overreachedinnegotiation，andpersonallyaffrontedbyher。EnglandandHollandweresufficientlyalarmedandanimated，andapartywasnotwantingeveninourisland，readytoapproveanyengagementshewouldhavetakenagainstFranceandSpain，andinfavorofthehouseofAustria；thoughwewerelessconcerned，byanynationalinterest，thananyotherpowerthattookpartinthewar，eitherthen，orafterwards。ButthisprincewasfarfromtakingapartbeyondthatwhichtheparticularinterestofEnglandandHolland，andthegeneralinterestofEurope，necessarilyrequired。Piquemusthavenomoreaplacethanaffection，indeliberationsofthiskind。TohaveengagedtodethronePhilip，outofresentmenttoLouistheFourteenth，wouldhavebeenaresolutionworthyofCharlestheTwelfth，kingofSweden，whosacrificedhiscountry，hispeople，andhimselfatlast，tohisrevenge。TohaveengagedtoconquertheSpanishmonarchyforthehouseofAustria，ortogo，infavorofthatfamily，onestepbeyondthosethatwerenecessarytokeepthishouseonafootofrivalrywiththeother，wouldhavebeen，asIhavehinted，toactthepartofavassal，notofanally。Theformerpawnshisstate，andruinshissubjects，fortheinterestofhissuperiorlord，perhapsforhislord’shumor，orhispassion：
thelattergoesnofurtherthanhisowninterestscarryhim；normakeswarforthoseofanother，norevenforhisown，iftheyareremoteandcontingent，asifhefoughtproarisetfocis，forhisreligion，hisliberty，andhisproperty。Agreeablytotheseprinciplesofgoodpolicy，weenteredintothewarthatbeganonthedeathofCharlestheSecond：butwesoondepartedfromthem，asIshallhaveoccasiontoobserveinconsideringthestateofthings，atthisremarkableconjuncture，inaviewofstrength。
LetmerecallherewhatIhavesaidsomewhereelse。Theywhoareinthesinkingscaleofthebalanceofpowerdonoteasily，norsoon，comeofffromthehabitualprejudicesofsuperiorityovertheirneighbors，norfromtheconfidencethatsuchprejudicesinspire。Fromtheyearonethousandsixhundredandsixty-seven，totheendofthatcentury，Francehadbeenconstantlyinarms，andherarmshadbeensuccessful。Shehadsustainedawar，withoutanyconfederates，againsttheprincipalpowersofEuropeconfederatedagainsther，andhadfinisheditwithadvantageoneveryside，justbeforethedeathofthekingofSpain。Shecontinuedarmedafterthepeace，byseaandland。
Sheincreasedherforces，whilstothernationsreducedtheirs；andwasreadytodefend，ortoinvadeherneighborswhilst，theirconfederacybeingdissolved，theywereinnoconditiontoinvadeher，andinabadonetodefendthemselves。
SpainandFrancehadnowonecommoncause。TheelectorsofBavariaandColognesupporteditinGermany：theDukeofSavoywasanally，theDukeofMantuaavassalofthetwocrownsinItaly。Inaword，appearanceswereformidableonthatside：andifadistrustofstrength，onthesideoftheconfederacy，hadinducedEnglandandHollandtocompoundwithFranceforapartitionoftheSpanishsuccession，thereseemedtobestillgreaterreasonforthisdistrustaftertheacceptationofthewill，thepeaceableandreadysubmissionoftheentiremonarchyofSpaintoPhilip，andallthemeasurestakentosecurehiminthispossession。Suchappearancesmightwellimpose。Theydidsoonmany，andonnonemorethanontheFrenchthemselves，whoengagedwithgreatconfidenceandspiritinthewar；whentheyfoundit，astheymightwellexpectitwouldbe，unavoidable。ThestrengthofFrancehowever，thoughgreat，wasnotsogreatastheFrenchthoughtit，norequaltotheeffortstheyundertooktomake。Theirengagement，tomaintaintheSpanishmonarchyentireunderthedominionofPhilip，exceededtheirstrength。Ourengagement，toprocuresomeoutskirtsofitforthehouseofAustria，wasnotinthesamedisproportiontoourstrength。IfIspeakpositivelyonthisoccasion，yetIcannotbeaccusedofpresumption；because，howdisputablesoeverthesepointsmightbewhentheywerepointsofpoliticalspeculation，theyaresuchnolonger，andthejudgmentImakeisdictatedtomebyexperience。