Let. 7. and State of E u R o p e. 165

preceded the year one thoufand fix hundred andfixty : and the furvivor, who was Charles thefecond , rather languiflied , than lived , from thecradle to the grave. So dangerous a contingency,therefore, as the union of the two monarchies oftrance and Spain , being in view forty years toge-ther ; one would imagine that the principal powersof Europe had the means of preventing it conftantlyin view during the fame time. But it was other-wife. France adfed very fyftematically from theyear one thoufand fix hundred and fixty , to thedeath of king Charles the fecond of Spain . Shenever loft fight of her great object, the fucceffionto the whole Spanifh monarchy; and fhe acceptedthe will of the king of Spain in favor of theduke of Anjou. As fhe never loft fight of hergreat objedi during this time, fo fhe loft no op-portunity of increafing her power , while fhe »■waited for that of fucceeding in her pretenfions.

The two branches of Auftria were in no condi-tion of making a confiderable oppofition to herdefigns and attempts. Holland, who of all otherpowers was the moft concerned to oppofe them,was at that time under two influences that hinderedher from purfuing her true mtereft. Her trueintereft was to have ufed her utmoft endeavoursto unite clofely and intimately with England onthe reftoration of king Charles. She did thevery contrary. John de Wir, at the head ofthe Louvcftein fadtion , governed. T he intereftof his party was to keep the houfe of Orangedown; he tcourted therefore the friendfhip of

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