ENGLAND; From the REVOLUTION to the By N. TINDAL, M. A. ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS, GENEALOGICAL TABLES, and the HEADS The FIFTH EDITION, corrected. VOL. XV. IIId of CONTINUATION. LONDON: Printed, by Affignment from Mr. KNAPTON, for M DCC LXIII. 226.i.752. HISTORY O F ENGLAND. BOOK XXVII. CHAP. I. Cenfures on the Partition Treaty-Court of Vienna- T -- - HE treaty for dividing the Spanish monarchy 1700. A 2 remind (a) Prince Ferdinand of Ba- treaty was to have been king February Will. III. remind the reader of the motives that induced the contracting 1700. parties to fign this treaty; or of the nature of its contents, as quently informed by his minifters in the north, of the ftrong informations and evident proofs which they have; by different advices and accidents, that the English, Hollanders, and French, in confequence of what was last year concluded and flipulated at Loo, are now again forming new treaties for the fucceffion of this crown, and for the dividing of it: which notices have been corroborated by other ways; fo that they are public over all Europe: it would be against his dignity to diffemble, and take no notice of them. The king, his mafter, thinks it inexcutable, not to oppose what might produce fuch irreparable inconveniences, if it came to be put in execution; and has ordered his minifters, in the courts of France, England, and Holland, to make known to thofe princes and governments, the juft fentiments his majesty has of thofe advices, unheard of, before, in the life of any king, and more improper in that of his majefty; which confifting, at prefent (by the divine mercy, and for our happinefs) in only thirty-eight years of age, we may naturally promife ourselves, and especially from his moft high providence, that he may give his majesty the important fucceffion, which we hope for from him, by the af fectionate prayers and vows of his vaffals: it causing a juft wonder and grief, that they doubt before-hand, of fo great a poffibility, by reafon of any opinions, as both have been already related: but when, pursuant to Will. III. one of the articles, it came to be offered, jointly, by the 1700. minifters opinions, taken up from the flight complaints, and the affiction of his kingdoms and fubjects, and the impreflions that feem to disturb the general tranquility which we now enjoy: when, on the other hand, it is not to be believed, from the righteous and pious mind of his majefty, that he lives fo unmindful of his obligation, and values fo little the love and fecurity of his vaffals, if God (by his fecret and fovereign judgments) would chaftife us, by taking away his life (which, we hope, he will not fuffer) without granting him the benefit of a fucceffion, his affairs will not be left, without a due reflection on what is moft just, and most important for the public tranquility; and fo, that no body fhall be able to find fault with his juftice, nor his forefight. For which reafons, his majesty has ordered his aforefaid minifters to make inftances, and ufe their diligence to cut off thofe negociations; weighing the ill effects which they now produce; and, what their continuance may produce. And, that the complaint of his majefty, and the orders he gives to his minifters abroad, to notify to the princes, at whofe courts they refide, be, at the fame time, made public, he has lately ordered, that it be made known to the minifters here, For this reafon does Don Antonio de Ubilla communicate it to Don Alexander Stanhope, by order of his mafter, that he may alfo give notice to his Britannic majefty, affifting, with his prudent reprefentations, this juft and honeft purpose; that fo the univerfal quiet may be maintained; and that he may quit the fcandal of this negociation, which, it is feared, will be an unhappy motive of kindling a voracious flame of a new war: which, being once lighted, will be difficult to be extinguished, either by the greatest force, or the moft dextrous and most powerful mediation: and he remains obedient to Don Alexander Stanhope, with all affection. The earl of Manchester to the earl of Jerfey. Paris, Sept. 30, 1699. The Spanish ambaffidor is endeavouring to get a private audience of the king. The first matter he is to reprefent, is in relation to fome tranfactions at Loo. The declaration of his king makes alio great difcourfe here. The ftate of affairs at St. Germain's continues much the fame it was. They are fill pleafing themfelves with hopes the nation will recall him at laft; though the greatest profpect they feem to have, is the death of the king of Spain; which might again renew the war. |