î5S A A Sketch of the Htstor Y Let. 7.

the rights and liberties of the empire against theemperor: and it is no wonder therefore, this' maxim prevailing, injuries, refentments, andjealousies being freíh on one side, and services,obligations, and confidence on the other, that theGermans were not unwilling France íhould extendher empire on this side of the Rhine , whilstSweden did the famé on this side of the Baltic.Thèse treaties, and the immense crédit and influ-ence that France had acquired by them in theempire, put it ou t of the power of one branch ofthe house of Austria to return the obligations ofassistance to the other, in the war that continuedbetween France and Spain , till the Pyrenean treaty. By this treaty the superiority of the houleof Bourbon over the house of Austria was notonly completed and confirmed, but the gréâtdesign of uniting the Spaniíh and the frenchmonarchies under the former was laid.

The third period therefore begins by a gréâtchange of the balance of power in Europe , andby the prospect of one much gréa ter and morefatal. Before I descend into the particulars I intendto mention, of the course of a flairs, and of thepolitical conduct of the gréât powers of Europe in this third period ; give me leave to cast myeyes once more back on the second. The reflectionI am going to make seems to me important, andleads to ail that is to follow.

The Dutch made their peace seperately atMunster with Spain , who acknowledged, then theí'overeignty and independency of their common-