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HISTORY

OF

D.

ENGLAND.

BOOK XXVII.

From the Year 1700, to the Death of K.William.

CHAP. I.

Cenfures on the Partition Treaty-Court of ViennaSpanish-Court-Conduct of the French King-Affairs of Scotland-Death of the King of Spain-Pope Clement XI-Duke of Anjou declared King of SpainDanger of Europe-A new Miniftry and Parliament -French Party in the Parliament-Majority of Tories-Dutch Memorial-First Vote about the Succefion-Heads of the Bill of fucceffion-Protefted against by the Duchefs of Savoy-Articles propofed to France-Laid before the Parliament PartitionTreaty blamed Addrefs of the Lords about it-The King owns the King of Spain-The Dutch refufe to treat but jointly with England-And press for Succours-Proceedings thence."

T

HE treaty for dividing the Spanish monarchy 1700. (which began now to be published) had given Cenfures on rife to a very important feries of negotiations; the partition which were carried on with great fecrefy and addrefs, treaty. during the course of this fummer (a). It is needless to

A 2

(a) Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria, who by the first partition

remind

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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,

February, 1698-9, the earl of Portland began, foon after this, to treat about a new partition treaty, in favour of the archduke, Charles; and the king fent the earl of Jerfey into France, with inftructions to negotiate this fecond treaty but that earl being foon recalled, the earl of Manchester was appointed to fucceed him: from whofe papers, published by Chriftian Cole, Efq; the following extracts are taken; which will give us light into the fecret history of the fecond partition treaty.

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as

The

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 laft year concluded and ftipulated 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. king, his mafter, thinks it inexcufable, 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 most 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 affliction of his kingdoms and fubjects, and the impreffions 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 juft, and moft important for the public tranquility; and fo, that no body fhall be able to find fault with his justice, nor his forefight. For which reafons, his majefty 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 purpofe; 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 ambaffador 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 alfo 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.

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Will. III. minifters of England, France, and Holland, to the rest of 1700. the powers of Europe, the reception it met with was none of

The earl of Manchester to
Mr. Yard.

Paris, Oct. 7, 1699.

They write from Loo, That the Spanish ambaffador has delivered to all the lords juftices a memorial relating to the fucceffion of the crown of Spain, which his majesty refents very

much.

Mr. Yard to the earl of

Manchester.

Whitehall, Oct. 28, 1699.
I believe the king's directions
will be fignified to the Spanish
ambaflador to-morrow, to leave
the kingdom. Indeed, the pa-
per he gave about, was very in-
folent, and appealing to the
parliament; fo that the king
could do no lefs. Mr. Stanhope
is recalled at the fame time.

Remonftrance prefented, in
French, by the marquis de
Canales, ambaffador from the
king of Spain, to the lords
juftices.

In the first place, the king,
his mafter, having been cer-
tainly informed, that his ma-
jefty, king William, the Hol-
landers, and other powers (in
purfuance of what they treated
and ftipulated, last year, at Loo)
are now actually framing new
treaties about the fucceffion of
the crown of Spain; and (what
is most deteftible) contriving

the

its divifion and repartition: His majesty orders his extraordinary ambaffador, refiding in this kingdom, to make known to the lords justices of England, the refentment which these unheard-of proceedings create in his majefty, especially during the life of a monarch, who is of fo fit an age to expect (for many years) an heir, fo much defired by all nations, that without a deteftible avarice, no one would fuffer himfelf to be carried away with the ambition of ufurping the dominions of others.

That, if this were not connation or government would be trary to the law of nature, no fafe against the machinations of the frongest and most malicious; whereas reafon, and not force, fets bounds to nations.

foreigners to concern themselves That, if it were lawful for about the fucceffion of kings and fovereigns, there would be no ftatutes or municipal laws to be obferved; nor would any laws be free from the outrages of others, more efpecially those of the crown of England.

That, if watches were fet upon the indifpofitions of fovereigns, no health would be conftant, no life fecure, while both depend on the hand of the Almighty, who is the arbiter of life, death, and empires.

That the impreffions which one kingdom makes upon another, to tempt the allegiance of the fubjects, and excite their ininds to infurrections, are an

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