europe will bring into the P'ield large * Armies to bear againft France^ let us * fee how he is able to furnifh out a fuflici- * ent P'orce to encounter them, and at the * fanie Time provide for the Defence of a ' Coaft feveral Thoufand Miles in Extcnji:? * To make as near as may be a true Eltiniate ' of his Wealth and Power, I Hiall give my ' Reader an Account he may depend upon of * fome Particulars relating to his Revenues, ' and the Number of his Forces at different ' Times, * His whole Revenue did in the Year i665 * amount to 1 26 Millions of Livres, which ' reduced to Eiigl'jjh Money according as the * Exchange went then, that is, reckoning 13 * Livres to the Pound Sterling, would make * Nine Millions and about Six hundred thou- ' land Pounds ; it produced the two laft Years ' 1700, 1701, only One Hundred and Seven ' Millions, which reduced to Engl'ifi) Money C2 ac- if .,1 lit l\}v ill ( 20 ) *^according as the Exchange has gone for that Time, a)iz» at Fifteen Livres to the Pound Sterling, (which Difference of the Exchange has been occafion'd by the raifing the Stan- dard of his Coin) make about 7140C00 Li- vves ; by which Computation, 'tis evident, they arc funk above Two Millions Four Hundred Thoufand Pounds Sterling, that is ^t leaft one fourth Part of what they were at the Time before mentioned; which plain- ly fliews that the People and Wealth of France aredccreafed fmce that Time, atleaft in the fame Proportion, fince we may rea- fonably conclude, that the King's Reve- nues have been managed as carefully, and coUeded as rigoroufly in his late Times of Need, as they were heretofore. * The King's Income is diminilhed in a far greater Proportion, it being clogged with a Debt of P'ivc Hundred Millions only to the [Jotel t^c V'tlle or Town-honfc of Tar'is^ for which he pays Intereft at Five fer Cent, Twenty Five Millions, that is near 1700000 Livres Sterling. He pays befides another fort of Intereft, by way of Salaries, for a confiderablc Multitude of new Offices creel- ed and bought, many of them fince the Be- ginning of the laft \Var, which amounts at leaft to io much as will make the Intereft Money already mentioned exceed Two Mil- lions Sterling; fo that he has coming in clear not full Five Miiiions Sterling. ^'Tis for that : Pound ^change le Stan- coo Li- ?vidcnt, IS Four * , that is ey were h plain- :alth of , atleaft lay rca- i Revc- ly, and 'imes of in a far i with a y to the rzr/j, for er Ceh't, 700000 another s, for a es erccl- thc Be- oiints at Intcreft wo Mil- : in clear « 'Tis ( »' ) ' *Tis true that, befides his ordinary Reve- ' nuc, he has had extraordinary Wuys of rai- < fing Moneys as the Sale of Offices already ' mentioned, frequently raifir.p, and falling the « Standard of his Money, /)^;/jGV/^f^/^j which ' People are made to pay ^er Foyce.,llcgirtnufy < Titles of Gentility, Taxing Partizans, that ' is, thofe who have had the Managing of his ' Revenues, who were laft Year forc'd to rc- ' fund near a Million Sterling ; and many o- * ther Expedients, which in Time we may be ' better acquainted with, if we are pleafed to ■ * let him go on quietly ^ but thefc have all * been fo often made Ule of, that they will * be found to be of very fmall Rcffourcc for * the Future in a Country fo much exhaufted ' by them already. * What has flood him 5n greatcft ftcad for * fome Years, during the laft War, was the * Capitation, which brought him in above ' three Millions Sterling yearly, and which he * muft again have Recourlc to : But how ' grievous an Impofition that was thought, * and how ruinous that muft prove to his ' Country, if he fhould be under a NecefTity * of continuing it but a few Years, I appeal ' to any who have been tliere, and heard the ' heavy Complaints it occafioncd. But a * llronger Proof cannot be required to (hew * how dcllrudi ve the Continuance of it would ' have proved, than that the King took it off. ' For his MoitChriftian Majefty has generally ' been ,1 ( f I ■' ;i ■ . ( " ) * been obfcrvcd to lay as groat .i Load on his ' People as they could bear. Since then he * was plcafod to eafc them oftliis Tax when * he wanted not ib ipecious a Pretence to con-. * tinue it as the great Debts he had contracl- * ed, we may be lure he knew it could not be * done wi'.hout utterly ruining ::.id dilabling * them to pay at all. * Having thus brietly touched upon the * prelent Condition of France^ therefore, if * they fliould make a fuccefsful Land-War, * muil be oblig'd, befides the neceffary Gar- * rilcns of his Sea- Ports, to maintain Two * Hundred Forty Seven Thoufand Men." Here the Author points out how tliey fhould be employed, which not being the Cafe at prcfent (hall not repeat it here j and then he goes on, — " As to a Sea War, lays * he, He mull: fit out a prodigious Fleet, and ' that in the Lifl W^ar he lliewcd his Power ' to be matchlefs by maintaining no lefs than ' 4C0OCO Men by Sea and Land, why there- * fore may he net do the lame again? ' Now as to Englandy if we raife Three * Millions more yearly than in Time of Peace * to carry on a War, that will be prodigious, *• confidering the Debts we owe, and which ' every Eiigl'ijhman ought to defire to fee * pay'd off, rather than cncreafed. And yet ' the Pavailcl will not fully hold between ' England and France ; becaufe Emgland ne- ' ver has been, and I hope never will be fcrucd ui the e, if ycc ( ^3 ) up like Fraiiccy to pay to the utmoft Ex- tremity of what it is able, and for that Rcalbn might comparatively with Eafe get rid of a far greater Debt than it now owes; whereas Fravxe^ unlefs it fhall by our Inac- tivity get tlic Weft Indies^ will never ['j able to pay its Principal Debt, but daily incrcafe it to its utter Ruin. Before 1 con- clade fliall take only Notice of the niofi: material Objcdions which can be made a- gainft a War. ' Either the ncccfTIiry Expence 'twill draw onus, or the Prejudice we may ihilain by the Interruption of our Trade. * To the F irlt 1 anfwer, That in the Man- ner it has been propofed, thatE;/^A77.Y/lhall make a War, we may do it at an Annual Expence, at mod of One Million Eight Hundred and Fifty Thoufand Pounds more than would otherwife be levied. For we will take it for granted, that tho' wc re- main in Peace, we fliould find it necellary to maintain at I-'aft as great a Sea Force, as was done the lirit Year after the Peace, that would coft us Eight Hundred Thou- fimd Pounds, to which we fhall add One Million Two Hundred Thoufand Pounds for the War, '.will abundantly (hengthen our Fleet. If wc now make it Two Milli- ons, it will be better. ' I will not then fuppofe that any Engl'tp- man will think the Picfervation of his Ke- ' iJgioQ M[ ( M ) ligion and Liberty too dearly piirchafcd at that Rate. Such an Undervahiing of thole Blcflings none can be cap'ble of, whofe Hearts are not hardened, and who are not doomed to utter Perdition. As to what may be objcded concerning Trade, I an« fwcr, That granting our Tra(k to the St r eights fiiould fulirer an Interruption by the War, fuch an Inconvenience would be i"ar iefs than the total Lofs of it, not only thither, but to the IFeli Jnd'ies^ befides the Lofs of the Manufadure of our fine Dra- pery, which it has been proved, will be one of the neceflfary Conlequences of our fit- ting (till. ' Yet I can fee no Neceflity of granting that our Jiirky and Italian Trades 'v.ill fuffer by the War, if we will fuppofe our Maritime Affairs to be well managed. The War we are to make muft be altogether by Sea, and confequently implies a Neceflity of oQi having every Summer a Itrong Fleet in the Medtterranean^ tQ harrafs our F-ne- mles there, which we iliall be now in a much better Condition than at that Time, feeing we arc in Poffeflion of Gibraltar and Tort Mahon\ why then our Traders thi- ther may not be proteded by that fame Force, I cannot fee. And if flrid Prohibi- tions be made againfl any Ships going thi- ther, but under the Convoy of our Men of War at fetSeafonsj 'tis probable, much ' fewer )! ii Ene- I ( ^5 ) fewer win be loft than were during the laft War. For the Convenience of being ftiel- tered in Sfanijh Ports proved a Temptation then for many Merchant Ships to run with- out Convoy : whereas none will now be fo adventurous as to hazard a Run to Turky or to Italy along fo vaft a Trad of an Ene- my's Coaft. It is true fome of our Trade, which I own to be very conliderable, will indeed be at a Stand till fome Succefs at- tends us ; but then a proper Strength well managed in America will abundantly com- penfate for that Lofs. ' Seeing our Plantations are fo convenient- ly fituated that not a Galleon coming or going can efcape us, confider then of what Confequence thofe Plantations are to us. How much fuch an Interruption of all Commerce thither would diftrefs Sfa'in^ is apparent; and it probably might be none of the weakeil Reafons to incline that Peo- ple, in a New War, to fide with us. ' The Wealth we Ihall thereby acquire will not oaly defray the Expence of the Force we ihall maintain there, but, with good Management, may go a great Way towards the Charge of the whole War : and it will be Fault of our Commanders if all the French Colonies there be not rooted out, which for thcfe Reafons we ought chiefly to aim at : D Vtrjl, I'li! i C 4^ ) . . ' FirJIy It will greatly weaken the French Power at Sea, by destoying so great a Nursery of their Seamen. decondly^ We shall lose a dangerous Rival in our Sugar Trade as well as SOME others, which THEY WILL HAVE COMMON WITH US, BY MeANS OF THEIR Colonies in the Southern Isles. And Thirdly^ This will very much increase OUR Trade in AFRICA, for Negroes, AND RUINE that OF THE FRENCH *. For every One knovvs that none can carry on a Trade for Negrocb but fuch as have a Footing in America. The Confequcnce therefore of our expelling the French^ will be, that the Spaniards mufi: depend abfo- lutely upon us for their Negroes, without which their Mines will be barren, befides that our Power being freed from fuch a Ri- valfhip will be lb much fuperior to any Thing in thofe Parts of the World, that the Spaniards can have no Ballance nor Force there to pjotecl them againft us : fo that, for Fear of their Plate Fleets, and of their ' very * It was remarked by the Italians , after the Frerxh had got PofljiTion in their Country, that thoy were continually involved in Wars and Diibrdcrs i which c:i'i but probably be greater Gainers by a Free Trade, than by the Plunder of their Country; if we make War upon it, it would certainly prove more beneficial to the Trading Interclt and Manufadurcs of England: for if by our Naval Power there we hinder that vaft Country from being fupplied with any European Commodities from any other Hand, fnall we not have a prodigious Vent for all the Manufactures of our own Growth, as well as for our Eafl India Commodities and Linen, CS'^'- Di M.iy m 'i :il- i i! ( ^8 ) ^ May not the Accefs we fhall thus get to * thofe People introduce a Vtnt for many of * our Commodities which the Spaniards have * always indulhioully kept from their Know- * ledge ? Shall we not likewife trade to a far * greater Advantage than has been done hi- * therto, fince we have always been obliged ' to truft the Spaniards at CadiZy who cer- * tainly fhared the Profit with us? befides * the exorbitant Indulto's or Duties exaded ' by the Government both in Eurofe and A- — So much for this Author. * merka.*' It is likely what was propoled againft the French was not fo ftri<5ly attended too as could have been wifhed, owing to fome other Affairs at Home, which probably required a more immediate Attention *. However, it may not be improper to look back and fee what were the firft Steps the French took up- on their Planting in America^ u^ter the ^- re;/^^« Treaty with the Spaniards ^ in i^5p; No fooncr had they made Peace than they proceeded to make Settlements in that Part of the World; nor could they forget to in- trude on their Neighbours, and (which they immediately did after the Reftoration) by forming Settlements in Nev'js and St. Chrrjlo- fherSy which was loon a Matter of Complaint, as appears by an Impeachment agai.ift the late Earl o'i Clarendon^ in 1667, where there is this Article, ^. ' That * That iTii^ht be fome reafonable Excufe for the Negledl be- fore meiiiioucu. I .jiL /Hfr get to any of 'j have ^now- D a far ne hi- >bliged 10 cer- befides ;xa6led indo- or. nft the too as e other lired a irer, it ,nd fee )k up- ie!Pjy. 1 they t Part to in- h they n) by hrijio- Dlaint, ft the * there • That gledt be- C 2p ) * That He did reje5f and f nt ft rate a Tro^ * pofal and Undertaking approijed by His Ma- * jefty, yi?^ the Trefer^vat'ton g/Nqv'is and St. •• Chriftophers, and the Reducing the French ' Tlantatiotts to HisMajcfty'j (Jbedienccy af^ * ter the Comm'i [fions were drawn for that * Turfofe, which were the Occafion of our * great Damage and Lofs in thoje Tarts.* I do not bring this forward by way of Re- flexion on the Memory of that great tho' un- happy Nobleman, who was very unjuftly ufed in manyRefpeds thro' the Artifice of his Ene- mies ; but only to fhew, that our Anceftors were early apprifed of the French Encroach- ments. However, from what followed it ap- pears pretty plain, that this was rather intro- duced in order to foment the popular Preju- dice againft the Earl, than any Defig^n of Ser- vice to the Nation. ~ As to his Charader, take it from his Son, Mr. Lawrence Hyde^ who faid in the Houje of Commons Ibme Years after, That ^ for his Comfort^ he had heard he was a good'P r ot eft ant ^ a good Chancellory and that we hadhadworJ'eMwiftersfhice. — But to fuppofe this Nobleman altop;cther faultlefs, were to place him beyond the Level of frail Mortality ; for it muft be allov/cd for an un- contefted Truth, that he carried himfclf in his Station with foniewhat a greater Refcrve and Haughtinefs than became him or was ufeful to him, facing it created him many Enemies; there being nolliing on Earth fo difagreable to 1 1 tl I ! i I v. M. il! I'i ( 30 ) to humane Nature as NcglccI: and Contempt: a Fault laid to the Charge of another great Map, who in Procefs of Time fuccecded to his high Office, and is now no more; I wifli I could fay was not ftridly true, or that it did not hurt him upon a remarkable Occafion. Now, to return to our prefent Purpofe, — . I believe almoit every One is fatisfied from what the French having been doing for near 100 Years; they have nothing lefs in View than to eftablifh their Empires in both Indies upon the Plan of what they have fo well ac- complifhed for themfelves, to the Injury of their Neighbours in Europe, — But it is to be hoped, as our Eyes are at laft fufficiently 0- pened, it will make us, before it is too late, turn our chief Attention thofe Ways, in order as much as poilible to prevent it. — For, tho' this Breach may be amicably made up, in re- gard Peace is moredefirable than War, yet we ought to have in continual Remembrance how dangerous it is to live near potent Princes, to be offour Guard; Witnefs the Venet'tans^'m the Reign of Henry VII, who, by neglecting to take proper Care of their own Security, tho* fully warned of the Danger they were in by lofing a Battle, in one Campaign were ftrip- ped of all their Dominions, to the fingle City of Venice. As to our Cafe, Wc fhould not forget to follow the Advice of a certain great Man, who the other Day publickly faid, * Conjider- ivg ntempt: er great d to his wifli I t it did ifion. ■pofe, — . d from for near n View 1 Indies ivell ac- ijury of is to be :ntly o- 00 late, in order or, tho' ), in re- , yet we ice how nces, to J, in the ^ing to :y, tho* e in by e ftrip- ;le City rget to : Man, mjider- ifjg ( 31 ) ttJg what an enterprising Neighbour ws have near us in both Indies, it bebo'vesr'' al^ ways to keep up a rejpeBable iorcc hnth by Land and Sea in tbofe remote'Fart:- vf Hjc World, ready to rejent any tmjnjt h:jv- 'ks we may receive from them^ without :v •• ing tedious Negotiations*^ which ofit^n^ .'- Jiead of healing the Breach^ give tJje Em^^iy an Opportunity to recruit jo as to enuoh him at laft to keep by Force what he b i taken from us by Surprize \ which ^ if -^.u: had not fo aBedy we might other wife ha^::^ immediately wrefed out of their Hands ^u-:. • by that Means have put an End to anyju, ther Trouble* Still if there muft be a War, wc have the pleafing Profped to find (and I believe every Body will own it) that the Board of Admi- ralty was never better filled with more ex- perienced Gentlemen in Naval Affairs than it is at prelcnt; and therefore it h not in the leail to be doubted but great Care will be taken vi'hom they recommend to his Moft Sa- cred Majefty for Commanders and OBiccrs to be employed in the Fleets fitting out, with- out any Regard to Parties; then certainly none will be intrufted with any confiderable Com- * It 15 prefumed the Nation thinks. We have V?A cnoueh of that Way of afting, when we only confider how lonj; ol Commiirarics at Paris have betn empIoyt.d to (etrle the Limit;, which Tome fay '• It m-ver will but by the longcit Sword, if they " go on no falter than they have begun." ( 31 ) Command whofc Courage and Conduct have not been llifficienliy experienced; which will ''jive great Satisfadion to his Majcfty*s loyal Siibjeds in general, and the more fb when they learn th:it none of thofe Commanders have taken FtcHch Servants on Board, whe- ther called Vakts or not. But if we fhoLild have any Officers contra- ry to Expedation, ferving in any of his Ma- jefty^s Ships of War, who fhould neglcd their Duty thro' Cowardice or otherwife, it is to be wifhed immediate Juftice may be done to the Offender or Offenders, without Regard to Fa- milies, in order to deter others from being guilty of the like in Time to come. So on the other Hand, it is well known that no Prince in the World is more ready and wil- ling than his prefent Sacred Majefty, to re- ward the faithful Services of thofe who by their gallant Actions have deferved well of their Country. .! H iii ! The Opinion of a Dutchman^U-c, I M [33] Jcl have lich will fs loyal b when mandcrs dy whe- contra- his Ma- :d: their is to be le to the d to Fa- ll being So on that no nd wil- to re- who by wcl! of lariy 6Cc. The Opinion of a Dutchman. NOW let us fee what Opinion a Dutck^ man had of French Faith, about the Time of the Treaty of Utrecht, in the Year 171 3, when it was propofed to have King Philip in the PofTeflion of Spain and the Indiesy which I fhall extradl from a Letter to a Member of the Englijh Parliament. No Peace (fays the Dutch Gentleman) will be honourable, f life andlafting, while //?^ French King is in a Cofidition to break it. What can I fay more forcible, more Con- vincing, and more to our prefent Purpofe ? Shall I call you back to Experience, the lurefl:, tho', at the fame Time, the dearefl of all Ways of Information ? we have a fad Expe- riment of above fifty Years, which I reckon from the Peace of Munfter ; for before that Time, there was lefs Reafon to be upon one's Guard againft France j and that her Power, abftradted from any Alliance, was lefs to be feared ; but confide r then, I befeech you, fince that famous Treaty, which, refloring Peace to the Emperor and our Republick, . E feemed ; m i!! ( I i' ' ' 'III f [ 34] I'eemcd to have reftored the Balance we piir- fued, and kcured the Liberty of Europe, fee with what Succcfs (lie carried on the War againft: King Philip in Italy, Spcihi, and the. Low Countries. Behold upon what difadvan- tageous Terms flie forced that Prince to make Peace in the Year 1659. I will venture to tell you a Thing, tho* con- trary to that Opinion which I find at prcfent in England, is neverthelefs very true j that as foon as that Peace (the Pyrenea7i Trea- ty) w.as fjgned the Balance of the two Powers was dellroy'd. From that fatal Day THE Influence of FRANCE keached FROM ONE End of the World to the other, almost without Exception. It was felt in the EAST and WEST- INDIES, BY THE enlarging OF THEIR Trade, and the Settlement of seve- ral Companies ; "which is the principal Caufe of our prefent Complaint in the Eajl and Wejl 'Indies, In Lorrain, by the Op- prefllon of Duke Charles, and his Subjeds ; in Spain, by the folemn Reparation France exaded from King Philip, about ;he Difpute that happen'd between the two AmbaiTadors ; in England, by the Sale of Dunkirk ; at Ge- noa, by the Neceflity that was impos'd on that Republick, to expel Cardinal Imperialiy one of their Nobles, who had taken Sanctu- ary there ; in Africa, by the Wars againft ^unisy AlgieVy and Tripoli 3 at Rome^ by the Treaty r ■ pur- c, fee War d the dvan- make ►' con- >rcfent true 'y Trea- *owers Day \CHED ) THE ['TION. ^EST- rHEIR SEVE- incipal le Eajl e Op- )jeds ; "^rance )iipute adors ; at G^- s'd on "yerialiy andtu- igainft )y the Treaty [ 35 ] Treaty of P/p, the EredVion of the ignomi- nious Pyramid, and the Legation of Cardinal Chigi, the Pope's Nephew ; all which hap- pen'd within the Space of feven Years. Then came the War of 1667, in which we faw eleven Towns taken in one Campaign j and the whole Franche Comt^ in a few Days. This occafion'd the Tripple Alliance in 1668 j hut the fame was broken two Years after. In 1670, the moji Chriftian King feiz'd up- on all Lorrain, nor durfl any Body oppofe him. In 1671, the bare Progrefs he made into the Netherlands, to fortify Diinkirky cafl all Spam into Alarm. In 1672, he fell on our Provinces, and penetrated beyond Utrecht, The King, (fays Count Rabutin in his Hifto- ry) did not voiichfafe to fend an Herald to the Hollanders, as the Citfiom is with equal Ene^ mies ; he treated them as Rebel SiibjeSls* A Detail of what has happen'd lince would be tedious J and then you are fo well acquainted with it, that there*s no Need to fwell this Letter with it. You know upon what Con- ditions the Peace of Nimeguen was made ; and how well it was obferv'd j under what pre- tences Strajhtirgh was taken j Cafal bought j Luxemburg conquer'd ; Genoa bombarded ; rind afterwards oblig'd to fend their Doge into France, to beg the King's Pardon, and ex- prefs their Sorrow for the Misfortune they had to have incurr'd his Difpleafure. You are not ignorant upon what Foot the Truce E z waa ■ill' h I l:|:| t 36 3 was made in 1684; nor how powerful and dreadful the Influence I juft now fpoke off was in Germany^ in England^ and here. Call to Mind the Bufinefs of the Palatinate 2X\A Cologne 'y the Tranfadions in Rjtgland-, and at Rome from the Year 1685 to 1689. Then take a Review of the Events of the laft War, and of the haughty Carriage of France in the Treaty of Ryfwick, Attend the fleps of that Crown in the Execution of that Peace 5 in her Treaties of Partition j and in the general Invafion of the Spanijh Monarchy. Conlider, with all thefe, her State, her Splendor, her Loftinefs, her Credit, her Power : View the Riches of her Commerce ; her vafl Revenues ; the great Number of her fortified Towns ; the Extent of her Conqucfts ; and the Strength of her Armies and Fleets. Certainly, if you attentively refled: upon all thefe ; if you con- lider, that fince the Peace of Munjlcr^ France is only beholding to her own Forces for all her Advantages and the Predominance (he has ufurped over the reft of Europe '^ that fhe always made War with our Allies j that her Hands, like thofe of Ifmael have been lifted up againfi all^ and of thofe all againjl her; that jhe has Jet up her T^ents in Si^ht of other Nati- ^s ; that fhe has defeated tneir Armies, forced their ftrong Towns, and conquered their Pro- vinces j and that ihe never made any Treaty with them without retaining Part of her Con- quefts. ^ " ' ' ' "r " If [37] If you fix awhile your Thoughts on all thefe Things, with an unprejudiced Mind, the Ncccflity which the Empire, England and Holland^ belides other States, have been under to join their Forces and Counfels for their common Safety ; the fmall Succefs the united . Armies had in King Willianis War, and the Danger they were in of a total Sub- verfion the Beginning of this, ycu will un- doubtedly agree to take from the Houfe of Aujiria one half of her Dominions, and give it to a Prince of the Houfe of Bourbon 5 which muft be the Means of reftoring the Balance, and feci. ring the Liberty of Europe ; for cer- tain it is, the more you take from the Weak and give to the Strong, the further we go from the Point of Equality, efpecially if the Forces of the Stronger be united, and thofc of the Weaker be divided and difperfed. They do not deny the fettling the Balance of Power between the two Houfes j but, fay they, that the Houfe of Aujiria is uot fuffici- ently weaken'd by her Lofles 5 and upon this Suppofition they now propofe to us, as a won- derful Expedient^ the taking from that Houfe all ^pain and the Wefi Indies-, and to leave her only the Low Countries^ the Kingdoms of Naples^ Sicily y and Sardinia -, the Dutchy of Miian^ and the Places on the Coaft of Tuf- cany, f ;-j.;ut/f cH fa^v-i'i. , _ Now let us fee how the French behaved to us, when they found the war was carried on very I!p [38] very fuccefsfuUy againfl them ; all Methods were taken to feparate us from our Allies; they would feem to have made us Arbiters of their Fiats; and in 1707, one of the French Minifters took to himfelf the Title of a Coun- fellor of Geneva^ and under that Name gave thefe three important x^dvices. i. That France was our ancient and beft Friend. 2. That the Houfe of Aiijlria watch'd only for a pro- per Occafion to invade us. 3. That we were railing within ourfelves a Power, whofc In- tereft it is to deprive us of our Liberty, and would take all Opportunities to deftroy us ; that none but France could deliver us from the Danger, and that it concerned us, as we valued our own Safety, not to put her out of a Condition to aflift us againfl you in Gafe of Need. Thefe Suggeflions, and all the reft which France made ufe of to break us off from the grand Alliance, were inefFedtual ; nay, they fill d us with Indignation againft thofe wha, addreffing us thus, thought us capable to abandon our Allies, for any particular Ad- vantages that the Enemy could offer us ; per- ceiving then, that the good Senfe and Probity of the Dutch render'd them Proof againft fucn Arguments, France turn'd them upon England, where they were better rclifhed than with us, ' tho' for what Reafon I know not. f*-* = Are you fully convinc'd of the Force of this Argument, that the true Way to reduce the exorbitant Power of France^ is to give her all ftie If I [ 39 1 fhe demands, and confiderably to enlarge her Dominions? r^$^^'m'.^M^' '. Are you fully perfuaded, that when Spain and the Indies are taken from the Houfe of Aujiria and given to the Houfe of Bourbon^ that the former will be in a better Condition than before, to balance the Power of the lat- ter, and to protedt the other Powers of £«- rc/>^ againft her Defigns ? Do you think it a Demon/lration, that the Houfe of Aufiria^ which while fhe pofTefs'd the whole Spanijh Monarchy was not able to refift France, and found herfelf under a Nr- ceflity to prefs for the Afliftance of the two Maritim Powers, in order to preferve her Do- minions, will be all on a fudden fo reinforced, when above half of the Monarchy is taken from her, as to be able to fecure and defend the Liberty of Europe^ Im almoft afham'd to put fuch Queries to a Man of fo much Senfe, Wifdom, and Love to his Country, as ' you are reputed to be ; but Paflions are rais'd fo high with you, that the moft demonftrable Truths have as much Need of being prov*d as the moft abfti'-^ded Notions.; n^ ,.'-*' ^ i^-^\^*: How far was I two Years, or only a Year and a half ago, from thinking that at this Time, I fhould be oblig'd to prove to an £«- glijhman, that the Welfare of Europe did not confift in the weakning the Houfe of Aujiria , and aggrandizing that of Bourbon ; and that for eftablilliing a Balance of Power betwixt them. I III 1\" 'i-i' M i;J': It :' I'll ii!ii^ [40 J them, Spain and the J«^/>/, was not to be ta- ken from the former, and much lefs to be given to the latter ? ^*t^s %^f to %ii*i.r • • The French Minifter is in the Right to fay, nat in order to come to a true Knowledge of a?i Equilibrium betwixt the two Houfes^ we mufi endeavour to get a good EJiimate ofthi Strength and Weaknefi of both : But the Method which he propofes is not proper to come at it. 'Ti& not by the Diverfity of Provinces and Lan- guages, or by the Extent of Dominions, that tne Power of Princes is to be known ; for if fb, the Grand Seignior alone wou'd be more {Jotent than all Europe together. Nor is it to be known by the Number or Majedy of Crowns, for Power and Dignity don't alv\^ays keep Pace together. - - -i- -^-^ The Power of Prince^ Is t6 fee fchdwri, I. By the Greatnefij of their Revenues ordi- nary and extraordinary" f f llfff:? ? S'l'v' '*''■.■'. JSN^**: II. By the richnefs and ektent of theii* TVade. ' III. By the Number of their Troops in Time of Peace and War.^ j*^^i« ^m^ ' IV. By the State of their Marine and Naval Forces^'' '^'' '^mf^r^^^^fm v' ^tm^ ^w^"^^ " V. By the Number and Goodnefs of their Fortrefies. ^*?**' '^t^M-M-^tp .mmm^m^^^' ' Vh By the unnecclTary Expences which they defray. ^'*^*i^" ^ ^ ' VII. By their Vicftories and Cortquefts. *Tis not nccefTary to enter into deep Inqui- ries, nor to know the Secrets of the two Houfes, , h ^hich at [ 41 1 Houfes, to be convinc'd that the Houfe of Bourbon has in all thofe H.e(]peds infinitely the Advantage of the Houfe or Aujlria, ?^ • f> As to the firft, this is not a proper Place to Treat of Funds from whence the French King draws his Revenue, nor of the Time when, nor the Method how j I fhall content myfelf to fay in general, and I hope no Frenchman \yho underltands thefe Affairs will deny it, that the fix'd Revenues of the King of France did in 1688, amount to near fixty millions of Crowns, and that the extraordinary Sums he has rai8*d fince that Time, were never lefs than forty millions of Crowns 3 nor will it be difown'd, that fometimes they exceeded two hundred Millions, as at the Time when he fet up his Mint Bills, to which we muft add the Capitation, and the tenth Penny, which has chang'd the Conftitution of the Finances, but certainly have not leffen'd them j in (hort, 'tis certain that the King of France does ad:u- ally levy above a hundred millions of Crowns per Ann, Thofe of the Monarchy of Spai?iy were formerly valu'd at thirty lix millions of Crovn?;. including the Revenues of the In- dies ' */'/(?*, Milan, and the Netlyerlands^ and the v^ ;r<,cillons or Grants upon the Clergy j but they nave been fo alienated, mortgag'd, and over mortgag'd, that there is not a Man in the World, who can give a clear and cer- tain State of them : As to extraordinary Re- venues, the Kings of Spain have few more F but 14 It II in I if-: but free Gifts, which they obtain on certdii Occafions, and the Half-years of the mort- gag'd Revenues, which they detain, in Cafes of prefling NeCefJi'ty, from thofe tor whortj they are mortgag'd ; but be that how it will, no King of Spain can ever be able to raife from his Dominions above twenty millions^ of Crowns per Ann* I am not fo well ablte to 'give an Account of the Revenues of the Houfe of Aufiria in Germany ^ but believe I am not miftiaken if I fay, they don*t' exceed twenty millions of Crowns per Ann. including all the : cxtraordina ' ^ fo that the tvVo Branches to- gether, cannt.. i'pend above forty millions of Crowns per Ann, which, in Proportion to the '^Revenues of the Houfe of 5,,.. F 2 , i incredible i' i hi I ■■•%} < w^. 1 m'' ■J ml [ 44 1 incredible good Hulbandry and Retrenchments of Expence. In the laft Place, I don't dif- own but that foi^ ' aboiut fixty Yisars paft, the Houfe of Aujtfi^ has in Time of War main- tain'd two hundred thoufand Men, and, inr, eluding the Troops of the Empire, above two hundred and fifty Thoufand; and I agree that file may entertain as many in Time to come, provided the Spanifi Monarchy be not taken from her. But what Proportion is there betwixt two hundred thoufand Men difpers'd tjiroughout Europe^ and three hundiea an4 fifty Thoufand colledted together in the Kibgrr dom of France alone ? Where then do we find this exorbitant Power of the Houfe of Auflriay againfl which we niuil take fuch Prcr cautions ? '-■ ^;As to the fourth Point, perhips it thay* be fdund in her Maritime Forces ? How do we know but the Court of Vienna may equip a Fleet on the Danube capable to bonibard^r^y? zn^ Toulon t For Spain, 'ti^ matter of Fadt, that King Charles II. never had fifteen Men of War together, and it is certain, that the King of France had in 1689, a hundred and tpdnty of the fineft Men of War in the World, forty five Gallies, an on themfelves, their Rela- tions and Friends; the fo-much-boafied Works of ,A4«^<\;^^"i - "; VII. I have yet to fpeak of the Yidtorie^ ^nd Conquefts, which Article alone would re- quire a Volume. 1 (liall therefore not men- tion their Vidories," tli£ Enemies have theni- felves fufficiently taunted tl^eo), both in Vcrfe ^r>d Prpf^ ; but I think myfelf obliged to give you, 4 fliprt Lift of their Conquefts, In this J fhall not mention any of thofe Cities, or Provinces, which have been firft conquer'd, and afterwards loft or reftor'd. Nor that thofe being .acquired by one Treaty, have been ^f^ilc 'd by another. You fliall not fee in this, ^"'■"" , ; V "-^ '' Lorrahi JW; "VT »:. <■ KVJI [47] ' Lorrain gmanlng twenty feven Vears under the Yoke of France 5 nor the half o( our Provinces fubje6:ed in Jefi».than a Month 5 nor 5/V//y fubmitted to I-Iis Moft Chriftian Ma- jefty by the revolted People. No, in this Lift, you Ihall only fee thofc Conquefts where- of his Mod Ghriftian King remained in full PoffefTion, after the Treaty of Ryfwick, whe- ther fuch as have exprefly been granted him, or fuch as were not then thought proper to men- tion, ^ or thofe that he has kept contrary to the Jif^jj. iiijflj :iiijjii \ji - ««,ia>Mi i.w; « i iiiiiij ^,'^J'.H> From the Empire and the Houfe of Atijlriay _\ 'T' by the Treaty of Mufijier. Metz, Tvttly Verdun^ Moyenic^ and the Coun- tries depending thereon ; the Langravedom of the Upper and Lower Alface^ and the Provincial PrefcAure of ten Imperial Cities, lituate in ,' \ '■jrfT Since and againft the Treaty of Mimfter,:\ The Sovereignty over the ten Imperial Ci- ties, over all the Princes, Counts, and free States of Affdccy and of all the Fiefs of the three Bifhopricks. - ' r: , " ,^ From the Hdufe of BomUm-Awvergne^ by a Contrad of Change in the Year 165 1. The Sovet-eignty of Sedan^ with the Town, the Dcmejhes^ and all the Dependencies, pro- vided » t [1 p ill i: ! i ■I J I Hi' lUJ 11 illi [ 48 ] vided that there fhould be an Equivalent, which was never made good. ^ From the Houfe of Auftria by th^ Pyrencm Treaty. Arras with the Government and Bailiwick i Hefdin and its Bailiwick j Bethune and its Go- vernment ; Lilliers and its Bailiwick ; Lens and its Bailiwick 5 the County of St. Polls ^erouane and the Bailiwick thereof j Pas and its Bailiwick ; in (hort, all the Country of Artoisy except Aire and St. Omer, Gravelin, Fort Philipy and its Chatelaniey or Cajllewardy Landrecyy ^efnoyy and their Bailiwicks, ProvofKhips and Caftlewards. ^, monniilky Montmedyy DamijillierSy with the Appurtenances, Dependancies, and Countries annex 'd ; the Provoftfhip of Ivoy^ Chavancy, the Caftle and its ProvoA(hip, the Town and Provoftfhips of Marville, Mariemburg, Philippevilley and Avefne^ be- tween the Sambre and the Meufe. , . All the County and * Viguiery of Rotifillonj on this fide the Pyrenees : The County and Viguiery of Confluence y with the County, Ci- ties, Forts, Caftles, Towns and Villages that compofe It ; with thirty three Villages of the Country of Cerdagniay fituate on this fide the Pyrenees, * A Sort of Magiflracy in icme of the Towns in Frenct and Spain, « From f [49] From the Houfe of Aujlria agalnft the P^-- renean Treaty. The County of Charleroy, with all the Ap- purtenances and Dependances, From the Houfe of Auftria^ by the Treaty of London the laft oiOBober itbz. The Town and Citadel of 'Dunkirk^ in the Condition they were then in. From Lorain^ by the Treaty of the laft of ' ' " Feb. 1661. The County of Clairemont^ with its Demef- nes ; The Towns, Provoftfhips and Lands of Stenai, JatnetSy and all their Territories 5 the Fort of Sirky with thirty Villages ; the Forts and Pofts of Cojignany Sarbourg and Phalf-- bourgh. That part of the Provoftfhip of Mar- vilky that belong'd to Lorain, The Sove- reignty of the Abbey of Gorze; the Sove- reignty of the Fort of Maletom 5 all that could belong to the Duke of Lorain, in Marchevil- hy Harvilky Mabenvilky and Mezeray ; the Sovereignty of Sifiefy Franjhofy and Moutelen on the i From the Houfe of Aujlria, by the Treaty of ' ' . '• ^ Rejwick with Spain. '- "' Seventeen Villages or Fiefs of the Provin- ces of Hainaulty and four hundred and fifty others, of the Dependaace of Maubeuge and ^uefnoy. ^li^ From the Empire, by the Treaty of Rejwick, ,{■ with the Emperor and Empire. The Town of Strajburg, and all that de- pend thereoii, on the Left of the RhinCy and Fort Lc'Lvisy with the Ille of Rhine^ in which it is fituated. ' i From is^] From From Lorain by the fame Treaty. The Citadel of Sar Lcwis^ with a Territo- ry of half a League in Circuit. ■ • The City and Perfedlure of Longivi, and PalTage for the Troops of his Moll Chrifliuii Majefty, thro' the Eitates of his Royal High- neis. \. 1 I V, ' .1 From Lorain^ fince, and contrary to the • ' •; Treaty of i^ty-zc/f^. .•.,;- ; The Forts of Bitch and Homherg^ Sargue* tnineSy Saralbe and Bau!ai, the Town of St. HipolitOy the promis'd Equivalent for the Pre- fecture of Lo/?gwi, and the Sovereignty of Arches. ^;^,,^ . All this comprehends, eight fovereign Pro- vinces, two Archbilhopricks, nine Bifhop^ ricks, thirty of the ftrongeft Places in the World J feventy Cities, fome of which are reckon'd amongft the finefl in Europe, and more than three thoufand Market Towns or Villages : Is there any Thing more wanting to make a Crown complete, whofe Friend- fliip all the other Eftates find themfelves in- terefled to manage with Prudence. Such is the King, of w^hofe being too much weakened you are fo apprehenfive j fuch is the Houfe, to which you will give Spain and the Indies, to make a Balance of power between it and the Houfe of Aujlria^ G z I know 1 rv l^k Hi '^1 ! H 52 li I know what you are ready to anfwcr me, the Letters which you honour'd me with, af- ter the Death of the Duke of Burgundy y have prepolfefs'd me fufficiently ; I know you'll fay, that the Death of the Emperor Jofephy has very much chang'd the Face of Affairs in Europe^ and principally in Relation to the Point of Balance. That all thofe vaft Domi- nions of the Houib o{ Auftriat finding them- felves re-united with the Imperial Grown, in the Perfon of one Prince, will form in him a mpc^h greater Power than when they were divided into two Monarchies. And that this Change happening in the Things themfelves, the fame ought neceflarily to follow in the Meafurcs. You'll add, that there's na Fear, that the Intereft of France and Spain will be united ; that the moil Chriftian King is now in the 74th Yeai of his Age, and probably can't live long. That in all Appearance the Crown will defcend to a Minor ; and the then governing Regents (not having the fame Au- thority, nor Forces, nor the lame Revenues which the prefent King has) will have no fur- ther Views than to preferve the Kingdom en- tire, and won't think it advifeablc to trouble the Repofe of Europe. That the Duke of A^ljouy on his Side, will purfue a Plan of Po- liticks different from what has been already follow'd'j and will find himielf neceffitated to keep in with the Maritime Powers. That he'll court their Friendfhip ; and to obtain it, w^^!3l will r 53 1 will rcilore them the Freedom of Trade, highly fatisfy'd to enjoy peaceably the Crown which he has obtain'd. Would to God that this Appearance was real* But tho* the ear- neft Delirc of a Thmg goes a great Way to the believing of it, yet I proteft to you, I have no Notion of this. I comprehend clear- ly that the Monarchy of Spain, joined to that of Germany, will: form a new Monarchy, e- qual in Power to the two former ; but I do not conceive that by this Union, the new Mo- narchy will become more powerful than the two were before. There are even a good many Reafons to fear the contrary. For the Gaufe why the Kings of Spain wtre not pow- erful, in Proportion to their Dominions, is, that the greateft Part of them were diftant from the Places of their Refidence, and- ob- liged to be governed by Viceroys : An Incon* venience which will be doubled in the Perfon of a (ingle Monarch. I am willing to believe, that after the Example of Charles V. he might divide his Refidence, according to the Necef- iity, between Germany and Spain : But what- ever his Prudence might didlate to him, to adt in that Regard, his Dominions won't be more join'd, nor the People more rich 5 nei- ther will Commerce be more flourifliing, nor the Fleets increafe in Number : The Reve- nues wont be larger, nor the Exchequer lefs cngag'd. How then will it be more power- ful ! All that is faid on the Subbed: of the Imperial \ 4 Vl C54] InTiperial Dignity concludes nothing. It's no- torious, that it brings no Revenue to the Pof- feflbr ; and that it is not true, that the Empe- ror moves, agitates, and determines at his Pleafure the Eftates of the Empire, even with- out confalting them. The Hiftory of the two laft Eledlors of Cologne, and that of the Elec- tor of Bavaria, Son-in-Law to the Emperor Leopoidy and Brother-in-L^w to the Emperor jojephy clearly prove the contrary. But this is not the Matter. The Qi^eftion is, to know whether this Authority, fuch as it is, join'd as it has been for thefe 200 Years paft, in the hereditary Power of the Houfe oi Aujlriay in the two Branches of that Family, will make fo great and exceilive a Difference in the Balance of Europe y that to make the Balance juft, they muft be obliged to take away a Part from thence, and put it on the Side of France, On which, without further arguing, I refer my- felf to Truths known to all Europe, Is it not a Jeft, to call that the leffer Power, which opprelTes the other ? Takes Towns and Pro- vinces, and ad:ually detains them ; and has carry 'd on a War thefe ten Years paft, too powerfully, not only againft the other Power mention'd, but againft the Half of Europe, united for the common Defence of their Li- If after this you woiild have farther Proofs, I'll give you the Opinion of thofe Potentates that made the Treaty in 1689. They were fo lich 'ro- has too wer Lw fo fir from thinking, that the Union of the mo Monarchies of the Houfe of Aujiria^ in the Emperor of Germany^ would make him too powerful, that they entered into an Alliance to preferve the whole to the Houfe of Auflria^ in the Perfon of the Emperor, after the Death of the King of Spain, Howfoever, England afterwards came to be of another Opinion. Now as to what you have faid in refped to the Prince fucceeding upon the Death of the prefent King of France, I am fatisfy'd to be- lieve, that during a Minority, the Maxims of that Crown will be lefs adive, and will be lefs fenfible to the reft of Europe, I'll believe that the G6od-will and Pleafure of the Re- gents, \et theifn be who they will, will not be. lo forcible as that of Lewis the Great, to open. the Purfes of the Kingdom. In lliort, I'll, believe that the Minority may procure us fome Peace ; but then that Peace will lafl: but tea or twelve Years at moft : After which a new King will appear, upon the Thront qually ambitious and undertaking as his Prcdcv^clTors. A long Peace will have refiU'd his Exch^.- quer. Trade will have brouf^ht Plenty into his Dominions, and his People will have for- gotten their paft Miferies. Old Maxims will be then new vamp'd up. The Seas will be cover'd with Fleets, and the Fields with Ar- mies. And according to all Appearance, they then will cruih us, either all together, or one after another. Not- I % ml: if Pi :! : I llli 1^ i= Notwithftanding this difmal Profpcd, which the Gentleman has here exhibited, let the reft of Europe in God's Name look on, thea let our Enemy, if he will not do us Juftice, come out when he plcafes — Mark the Event -^ Since the Muzzle is off, ti*s probable the Fox may tremble when the Lyon roars^ F I N I Si I ■■■:. n