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And the Pamphlet entitled CONSIDERATIONS ON THE PRESENT GERMAN WAR, K^fiitcd from its own Principles, Qtie Nation^ toujours echauffee pouroit plus atfement etre con4uite par fes pajpons que par la raifon^ et il feroit facile a ceux qui la gowuerneroient 4e lui faire faire des enterprifes contrefes veritables interets, L* Esprit des Loix. LONDON: Printed for R. Griffiths, in the Strand. M.DCCLX. THE CONDUCT OF THE MINISTRY Impartially examined, ^c. TH E author of the following (heets, Is fenfible of the difadvantages he lies under, in attempting, thus late, to oppofe the popular prejudice, which has been induftri- oufly railed in favour of the fpirited and fpe- cious Conjtderations on the prefent German War. But, if his remarks on that pamph- let are juft and impartial, truth, however ilowly, will force its way in oppofition to fallacy : if, on the contrary, they arc frivo- lous and ill grounded, their earlier appear- ance might perhaps have better anfvvered the interefl of the bookfcller, but would not have been of any fervice to the public. B Upon [ 2 ] upon a candid Review of thefe Confidera" tions, it mud be owned that there is merit in the compofition ; and there are fome ani- madvcrfions in it, to which every man, who is not a bigot to party, mud readily afTent. The writer's ridicule, for inftance, on the na- tional idolatry of the K — g ofP ■ a, is, in fome refpeds, not ill placed. And it mud be confefTed, that the regard we have paid to that monarch, by our public illuminations, extravagant elogiums, and other teflimonies of indifcreet attachment, have been carried to an excefs, which has done no credit to the wifdom or fpirit of Great-Britain. But our Confiderer's Antipruflian farcafms are too indifcriminate ; and it is the intent of thefe (heets to ihew that his refledtions throughout are either falfe, or exaggerated and fallacious : that, in fhort, he has either been deceived himfelf, or, what is more to his difhonour, has endeavoured to deceive others. He writes, it is true, with great appear^ ance of difintereftedners and moderation. He has too much judgment, to be abufive or fcurrilous in terrm : but an acute obferver may be led to conclude, from his matter^ that he has no iincere difpoiition to candor and; impartiality. Was the writer of thefe (heets inclined to imitate the Confiderer, by indulging himfelf in perfonai reflexions, it would not be diffi- cult [ 3 ] cult, perhaps, to conjedlure the motives of the Conliderations, from the well known con- nexions of the author. The malice of party is dormant, but not extind:. The veterans in ftate intrigue know when, and by what arts, to work upon po- pular inftabiHty. When they find a pro- per time to fet fire to the brand of faum JinguU piignant^ univerfi 'vincuntiir^ (that is) while the fe^ue- ral powers Jight Jinglyy the whole arefubdiiedy is related by the hiftorian as a caufe of extending the Roman monarchy, and muft be a principal, or at leall a concomitant caufe in the growth of every other." Here we may without fcruple join ifTue with the Confiderer. Thefe propofitions are uncoLtravertible : and the reader is defired to keep them in view tiiroughout, for by re- ferring to them, and fome which follow, we fhall be able to refute the Confiderations. Having eftablifhed thefe juft principles, he proceeds to obferve, that " The three <( cc (( <( C( nfcdc- tage to {he not ngage- :. &c. ? The I [ 7 1 . The Confiderer's fyftem is fpeculatively right. But the fallacy of his reafoning lies in this : that he condemns connexions en- tered into under particular exigencies, be- caufe they are inconfiftent with that confe- deracy, which ought to take place, if every party purfued its real intereft. States too often adt from paflion, as well as individuals. Private pique, ambition, or ava- rice, frequently make them abandon their friends, to embrace their enemies. But (hail not the party thus bafely deferted, endeavour to form new attachments? It is certainly againft the general principles of true policy for England and Auftria to meafure (words, but if the latter will confederate with the common enemy, our oppofition is a neceflary confequence of that unnatural alliance* The Confiderer however, for a prefent an- fwer, may argue ♦•hat we were the occafion gf her taking that unnatural ftep. This, as will appear hereafter, from his ovtrn confeflion, is not the cafe 5 but, for the prefent, admit- ting it to be fo : — ^yet, if by a wrong ftrokc of policy, we force4 Aufliia into the arms of France, {hall we back one blunder with an- other, and fufFcr them to adl in concert, to the ruin of the liberties of Europe r Shajl we, as the Confiderer would advife us, aban- don Hanover, &c. and give up all concern for' the continent ? Shall we be crcduloys enough to take his word, and truifl that the French ^" I ! ! Ill Mi '■ [ 8 ] French will only raife contributions, and not attempt to keep what they acquire ? But more of this as we proceed. In the enfuing pages, he fpeaks in high terms of the two grand alliances formed by king William the third. Upon this head, I am by no means inclined to difputc with him, being perfuaded that the fyftem of our great deliverer claims our mod grateful ac- knowledgments ^ and we might wifli that the condudt of our allies at that time like- wife deferved our thanks. After having magnified the power which France exerted in oppofition to that confederacy, the Con- fiderer makes the following refledions. '* We Jiave fince heard fo much of the attempts of France towards univerfal mo- narchy, and the balance of power neceflary to be prefer ved in oppofition to it j and have feen it made a pretence for fo many meaner purpofes, that we now naufeate the fubjedt, and do not like to hear any *' more of it. Yet a meafure which was once right, mufl: continue to be right to eternity. And though France may not have a prince, equally able and enterpri- zing with Lewis the Fourteenth, yet the kingdom is the fame, and its land forces are dill formidable to Europe : at leafi, it is the only fl:ate which either Europe in general, or England in particular, can be ** en- cc y which sred. . . . \ of the other [ 17] *» other Jlates, to be watchful over it, to guard * againft the growth of it, and mutually to each other ^ when they arc attacked by ah " it." Thus, from his own reafoning, it is evi- dently our intereft to oppofe the progrcfs of the French arms in Germany, and not to wait till, dumfinguli pugnantiUniverfi vincun- tur. But fuppofe that the Germans could be perfuaded to unite before it was too late. What then ? Why then, the Conlidcrer tells us, the French can never conquer Germany. Indeed ! This is a bold affirmation, and per- haps, in point of argument, it might be fuf- ficient to anfwer it with a pofitive negative. By good luck, however, we are provided with a fuller anfwer, and one which the Con- fiderer himfelf has furni(hed us with. Jf France can never conquer Germany when united. What (hall we fay to the ac-« count of it's ftrength before given, page 9 P where the Confidcrer fays, ** The empire of Germany, may be equals if not fupcrior to France, but the divifion of it into feparate ftates, renders it inferior." Now, if it is a doubt, whether Germany, when united, be equal to France ; nay, if we even fuppofe it to be fomcwhat fuperior, with what confi- denr*' can he affure us, that France can never conquer it ? I will not refer him to conqucfts made by the Greeks and Romans, over ftates vaftly fuperior to themfelves, bccaufe fuch (( (C (C D refe I t If I •5 1 !.l i [ i8 ] references are unfa(hionable, but if he will only recoDedt what has pafled under his own eyes, he will be convinced, that even fmall potentates, may prove an over-match for an overgrown confederacy among the greateft powers. But the Confiderc. compares the ilrength of kingdoms, as a New Market jockey, would calculate weight and inches. From page 24 to page 29, The Confiderer takes a great deal ot pains to prove, what no man of fenfe ever doubted, that this is not a religious war ; and then he proceeds to affirm that ** No one who is the leaft acquainted with the Aate of Europe, and the confti- tiition of the empire, can fuppofe the crown of France fhould entertain a thought of making a real and permanent conquefl of Hanover. France enters Germany as a friend and ally of the empire, and as gua* rantee of the treaty of Weftphalia ; and ** as fuch, cannot pretend to make a real con- queft there : that would be quarelling with their allies in the very adt of afliding them. . . . For a king of France to make himfelf ele^QT of Hanover, and ejedt a whole fa- mily out of its rights, would be fo great an a6k of violence, that every member in the empire would rife againft it . • . 'Tis " the very thin^ which England (hould wifli the French to attempt, in order to units all Gerowny ayainft them." It <( •c <( (( <( << « «l le crown 3ught of iqueft of my as a ) as gua- lia ; and real con- ing with ng them. i himfelf vhole fa- ; fo great imhet in t...Tis >uld wifli to unite It I [19] It mud be confcfTedythat it is the very quin* teflence of refinement, to fuffer an eiietny to take, in confidence that he will not hold. I grant that the French have no ju/i pretence for making a conquefl of Hanover, and I be« lieve that it will be difHcult for the Confi- derer to fhew, that they had any jufl pretence for invading it. Nay, page 38. he owns that they had not. Many, however, who have entered as allies and guarantees, have after- wards kept pofTefHon as conquerors. The French have done it, and we have no fecu- rlty, but the Confiderer's word, that they will not do it again. . Perhaps it might provoke the members of the empire* to fee a family ejedted out of it's rights : yet we have known a proteflant elec- tor turned out of his dominions, and fent a hegging with his family from country to country, and yet all Germany did not unite, ^iid move Heaven and earth to redore him . We have lived to fee a king of England re- proached, and the national councils (ligma* tized in hiflory, for not yielding timely and powerful afliflarce to that difhefled cledor. But, what if after the French have con*, quered Hanover, and fhewn a difpofition to retain it, all Germany ftfoulj unite againd fuch injuftice, to what purpofe would their union lerve, when, according to the Confi- derer, it is only a may be^ Whether they are equal, when united, to France? Therrfore, D 2 at 4-. w [20] at laft, wc muft be obliged to throw our weight in the fcale ; and every quack will tell him, that it is prudent *u^«;V»// occurrere morbo^ Political as well as natural evils, are belt and eafieft refifled at their firfl beginning. Page 3 1 • The Confiderer pleafantly tells us, that " a fmall itate, which is invaded by the ar.nies of one infinitely greater than itfelf, is doubtlefs under a great misfortune; all refiflance is ufelefs, and it has nothing to do but to fubmit. But there is a way of doubling this misfortune, and that is, by h?ving another great ilate, almoA e- qual to the invader, undertake the defence of it. If the country fubmit, it has bit one army to maintain, and may in the be-^ ginning yield upon terms that are tolerable : but if it be defended, it has then two ar- mies in it, and is fure to be opprefTcd by them both." The Confiderer's reafoning is fo whimfical, that it does not deferve a ferious anfwer. He certainly means to fport with his readers : for if a fmall flate when invaded, has nothing to do but to fubmit, to what purpofe does he eftablifh this principle, '* that the Icfler " ftatcs fhould mutually affift each other, ** when attacked by the greater power ?" How is one flate to aiiifl another againft an invading army, but by marching an army to it's defence ? But, fays the Confiderer, '< the J* defending army ought to have a'i many <* mouths <( cc (C cc cc (c (C t w DW our vill tell » morbo^ »eil and :ly tells ided by cr than fortune; nothing 5 a way that is> moO: e- defence has bit the be-^ >lcrablc: two ar* effcd by limfical, er. He lers : for nothing >ofe does the lefler h other, power ?** gainft an i army to er, '< the af> many ' mouths X % [ 21 ] <* mouths as the attacking/' What then ? Surely that muft be a ftate of fingular oeco- nomy, and muft rate it's religious and civil liberties at a very low cftimation, which (hould think much of giving it's defenders a morfel of bread. In the enfuing pages, the Confiderer talks a great deal of ** the humanized laws of war, ** which do not admit of burning towns, and " deftroyingof countries :"he adds, that "no- " thing of this kind was pradifed in Hano- " ver, while the French were vidlorious, ** and in quiet poiTeffion of it : they would " not, fays he, deftroy that country then, " for their own advantage. We have now,'*' ^he continues, " made the experiment and P' known the worft of it. The French have ^" already been in pofleffion of this country. *' Did the fun refufe to (hine, or the rivers " ceafe to flow upon that account ? They certainly did not here in England. Britain ftill continued an iiland, and it's govern- ment ftill fubfifted, though the French *• had feized on the government of Hanover." Is this arguing like a man of candor and a lover of truth ? Do thefe flouri(hcs of decla- mation, and little fallies of wit, fpeak the lan-» guage of a difinterefted and difpaflionate Conliderer? We all remember that the fun did ihine in England, while Hanover was in the hands of France, and we are perfuaded, that if this kingdom was a province to France, tho [ 22 ] the fun would not refufe to fliine tipon it: but we may likewifb be afTured, that the in- habitants of this ifland, would not behold it's fifing with that pleafure and fatisfadtioHi with which every free Briton now falutes it's weU come rays. To what purpofe is it for the Confiderer to talk of humanized laws of war, and to tell us, page 36, that ** the French are a fair M enemy ?" Docs he e^^pcd that we will be fo credulous as to take his word againft fadts» againfl Richelieu's condud^ and againft Belleifle's letter to Contade's P It is true we felt no immediate inconvenience while the French were in poflcflion of Hanover, but it does not then follow that we know the worft of it, bccaufe they were not in poffcfiion long enough for us, or their nearer neigh- bours, to feel the ill confequences bf their acquifition. Page 3«, He confcires,that **the eledtorate is invaded merely on an Englifh account. Is it poflible," fayfe he, " for that country ** to give our enemies lefs ground of offence, in any future quarrel than it did in this ? Who does not lee then that the fihgle rea- fon why it is attacked, is, beeftufe the French know that we (hall defend it? That the French therefore only march their troops thither, becaufe, as we, by our fu* periority at fea, have the advantage in at- tacking' the Frerich fettlements in America, 2 " and 4( «C €t CC C< Cf CC CC « 1 upon it: It the ift- lehold it's tion> with 5 it's wcl- IlOftfidercr ind to tell are a fair ve will be rd againA ind agaitiil is true we while the )Vcr, but it r the word poiTeilion rer neigh- ss bf their ^. cleftorate atcount. lat country of offence* lid in this ? : (ingle rea- >eeaufe the nd it? That larch their by cur fu- itage In at- n amcrica, and u [ «3 ] << and eaft and weft Indies, fo the French ">' by their fuperiority at land, and their f < greater nearnefs to Hanover, are Aire to f < have the advantage, by noeeting the Engt lifli troops there. They would not go thither, unlefs they were fare of finding us there." Perhaps not; neither ihould we go there, lefs we were fare to meet them there ; and herever they attempt to extend their con-^ efts, and repair their defeats, it is our ba<» efs to oppofe them. The Coofiderer, hpw^ er, in this paragraph, makes the faireft^ nceilfioQs we could wi(h, and we defire that e reader wil) not forget them. , Here ha nowledges, that the French had no pre* ce for attacking Hanover, and that '' the electorate had not taken any part in the f difpute between the twro nations, about our ^ pQ^effions in America," This being the ||fe upon his own ftating, and it is certainly ly ftated, wc woald aik him, whether ance has not as good a pretence for attack^ any other power on the continent, to in* mnify hcrfelf for the loflbs ftc fuflaios our fuperiority at fca ? We agree wiiJi , pige 39, that " no partieuUr diftriQ ia north Germany, is rich en<>ugh to make it worth the while of a great kingdom, like that of France, to march it's troops fp far out of it's own dominiona^ merely for the fake of maintaining thenvat free quarter." There- I w^ Therefore we may conclude, from his own pofitions, that was France fufFered to remain in quiet pofTcfHon of Hanover, (he would not only keep it, but find or make pretences for enlirging her conqucfts. Who would anfwer, that in fuch cafe they would not in- vade the Dutch, whom they have already awed, or otherwife influenced, to be falfe to their engagements, or at lead compel them to furni(h (hipping, that they might make a defcent on this ifland ? As our fuperiority at fea, is conferred by the Confiderer, as it is no- torious, that the French trade is ruined, their mod valuable colonies in our poiTcffion by conqued, is it to be fuppofed, that unable as they are to refift us at fea, or attempt an in- vafion of this kingdom, that they will fit flill and mourn over their defeats, without attempt- ing to repair their lofles by invafions on the continent ? And will any friend to Great Bri- tain endeavour to perfuade the public, that it is for the intereft of this kingdom to re- main calm fpedtators, and fee them extend their dominions on the continent, which may more than counter-balance our acquifi- tions, and render the hopes of peace more diftant than ever ? No ! no matter for fpot, whether it be Hanover or Heflia, Hamburg ; or Holland, wherever the French carry inva- fion, the invaded become, at lead, our tempo- rary allies, {^r. and it is ourintereft to oppofe ... the n his own to remain (he would ; pretences ho would lid not in- ve already be falfe to npel them ht make a periority at as it is no- lined, their )ffcflion by t unable as tnpt an in- will fit dill ut attempt- 3ns on the Great Bri- ublic, that dom to re- em extend int, which )ur acquifi- )eace more :r for fpot, Hamburg carry inva- our tempo- l to oppofe the e invader, in order to ftop the progrefs of e common enemy. Page 44. He ventures to affirm, that the uflian treaty was made in order to find e king of Pruffia employment at home, d prevent his invading the eledtorate. We afterwards (fays he) perceived that this Ruffian diverfion, which was to march through Poiand, would be ineffec- tual ; what then was to be done ? That was the only refource which Britain had for defending itj and that failed. We were then forced to fee our inability; and in renouncing our treaty with Ruffia, and giving up our old allies, were made to buy off an evil, which we could not irepel/* Here it is neceifary to advertife reader, that the Coniiderer himfelf con- didts this pafTage, of which we (hall take tice in its proper place. " Being thus (he adds) brought into a ftate of dependence upon a lingle ally, he knew how to improve it from one ftep to another, till we are at length re- duced to an appearance of being tributa- ries to the k — g of P a. Here (he continues) a generous Englifh breaft may revolt againft the expreffion, and difdain to own that the money we pay to Pruffia, is a tribute. He is our ally, and we pay him a fubfidy, but not a tribute. Let us confider the nature of 'eacht and what it (( is, T Mi I [ 26 1 ** is, which conftitutes the difference be- *^ tween them." Here the Conlidercr has forgotten himfelf. For he only confidcrs the nature of a fub- lidy, without faying a fyllable of the na- ture of a tribute. As he has thought pro- per, however, to decline it, I will do it for him. A tribute, in the original, or derivative fenfe of the word, was a fum afTeffed upon, and exadted from the Roman tribes, a tri- tubus y according to the proportion of their eftates. The money therefore that we pay to the k — g of P a, cannot be of this tributary nature. In the appropriated fenfe of the word, 9 tribute is a fum of money, or other ac- knovvledgment, which an inferior ftate is forced to pay to a fuperior, in token of fub- jedlion ; without any condition, either ex- prefs or implied, on the part of the receiver. Now let us examine the treaty,' and fee whether the money we pay the k — g of P— a, is of this kind : and if we find • conditions, both exprefs and implied, then we are not tributaries, or under fubjedion. In the fecond claufe of the treaty, we find thefe words: — " His majefty the king of Pruflia, engages on his part, to employ the faid fum in keeping up and augment- ing his forces, who (liall adt in the mod advantageous manner for the common caufe, and for the end propofed by their " aforefaid cc cc rifhmcnt from it's members, thgt is, it's co- lonies ', whofe trade it utterly deftroyed •, whole marine is ruined ; a kingdom, which has' been defeated and difappointed in the important objetSt of it's purfuit, which is *< reduced to defperation," and obliged, as the Confiderer confefiTes, to profecute the war where (he would lead choofe to wage it. On the other hand, let us view the nation which has reduced it's enemy to the above def- perate and deplorable condition ; who has fe- cured her own rights, and obtained depofitsover and above ; whofe trade is flourifhing in the midfl of war, and daily increafing ; and who is able to raife immenfe fums at a moderate interefl. Le: us thus fairly flate the coinpa* rifon, and thi:n let reafon determine which of the two iingdoms is moft likely to be tired of the war. But indeed, the Confidercr's own contra* didions, are fufficient to betray his caufe. One while he tells us, page 89, that " it k ^* the triumj)h^ and not the trial of their arms *< to ii1!„;f t 46 ) •' tCK fight ift in Germany :" then he calls it an ** a5: of dcfpcraiion.'* Again, page 134^ that " it was a diveriion of the French choof* << ingi and noi of the Englilh ;'* and yet, page 1 29, he affirms, that ** France docs not *' fend it's army to invade the German do- ** minions from choice^ but necejftty** In a paiTage above quoted, he fpeaks of triffling away their money and troops in Germany. — ' Now he fays, *• they cannot be hurt by the <' German war, anu that it is no diverfion " oftheirtreafurc, &r/' Was ever any thing fo contradidtory ? The Confidcrcr however does* not fcruple to fay and unfay ; tho' it mud be obferved^ that his contradidtlons are not obvious to % curfory reading: as he abounds in repeti- tions, and leads the reader into a maze, vti hopes, I fuppofe, to elude detedion ; for to do juftice to his abilities, he feems capable of writing with more method and precifion. I have taken notice of fo many of his In-' confiftencies, that I am weary of*^ the office j tieverthelefs, I mud not omit taking notice of one, which I have already referred to, pac© 100. After playing off his wit upon the Ruffian treaty, he fays, •* the dread of thefe «« guefts diverted his Pruffiin majcfty from *< his intended attack on the electoral domi-^ nions, and brought him three months afr tcr, to fign the treat}' of Weftminftcr." Here the reader will fccolle " tradiCtion in terms." Let no one then attempt to form a corhis own corifeffion, page 13, to conclude :that it is not fo formidable as in the days of Lewis XIV. Confequeotly, from; his own# propofidc the fame ftrength of Qonfpdo- racy is nc. neceflary now as y^^% jthen. And thus be deftroys his own argyqijeiit. , ., -» " -■ij.. • 1 •16 [51] But admitting that it v^s neceflary, yet is it fo eafy a matter io convince fo many different powers of fuch neceffity ? It is next to a miracle^ that they united under king William; and nothing but a fenfe of immediate danger from an ambitious and en- terprising prince, who had manifefted to all Europe, that, according to his principles, might was right, could have joined their jn- terefts then. Such an union never may, probably never will, and, what is more, ne- ver need be efFeded again. Europe is not now what it was at that time. Some great j:>owers, fuch as Pruilia for inftance, bear their heads aloft, who were then inconiider- ablc potentates. A writer therefore who contends for the neceflity of adapting pre- fent meafures, to the ftandard of antient fyftems, without allowing for change c^ cir- cumftarces, what time produces, eitiier wants judgment or integrity. And we may add, that a writer of candor would not have forgotreni that at the time of the grand al- liance, little or no attention was paid to our colonies and marine, which have been the •principal 'ohje^s in the pr<;lent war. . He argues farther, " that, previous to Bri- ** tain*s having any continental connedlions, ** that continent muil: be connected in it- »' felf." Muft it fo ? Then we are afraid it will be difficult to (hew that there ever was a' (Continental connexion : and we may H 2, add. [52] add, that probably there never will be one. Even the grand alliance was not a continental connection, fincc France, which makes fo great a part of the continent, ftood uncon- neded with, and in oppofition to, the far greater part of the other powers. But not to wafte time in difcntangling thefe knots of fpphiftry, let us appeal to any inai> of plain fenfe and impartial judgmenti — -If, as the Confiderer allows they did, the Audrians pleaded their danger and inability to ad againd the coii^mon pnemy, and our natural allies the E)utch tendered the fame plea, -r- whether thus deferted, not only po- licy, but neceffity, did not diredl us to form alliances elfewhere. We find that jealoufy, or fordid views of prefent gain, has made the Dutch as much our ene;nies as they dare to be. It is they, and other partisans of France, who have magnified the power and revenues of France : vvho have fome of them gone fo far as even to over-rate it at eighteen millions a year j whereas we find it but eleven : and an able French writer has afiTured us, that, in time of war, an ad- ditional fum of five millions, iix hundred eighty-feven tboufand, five hundred pounds, is neceflary to profccute it with effeft. — It is they, in (hort, who would perfuade us to ^bandon our allies. As to the remainder of the Confiderations, i( tends to prpvc that the German war is npt [ 53 1 a war of diverdon. This I am not inclined todifpute: I will readilv agree with him that it was of the French choofing, not of our own» and that they went there as an ad of defperation, becaufe they could go no where elfe. In ihort, the fingle point, which the Con* fiderer labours to eflablifli is this,^-that we ought to profecute the war in the Baft and Weft Indies, detach ourfelves from the con- tinent, and leave our allies there to fhift for themfelves.' — All the reft of the pamphlet is nothing elfe but flourish, declamation, and invcdkive. With refpedt to this point, I have (hewn that as a commercial nation, it is impoilible for us to be detached from the continent, from whence, in a great meafure, we draw our fubfiftence. From the earlieft times to the prefent period, it has been deemed good policy to attend to the concerns of the con- tinent, when we have had no German or other territories, under the dominion of this crown. — If therefore we cannot engage our natural allies, we muft form fuch connedtions as bid faireft to make amends for their defer- tion. And I will add that Pruflia and Hano* ver, 6cc. are for this purpofe the moft eligible confederates. With regard to the purfuit of our con- quefts in the Baft and Weft Indies, it may be obferyed in gcr«pEal> that extended cqn- qucfts I [ 54 ] (ffS^k are not for the mtereil of this nation ; tkiiiWie have alceady» beOdes fecuring our I^hfti)i0cattiredas>n>ucb, of perhaps more,than ytffi. HM be Mq: to retain ;-^that an atten^pt tofaritber. ^cquifitions can only ferve to move the jealoufy of other nations, and incline them to fide with our enemies. — To this may tee addedy that if we go on and get poi&flioa of the French fettlen>ent9, and at the fame , time (ufTer them unmolefted to ravage the QOOttneiit^ their acquilitions may more than co\}Qterbalance ours, efpecially if they make iSicanfelves nsiailers of the maritime provin- ces ; whereas by oppofing their progrefs, and ^ifappointinfg their vi we leave them nothing (except Minorca) to fet off againft ^\ our conquefts*-*— ^Not to mention that were we in pofTeilion of th^ French fettle- mental the ^cquifition could be of little ufe ta ^», if we fuffer them to extend their arms over the greater part of the continent. Fof in that cafe«.' we (hould be flocked with tpotpmodkies, without any cuflomers to take ihem Q& QUf hands, but on their own terms. r ,lt; will be faidi however, that the French fan have no juil pretence for making fuch conquefts^ ai^d (jbme have imagined, that we IhOuld have, had no war on the comment, but.for our alliance with Pruffia : but I refer them, for an atifwer^ to the Confiderations. it appears fron> th^ Copfiderer^s own prin- ciples, and they ai$ fo far juft, that whenever I . ) .. » the [ S5 1 the French cannot defetid tbeir colonies, oer intade xn, they will cafirynhoir acms ktcy Gcrcnaoy: no matter wihcdiorrtheirrpcefeeoct is. jttft or not. He admits that (they bad jnd juft preytence for invading Hanover, and by the fame rule they might turn their arms on any other part. In (hort, it is evident from the Coniiderer's own (hewing, that when- ever we are at war with France, if we are fuccefsful againft them, they will reek their vengeance on the continent ; and furely it is*^ better for us to oppofe them abroad, than* for them to attack us at home. That being, now our main object, we may narrow our expences, and to defeat them there, is the only means now in our power to reduce them* to ihe neceffity of begging peace. Upon the whole, when we confider that-^ there is nothing in thefe Confiderations, but what has been repeated oyer and over, with- out meeting with any attention, we cannot > but be perfuaded that fome extraordinary en- * deavoufs have been ufed to influence the public. When the fheets of difcpnteht iiS^c firopa/the.prefs, w^ know by .what induftri- ous arts they are circulated, and;how bud-- tongued party bawls in every c^nvpany,. in • defence of the principles they contain. I can- . not but lament, that my countrymen fliould . be the dupes of fuch artifice, and that with all their experience, they are ftill the fame • fickle creatures, which the celebrated Mon- tefq[uieu [ 56 J (efquieu has charadlerizcd them : *' A na- ** tion always violent, governed more by •* paffion than reaftMi, and eafily influenced «* topurfucmcafurcsagainftit's real intercft.'^ m J * ^. I" l^ ^ ^' % ■1 J" % "' ■ *-4 *r '^t R R T A. Page 3, 1. 18, inftead 6i mndhfpeopleyreid minds tf the peopfe.'^Vsigc 22, 1. 16, iJ^ t^, read /^wr^.^PagC 25, 1. 27, no matter for jpot^ reaa «fl maturfot the/pot. Page 29, 1. 8, for without^ read UK//?. — *«fc 2^ fof f»- prefiniingi'^ read mifreprefenting, "^ ,n -«?.' Vi '^ %'^^'^. ^z^ • It, ■ '■•% ■h'l ^.