233

A Sketch of the History Let. 8.

do; ifbefides pillaging, I do not fay conquering,the Spanilh Weft-Indies, they had hindered the t c0!1 ^

French from going to the South Sea; as they did n c ' e P

annually during the whole courfe of the war without sc e i ‘

the leaft moleftation, and from whence they import- fie^ 1

ed into France in that time as much filver and gold ink'

as the whole fpecies of that kingdom amounted to. ;ke,

With this immenfe and conflant fupply of wealth hSore

France was reduced in effedt to bankruptcy before ui<W

the end of the war. How much fooner muft fhe ms f<

have been fo , if this fupply had been kept from sftero

her? The confeflion of France herfelf is on my fide. iskir

She confeffed her inability to fnpport what fhe had W!

undertaken, when fhe fued for peace as early as the times

year onethoufand feven hundred and fix. She made tvent

her utmoft efforts to anfwer the expectation of the of tin

Spaniards, and to keep their monarchy entire. tasei

When experience had made it evident that this was tomv

beyond her power, file thought herfelf juftified to ”the

the Spanifli nation , in confenting to a partition, ruti

and was ready to conclude a peace with the allies aedon the principles of their grand alliance. But as dmFrance feemed to flatter herfelf, till experience made ahfher defirous to abandon an enterprife that exceeded tinher ftrength; you will find, my lord , that her dsenemies began to flatter themfelves in their turn,and to form defigns and take engagements that 1 h

exceeded theirs. Great Britain was drawn into dei

thefe engagements little by little; for I do not re- Fno

member any parliamentary declaration for conti- i Wi

nuingthe war till Philip fhould be dethroned, be- {X h :

fore the year one thoufand feven hundred and fix: id.