particularly，thatshedidnotobservetheprecisemomentwhentheconductoftheleagueformedagainsther，beingexposedtomankind，wouldhavejustifiedanypartsheshouldhavetakenthoughshedeclared，soonafterthemomentwaspassed，thatthisconducthadsetherfreefromallengagementsandwhensheoughttohavetakenthatofdrawing，byoneboldmeasure，heralliesoutofthewar，orherselfoutoftheconfederacy，beforeshelostherinfluenceonFrance：ifallthisshouldbeobjected，yetwouldtheproofsbroughttosupporttheseobjectionsshow，thatwewerebetteralliesthanpoliticians；
　　thatthedesirethequeenhadtotreatinconcertwithherconfederates，andtheresolutionshetooknottosignwithoutthem，madeherbearwhatnocrownedheadhadeverbornebefore；andthatwheresheerred，sheerredprincipallybythepatience，thecompliance，andthecondescensionsheexercisedtowardsthem，andtowardsherownsubjectsinleaguewiththem。Suchobjectionsasthesemaylietothequeen’sconduct，inthecourseofthisgreataffair；
　　aswellasobjectionsofhumaninfirmitytothatofthepersonsemployedbyherinthetransactionsofit；fromwhichneitherthosewhopreceded，northosewhosucceeded，have，Ipresume，beenfree。Buttheprinciplesonwhichtheyproceededwerehonest，themeanstheyusedwerelawful，andtheeventtheyproposedtobringaboutwasjust。Whereastheveryfoundationofalltheoppositiontothepeacewaslaidininjusticeandfolly：forwhatcouldbemoreunjust，thantheattemptsoftheDutchandtheGermans，toforcethequeentocontinueawarfortheirprivateinterestandambition，thedisproportionateexpenseofwhichoppressedthecommerceofhersubjects，andloadedthemwithdebtsforagesyettocome？awar，theobjectofwhichwassochanged，thatfromtheyearonethousandsevenhundredandelevenshemadeitnotonlywithoutanyengagement，butagainstherown，andthecommoninterest？Whatcouldbemorefoolish；youwillthinkthatIsoftenthetermtoomuch，andyouwillbeintherighttothinkso：whatcouldbemorefoolish，thantheattemptofapartyinBritain，toprotractawarsoruinoustotheircountry，withoutanyreasonthattheydurstavow，exceptthatofwreakingtheresentmentsofEuropeonFrance，andthatofunitingtheImperialandSpanishcrownsonanAustrianhead？oneofwhichwastopurchaserevengeatapricetoodear；andtheotherwastoexposethelibertiesofEuropetonewdangers，bytheconclusionofawarwhichhadbeenmadetoassertandsecurethem。
　　Ihavedweltthelongerontheconductofthosewhopromoted，andofthosewhoopposed，thenegotiationsofthepeacemadeatUtrecht，andonthecomparisonofthemeasurepursuedbythequeenwiththatwhichshemighthavepursued，becausethegreatbenefitweoughttoreapfromthestudyofhistory，cannotbereapedunlessweaccustomourselvestocomparetheconductofdifferentgovernments，anddifferentparties，inthesameconjunctures，andtoobservethemeasurestheydidpursue，andthemeasurestheymighthavepursued，withtheactualconsequencesthatfollowedone，andthepossible，orprobableconsequences，thatmighthavefollowedtheother。Bythisexerciseofthemind，thestudyofhistoryanticipates，asitwere，experience，asIhaveobservedinoneofthefirstoftheseletters，andpreparesusforaction。
　　Ifthisconsiderationshouldnotpleadasufficientexcuseformyprolixityonthishead，Ihaveonemoretoaddthatmay。Arageofwarringpossessedapartyinournationtillthedeathofthelatequeen：arageofnegotiatinghaspossessedthesamepartyofmen，eversince。Youhaveseentheconsequencesofone：youseeactuallythoseoftheother。Therageofwarringconfirmedthebeggaryofournation，whichbeganasearlyastherevolution；butthenitgave，inthelastwar，reputationtoourarms，andourcouncilstoo。ForthoughIthink，andmustalwaysthink，thattheprinciple，onwhichweactedafterdepartingfromthatlaiddowninthegrandallianceofonethousandsevenhundredandone，waswrong；yetmustweconfessthatitwaspursuedwisely，aswellasboldly。Therageofnegotiatinghasbeenachargeableragelikewise，atleastaschargeableinitsproportion。Farfrompayingourdebts，contractedinwar，theycontinuemuchthesame，afterthreeandtwentyyearsofpeace。Thetaxesthatoppressourmercantileinterestthemostarestillinmortgage；andthosethatoppressthelandedinterestthemost，insteadofbeinglaidonextraordinaryoccasions，arebecometheordinaryfundsforthecurrentserviceofeveryyear。Thisisgrievous，andthemoresotoanyman，whohasthehonorofhiscountry，aswellasherprosperityatheart，becausewehavenot，inthiscase，theairyconsolationwehadintheother。Therageofnegotiatingbegantwentyyearsago，underpretenceofconsummatingthetreatyofUtrecht：and，fromthattimetothis，ourministershavebeeninoneperpetualmaze。Theyhavemadethemselvesandus，often，objectsofaversiontothepowersonthecontinent：andwearebecomeatlastobjectsofcontempt，eventotheSpaniards。Whatothereffectcouldourabsurdconducthave？Whatotherreturnhasitdeserved？Wecameexhaustedoutoflongwarsand，insteadofpursuingthemeasuresnecessarytogiveusmeansandopportunitytorepairourstrengthandtodiminishourburdens，ourministershaveacted，fromthattimetothis，likemenwhosoughtpretencestokeepthenationinthesameexhaustedcondition，andunderthesameloadofdebt。Thismayhavebeentheirviewperhaps；andwecouldnotbesurprisedifweheardthesamemendeclarenationalpovertynecessarytosupportthepresentgovernment，whohavesofrequentlydeclaredcorruptionandastandingarmytobeso。Yourgoodsense，mylord，yourvirtue，andyourloveofyourcountry，willalwaysdetermineyoutoopposesuchvileschemes，andtocontributeyourutmosttowardsthecureofboththesekindsofrage；therageofwarriors，withoutanyproportionableinterestofourown，fortheambitionofothers；
　　andtherageofnegotiating，oneveryoccasion，atanyrate，withoutasufficientcalltoit，andwithoutanypartofthatdecidinginfluencewhichweoughttohave。Ournationinhabitsanisland，andisoneoftheprincipalnationsofEurope；buttomaintainthisrank，wemusttaketheadvantagesofthissituation，whichhavebeenneglectedbyusforalmosthalfacentury：wemustalwaysremember，thatwearenotpartofthecontinent，butwemustneverforgetthatweareneighborstoit。Iwillconclude，byapplyingarule，thatHoracegivesfortheconductofanepicordramaticpoem，tothepartGreatBritainoughttotakeintheaffairsofthecontinent，ifyouallowmetotransformBritanniaintoamaledivinity，astheverserequires。
　　NecDeusintersitnisidignusvindicenodusInciderit。
　　Ifthesereflectionsarejust，andIshouldnothaveofferedthemtoyourlordshiphadtheynotappearedbothjustandimportanttomybestunderstanding，youwillthinkthatIhavenotspentyourtimeunprofitablyinmakingthem，andexcitingyoubythemtoexaminethetrueinterestofyourcountryrelativelytoforeignaffairs；andtocompareitwiththeseprinciplesofconduct，that，Iampersuaded，havenootherfoundationthanpartydesigns，prejudices，andhabits；theprivateinterestofsomemen，andtheignoranceandrashnessofothers。
　　MyletterisgrownsolongthatIshallsaynothingtoyourlordshipatthistimeconcerningthestudyofmodernhistory，relativelytotheinterestsofyourcountryindomesticaffairs；andIthinktherewillbenoneedtodosoatanyother。TheHistoryoftherebellionbyyourgreatgrandfather，andhisprivatememorials，whichyourlordshiphasinmanuscript，willguideyousurelyasfarastheygo：wheretheyleaveyou，yourlordshipmustnotexpectanyhistory；forwehavemorereasontomakethiscomplaint，“abestenimhistorialiterisnostris，“thanTullyhadtoputitintothemouthofAtticus，hisfirstbookoflaws。Butwherehistoryleavesyou，itiswantedleast：thetraditionsofthiscentury，andthelatterendofthelast，arefresh。Many，whowereactorsinsomeoftheseevents，arealive；andmanywhohaveconversedwiththosethatwereactorsinothers。Thepublicisinpossessionofseveralcollectionsandmemorials，andseveralthereareinprivatehands。Youwillwantnomaterialstoformtruenotionsoftransactionssorecent。Evenpamphlets，writtenondifferentsidesandondifferentoccasionsinourpartydisputes，andhistoriesofnomoreauthoritythanpamphlets，willhelpyoutocomeattruth。Readthemwithsuspicion，mylord，fortheydeservetobesuspected；paynoregardtotheepithetsgiven，nortothejudgmentspassed；neglectalldeclamation，weighthereasoning，andadverttofact。Withsuchprecautions，evenBurnet’shistorymaybeofsomeuse。
　　Inaword，yourlordshipwillwantnohelpofminetodiscover，bywhatprogressionthewholeconstitutionofourcountry，andeventhecharacterofournation，hasbeenaltered：norhowmuchaworseuse，inanationalsense，thoughabetterinthesenseofpartypolitics，themencalledWhigshavemadeoflongwarsandnewsystemsofrevenue，sincetherevolution；thanthemencalledtoriesmade，beforeit，oflongpeace，andstaleprerogative。Whenyoulookbackthreeoffourgenerationsago，youwillseethattheEnglishwereaplain，perhapsarough，butagood-naturedhospitablepeople，jealousoftheirliberties，andableaswellasreadytodefendthem，withtheirtongues，theirpens，andtheirswords。Therestorationbegantoturnhospitalityintoluxury，pleasureintodebauch，andcountrypeersandcountrycommonersintocourtiersandmenofmode。Butwhilstourluxurywasyoung，itwaslittlemorethanelegance：thedebauchofthatagewasenlivenedwithwit，andvarnishedoverwithgallantry。Thecourtiersandthemenofmodeknewwhattheconstitutionwas，respectedit，andoftenassertedit。Artsandsciencesflourished，and，ifwegrewmoretrivial，wewerenotbecomeeithergrosslyignorant，oropenlyprofligate。Sincetherevolution，ourkingshavebeenreducedindeedtoaseemingannualdependenceonparliament；butthebusinessofparliament，whichwasesteemedingeneraladutybefore，hasbeenexercisedingeneralasatradesince。Thetradeofparliament，andthetradeoffunds，havegrownuniversal。Men，whostoodforwardintheworld，haveattendedtolittleelse。
　　Thefrequencyofparliaments，thatincreasedtheirimportance，andshouldhaveincreasedtherespectforthem，hastakenofffromtheirdignity：andthespiritthatprevailed，whilsttheserviceinthemwasduty，hasbeendebasedsinceitbecameatrade。Fewknow，andscarceanyrespect，theBritishconstitution：thatoftheChurchhasbeenlongsincederided；thatoftheStateaslongneglected；andbothhavebeenleftatthemercyofmeninpower，whoeverthosemenwere。ThustheChurch，atleastthehierarchy，howeversacredinitsoriginorwiseinitsinstitution，isbecomeauselessburdenonthestate：andthestateisbecome，underancientandknownforms，anewandundefinablemonster；composedofakingwithoutmonarchicalsplendor，asenateofnobleswithoutaristocraticalindependency，andasenateofcommonswithoutdemocraticalfreedom。Inthemeantime，mylord，theveryideaofwit，andallthatcanbecalledtaste，hasbeenlostamongthegreat；artsandsciencesarescarcealive；luxuryhasbeenincreasedbutnotrefined；
　　corruptionhasbeenestablished，andisavowed。Whengovernmentsarewornout，thusitis：thedecayappearsineveryinstance。Publicandprivatevirtue，publicandprivatespirit，scienceandwit，declinealltogether。
　　Thatyou，mylord，mayhavealongandgloriousshareinrestoringallthese，andindrawingourgovernmentbacktothetrueprinciplesofit，I
　　wishmostheartily。WhatevererrorsImayhavecommittedinpubliclife，Ihavealwayslovedmycountry：whateverfaultsmaybeobjectedtomeinprivatelife。Ihavealwayslovedmyfriend；whateverusageIhavereceivedfrommycountry，itshallnevermakemebreakwithher：whateverusageI
　　havereceivedfrommyfriends，Ishallneverbreakwithoneofthem，whileIthinkhimafriendtomycountry。Thesearethesentimentsofmyheart。
　　Iknowtheyarethoseofyourlordship’s：andacommunionofsuchsentimentsisatiethatwillengagemetobe，aslongasIlive，Mylord，Yourmostfaithfulservant。