Allowmetopushthesereflectionsalittlefurther，andtoobservetoyourlordship，thatiftheproposalofsendingthearchdukeintoSpainhadbeenacceptedintimebytheimperialcourt，andtakeneffectandbecomeameasureoftheconfederacy，thatwarindeedwouldhavebeenprotracted；
butFrancecouldnothavehinderedthepassageofthisprinceandhisGermanforces：andourfleetwouldhavebeenbetteremployedinescortingthem，andincoveringthecoastsofSpainandofthedominionsofthatcrownbothinEuropeandinAmerica，thanitwasinsomanyunmeaningexpeditionsfromthebattleofLaHoguetotheendofthewar。Franceindeedwouldhavemadeherutmosteffortstohavehadsatisfactiononherpretensions，asillfoundedastheywere。Shewouldhaveendedthatwar，aswebeganthenext，whenwedemandedareasonablesatisfactionfortheemperor：andthoughIthinkthattheallieswouldhavehadinverymanyrespects，moreadvantageindefendingSpain，thaninattackingFrance；yet，uponasuppositionthatthedefencewouldhavebeenasillconductedastheattackwas，andthatbyconsequence，whetherCharlestheSecondhadlivedtotheconclusionofthiswar，orhaddiedbeforeit，thewarmusthaveendedinsomepartitionorother；thispartitionwouldhavebeenmadebytheSpaniardsthemselves。TheyhadbeenforcedtocompoundwithFranceonherformerpretensions，andtheymustandtheywouldhavecompoundedonthese，withanAustrianprinceonthethrone，justastheycompounded，andprobablymuchbetterthantheycompounded，onthepretensionswesupportedagainstthem，whentheyhadaprinceofBourbonontheirthrone。FrancewouldnothavedistressedtheSpaniards，norhaveoverruntheirmonarchy，iftheyhadbeenunited；andtheywouldhavebeenunitedinthiscase，andsupportedbythewholeconfederacy；aswedistressedbothFranceandthem，overruntheirmonarchyinonehemisphere，andmighthavedonesoinboth，whentheyweredisunited，andsupportedbyFrancealone。
Francewouldnothaveacted，insuchnegotiations，theridiculouspartwhichtheemperoractedinthosethatledtothepeaceofUtrecht，norhavemadeherbargainworsebyneglectingtomakeitintime。Butthewarendingasitdid，thoughIcannotseehowkingWilliamcouldavoidleavingthecrownofSpainandthatentiremonarchyatthediscretionofLouistheFourteenth，otherwisethanbycompoundingtopreventanewwarhewasinnosortpreparedtomake；yetitisundeniable，thatbyconsentingtoapartitionoftheirmonarchy，hethrewtheSpaniardsintothearmsofFrance。Thefirstpartitionmighthavetakenplace，perhaps，iftheelectoralprinceofBavariahadlived，whomtheFrenchandSpaniardstoowouldhaveseenmuchmorewillinglythanthearchdukeonthethroneofSpain。Foramongallthepartiesintowhichthatcourtwasdividedinonethousandsixhundredandninety-eight，whenthistreatywasmade，thatofAustriawasgrowntheweakest，bythedisgusttakenataGermanqueen，andattherapacityandinsolenceofherfavorites。
TheFrenchwerelookeduponwithesteemandkindnessatMadrid；buttheGermanswerebecome，orgrowingtobe，objectsofcontempttotheministers，andofaversiontothepeople。Theelectoralprincediedinonethousandsixhundredandninety-nine。ThestarofAustria，sofataltoallthosewhowereobstaclestotheambitionofthathouse，prevailed；astheelectorexpressedhimselfinthefirstpangsofhisgrief。Thestateofthingschangedverymuchbythisdeath。ThearchdukewastohaveSpainandtheIndies，accordingtoasecondpartition：andtheSpaniards，whohadexpressedgreatresentmentatthefirst，werepushedbeyondtheirbearingbythis。Theysoonappearedtobeso；forthesecondtreatyofpartitionwassignedinMarchonethousandsevenhundred；andthewillwasmade，tothebestofmyremembrance，intheOctoberfollowing。Ishallnotenterhereintomanyparticularsconcerningthesegreatevents。Theywillberelatedfaithfully，andIhopefullyexplained，inaworkwhichyourlordshipmaytakethetroubleveryprobablyofperusingsometimeorother，andwhichIshallratherleave，thangivetothepublic——
Somethinghowevermustbesaidmore，tocontinueandwindupthissummaryofthelatterperiodofmodernhistory。