Majetty was declared the Aggreffor for having only us'd Reprizals, In the mean while his Majesty's Allies were told that they were not oblig'd to take Part in this Quarrel, nor were at all concern'd in the Confequences of it. In fhort, no Arguments were omitted that might provoke or encourage the King of Pruffia to a Rupture. Thus did these faithful Subjects, on one Hand, endeavour to raise an Enemy against his Maje fty, and on the other, to deprive him of all Hopes of Affiftance. The Event indeed did not answer their wicked Expectations, for the Storm which then threatned his Majefty's Dominions was fo happily diffipated, that it only gave him an Opportunity of fhewing his own personal Refolution, and of receiving the most glorious Proofs of the Zeal and Fidelity of his Allies, For my own Part I muft confess I cannot fee how it can be the Duty of an Englishman to encourage foreign Pow ers to invade the King's German Dominions, and to excite the neighbouring Princes Princes to opprefs a People merely because they acknowledge the fame Sovereign that we do. That Country, Barren and Despicable as it has been represented, has furely the common Claim of all Proteftant Nations to our Favour and good Wishes, if not to our Protection; the laft as well as the prefent Parliament have declared themselves to be in this Way of thinking, and we need not surely repine at their Quiet, nor are we under any Temptation to disturb it. I hope therefore that the malicious Defire which thefe falfe Patriots have fhewn to diftrefs the King's Affairs there, will have no other Effect than to open the Eyes of those who have been deceived by their fpecious Pretences of Loyalty and Affection for His Majefty; and it may reasonably be expected that the complaifant Perfon, who once condefcended to make a private Submiffion in the laft Reign for fome free Expreffions that fell from him in publick, upon a Subject not very unlike that which I have been now treating of, will think this a proper Occafion for fhewing once more his great Addrefs in making Recantations. After After all, if this Gentleman and his Affociates fhould find themselves precluded by an Accommodation of all our Differences Abroad from their late Favourite Topicks, I fhall not be furprized to see them fall again into their ufual Declamation upon weak and corrupt Minifters; though fuch a Charge upon those who have the Honour to be employ'd by His Majefty, may seem a little unfeasonable at a Time when we are reaping the Fruits of their Abilities and Integrity. And, befides that an Imputation of this kind is in it felf very unjuft; were there any Foundation for it, it would come with a very ill Grace from those who are fo fond of fixing it upon them. If I had either Leifure or Inclination to examine into the Behaviour of the only one of this Cabal, who was ever in a Station, that could give him the least Appearance of being at the Head of Affairs, I believe I could produce as ftrong Inftances not only of Want of Capacity, but of every Virtue which which can qualify a Man for a publick Employment, as the weakest and most wicked Administration was ever accused of. And I am very sorry to say, that his Conduct fince the Time of his withdraw ing from the juft Punishment, which his injur'd Country was preparing for him, has not given the leaft Reason to think that either his Judgment or his Morals are at all improv'd, by the Misfortunes in which his Folly and the moft profligate Difregard of all that is held facred amongst other Men, had involv'd him. In Page 10, Line 20, for has read THE |