Let. 9. General History of Europe. 3o5

which religion occaíìoned ; and fsupporting theprotestant party in France would hâve kept thatcrovvn under restraints, and under inabilities, insome measure equal to those which were occasionedanciently by the vast aliénations of its demesnes*and by the exorbitant power of its valsais. ButJames the first was incapable of thinking with íense,or acting with spirit. Charles the first had animpers eòt glimpse of his true interest, but hisuxorious temper, and the extravagancy of thatruadmau Buckingham, gave Richelieu time tofinish a gréât part of his project; and the tuileries,that followed in England, gave Mazaïun timeand opportunity to complété the fystem. The lastgréât act of this cardinals administration was thePyrenean treaty.

Here I would begin, by representing the faceof Europe such as it was at that epocha, theinterests and the conduct of England, France ,Spain , Holland , and the empire. A fummaryrécapitulation íhould follow of ail the steps takenby France , during more than twenty years, toarrive at the gréât object íhe had proposed' to herfelfin making this treaty: the most solemn article ofwhich the minister, who negociated it, designedíhould be violated; as appears by his setters, writfrom the Ifland of Pheafants. if 1 mistake n o t.Aster this, another draught of Europe íhould hâveit’s place according to the relations, which theíeveral powers stood in, 011e towards another, inone thoufand six hundred and eighty-eight: andthe altérations which the révolution in England

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