overreachedinnegotiation，andpersonallyaffrontedbyher。EnglandandHollandweresufficientlyalarmedandanimated，andapartywasnotwantingeveninourisland，readytoapproveanyengagementshewouldhavetakenagainstFranceandSpain，andinfavorofthehouseofAustria；thoughwewerelessconcerned，byanynationalinterest，thananyotherpowerthattookpartinthewar，eitherthen，orafterwards。ButthisprincewasfarfromtakingapartbeyondthatwhichtheparticularinterestofEnglandandHolland，andthegeneralinterestofEurope，necessarilyrequired。Piquemusthavenomoreaplacethanaffection，indeliberationsofthiskind。TohaveengagedtodethronePhilip，outofresentmenttoLouistheFourteenth，wouldhavebeenaresolutionworthyofCharlestheTwelfth，kingofSweden，whosacrificedhiscountry，hispeople，andhimselfatlast，tohisrevenge。TohaveengagedtoconquertheSpanishmonarchyforthehouseofAustria，ortogo，infavorofthatfamily，onestepbeyondthosethatwerenecessarytokeepthishouseonafootofrivalrywiththeother，wouldhavebeen，asIhavehinted，toactthepartofavassal，notofanally。Theformerpawnshisstate，andruinshissubjects，fortheinterestofhissuperiorlord，perhapsforhislord’shumor，orhispassion：
　　thelattergoesnofurtherthanhisowninterestscarryhim；normakeswarforthoseofanother，norevenforhisown，iftheyareremoteandcontingent，asifhefoughtproarisetfocis，forhisreligion，hisliberty，andhisproperty。Agreeablytotheseprinciplesofgoodpolicy，weenteredintothewarthatbeganonthedeathofCharlestheSecond：butwesoondepartedfromthem，asIshallhaveoccasiontoobserveinconsideringthestateofthings，atthisremarkableconjuncture，inaviewofstrength。
　　LetmerecallherewhatIhavesaidsomewhereelse。Theywhoareinthesinkingscaleofthebalanceofpowerdonoteasily，norsoon，comeofffromthehabitualprejudicesofsuperiorityovertheirneighbors，norfromtheconfidencethatsuchprejudicesinspire。Fromtheyearonethousandsixhundredandsixty-seven，totheendofthatcentury，Francehadbeenconstantlyinarms，andherarmshadbeensuccessful。Shehadsustainedawar，withoutanyconfederates，againsttheprincipalpowersofEuropeconfederatedagainsther，andhadfinisheditwithadvantageoneveryside，justbeforethedeathofthekingofSpain。Shecontinuedarmedafterthepeace，byseaandland。
　　Sheincreasedherforces，whilstothernationsreducedtheirs；andwasreadytodefend，ortoinvadeherneighborswhilst，theirconfederacybeingdissolved，theywereinnoconditiontoinvadeher，andinabadonetodefendthemselves。
　　SpainandFrancehadnowonecommoncause。TheelectorsofBavariaandColognesupporteditinGermany：theDukeofSavoywasanally，theDukeofMantuaavassalofthetwocrownsinItaly。Inaword，appearanceswereformidableonthatside：andifadistrustofstrength，onthesideoftheconfederacy，hadinducedEnglandandHollandtocompoundwithFranceforapartitionoftheSpanishsuccession，thereseemedtobestillgreaterreasonforthisdistrustaftertheacceptationofthewill，thepeaceableandreadysubmissionoftheentiremonarchyofSpaintoPhilip，andallthemeasurestakentosecurehiminthispossession。Suchappearancesmightwellimpose。Theydidsoonmany，andonnonemorethanontheFrenchthemselves，whoengagedwithgreatconfidenceandspiritinthewar；whentheyfoundit，astheymightwellexpectitwouldbe，unavoidable。ThestrengthofFrancehowever，thoughgreat，wasnotsogreatastheFrenchthoughtit，norequaltotheeffortstheyundertooktomake。Theirengagement，tomaintaintheSpanishmonarchyentireunderthedominionofPhilip，exceededtheirstrength。Ourengagement，toprocuresomeoutskirtsofitforthehouseofAustria，wasnotinthesamedisproportiontoourstrength。IfIspeakpositivelyonthisoccasion，yetIcannotbeaccusedofpresumption；because，howdisputablesoeverthesepointsmightbewhentheywerepointsofpoliticalspeculation，theyaresuchnolonger，andthejudgmentImakeisdictatedtomebyexperience。
　　Francethrewherselfintothesinkingscale，whensheacceptedthewill。
　　Herscalecontinuedtosinkduringthewholecourseofthewar，andmighthavebeenkeptbythepeaceaslowasthetrueinterestofEuroperequired。
　　WhatIremembertohaveheardtheDukeofMarlboroughsay，beforehewenttotakeonhimthecommandofthearmyintheLowCountriesinonethousandsevenhundredandtwo，provedtrue。TheFrenchmisreckonedverymuch，iftheymadethesamecomparisonbetweentheirtroopsandthoseoftheenemies，astheyhadmadeinprecedentwars。Thosethathadbeenopposedtothem，inthelast，wererawforthemostpartwhenitbegan，theBritishparticularly：
　　buttheyhadbeendisciplined，ifImaysayso，bytheirdefeats。TheyweregrowntobeveteranatthepeaceofRyswic，andthoughmanyhadbeendisbanded，yettheyhadbeendisbandedlately：sothateventhesewereeasilyformedanew，andthespiritthathadbeenraisedcontinuedinall。Suppliesofmentorecruitthearmiesweremoreabundantonthesideoftheconfederacy，thanonthatofthetwocrowns：anecessaryconsequenceofwhichitseemedtobe，thatthoseoftheformerwouldgrowbetter，andthoseofthelatterworse，inalong，extensive，andbloodywar。Ibelieveitprovedso；andifmymemorydoesnotdeceiveme，theFrenchwereforcedveryearlytosendrecruitstotheirarmies，astheysendslavestotheirgalleys。Acomparisonbetweenthosewhoweretodirectthecouncils，andtoconductthearmiesonbothsides，isataskitwouldbecomemelittletoundertake。Theeventshowed，thatifFrancehadhadherCondé；，herTurenne，orherLuxemburg，toopposetotheconfederates；theconfederatesmighthaveopposedtoher，withequalconfidence，theirEugeneofSavoy，theirMarlborough，ortheirStarenberg。ButthereisoneobservationIcannotforbeartomake。Theallianceswereconcluded，thequotasweresettled，andtheseasonfortakingthefieldapproached，whenkingWilliamdied。Theeventcouldnotfailtooccasionsomeconsternationononeside，andtogivesomehopesontheother；for，notwithstandingtheillsuccesswithwhichhemadewargenerally，hewaslookeduponasthesolecentreofunionthatcouldkeeptogetherthegreatconfederacythenforming：andhowmuchtheFrenchfeared，fromhislife，hadappearedafewyearsbefore，intheextravagantandindecentjoytheyexpressedOnafalsereportofhisdeath。Ashorttimeshowedhowvainthefearsofsome，andthehopesofotherswere。Byhisdeath，theDukeofMarlboroughwasraisedtotheheadofthearmy，andindeedoftheconfederacy：wherehe，anew，aprivateman，asubject，acquiredbymeritandbymanagementamoredecidinginfluence，thanhighbirth，confirmedauthority，andeventhecrownofGreatBritain，hadgiventokingWilliam。Notonlyallthepartsofthatvastmachine，thegrandalliance，werekeptmorecompactandentire；
　　butamorerapidandvigorousmotionwasgiventothewhole：and，insteadoflanguishingordisastrouscampaigns，wesaweverysceneofthewarfullofaction。Allthosewhereinheappeared，andmanyofthosewhereinhewasnotthenanactor，butabettorhoweveroftheiraction，werecrownedwiththemosttriumphantsuccess。Itakewithpleasurethisopportunityofdoingjusticetothatgreatman，whosefaultsIknew，whosevirtuesIadmired；
　　andwhosememory，asthegreatestgeneralandasthegreatestministerthatourcountryorperhapsanyotherhasproduced，Ihonor。Butbesidesthis，theobservationIhavemadecomesintomysubject，sinceitservestopointouttoyourlordshiptheproofofwhatIsaidabove，thatFranceundertooktoomuch，whensheundertooktomaintaintheSpanishmonarchyentireinthepossessionofPhilip：andthatweundertooknomorethanwhatwasproportionabletoourstrength，whenweundertooktoweakenthatmonarchybydismemberingit，inthehandsofaprinceofthehouseofBourbon，whichwehadbeendisabledbyillfortuneandworseconducttokeepoutofthem。ItmaybesaidthatthegreatsuccessoftheconfederatesagainstFranceprovesthattheirgeneralsweresuperiortohers，butnotthattheirforcesandtheirnationalstrengthwereso；thatwiththesameforcewithwhichshewasbeaten，shemighthavebeenvictorious；thatifshehadbeenso，orifthesuccessofthewarhadvaried，orbeenlessdecisiveagainstherinGermany，intheLowCountries，andinItaly，asitwasinSpain，herstrengthwouldhaveappearedsufficient，andthatoftheconfederacyinsufficient。Manythingsmaybeurgedtodestroythisreasoning：Icontentmyselfwithone。Francecouldnotlonghavemadeeventheunsuccessfuleffortsshedidmake，ifEnglandandHollandhaddonewhatitisundeniabletheyhadstrengthtodo；ifbesidespillaging，Idonotsayconquering，theSpanishWestIndies，theyhadhinderedtheFrenchfromgoingtotheSouthSea；astheydidannuallyduringthewholecourseofthewarwithouttheleastmolestation，andfromwhencetheyimportedintoFranceinthattimeasmuchsilverandgoldasthewholespeciesofthatkingdomamountedto。WiththisimmenseandconstantsupplyofwealthFrancewasreducedineffecttobankruptcybeforetheendofthewar。Howmuchsoonermustshehavebeenso，ifthissupplyhadbeenkeptfromher？TheconfessionofFranceherselfisonmyside。Sheconfessedherinabilitytosupportwhatshehadundertaken，whenshesuedforpeaceasearlyastheyearonethousandsevenhundredandsix。ShemadeherutmosteffortstoanswertheexpectationoftheSpaniards，andtokeeptheirmonarchyentire。Whenexperiencehadmadeitevidentthatthiswasbeyondherpower，shethoughtherselfjustifiedtotheSpanishnation，inconsentingtoapartition，andwasreadytoconcludeapeacewiththealliesontheprinciplesoftheirgrandalliance。ButasFranceseemedtoflatterherself，tillexperiencemadeherdesiroustoabandonanenterprisethatexceededherstrength；youwillfind，mylord，thatherenemiesbegantoflatterthemselvesintheirturn，andtoformdesignsandtakeengagementsthatexceededtheirs。GreatBritainwasdrawnintotheseengagementslittlebylittle；forIdonotrememberanyparliamentarydeclarationforcontinuingthewartillPhilipshouldbedethroned，beforetheyearonethousandsevenhundredandsix：andthensuchadeclarationwasjudgednecessarytosecondtheresolutionofourministersandourallies，indepartingfromtheprincipleofthegrandalliance，andinproposingnotonlythereductionoftheFrench，buttheconquestoftheSpanishmonarchy，astheobjectsofthewar。Thisnewplanhadtakenplace，andwehadbeguntoactuponit，twoyearsbefore，whenthetreatywithPortugalwasconcluded，andthearchdukeCharles，nowemperor，wassentintoPortugalfirst，andintoCataloniaafterwards，andwasacknowledgedandsupportedaskingofSpain。
　　Whenyourlordshipperusestheanecdotesofthetimesherespokenof，andconsidersthecourseandeventofthegreatwarwhichbrokeoutonthedeathofthekingofSpain，CharlestheSecond，andwasendedbythetreatiesofUtrechtandRadstat；youwillfind，thatinordertoformatruejudgmentonthewhole，youmustconsiderveryattentivelythegreatchangemadebythenewplanthatIhavementioned；andcompareitwiththeplanofthegrandalliance，relativelytothegeneralinterestofEurope，andtheparticularinterestofyourowncountry。Itwillnot，becauseitcannot，bedenied，thatalltheendsofthegrandalliancemighthavebeenobtainedbyapeaceinonethousandsevenhundredandsix。Ineednotrecalltheeventsofthat，andtheprecedentyearsofthewar。NotonlythearmsofFrancehadbeendefeatedoneveryside，buttheinwardstateofthatkingdomwasalreadymoreexhaustedthanithadeverbeen。Shewentonindeed，butshestaggeredandreeledundertheburdenofthewar。Ourcondition，IspeakofGreatBritain，wasnotquitesobad：butthechargeofthewarincreasedannuallyuponus。Itwasevidentthatthischargemustcontinuetoincrease，anditwasnolessevidentthatournationwasunabletobearitwithoutfallingsoonintosuchdistress，andcontractingsuchdebts，aswehaveseenandfelt，andstillfeel。TheDutchneitherrestrainedtheirtrade，noroverloadeditwithtaxes。Theysoonalteredtheproportionoftheirquotas，andweredeficientevenafterthisalterationinthem。But，however，itmustbeallowed，thattheyexertedtheirwholestrength；andtheyandwepaidthewholechargeofthewar。Sincethereforebysucheffortsascouldnotbecontinuedanylonger，withoutoppressingandimpoverishingthesenationstoadegreethatnointerestexceptthatoftheirverybeing，noranyengagementofassistinganalliancetotisviribuscanrequire，Francewasreduced，andalltheendsofthewarwerebecomeattainable；itwillbeworthyourlordship’swhiletoconsider，whythetrueusewasnotmadeofthesuccessoftheconfederatesagainstFranceandSpain，andwhyapeacewasnotconcludedinthefifthyearofthewar。Whenyourlordshipconsidersthis，youwillcompareinyourthoughtswhatthestateofEuropewouldhavebeen，andthatofyourowncountrymighthavebeen，iftheplanofthegrandalliancehadbeenpursued；withthepossibleaswellascertain，thecontingentaswellasnecessary，consequencesofchangingthisplaninthemanneritwaschanged。Youwillbeofopinion，Ithink，anditseemstome，aftermorethantwentyyearsofrecollection，re-examination，andreflection，thatimpartialposteritymustbeofthesameopinion；youwillbeofopinion，Ithink，thatthewarwaswiseandjustbeforethechange，becausenecessarytomaintainthatequalityamongthepowersofEuropeonwhichthepublicpeaceandcommonprosperitydepends：
　　andthatitwasunwiseandunjustafterthischange，becauseunnecessarytothisend，anddirectedtootherandtocontraryends。Youwillbeguidedbyundeniablefactstodiscover，throughallthefalsecolorswhichhavebeenlaid，andwhichdeceivedmanyatthetime，thatthewar，afterthischange，becameawarofpassion，ofambition，ofavarice，andofprivateinterest；theprivateinterestofparticularpersonsandparticularstates；