theseconddauphin，hisgrandson，andthewifeandtheeldestsonofthisprince，died，soonafteritbegan，ofthesameunknowndistemper，andwereburiedtogetherinthesamegrave。Suchfamilymisfortunes，followingalongseriesofnationalmisfortunes，madetheoldking，thoughheborethemwithmuchseemingmagnanimity，desiroustogetoutofthewaratanytolerablerate，thathemightnotruntheriskofleavingachildoffiveyearsold，thepresentking，engagedinit。Thequeendidallthatwasmorallypossible，exceptgivingupherhonorinthenegotiation，andtheinterestsofhersubjectsintheconditionsofpeace，toprocurethisunionwiththeStatesGeneral。
Butallshecoulddowasvain；andthesamephrensythathadhinderedtheDutchfromimprovingtotheirandtothecommonadvantagethepublicmisfortunesofFrance，hinderedthemfromimprovingtothesamepurposestheprivatemisfortunesofthehouseofBourbon。Theycontinuedtoflatterthemselvesthattheyshouldforcethequeenoutofhermeasures，bytheirintrigueswiththepartyinBritainwhoopposedthesemeasures，andevenraiseaninsurrectionagainsther。Buttheseintrigues，andthoseofprinceEugene，wereknownanddisappointed；andMonsieurBuyshadthemortificationtobereproachedwiththempublicly，whenhecametotakeleaveofthelordsofthecouncil，bytheEarlofOxford；whoenteredintomanyparticularsthatcouldnotbedenied，oftheprivatetransactionsofthissort，towhichBuyshadbeenaparty，incompliancewithhisinstructions，and，asIbelieve，muchagainsthisownsenseandinclinations。Astheseasonfortakingthefieldadvanced，theleagueproposedtodefeatthesuccessofthecongressbytheeventsofthecampaign。Butinsteadofdefeatingthesuccessofthecongress，theeventsofthecampaignservedonlytoturnthissuccessinfavorofFrance。Atthebeginningoftheyear，thequeen，andtheStates，inconcert，mighthavegiventhelawtofriendandfoe，withgreatadvantagetotheformer；andwithsuchadetrimenttothelater，asthecausesofthewarrenderedjust，theeventsofitreasonable，andtheobjectsofitnecessary。Attheendoftheyear，theallieswerenolongerinastateofgiving，northeFrenchofreceivingthelaw；andtheDutchhadrecoursetothequeen’sgoodoffices，whentheycouldopposeanddurstinsulthernolonger。Eventhen，theseofficeswereemployedwithzeal，andwithsomeeffect，forthem。
Thusthewarended，muchmorefavorablytoFrancethansheexpected，ortheywhoputanendtoitdesigned。Thequeenwouldhavehumbledandweakenedthispower。Theallieswhoopposedherwouldhavecrushedit，andhaveraisedanotherasexorbitantontheruinsofit。Neitheronenortheothersucceeded，andtheywhomeanttoruintheFrenchpower，preservedit，byopposingthosewhomeanttoreduceit。
SinceIhavementionedtheeventsoftheyearonethousandsevenhundredandtwelve，andthedecisiveturntheygavetothenegotiationsinfavorofFrance，givemeleavetosaysomethingmoreonthissubject。YouwillfindthatIshalldosowithmuchimpartiality。ThedisastrouseventsofthiscampaignintheLowCountries，andtheconsequencesofthemhavebeenimputedtotheseparationoftheBritishtroopsfromthearmyoftheallies。
Theclamoragainstthismeasurewasgreatatthattime，andtheprejudiceswhichthisclamorraisedaregreatstillamongsomemen。Butasclamorraisedtheseprejudices，otherprejudicesgavebirthtothisclamor：anditisnowondertheyshoulddosoamongpersonsbentoncontinuingthewar；sinceIownveryfreely，thatwhenthefirststepthatledtothisseparationcametomyknowledge，whichwasnotanhour，bytheway，beforeIwrotebythequeen’sordertotheDukeofOrmond，intheverywordsinwhichtheorderwasadvisedandgiven，“thatheshouldnotengageinanysiege，norhazardabattle，tillfurtherorder，“Iwassurprisedandhurt。Somuch，thatifIhadhadanopportunityofspeakinginprivatetothequeen，afterIhadreceivedMonsieurDeTorcy’slettertomeonthesubject，andbeforeshewentintothecouncil，Ishouldhavespokentoher，Ithink，inthefirstheat，againstit。Thetruthis，however，thatthestepwasjustifiableatthatpointoftimeineveryrespect，andthereforethattheconsequencesaretobechargedtotheaccountofthosewhodrewthemonthemselves，nottotheaccountofthequeen，noroftheministerwhoadvisedher。Thestepwasjustifiabletothealliessurely，sincethequeentooknomoreuponher，nonotsomuch，byfar，inmakingit，asmanyofthemhaddonebysuspending，orendangering，ordefeatingoperationsintheheatofthewar，whentheydeclinedtosendtheirtroops，ordelayedthemarchofthem，orneglectedthepreparationstheywereobligedtomake，onthemostfrivolouspretences。