separation，andcertainlyinamuchbetterconditionthantwoorthreeyearsbefore，whenadelugeofbloodwasspilttodislodgethem，forwedidnomore，atMalplaquet。WouldtheGermansandtheDutchhavefounditmoreeasytoforcethematthistime，thanitwasatthat？WouldnottheFrenchhavefoughtwithasmuchobstinacytosaveParis，astheydidtosaveMons？and，withalltheregardduetotheDukeofOrmond，andtoprinceEugene，wastheabsenceoftheDukeofMarlboroughofnoconsequence？Turnthisaffaireverywayinyourthoughts，mylord，andyouwillfindthattheGermansandtheDutchhadnothingintheirs，buttobreak，atanyrate，andatanyrisk，thenegotiationsthatwerebegun，andtoreduceGreatBritaintothenecessityofcontinuing，whatshehadbeentoolong，aprovinceoftheconfederacy。Aprovince，indeed，andnotoneofthebesttreated；sincetheconfederatesassumedarightofobliginghertokeepherpactswiththem，andofdispensingwiththeirobligationstoher；ofexhaustingher，withoutrule，orproportion，ormeasure，inthesupportofawar，towhichshealonecontributedmorethanallofthem，andinwhichshehadnolongeranimmediateinterest，norevenanyremoteinterestthatwasnotcommon，orwithrespecttoher，verydubious；and，afterallthis，ofcomplainingthatthequeenpresumedtohearkentooverturesofpeace，andtosetanegotiationonfoot，whilsttheirhumorandambitionrequiredthatthewarshouldbeprolongedforanindefinitetime，andforapurposethatwaseitherbadorindeterminate。
Thesuspensionofarms，thatbeganintheLowCountries，wascontinued，andextendedafterwardsbytheactIsignedatFontainebleu。Thefortuneofthewarturnedatthesametime；andallthosedisgracesfollowed，whichobligedtheDutchtotreat，andtodesiretheassistanceofthequeen，whomtheyhadsetatdefiancesolately。Theassistancetheyhad，aseffectuallyasitcouldbegiveninthecircumstancestowhichtheyhadreducedthemselves，andthewholealliance：andthepeaceofGreatBritain，Portugal，Savoy，Prussia，andtheStatesGeneral，wasmade，withouthisImperialmajesty’sconcurrence，inthespringofonethousandsevenhundredandthirteen；asitmighthavebeenmade，muchmoreadvantageouslyforthemall，inthatofonethousandsevenhundredandtwelve。Lessobstinacyonthepartofthestates，andperhapsmoredecisiveresolutionsonthepartofthequeen，wouldhavewoundupallthesedividedthreadsinone，andhavefinishedthisgreatworkmuchsoonerandbetter。Isay，perhapsmoredecisiveresolutionsonthepartofthequeen，becausealthoughIthinkthatIshouldhaveconveyedherordersforsigningatreatyofpeacewithFrance，beforethearmiestookthefield，muchmorewillingly，thanIexecutedthemafterwardsinsigningthatofthecessationofarms；yetIdonotpresumetodecide，butshalldesireyourlordshiptodoso，onareviewofallcircumstances，someofwhichIshalljustmention。
Theleaguemadeforprotractingthewarhavingopposedthequeentotheutmostoftheirpower，andbymeansofeverysort，fromthefirstappearanceofanegotiation；thegeneraleffectofthisviolentopposition，onherandherministers，was，tomakethemproceedbyslowerandmorecautioussteps；
theparticulareffectofitwas，toobligethemtoopentheeyesofthenation，andtoinflamethepeoplewithadesireofpeace，byshowing，inthemostpublicandsolemnmanner，howunequallywewereburdened，andhowunfairlyweweretreatedbyourallies。Thefirstgaveanairofdiffidenceandtimiditytotheirconduct，whichencouragedtheleague，andgavevigortotheopposition。
ThesecondirritatedtheDutchparticularly；fortheemperorandtheotherallieshadthemodestyatleastnottopretendtobearanyproportionintheexpenseofthewar：andthusthetwopowers，whoseunionwasthemostessential，werethemostatvariance，andthequeenwasobligedtoactinacloserconcertwithherenemywhodesiredpeace，thanshewouldhavedoneifherallieshadbeenlessobstinatelybenttoprotractthewar。Duringthesetransactions，myLordOxford，whohadhiscorrespondencesapart，andaprivatethreadofnegotiationalwaysinhishands，entertainedhopesthatPhilipwouldbebroughttoabandonSpaininfavorofhisfather-in-law，andtocontenthimselfwiththestatesofthatprince，thekingdomofSicily，andthepreservationofhisrightofsuccessiontothecrownofFrance。Whethermylordhadanyparticularreasonsforentertainingthesehopes，besidethegeneralreasonsfoundedontheconditionofFrance，onthatoftheBourbonfamily，andonthedispositionofLouistheFourteenth，Idoubtverymuch。