particularly，thatshedidnotobservetheprecisemomentwhentheconductoftheleagueformedagainsther，beingexposedtomankind，wouldhavejustifiedanypartsheshouldhavetakenthoughshedeclared，soonafterthemomentwaspassed，thatthisconducthadsetherfreefromallengagementsandwhensheoughttohavetakenthatofdrawing，byoneboldmeasure，heralliesoutofthewar，orherselfoutoftheconfederacy，beforeshelostherinfluenceonFrance：ifallthisshouldbeobjected，yetwouldtheproofsbroughttosupporttheseobjectionsshow，thatwewerebetteralliesthanpoliticians；
thatthedesirethequeenhadtotreatinconcertwithherconfederates，andtheresolutionshetooknottosignwithoutthem，madeherbearwhatnocrownedheadhadeverbornebefore；andthatwheresheerred，sheerredprincipallybythepatience，thecompliance，andthecondescensionsheexercisedtowardsthem，andtowardsherownsubjectsinleaguewiththem。Suchobjectionsasthesemaylietothequeen’sconduct，inthecourseofthisgreataffair；
aswellasobjectionsofhumaninfirmitytothatofthepersonsemployedbyherinthetransactionsofit；fromwhichneitherthosewhopreceded，northosewhosucceeded，have，Ipresume，beenfree。Buttheprinciplesonwhichtheyproceededwerehonest，themeanstheyusedwerelawful，andtheeventtheyproposedtobringaboutwasjust。Whereastheveryfoundationofalltheoppositiontothepeacewaslaidininjusticeandfolly：forwhatcouldbemoreunjust，thantheattemptsoftheDutchandtheGermans，toforcethequeentocontinueawarfortheirprivateinterestandambition，thedisproportionateexpenseofwhichoppressedthecommerceofhersubjects，andloadedthemwithdebtsforagesyettocome？awar，theobjectofwhichwassochanged，thatfromtheyearonethousandsevenhundredandelevenshemadeitnotonlywithoutanyengagement，butagainstherown，andthecommoninterest？Whatcouldbemorefoolish；youwillthinkthatIsoftenthetermtoomuch，andyouwillbeintherighttothinkso：whatcouldbemorefoolish，thantheattemptofapartyinBritain，toprotractawarsoruinoustotheircountry，withoutanyreasonthattheydurstavow，exceptthatofwreakingtheresentmentsofEuropeonFrance，andthatofunitingtheImperialandSpanishcrownsonanAustrianhead？oneofwhichwastopurchaserevengeatapricetoodear；andtheotherwastoexposethelibertiesofEuropetonewdangers，bytheconclusionofawarwhichhadbeenmadetoassertandsecurethem。
Ihavedweltthelongerontheconductofthosewhopromoted，andofthosewhoopposed，thenegotiationsofthepeacemadeatUtrecht，andonthecomparisonofthemeasurepursuedbythequeenwiththatwhichshemighthavepursued，becausethegreatbenefitweoughttoreapfromthestudyofhistory，cannotbereapedunlessweaccustomourselvestocomparetheconductofdifferentgovernments，anddifferentparties，inthesameconjunctures，andtoobservethemeasurestheydidpursue，andthemeasurestheymighthavepursued，withtheactualconsequencesthatfollowedone，andthepossible，orprobableconsequences，thatmighthavefollowedtheother。Bythisexerciseofthemind，thestudyofhistoryanticipates，asitwere，experience，asIhaveobservedinoneofthefirstoftheseletters，andpreparesusforaction。
Ifthisconsiderationshouldnotpleadasufficientexcuseformyprolixityonthishead，Ihaveonemoretoaddthatmay。Arageofwarringpossessedapartyinournationtillthedeathofthelatequeen：arageofnegotiatinghaspossessedthesamepartyofmen，eversince。Youhaveseentheconsequencesofone：youseeactuallythoseoftheother。Therageofwarringconfirmedthebeggaryofournation，whichbeganasearlyastherevolution；butthenitgave，inthelastwar，reputationtoourarms，andourcouncilstoo。ForthoughIthink，andmustalwaysthink，thattheprinciple，onwhichweactedafterdepartingfromthatlaiddowninthegrandallianceofonethousandsevenhundredandone，waswrong；yetmustweconfessthatitwaspursuedwisely，aswellasboldly。Therageofnegotiatinghasbeenachargeableragelikewise，atleastaschargeableinitsproportion。Farfrompayingourdebts，contractedinwar，theycontinuemuchthesame，afterthreeandtwentyyearsofpeace。Thetaxesthatoppressourmercantileinterestthemostarestillinmortgage；andthosethatoppressthelandedinterestthemost，insteadofbeinglaidonextraordinaryoccasions，arebecometheordinaryfundsforthecurrentserviceofeveryyear。Thisisgrievous，andthemoresotoanyman，whohasthehonorofhiscountry，aswellasherprosperityatheart，becausewehavenot，inthiscase，theairyconsolationwehadintheother。Therageofnegotiatingbegantwentyyearsago，underpretenceofconsummatingthetreatyofUtrecht：and，fromthattimetothis，ourministershavebeeninoneperpetualmaze。Theyhavemadethemselvesandus，often，objectsofaversiontothepowersonthecontinent：andwearebecomeatlastobjectsofcontempt，eventotheSpaniards。Whatothereffectcouldourabsurdconducthave？Whatotherreturnhasitdeserved？Wecameexhaustedoutoflongwarsand，insteadofpursuingthemeasuresnecessarytogiveusmeansandopportunitytorepairourstrengthandtodiminishourburdens，ourministershaveacted，fromthattimetothis，likemenwhosoughtpretencestokeepthenationinthesameexhaustedcondition，andunderthesameloadofdebt。Thismayhavebeentheirviewperhaps；andwecouldnotbesurprisedifweheardthesamemendeclarenationalpovertynecessarytosupportthepresentgovernment，whohavesofrequentlydeclaredcorruptionandastandingarmytobeso。Yourgoodsense，mylord，yourvirtue，andyourloveofyourcountry，willalwaysdetermineyoutoopposesuchvileschemes，andtocontributeyourutmosttowardsthecureofboththesekindsofrage；therageofwarriors，withoutanyproportionableinterestofourown，fortheambitionofothers；