i^o A Sketch of the History Let. 7.

and to every part of it. The provinces claimed byFrance at this time were parts of it. To claimthem, was therefore to claim the whole ; for ifthe renunciations were no bar to the rights accruingto Mary Theresa on the death of her fatherFhilip the fourth , neither could they be any tothe rights that would accrue to her and her chil-dren, on the death of her brother Charles thefecond : an unhealthful youth, and who at thisinftant was in immediate danger of dying; for toall the complicated diftempers he brought into theworld with him, the fmall-pox was added. Yourlordfliip fees how the fatal contingency of unitingthe two monarchies of France and Spain flaredmankind in the face; and yet nothing, that I canremember, was done to prevent it : not fo muchas a guaranty given, or a declaration made to affertthe validity of thefe renunciations, and for fecuringthe effedt of them. The triple alliance indeed flopped the progrefs of the French arms , and producedthe treaty of Aix la Chapellc, But England , Swe­ den , and Holland , the contracting powers in thisalliance, feemed to look, and probably did look,no farther. France kept a great and important partof what fire had furprifed or ravilhed, or pur-chafed ; for we cannot fay with any propriety thatfile conquered : and the Spaniards were obliged tofet all they faved to the account of gain. TheGerman branch of Auftria had been reduced verylow in power and in credit under Ferdinand thethird, by the treaties of Weftphalia, as I havefaid already. Lewis the fourteenth maintained,