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Let. 7. and State of Europe . 189

fyftem of the weft, the Auftrian ambition andbigotry exerted themfelves in diftant countries,whofe interefts were not confidered as a part ofthis fyftem; for, otherwife there would have beenas much reafon for afflfting the people of Hungary and of Tranfylvania againft the emperor, as therehad been formerly for afflfting the people of thefeven united provinces againft Spain , or as therehave been lately for afflfting them againft France :but the ambition and bigotry of Lewis thefourteenth were exerted in the Low Countries, onthe Rhine , in Italy , and in Spain , in the verymidft of this fyftem, if I may fay fo, and withfuccefs that could not fail to fubvert it in time.The power of the houfe of Auftria, that had beenfeared too long, was feared no longer: and thatof the houfe of Bourbon, by having been fearedtoo late, was now grown terrible. The emperorwas fo intent on the eftablilhment of his abfolutepower in Hungary , that he expofed the empiredoubly to defolation and ruin for the fake of it.Pie left the frontier almoft quite defencelefs on thefide of the Rhine , againft the inroads and ravagesof France : and by fhowing no mercy to theHungarians , nor keeping any faith with them, heforced that miferable people into alliances withthe Turk, who invaded the empire and befiegedVienna. Even this event had no effecft upon him,Your lordffiip will find, that Sobieski king ofPoland , who had forced the Turks to raife thefiege, and had fixed the imperial crown thattottered on his head, could not prevail on him