towhichthegeneralinterestofEuropewassacrificedsoentirely，thatifthetermsinsistedonbytheconfederateshasbeengranted，nayifeventhosewhichFrancewasreducedtogrant，inonethousandsevenhundredandten，hadbeenaccepted，suchanewsystemofpowerwouldhavebeencreatedasmighthaveexposedthebalanceofthispowertodeviations，andthepeaceofEuropetotroubles，notinferiortothosethatthewarwasdesigned；whenitbegan，toprevent。Whilstyouobservethisingeneral，youwillfindparticularoccasiontolamentthefateofGreatBritain，inthemidstoftriumphsthathavebeensoundedsohigh。Shehadtriumphedindeedtotheyearonethousandsevenhundredandsixinclusively：butwhatwerehertriumphsafterwards？
Whatwashersuccessaftersheproceededonthenewplan？Ishallsaysomethingonthatheadimmediately。Hereletmeonlysay，thatthegloryoftakingtowns，andwinningbattles，istobemeasuredbytheutilitythatresultsfromthosevictories。Victories，thatbringhonortothearms，maybringshametothecouncils，ofanation。Towinabattle，totakeatown，isthegloryofageneral，andofanarmy。Ofthisglorywehadaverylargeshareinthecourseofthewar。Butthegloryofanationistoproportiontheendsheproposes，toherinterestandherstrength；themeanssheemploys，totheendssheproposes，andthevigorsheexerts，toboth。Ofthisglory，Iapprehend，wehavehadverylittletoboastatanytime，andparticularlyinthegreatconjunctureofwhichIamspeaking。Thereasonsofambition，avarice，andprivateinterest，whichengagedtheprincesandstatesoftheconfederacytodepartfromtheprinciplesofthegrandalliance，werenoreasonsforGreatBritain。Sheneitherexpectednordesiredanythingmorethanwhatshemighthaveobtainedbyadheringtothoseprinciples。Whathurriedournation，then，withsomuchspiritandardor，intothoseofthenewplan？
Yourlordshipwillanswerthisquestiontoyourself，Ibelieve，bytheprejudicesandrashnessofparty；bytheinfluencethatthefirstsuccessesoftheconfederatearmsgavetoourministers；andthepopularitythattheygave，ifImaysayso，tothewar；byancientandfreshresentments，whichtheunjustandviolentusurpations，inshortthewholeconductofLouistheFourteenthforfortyyearstogether，hishaughtytreatmentofotherprincesandstates，andeventhestyleofhiscourt，hadcreated；and，tomentionnomore，byanotion，groundlessbutprevalent，thathewasandwouldbemasteraslongashisgrandsonwaskingofSpain，andthattherecouldbenoeffectualmeasuretaken，thoughthegrandalliancesupposedthattheremight，topreventafutureunionofthetwomonarchies，aslongasaprinceofthehouseofBourbonsatontheSpanishthrone。Thatsuchanotionshouldhaveprevailed，inthefirstconfusionofthoughtswhichthedeathandwillofCharlestheSecondproduced，amongthegeneralityofmen，whosawthefleetsandarmiesofFrancetakepossessionofallthepartsoftheSpanishmonarchy，isnottobewonderedatbythosethatconsiderhowillthegeneralityofmankindareinformed，howincapabletheyareofjudging，andyethowreadytopronouncejudgment；
infine，howinconsideratelytheyfollowoneanotherinanypopularopinionwhichtheheadsofpartybroach，ortowhichthefirstappearancesofthingshavegivenoccasion。But，evenatthistime，thecouncilsofEnglandandHollanddidnotentertainthisnotion。Theyactedonquiteanother，asmightbeshowninmanyinstances，ifanyotherbesidesthatofthegrandalliancewasnecessary。Whenthesecouncilsthereforeseemedtoentertainthisnotionafterwards，andactedandtookengagementstoactuponit，wemustconcludethattheyhadothermotives。Theycouldnothavethese；fortheyknew，thatastheSpaniardshadbeendrivenbythetwotreatiesofpartitiontogivetheirmonarchytoaprinceofthehouseofBourbon，sotheyweredrivenintothearmsofFrancebythewarthatwemadetoforceathirduponthem。Ifweactedrightlyontheprinciplesofthegrandalliance，theyactedrightlyonthoseofthewill：andifwecouldnotavoidmakinganoffensivewar，attheexpenseofformingandmaintainingavastconfederacy，theycouldnotavoidpurchasingtheprotectionandassistanceofFranceinadefensivewar，andespeciallyinthebeginningofit，accordingtowhatIhavesomewhereobservedalready，byyieldingtotheauthorityandadmittingtheinfluenceofthatcourtinalltheaffairsoftheirgovernment。Ourministersknewtherefore，thatifanyinferencewastobedrawnfromthefirstpartofthisnotion，itwasforshortening，notprolonging，thewar；fordeliveringtheSpaniardsassoonaspossiblefromhabitsofunionandintimacywithFrance；
notforcontinuingthemunderthesamenecessity，tillbylengthoftimethesehabitsshouldbeconfirmed。Astothelatterpartofthisnotion，theyknewthatitwasfalse，andsilly。Garth，thebestnaturedingeniouswildmanIeverknew，mightbeintheright，whenhesaid，insomeofhispoemsAnAustrianprincealoneIsfittonoduponaSpanishthrone。