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A Sketch of the History Let. 8.

the fame precaution was taken againft an union ofthe Imperial and Spanifh crowns. King- Williamwas enough piqued againft France . His ancientprejudices were ftrong and well founded. Hehad been worfted in war, over-reached in nego-ciation, and perfonally affronted by her. Englandand Holland were fufficiently alarmed and animated,and a party was not wanting, even in our ifland,ready to approve any engagements he wouldhave taken againft France and Spain , and infavor of the lioufe of Auftria; though we werelefs concerned, by any national intereft, than anyother power that took part in the war, eitherthen, or afterwards. But this prince was far fromtaking a part beyond that which the particularinterefts of England and Holland , and the generalintereft of Europe , neceffarily required. Pique mufthave no more a place than affedtion, in delibera-tions of this kind. To have engaged to dethronePhilip, out of refentment to Lewis the four-teenth, would have been a lefolution worthy ofCharles the twelfth , king of Sweden , who facri-ficed his country, his people, and himfelf at laft,to his revenge. To have engaged to conquer theSpanifh monarchy for the lioufe of Auftria, or togo, in favor of that family, one ftep beyond tholethat were neceffary to keep this houfe on a footof rivalry with the other, would have been, as Ihave hinted, to adl the part of a vaffal, not of anallv. The former pawns his ftate, and ruins hisfubjedts , for the intereft of his fuperior lord,perhaps for his lord’s humor, or his paffion: the