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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cllch6, il est fllm6 d partir de Tangle supArleur gauche, de gauche h droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nteessaire. Les diagrammes suivants lllustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 THE Natural Probability O F A LASTING PEACE IN EUR P E; Shewn from the Circumftances of the Great Powers, as they are now fituated ; compared with the State : of Affairs when the Treaties of V RTSWICK and UTRECHT were feverally concluded. ^ ' LONDON: Printed for J. Peele, at Locke'S'Head'mJmen" Corner^ Yi^^r Pater-nofter Row. 1731. ( Price Six-pence. ) f •~-- -.J . : i • in ii that wil reac defi . ' : ' dicii \ 1 f i ^^B ^^^^ 1 l^^mwm j«s!'lHiHe»»HaJ jji&aftifei^.' fBJSSs S!SSS^^^SStHlfS6J T O T H E Genuine BLUNDERER.fci// N U S U A L as it is, Sir^ to make thefe Addrefles to Men out of Power ^ I have chofen you for my Patron. As he who courts a Perfon in great Authority, muft immediately inveft him with all illullrious Attributes j fo he who applies to a Man out of Power, transfers the Panegyrick to him' felf. He is from that Moment virtuous and brave, difinterefted and fincere, in Right of his own Dedi- cation. He pur chafes Applaufe by giving it to thofe whom tlie World think not able to ^^y for it', and as he offers Praife without the View of his own Profit^ he receives his Reward in. Fame. It may be obje6t- ed indeed, that the Merit of fuch Applications hath not been ^^2iyswithout allay, and that as fome Authors dedicate to Pcrfons of Diftinftion becaufe they are great Men^ there are likewife thofe who dedicate to others in hopes that they will be great Men. I cannot deny that this may be true in fome Inftanccsj but you, Sir^ will eafily acquit me of any fuch fond Wifhes, and readily believe me, when I afTure you, that I neither defire, nor expeft to fee you above your prefent Con- dition. There is indeed an Honourable Perfon who told us A z hft iv DEDICAriON. kft Summer, in a furprizing Manner, ** that Party Prejudice hath been the great Caufe ofyourDepreffions that by this Misfortutie you have been prevented from exerting your unqueftionablc Capackies in the Service of your Country^ ivhilji fuch a Pedlar in Politicks as the prefent Minifter hath been thruft up into the higheft Station^ and hath had the Poiver of aMingfo long to the infinite DifJ^ononr and Detriment of the Nation. This Homurahlr Perfon had however afllired us a very few pages before, f that he could never approve of the Tteaiy of Utrecht j that he condemned all the Mea- furcs of thofe four Years wherein you was a Minifter of State 'y that it is true^ Mi [carriages and Mi/demeanors may i;e jiiftly charged upon thofe fimes-y yet fiill he con- ceives that the Perfons at prefent in Power are the laft in the Ww'ld who ought to reproach you^ fince their Con- du5l^ he fays ^ is an ample Apology for you. The fume Honourable Perfon again returned to the ^treaty of Utrecht on the fir ft Day of this Scffion. God knew^ he liiid, that he heartily wifhed it had been better than it was ; but that whatever Objediions might have been made againft that Treaty^ he could not fee why itfhould be declaimed at. He obferved, that it was the great Foundation of all the Treaties which we have fince made, 'they have^ fays he, proceeded on the Footing of the Treaty of Utrecht^ which therefore ought not to he made the Subjedt of Clamour and Reproach. This unnatural^ inconfiftent Medley of apology and Cenfure hath moved my Gompailion tofeeyou efpoufed by fuch an unhappy Advocate. In one Breath he tells usy that he always condemned your Adminiftration, and never approved of either your Mcafures or your Trea- ties : In the next Breath he fays ^ that Party Prejudice alone thrufi you out of the Adminiftration 5 and that this Misfortune prevents you from exerting your un- qucfiionable Capacities in the Service of your Country. * krSsNtx \.o Remarks i ^c. p. 2S. _ - i, - s .. . \ Ibid, p- 5, 6, ^c. Again, i k J' '.: [am, DEDICATION. v Again, it feems, your Alifcarriages and Mlf demeanours are not to he deny d'y but then he maintains that they ought not to be accufed: And further he owns, that the treaty of Utrecht was a very bad Treaty j but inQfts that its Errors ought not to be complained of^ and bad as it is^ that it ought mt to be cenfured. There is no way of accounting for this ftrain of *wretched^ ridiculous Contradidion, unlefs we may fuppofe that he is not able to defend you^ and yet com" pelled to fupport you 5 that Truth and Interest govern his Mind by turns, the firft againfi his Will^ the lall againfi his Honour 'y and that whilft the one forces from him the Condemnation of your A6lions, the other ftill determines him to efpoufe your Perfon. What hath made this more remarkable, is, that the fame ^worthy Gentleman^ who thinks it fuch a Mif- fortune that you are not at the Head of Affairs^ this very Man, behold him well! would but a few Years ago have taken your Head from your Shoulders. Let me add; that, could he have had a Share in this Ad- minijlration^ he never h^di\o{\ih\sParty Prejudice againft you. The Compliment of unquefiionable Capacities had been bellowed on that Minifter whom he now fees below you, and you had been left in quiet Poiflef- fion of your proper Titles: You had been that very Pedlar in Politicks which he once thought you to be, though he hath fince wrongfully and (haraefuUy trAns- f erred the Name to another. It is therefore, Sir^ well worthy of your Confide- ration, whcxhzr his prefent Attachment^ as well as his former Averfion to you, may not be liable to a new Mevolution^ and one as well as the other appear to his Mind, whenever it fuits with his Intereft in the lights of Party Prejudice -y infomuch, that ashe departed from his old Principles^ and thought it to be a Misfortune that you was out of all Power^ Co he may one Day revert, with equal Confiftency, to his former Opinions^ and think it as great a Misfortune that you continue Unhangep. This vi DEDICAriON. This likcwifc hath the greater Appearance of Pro- bability, as fuch a Change may candidly and fairly be expefted from him, fincc it would be too hard to imagine, that one fo infinitely 'variable ihould at no *Tirne change for the better 'y and confidering the many Succefjions of contradi6tGry Notions to which he is liable, it would be ulmoit impoilible to conceive that be flootdd nevjr be righr, IF I, Sir^ on my parr, am Icfs complaifant than the Honourable Perfon is at prcfent to you, your nioft ex- cellent Underftanding and extreme Candor will readily allow that lam more confiflent-y fince what I Ihall fay to you^ I have always faid of you^ and have neither changed my Principles with my Paflions, nor my publick Sentiments with my private Interelh. I confefs, 5/;', 1 never approved of either your Prin- ciples or your Meafures, and give me leave to afTure you, that I fhalj never palliate what I could never approve. I always condemned the Treaty of Utrecht^ and I fhall never excufe what no Man ever could juftify. The Reward which was due to the Merits of your Admi- niftration, I have conltantly widied might follow you, and I am even dill willing to hope that it may one Day overtake you. I have been as diligent to ex- tend your Fame, as I have been defirous to reward your Merit. 1 have taken infinite Pains to revive the Memory of your faithful Services to this Nation. I have recalled the Scenes of your publick Tranfa6tions, . lo the View of a People who had almoft forgot them, and made them known to a rifing Generation, whofe Fathers were Witncfles to them. If you fh')uld enquire, why I have turned my At- tention to Times fo long fince paft, and almoft forgot- ten? Let me reply, that whilft your Fa&ion lives,* your Meafures never ought to be forgotten. You, ij/V, it is who have rendered thcfe Attempts neceflary. Without fuch Necefiity I ihould no more have troubled myfclf with Refearchcs of this kind, than with ry. [ve an th f DEDICAriON. •• vij Wl th the mod dirtnnt Concerns in the World. But you have demanded this from me. In the fair- and equal Judgment of unbiafled Men, the Merits of every Adminillration mull be confider- ed alone^ and quire independent of the Folly or Iniquity of thole who went before them. No Man in his Senfcs can ever conceive, that the Weakneft or Villany of former Times, is a Proof that thcfe arc governed by Wifdom and Jufticcj or that even the emrmous and profligate Courl'c of your own Admini- llration, will prove the prcfent Minillers able and upright Counfellors. Comparifons indeed may fomc- times be admitted, and very bad Miniftcrs may perhaps appear comparati'vely good with Refpcft to you, yet after all they mull be bad in themfelves if they have no better Juilification. That you were guilty of Mifcarriages and Mi/demeanours^ hath not been alledgcd with any fuch yiew in favour of this Miniftry, their Integrity muft abide another Teft, their Abilities appeal to ftronger Proofs. • But then it is not to be deny'd, that the Follies or Crimes of one Adminiftration may \o^d fucceeding Mi' nijlers with infinite Difadvantages 5 that the Publick may fufFer from the Ignorance or Iniquity of one Sett of Men^ to fuch a Degree, that the moft confummatc Wifdom and Integrity will for a long time find it difficult to provide a Remedy \ that the Strength of a Nation may be wafled at Home, its Intei-efts facrificed Abroad, its Friends deprefled and weakened, its Ene- mies raifed and aggrandized, its Honour funk, its Commerce lofl, its Credit and Liberties ruined, through the Male P radices of unskilful or unrighteous Governors. So that thofe who fucceed them in Power will labour under every Misfortune in the Courfe of their Adminiftration, and pofUbly find that after their utmoft Addrefs and Applicationy^w^ Evils are not to he cured. , , \.- :;3 That viij DEDICATION. That this hath been the Fate of this Adminiftration^ is too well known among thofe who remember yours, and that it ought to be as clearly fecn by thofe who have not fo long been converfant with publick Tranf- a£fcions, can admit of no Difpute, when You the Per/on who by your wicked and abandoned Meafures brought all thefe Calamities upon your Country, and entailed thefe Difadvantagcs upon fucceeding Mini- llers> when You, the Author of fuch intolerable Grievances, (hall ftill proceed to multiply your Crimes^ not fatisfied with the Mifchicf which you ^ ^d done, not content with having involved a glorious and happy Country in Shame and terrible Diflrefs, nor (laying your Hand, wanton in the Works of Wickednefs, though your injured Country had extended Mercy to you. Were not you, 5*/V, a principal Minifter in the four laft Years ol the late ^een's Reign ? Were not you a principal Advifer of the Treaty of Utrecht ? Were not all our publick Misfortunes derived from your fatal Meafures ? Did not the long unhappy Differences between the Emperor and Spain j Did not all the Rup- tures and Mifunderftandings which have aflfeded Britain twcx fince, take their Rife from the ill-advifed and infamous Negotiations of your Miniftry ? Are you then the Man who would transfer this Load of Guile to the prefent Minifters? Are you one of thofe who accuie them of Folly and Iniquity^ as Authors of pub- lick Misfortunes which flowed from your own Admi' niftration ? Are You one of thofe who labour to diflrefs thefe Minifters, whilft they are retrieving the Damage of your own wild Projefls ? And do you undertake to difcredit thofe Councils, which have relieved this Na- tion from the heavy EfFc6ls of your Crimes. It is on this account that your Perfon hath been arraigned, and your Meafures expofed^ to the end, that the People of England may know who hath been the Author of their CompLiints and Misfortunes? Upon t you DEDICATION. VK Upon whom they are to fix the Charge of Blunders^ bad Meafures ^nd infamous Anions? Whom it is than they are to upbraid as the Caufi of their Debts and their Taxes, and to cur/e for the Interruptions of their Peace and their Trade ? Hence let the World judge l^y what Misfortune you have been deprejfed^ by what prevented from exerting your unquejlionable Capacities in the Service of your Country. If it was Party Prejudice^ as your Friend complains, though at the Expence of his Gratitude and Reputation, it was a virtuous Party which deprejfed you, and it is an honefi PrejMice which prevents you from exerting your Capacities j or which is the fame, from repeating your Crimes. I believe the Courfe of your Proceedings is not to be parallePd in all Hiftory, and will be defervedly the wonder of all Poftcrity. We have feen you afting a high and important Part in the Councils of your Country, abufing every Trult repofed in you, and betraying every Jnterefl com- mitted to your Care J facrificing the Honour and the Allies of Great Britain^ defeating all the Fruits of our fuccefsful Wars, and furrendering a Vifto- rioi^ Nation to the Mercy of a conquered Enemy ; purlued for this by the Cries of an injured People, and flying from the Jullice of your native Country 5 enlifting yourfelf in the Service OF THE Pretender, and labouring to ruin the Conftitution of a Country, whofe Happinefs and whofe Glory you had already facrificed; Unfuccefsful in your wicked Attempts and defeated in your ex- ecrable Treafons, fubmitting to the Prince, whofe Life and whofe Throne you had invaded j fuing for the Pardoi of a Nation, whofe Liberties you had endangered; diftinguiflied by the Clemency of your forgiving Sovereign^ and by the Lenity of yoifr induh B gent X DEDICATION. gent Country^ received again to breathe your native Air,, and to enjoy the Fortunes of your Family, whea many of the hsfl and nohkfi Englijhmcn had periflied in ihe Treafons which you had excited them to commit, and their Families had been undone by the Confequcncq of your Crimes: Abuling this unexampled Mercy^ and returning this amazing Goodnefs by the blackcft Ingratitude, and by the vllell Injuilice. Not repenting of your Male-Adminifiration^ not regretting the fatal Confeq^iicnces of your Meafures,You wickedly made ufe of that Liberty, to which you had been fo mercifully rellored^ and bafely employed it againft an Admini- flration loaded with the Difficulties of your own perni'i clous treaties -y defamed them as the Cau/e of thofe Alisforrunes, which the Nation flruggled with in Confequencc of your defiru^ive Meafurcs : With all the Malice and rnduilry which you could exert, endea- vouring to defeat their Councils, even in reftoring thofe lilt ere (is which you had left in Confufion } and even in r^- coveri'ig /to Balance of Power, which you had fojhame' fully dejiroyed. Whilll thus you have been Improving thofe Mif- chiefs by your Opposition, which were occafioned by your Administration, we have been wearied with your Clamours again (l our Treaties and Alliances- We have been deafened with the reproachful Names of Blunders and Blunderers. We have alfo been fickcned with the Sound of your unqueflionabk Capacities^ and it is time you fliould be fet right in all thofe impor- tant Matters. No Men can be more ready to allow than the Friends 6f the pyefent Minifters^ that there have really been had treaties and horrible Blunders. We confefs that there have been miiny Grievances of this kind. We agree that this Nation cannot fiiil to flouriih in Wealth and ReputatiQUy if its own Governors d(^ not betray its In-. tercfts. iveAir, when (bed in ommir, qucncq Mercy^ lackeli )enring e fatal ade ufe 'cifuUy dmini- thofe ich in all the endea- g thofe fhame* ' Mif- led by I with We les of ckcncd 5 and npor- riends n ^^r/ there gree ? and In- rcfts. DEDtCAtlON. xi 'fccrefts. But then we maintain that Tou was //:?(? Blunderer. It was Ton who made the bad Treaties. It was you who was the mcked Minifter. Tou betrayed our Inrerclls, and involved us in Di- llrefs. If we have been embroiled in Contcits which could never have happened without Alif carriages and Mifdemeanors 5 the former have been our Misfortunes^ the latter were^'o^r own Crimes. And Ihall we undefcrvedly bear not only the Punifhmentjbut the Reproach? Have you involved your Country in Dillrefs, and do yoU r^:- vile its Miniftcrs, as the Authors of that Evil which had no other Ait hor but your felf? Is it riot Hardfhip enough upon them to redrefs the Grievances of your Times^ bur are they likewife to fuffer the Scandal of be- ing the Caufe of fuch Oihmitr.s? And is it You whrt make this monflroits Atoncmeni for Your Crimes? Do you difcharge your fclf, hy wrongfully loading oihcr^ with your own Guilt? Might you not with equal Honerty commie Murder., yet fwear that Murder to have been committed by others., though apparently inno» cent., nay the moft incapable in the World, both of the iPb^and 7)^/^;/? Does it excufe the Treaty of Utrecht., that, as youi* honourable Friend affirms, all other T'reaties fubfe^uent to it have proceeded on it ? Was it not a bad Treaty, by the Confeffion of that 'worthy Gentleman; and have other Treaties proceeded on it? So much the worfe. If they proceeded on a bad Foundation., what muft be fsid for you who laid that Foundation? If they pro- ceeded to reform its Errors., and to atnerid its Irregw^ larities., what muft dill be (Iiid for you, who left fuch Errors to reform^ (uch Irregularities to amend even in your own JVork ? If it was t\\u^ bad originally., hard was the Fate of your Country ! If it hath been made better^ hard was the Lot of thofe Minifters obliged to build up-^ on a bad Foundation'^ and happy '\\. is, as well for us as for them, that they have fupcrinduced a better, B 2, Bus 13^' xii DEDICAflON. But is their Condu£t any Apology for you, as your Friend aflerts? Becaufe they have retrieved that Na* tional Damage which you occafioned ; becaufe, noc- withllanding this unhappy Treaty^ and not with (landing fuch a bad Foundation^ they have proceeded by fubfe- quent Negotiations to eftabHfh a good Foundation j Are you therefore juftify'd? Or is not their Condu6t a Reproach to you^ rather than an Apology for you? When they, by the Arts of the Cabinet alone, have been able to eftablifh the Interefis of Europe on a good Foundation i whereas You, as your Friend is obliged to confefs, even Tou^ though the Mafter of invincible Armies, and what is ftill more to be wondered at, with your unqueftionabk Capacities, left thofe Interellson a bad Foundation. Does your Friend condemn your Meafures, does he own that he never could approve the T'r^^j/y of Utrecht^ and hath he told us that all other Treaties fince have proceeded on this univerfally exploded 'Treaty ? Let me ask you, Sir^ is this an Apology for yeu? Rather (hould I think it to be an Apology for the prefent Minijlers', and it certainly would be (o, did they want one. Had their Meafures been unfuccefsful, what could have been a better Excufe for them, than that they were »^- ceffitated 10 proceed on the Footing of your Treaty of Utrecht 'y that Treaty which your Friend himfelfconr demns, and which, with your unqueflionable Capacities^ you dare not undertake to juftify ? Your honourable Friend is often farcaftical on that plentifulCrop of Treaties'* \v\\\ch the \.\^ fifteen Tears have produced. It might perhaps much better employ his admirable Talent of Ridicule, would he confider that plentiful Crop of Blunders which one fingle Treaty^ even the Treaty of Utrecht produced. Read the little Work which I now infcnbe to your Name. Recollefthow ;■ .: I ,- ■■ yon ■& w m 4 3 .4 yon DEDICATION. xiii you left the Interefts oi Europe provided for. The Em- feror and France in a War 5 the Emperor and Spain in a State of War j the IJland of Sicily a difputed and un- certain Pofleflion \ the Succejjion of Tufcany wholly neg- ledted j the Neutrality of Italy thus miferibly precari- ous J and the Britijh Trade with 5^^/» under fuch loofc Stipulations, that no Merchant thought it fafe to car- ry on Commerce under your Treaties. Tell us, you who are fo great a Mafter of Negotia- tion, whether all thefe jarrmg Interefts might not have been well regulated by a wife and honeft Mediation in one (ingle waty, whilft that Treaty was fupportedby the Arms of many Nations, the Grand Alliance itfelf ? But when the Sword was furrendered, when the Con- federacy which gave the Law became diflblved, how \j2i%your plentiful Crop of Blunders in the Ireaty of Utrecht to have been retrieved, or whom are we now to upbraid with th^i plentiful Crop 0/ Treaties which your Blunders obliged us to make for the Redrefs of mr Grievances? . When the Treaty is in the Field, one fingle Agree* tnent may oe full and final, the Terror of the Sword ihortens Debates, and adjufts all Differences. But when Advantages are to be gained, or Di fad vanta- ges furmounted by the Arts of Peace, the utmoft Ad- drefs, the raoft dextrous Application c:ix\ only proceed by Degrees 5 and Minillers muft fubmir to Jlower Meafures in obtaining National Points, rather than hazard the Peril and Expcnce of a Decifton by War» One 'Treaty upon another gains in thefc Times what Blunder upon Blunder 1 )il in yours, h' many Compass have been made to eftublilh PcriCr, (ioes it not evince how many Difficulties voaciraEcd '■oiiiflurb that Peace ? By omTreaty you left m.mv «*riii. cs ;i: Vaiimce, muny Interefts unfettlcd, and many N^rions expofcd. It required many Treaties^ after you had broke rhe Grand : . * Alliance^ kiv bEt>lCAtION. Alliance^ to make thofe Princes cordial Friends, to' re* concile their Interefls, and (ecure the Publick Tran- quillity. All this hath been done, e ff equally done ^ the Work of Peace is perfeft. And who are we now td reproach; Tou^ Slr^ whofe ofie fingle Treaty cniifed Co many Evils^ or They who by their numerous "treaties have redrefied thofe numerous Evils? How much to your Credit will it appear, thai: by the Blunders of a Four Tears Adminiflration^ vou Cmbarrafled all the Affairs of SixtcenTears afterwards; that you multiplied Folly and Iniquity by yourMea- fures to fuch an enormous Degree^ as filled you with Hopes that Publick Affairs could never be right whilfl you lived y and that you had propagated To much Confufion as always muft embroil your Country^ to the immeafurable Comfort of your felF, and to the e^ual Curfe of this Adminiftration? Had the Meafures of the prefcnt Minifters been re- ally bad, their Projedls wild and mifchievous, their Views unjuft and wicked, their Judgments weak and undifcerning, ftill it had been unbecoming you to up- braid thofe Meafures : You, whofe Crimes are fo no- torious, whofe Follies fo glaring, whofe Conduft hath done fuch infinite Damage to the People. Could you prefume to declare yourfelf the Judge and Cenfor of an Adminiftration, who had by the Guilt of your own Miniftry become the Perquifite of an Executioner? Could you be qualified to appear as an Accufer^who in your own Pcrfon had already been a Convict; or could you be fuffcred as an Evidence^ whofe Aftions had made you moft infamous ? But if it ill became you even to be the Accnfer^ when your own Crimes were fo black and odious, that, compared with you, the word Delinquent might deferve Excufe and Pity. If you thus were jnftly diP qualified to acatfe^ with what uncommon Effrontery was iS;- "^ m ghc DEDICATION. XV was it, that you could dare to defame ? Not able to purge yourfelf of Guilt, you fled from the Trial of your Adions ^ not able to acquit yourfelf before your Country, you raifed a Rebellion againll the Conltitu- tion. When your Mak-Adminiftration^ aggravated by \.\(is additional High-1'reafoni, when thefe enormous Crimes found Mercy, were neither Honefty or Grati" tude found in you ? After Crimes which had forfeited your Life, you were favoured both with Life and Li- berty} yet repaid thisCompaffion with cruellnjuiticej the fierceft Oppofition to that injured Prince^ who had pardoned you 5 and the vileft Defamation of thofe Mi- nifters, whom he employed in his Service. This Defamation of unblameable Charaders, this Mifreprefentation of the beft and wifeft Councils, had been heinous enough, God knows, on the Part of any Man, much more fo on yours. And yet even this was not the Heighth of your Wickednefs; You were not guilty merely of Mak-jldminiflration^ nor were you guilty of common Defamation j but you aggravated your Guilt by the Complication of your Crimes: Con-^ nesting your publick JVickedneff'wxih. youv perfonal In-^ juries^ by defaming innocent Men, as Authors of that National Evil, which flowed from your own dejlru,^ ^i^'e Meafures. ...v In truth, it fecmed as if you had been born for the Sba?ne and Diftrefs of your Country ; nay, the very Changes of your Condition from Ohfcurity to high Stations^ and from Greatnefs to abje6l Meamefs, havp only been Jhif ting the Scenes of Mi/chiefs wherein youi: bufy, reftlefs Soul hath always been employed. Surely ic was never known before, and will, I hopp, never again he feen, that a mod wicked^ corrupt^ and arbitrary Minifter, abufing the Power of the Publick, fhould plunge his Country in every Calamity 5 and 9ven divefted of publick Power, lliould ftill endea- ' Your H I l^' i xvi BEDICATION. vour to make it ufekfs^ nay odious^ even in relieving that Country, labouring under thofe very Calamities which him/elf had occafiomd. When this ever happens to be the Cafe; and this indeed is your Cafej no Heart can be too warm, no Hand too active, againll a Man, hke you^ thus rowr- td with Crimes^ thus invading the Innocent^ thus abufiig and provoking an injured and infulted People. If therefore, Sir^ I have treated you in this hojlile Manner, even whilft I am bringing glad Tidings to the People, it will be allowed confiftent with juft Judgment, You are not entitled to the Benefit of that Quiet, which you have always laboured to ob- ftru6t. There is no Peace for the Wicked *, and whilfl: I can either write or fpeak, there fiall be none for you. For myfelf, I defire no truer Glory, nor a nobler Monument, than that it may be written on my Tomb, how fincerely I have abhorred, and how fuccefsfully I have expofed j'o//r Schemes. If ever Strife was pleafing to a generous Mind, it is fo in the higheft degree when Iftruggle with you ; Ill-nature it cannot be term- ed, nor doth it (hew the want of Humanity, but the moft humane, benevolent Difpofition, to make per- petual War with the Tt'ouhlers of the World. If ever Love of Liberty, if ever Zeal for that Country which bore me touched my PafTions, or awakened my Re- fentments, where could they dire£fc my Averfion but to You, the moll confirmed, inveterate Foe that ever Britain or Britifi Liberties have known ? This Aver- fion let me chei ifh j it is noble to hate that Man who hates all Virtue, whofe Life hath been a Monopoly of Crimes^ whofe Crimes the Caufe of infinite Calami- ties, and Curfe of many Nations. Whilft I furvey the Courfe of your Life^ I fee the moft malignant Spirit againft the Happinefs of Men that ever appeared in a Series of human Anions. At the fame time do I be- hold \. ^lieving (amities nd this rm, no ; coiner" abufmg 5 hoftile ngs to xh jufl itfic of to ob- whilfl: r you. nobler Fomb, fully I leafing degree term- )ut the e per- f ever which y Re- n hut t ever Aver- who mly of ilami- Life^ the Series be- hold DEDICATION. xvii hold'thc mo^felfijh^ cruel Ambition that ever afpired to rule 5 fo boundlefs a Paflion for Power, with fo lit- tle Defire to make it ufeful in the World j fuch Pra- ctices to obtain that Power, Practices againll the Quiet of States, and the Ends of all Society -, fuch Impetuofity of Temper, fuch Arbitrarincfs of Will, fuch Infolence '^f Behaviour, fuch Levity of Mind, fuch Wantonnefs of Humour, with fuch total Ahfence of Honour and Morals^ that I tremble in the View of an Impoflibility J 1 iliudder to think of your Succefs in your Pretenfions to Power. What would fuch Men be with Power, who can be 'Tyrants with none ? It is from this Survey of your Proceedings, that I am determined ever to oppofe them in all Times, and under all Miniftersj urJder thofe whom you endea- vour tod i ftrefs, the tender eft Humanity requires the Help of all good Men againft youj under Minifters whom you (hould approve or concur with, the Nation it fel-f mull be on the Brink of Deftru6tion, and all who love the Nation would be (limmoned to deliver it from Ruiu. But no Miniftry in the World ever could en- gaige wy Hand againft you, like the Horror and De- teitation of your own Crimes j thefc warm my Paf- fiohs, thcfe guide my Pen. The Interefts and the In- juries: of my deareft Friends have but a fecond Place in my Thoughts, when I confidcr you. If everlihould have the Misfortune to live till this Adminiftration is forgot, yet truft me, you will not pafs unremembered. And were I left the only Man in the World to vindi- cate their Memories^ or to difplay your Crimes^ yet in neither Cafe, fhould my Hand be either/low or/paring. It is with Pleafure' 1 refledir, that you have often found me in your Way, and it is with fome Hopes th^x 1 dill purfue you. I have nofolemn Leagues^ no cove- nanted Bonds; Tkvth is great, and will prevail alone. h is to a Nation that I fpeakj it is againll the Ene^ rnies of Peace^and thefe are the Times of Peace; Times fit for Judgment againft fuch Men^ when the People G ar "^ 11 h'-i xviii DEDICATIOIV. ure not diverted from the Scent of Publick Jufticc j when their Paflions are not enflamed, nor their En- quiries mifled by thofe who take Advantage oi thcii' Difficulties, and improve the Pubhck Confulion. ' • h' ever National Fengeance ought to fall upon the Guilty Head^ this is the Maturity of Time, when thofc who have a6fced in Defiance of Laws ^ and to the Da" mage o^ UL great Peopk^ought to know the Rcfentmcnts o't that People \ when thofe who have menaced and in- fulted the trueft Friends^ and the beft Servants of their Country with the 'fervors of Impeachments^ with Pe- nal J5ls and jittai/krs'y when thofe who have bad this ravingFdlly^ ma^ experience that it is »o/ Faction alone which can threaten and cnifh j but that a Lawful Government is inverted with -Power, as it is with Rigli \ , to fcatter and confound its Enemies. -^ * *'*^This, Sir, true as it is, hlder Men xhtin your Friend have DEFIED, and Men of more unquejlionable Capaci- ties even than yours have affed^edh defpife^va'mly foaih^ ing their deluded Fancy, that ^^if might baffle Jufiice, "What terrible Miftakes they were liable to, you- can- not be ignorant of^: And how far your IVifdovnc^^- iroid what your ffim chiefs Kirtu^\\'M\\ earned, Tiine, and thofe who \it^ kno\y you tjiay determine. But be afllired, that- no- Endeavourjj N^iall be fpared by me to reufe th^ Jufiic^e' of the Natkn'\'!iK\(\ if this- honeil Labour does bur in the Jcaft contribute t^' that deftr^'' hie Efe6fy it will abundantly rejoitJie^ -^'y . ;- y *-•* t-'- - • ' .: . ., w. ..: ._ 1.; .■.,..1 ai'j .'■ i I yraft bnr. 10 fV"!- f '. ,:!^ y:^i\\ v^r, u ■/ Tour ever faithfi^ty ' :ieatous • :>>' ) .ir \ "JiW^^ fltlV/ • Offj lli.7 i>iU ijfij .v;;V/ i'J ■'Ml ?.( and de^Gte^ ServanrJ' ''^','^- 0*^' 'J' •.'V^: •A, !h M :.■■'!■ ». 'Ul ?,bn Vk£ Jurticc J heir En- of their ion. ipon the len thofc the Da* :ntmcnts \ and in- of their vith Pe- ive bad ACTION rAWFUL : is with tr Friend Capaci- yfootfh- Jufike, ou- can- si cj^aa- Tiine, But by me honeft dejiroy '.' btu . ^\ '..■':•, i;- "i; inii THE Natural Probability O F. A Last i ng PEACE 1 N EUROPE, &CG. ■.i ^1 E A C E is a Bleffing to Man- kind in general, as well as to Governments in particular. A Seafon of common Tran- quillity infpires not only the Friends of an Adminillration, but all who love the Happinefs of the World, with the higheft Satisfadlion. *Tis the Health of human Nature ; and they who can delight in War, might with more Humanity rejoice in the Calamities of a Prifon or a Peft-Houfe. „ ; -u ... C 2 We Vj (,. 1 I HE II Wc enjoy at prefcnt :he moft pcrfed:, nniverfal and eftabliflied Tranquillity, We behold not only Great Britain at Peace, and on the moft amicable Terms with all her Neighbours, but all her Neighbours are at the fame Time difpofed in the ftrongeft Manner to live well with each ot^her. We are not only happy in a good Underftanding with other Na- tions, but thofe Nations likewife arc without Quarrels and Difputes among themfelves : So that as we have no Prof- pedl of War or Contention by Diffe- rences of our own; neither are we likely to be drawn into Danger by the Dif- agreements, the Ruptures, or Commo- tions of others. This moft advantageous Situation, is what we have very feldom feen, what we hope will long continue, and what we conceive to be fecurcd by the moft effedual, the beft contrived Means in the World. We cannot look back to any particular Period, within a long Courfe of Time, when Europe was blell with fuch univerfal Quiet, and with fuch reafonable Hopes of its long ex- tended Duration. Almoft every Peace that hath been made in Eur§pe^ fince the Reftoration of Charles the Second^ feems to have been in its Nature, as well as 3 ■4' in IS [3] ill its Confequence, no better than a fliort CclTation of Arms; and whoever looks into the Treaties which were deligned to compofe the Quarrels of Princes then at Variance, may cafily fee their Differences far from being finifhed, and thofe unfiniflied Differences big with new Calamities. But we have now the Happinefs to fee the Plan of Power fo well defigned, the Limits fo well bound- ed, and fo ftrongly fenced, the feveral Princes of Europe fo well fatisfied with their refpedlive Conditions, fo powerfully difpofed to live peaceably within them- feives, and fo very far from being either intereftpd or inclined to make Encroach- ments on their Neighbours, that we may indulge all thofe Pleafures which good Minds are capable of coi*ceiving on Co agreeable a Profped: ; iince no Seafon ever beheld a Peace more univer- fal, nor did any Conjundture of Affairs ever promife a Peace more eftablifhed and lading. To fhew the happy Situation of our Affairs in the ffcrongeft and cleared Light, fo that every one may be con- vinced that our Happinefs is as perfedt as the Nature of Human Affairs can allow it to be, and that our Peace is more compleat than hath at any Time been I: I r ' I; V I i w ''-'l\ p4 [4] been known, I (hall look back to for- mer Tinnes, and confider the Situation of Europe when former Treaties of Peace have been made r on which Oc- cafion, that I may not refer to Fadls beyond the Reader's Sight, I will con- fine my felf to Times within his Me- mory, The Treaty of Ryfwick m King Wil- Ham's Time, and the Treaty of Utrecht in the late Queen's Reign, refpedtively determined very dreadful Contentions in Europe^ and undertook to adjuft the Dif- putes which had occafioned thofc Wars. Both thefe Treaties, as they determin- ed great Contentions, were alfo fpeedi- ly followed by new Contefts grounded on the old Differences ; and when thefe Treaties were agreed to, none could imagine that they would ever become effedual. If we take a curfory View of Publick Affairs at thofe refpedtive Periods, the Truth of this will be im- mediately feen; from whence we may moft eafily difcern, how much more fecure the Peace of Great Britain muft be at this Time, than it was when the Peace of Ryjwick was concluded, and how much better eftabliflied it is at prefent than it was by the Treaty of Utrecht, King :omc icw ftive im- may ore uft the and s at ing . t 5 ] King William the I'htrd, when he ended his Wars, had only the Comfort to refledl that he had withftood the Progrefs of the French Kmg*s Arms, without ha- ving feen the dangerous Power of France either fecurcly bounded, or in any Degree diminiflicd. Lewis the Fourteenth was then in the Vigour of his Life, and at the Summit of his Glory j abfolutely Mailer of his own People, and Arbiter to many Nations. He was thus without Dif- ficulties at Home, and of great Influence Abroad. He had nu merous Armies com- pofed of veteran well difciplined Soldiers. He had many great Commanders of mighty Renown in War, the firft for Reputation then in the World, and in thofe Times almoft ever fuccefsful. He was in his own Perfon of a moft enterprizing Nature, ever meditating great Atchievements, and feemed indeed born to try how far the Power of France could be extended. His Countries were at that Time unexhaufted, and to all Appearance inexhauftibl^, fuch infinite Refources had the French within them- felves. His Subjedls too were paffionately fond of military ExJ)loits, and all the Nations round him in fuch a Condition ,^s prefented him with frefh Incitements to purfue his Glory, by daily Profped:s of Succefs and Triumph. The I if H [6] The Dutch were then without a com- •petent Barrier to withftand his Arms, which formerly had made fuch dreadful Havock of their Country, and which, within k/s fha?t thirty Years before, had advanced even to the Gates of Utrecht, Flanders was weak and defencelefs, from its being in the PofTeifion of Spain^ remote from the Sfanijf^ Courts and ill taken care of by the Spanijh MiniJ}r\\ though ever coveted by the Frejich and contiguous to their Country. Charles the Secc^id was at that Time dying up- on the Throne o{ Spain: His Crown in Right of Blood devolving on the C/6//- ^nw o/' France, which feemed, by this AcceiFiGn, uncontroulable in iis Cla^'m to univeifal Monarchy. The Empirt was expofed to the Ravages of Franv&y and the Hoiife of Aujiria much to6 weak to oppofe of itlelf ftich a Tor- rent of Power. The EkBor ofBavaria^ if not inclined to advance the immo- ^dcr^te Growth of France ^ yet found himfelf obliged to make the bell Tcnms "for himfeff, when he faw the Irrfiijf- ikicncy of the Imperial Power^ and the Uncertainty of Support from England., where the King could not obtain above t-ix Thmfand Men to protedt the Peace of his Kingdoms, and where it was '" ' . ''^ impoffi- J [7] impoflible to depend upon the Aid or Approbation of the Houfe of Commons, This was a powerful Reafon, and might be a principal Motive with the EleSlor of Bavaria^ to tiirow himfelf into the Arms of France, He might have been glad of the Englijh Alliance, could he have been aflured that the King would have been in any Condition to make his Alliances good. As it was fo pre- carious, he had no way to fave his own Country, but by making himfelf ufeful to the Fre?ich ; and to him it was owing that all Flanders was furrendred to them in one Night. King William the 'Third, though the brave and faith- ful Affertor of the Liberties of Europe, fuffered this hard Fate, and had this extraordinary Recompence, even from a People whom he had laved from De- flrudlion. Such too were the Mifchiefs done to this Nation, and the Miferies entailed upon Generations unborn, by Men v^^ho rated their Oppofition to the moft reafonable Meafures as the moft fhining Proof of Publick Virtue. That great Prince was now worn out with Fatigues, his People were divided into Parties, his Parliaments daily difagree- ing w^iih his Councils, and even allront- ing his Perfon. His Supplies were D fcanty »»Hf i-i'i Ml I II '•i; ;'■ 'l: py . ■,■■^■ aps i'Si ; ch ' '^K LC- '' >.■ lat VmsL ire ^gjHHM ce. '^!5iMBS£ )ir ''«lHi 7- e- 1. ;9^H' C t3 1 gencies, without any Care taken of them, and fo many ftrong Temptations to divers Princes inducing them to break the Peace ; which indeed of it felf was unconcluded, whilft the Emperor was on no Terms of Agreement with Spain, as well as at open War with the Crown of France f In (hort, I will venture to affirm, and undertake to prove, that from this baneful 'Treaty^ as from a Source of Strife and Difquiet, have flow- ed the great Inconveniences and Quar- rels of the lafl Nineteen Years. From the want of all Provilion in fome Cafes, from the Incompetency of Provifion in others, and from the wrong Difpofitions which were made by that Treaty in too many Inftances: From thefe Caufes, and no others in the World, have our Grievances been produced, and the Repofe of fo many Nations often alarm- ed, frequently interrupted. For, if we review the whole Courfe of Affairs fince the Treaty of Utrecht, to what elfe can we afcribe the Jarrings and Contentions of Europe f What oc- cafioned the long Difagreement between the Emperor and Spain, but the Treaty of Utrecht, which might have made them Friends, yet left them wholly unreconciled ? What occafioned the Spa- niJJj m ■! K li! / 'I \ kiS i ! I 14 ] nljh Defcent on Sardinia, and thenar ifi Sicifyy but this Failure in the Hreaty of Utrecht ? What was the ^adruple Alliance made for, and the fubfequent Congrefs at Cambray convened for, but to reconcile thofe Differences which the Mediators in the Treaty of Utrecht might have determined, yet left un- determined ? Was not the Firft Treaty of Vienna, which gave fo much Di- ilurbance, and threatned fo much Mif- chief, a Confequence which certainly refulted from the Treaty of Utrecht y and which however remote, could never have happened if the Treaty of Utrecht had fettled the Interefls of Spain and the Houfe of Aufiria, inflead of leaving them, as they were left, without any Regulations, wholly fubjed: to Chance and Time? What Difference could the Britip Nation have poiiibly had with Spain, if the Treaty of Utrecht had not left Spain and the Houfe of Aufiria at Variance, whofe Interefls naturally affedt- ed ouro, and whofe Quarrels unavoida- bly involved this Kingdom in the Dif- pute ? All thefe Differences were moft eafy to be accommodated, all thefe Quarrels and Hoflilities might have been prevented, almofl beyond the Poflibility of ever happening, had we been hearty in '■■I, i ;en m f ^5 ] in the Work, whilft the Sword was in our Hands, whilft we were at the Head cf the Confederate Arms, and Spaiji as well as France glad to make Peace on any Terms with the Emperor^ or with any Power, for the fake of making Peace with Great Bntai?i. But by a fhameful, an accurfed Separate T'reaty, we excluded and deferred the Emperor, we left him unreconciled both with France and Spain ; after all, finding our- felves obliged to return to the great Work of reconciling them, without the Means which we had in our Hands when we might and ought to have done it. If fucceeding Minifters found Difficulties, feemingly infuperable, to attend this Work, and if they were very long before they could entirely eifed: it; all muft agree their Hardfhip to have been great, as they were charged with the Redrefs of their Predeceflors Errors, without the Advantages, and without the Power which their Pre- deceflors largely poiTeflfed, and fcanda- loufly negled:ed. If then all thefe great Interefts were thus fatally and foolijhly negleded by thofe Minifters who ought to have taken Care of them, in the only Seafon too when they could be properly taken care of: If fuch great E powers f' n ( V :i C i6] Powers were thus left unreconciled by the Treaty of Utrechty fuch important Interefts unfettled, fo many expedled Events unprovided for, and fo many material Points altogether undetermined: How was it pofTible that Europe could reafonably hope for, or could long enjoy Tranquillity ? How could fuch Circum- ftances tend to preferve the World in Peace, or fuch a Treaty ever, fecure the Ends which our w^ife Negotiators pre- tended ' obtain, which the Interejls of Europe required, and which the amazing Succefs of the War fo juflly entitled us to? Having thus fhewn what Profpedt Europe had of Peace at thefe two me- morable Periods, the End of King WiU Harris Reign, and the End of ^een Anne's Reign, we come with better Ad- vantage to confider the Hopes of Tran- quillity which we have at prefent: And thefe, I have the jufl Satisfadtion to obferve, are built on much ftronger Foundations than ever were laid before this Time by any Treaty or Alliance, or by any Concurrence of Incidents within thefe forty Years pafl:. We fee the Crowns of Great Britain and Fra?2ce, mutually difpofed to live in perfect Amity, and reciprocally em- ploying # T \atn live [ 17 ] ploying themfelves in all the Offices of Friend (hip to each other. We Hiw the lafl Summer, when the Enemies of Peace were labouring to create Jea- loufies and Diftru'ds between the two Courts, that the French ihevved the Sin- cerity of their Dcfires to join the Britip Miniflers in 'every thing that might improve true Harmony between Great Britain and France. In Con- fequence of which, the Frejich gave new Orders for demolifliing the leaft Attempts which could have been made cowards repairing Dunkirk^ and like- wife caufed their Subjeds to Evacuate Santa Lucia entirely. So that thofe who have chargea us with having dealt unfairly and unfaithfully with the French^ have the Mortification to lind, that they make Complaints for the Fre?2cb, which never were made by the French -, and that notwithflanding this unjuft Pretence, this fcandalous Charge of having broke our Treaties by the lad Treaty of Vienna^ that very Nation againft whom this was fo filily aliedged to have been committed, acquiefce in the Compadt faid to have betrayed them, rely upon our Faith fuggelled to have been violated by us, and wil- lingly contniue upon the E 2 Footing of thofe f ' ^'i jl'l • , I ■i ;1 1:1 j^ I' 1*1' [i8] thofe Treaties, from which fome would have it thought that we have departed to the Prejudice of France, We fee the Emperor at the fame time in cordial Friendfliip with his Majefty, perfedlly eafy in all his Affairs with France, at no fort of Variance with Spain, but on the contrary their valuable Friend and Ally, as abfolutely necelfary to fupport the Succtflion granted to Don Carlos in Italy, We fee the Imperial SucceJIion, on Failure of the Male Line in the lioufe of Aufiria, fettled in a Manner perfectly confiftent with the Safety and to the Satisfa5iion of Europe: Provifion having been made by a private Article in the lad T!reaty of Vienna, That if the Archdutchejfes marry in fuch a Man- ner as to aggrandize any of the Great Powers, or to hazard the Balance of Europe, the Guaranty fhall be void. We know that on account of this Succef- fion thus eftablifhed by our Aid and Concurrence, the Imperial Court muft always be fincerely allied with Great Britain, from the Nature and Terms of our Guaranty and Support. We likewife fee, from the fame Settlement, that there was certain Truth in the Liformation from Authority publiflied a few Years ago, that an Infante of Sp am m m iin [ 19] Spain was defigned by the SpaniJJ) Court to have been difpofed of in Marriage with the Eldeji Caroline Archdutchefs 5 be- caufe the SpaniJJj Court readily guaran- teed the Pragmatick SanBion^ or the Settlement of Succeffion to the Aufirian Hereditary Countries^ when they hoped that it would operate in Favour of a Prince of their Blood, whereas they now decline the Renewal of that Gua- rantee; and though they are not any ways averfe, yet are become wholly indifferent to it, fince they have no longer Hopes of that Kind, and adtual- ly fee that this Pragmatick Sanation is to operate in another Manner. We further fee the Dutch our an- cient and faithful Allies acceding to our Treaties, and concurring in the fame Guaranty of the Pragmatick SanBion-y which fhews how falfe, ill-grounded and infolent the Affertions of fome Per- fons were, who, in the Beginning of this Seflion of Parliament, charged the King their Sovereign with having impofed on his People; for that his Majefty did, at the End of laft Seflion, declare from the Throne his Affurance that the Dutch would accede to this Guaranty, They have acceded \ and yet it was prefump- lupufly made a falfe Declaration from the ■I'ltn [ 20 ] the Throne to fay that they "would ac- cede. To the fame Guaranty the Crown of Spain formerly, and the Diet of the E,mpire fmce, have refpedtively acceded. France^ with Relation to the Low Coun- tries^ confented in the Treaty of Baden, And all the Princes of Europe^ whether they guarantee the Settlement, or remain Neuter, all agree that it is for the Intereji of Europe, and the univerfal Intention of her Powers, that the Aujiria?i Here- ditary Countries ought to remain indivif- hly united. This Settlemeiit hath been fworn to by all the Collateral Branches of that Family J who have by Oath, as well as CompaSi, renounced their refpe- d:ive Claims which interfere with this Order of Succejfion. And if it be obferved, that Great Britain and the States Ge- neral are the only Powers who imme- diately ad: in Favour of the Pragma- tick EanEiicn-y let it be anfwered, thut the Emperor is content with thisj he wants no other Aid : He dell res no ftronger Guaranty. It fhews the Re- putation of our Faith and of our Power. If none other adl immediately for him, yet there are none at all who ad: againft him : And even if there were any Princes difpofed to ad againft him, yet let it be re- membered that this Conjundion of the BriiiJJo ■Si f [ 21 ] Britip Nation, the Houfe of Aufiria, and the tStates General^ is the fame Graiid Al- liance whofe former Union made the World tremble, and whofe Power in War isfo well known, that the Fcace of Europe wants no better Protedlion. Laftly, Let us turn our Eyes to ^pain and Italy j the latter fettled in Peace, and the former greatly obliged by that very Settlement ; a Frtnce of Spain peaceably introduced into ^ufcany with the Confent of all Parties under the Protedlion of Great B"itain^ the States General^ and the Emperor^ invefted likewife with the Dutchy of Parwa^ and received in Ti//- ca?iy as next in Succellion to the reigning Great Duke. Thus no Difputes remain coiicerning Italy-, whilft at the fame Time the Court of Spain is from this very Settle- ment of Italy, obliged to live in perfect: Friendfliip with the Bri'iJJj and Im- perial Courts. Spain mufl of natural Choice preferve a good Underftanding with them, if it were onlv for the Sake of that Succefiion \^hich the SpanijhCoiirt have always had fo much at Heart, which they have laboured many Years to efft6t at the Expence of all their otiicr Inrcivlts, and which they cannot be eafiiy tempt- ed to rifque, or forfeit, in difobiiging 2 thofe V (I 1 I [22] thofc Powers by whom it was fettled, and on whom it depends. ' This is the prefent Situation of our Affairs, and no Time could ever pro- duce one more promifing-of /^/«^ Peace. If human Happinefs could be perma- nent, no Combination of Circumftances ever feemed more likely to fix our Fe- licity ^ and though we do not flatter ourfelves with more than can be *ix- pe6ted from the Nature of Things, yet we fee no ^hufe from prefent Ap- pearances, o^ffbm common Forefight of future Events, to doubt that £2/- rope will enjoy Tranquillity for a lonp; Time to come ; which, with regard tc our own Country, is the brighteft Glory that can adorn this Reign, as it is the \grcateft Good that can attend this Na- tion, , '> , >■ !> I 14 I S. J U- our