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。
Francethensawheradvantage，andimproveditnodoubt，thoughnotinthemanner，norwiththecircumstances，thatsomelivingscribblersofmemorialsandanecdoteshaveadvanced。ShehadsentoneoftheablestmenofhercourttothatofMadrid，themarshalofHarcourt，andshehadstipulatedinthesecondtreatyofpartition，thatthearchdukeshouldgoneitherintoSpainnortheduchyofMilan，duringthelifeofCharlestheSecond。Shewaswillingtohaveheroptionbetweenatreatyandawill。Bytheacceptationofthewill，allkingWilliam’smeasureswerebroke。Hewasunpreparedforwarasmuchaswhenhemadethesetreatiestopreventone；andifhemeantinmakingthem，whatsomewise，butrefiningmenhavesuspected，andwhatIconfessIseenoreasontobelieve，onlytogaintimebythedifficultyofexecutingthem，andtoprepareformakingwar，wheneverthedeathofthekingofSpainshouldalarmmankind，androusehisownsubjectsoutoftheirinactivityandneglectofforeigninterests；ifso，hewasdisappointedinthattoo；
forFrancetookpossessionofthewholemonarchyatonce，andwithuniversalconcurrence，atleastwithoutoppositionordifficulty，infavorofthedukeofAnjon。Bywhathasbeenobserved，orhintedratherveryshortly，andI
fearalittleconfusedly，itisplainthatreducingthepowerofFrance，andsecuringthewholeSpanishsuccessiontothehouseofAustria，weretwopointsthatkingWilliam，attheheadoftheBritishandDutchcommonwealthsandofthegreatestconfederacyEuropehadseen，wasobligedtogiveup。
AlltheacquisitionsthatFrancecaredtokeepforthemaintenanceofherpowerwereconfirmedtoherbythetreatyofRyswic：andkingWilliamallowed，indirectlyatleast，thepretensionsofthehouseofBourbontotheSpanishsuccession，asLouistheFourteenthallowed，inthesamemanner，thoseofthehouseofAustria，bythetreatiesofpartition。Strangesituation!inwhichnoexpedientremainedtoprepareforanevent，visiblysonear，andofsuchvastimportanceasthedeathofthekingofSpain，butapartitionofhismonarchy，withouthisconsent，orhisknowledge!IfkingWilliamhadnotmadehispartition，theemperorwouldhavemadeone，andwithaslittleregardtotrade，tothebarrierofthesevenprovinces，ortothegeneralsystemofEurope，ashadbeenshowedbyhimwhenhemadetheprivatetreatywithFrancealreadymentioned，inonethousandsixhundredandsixty-eight。
TheministersofViennawerenotwantingtoinsinuatetothoseofFranceoverturesofaseparatetreaty，asmoreconducivetotheircommonintereststhantheaccessionofhisimperialmajestytothatofpartition。ButthecouncilsofVersaillesjudgedveryreasonably，thatapartitionmadewithEnglandandHollandwouldbemoreeffectualthananyother，ifapartitionwastotakeplace：andthatsuchapartitionwouldbejustaseffectualasonemadewiththeemperor，tofurnishargumentstotheemissariesofFrance，andmotivestotheSpanishcouncils，ifawillinfavorofFrancecouldbeobtained。Irepeatitagain；IcannotseewhatkingWilliamcoulddoinsuchcircumstancesashefoundhimselfinafterthirtyyearsstruggle，exceptwhathedid：neithercanIseehowhecoulddowhathedid，especiallyaftertheresentmentexpressedbytheSpaniards，andthefuriousmemorialpresentedbyCanalesontheconclusionofthefirsttreatyofpartition，withoutapprehendingthattheconsequencewouldbeawillinfavorofFrance。Hewasintheworstofallpoliticalcircumstances，inthatwhereinnoonegoodmeasureremainstobetaken；andoutofwhichheleftthetwonations，attheheadofwhomhehadbeensolong，tofightandnegotiatethemselvesandtheirconfederates，aswellastheycould。
Whenthiswillwasmadeandaccepted，LouistheFourteenthhadsucceeded，andthepowersinoppositiontohimhadfailed，inallthegreatobjectsofinterestandambition，whichtheyhadkeptinsightformorethanfortyyears；thatisfromthebeginningofthepresentperiod。Theactorschangedtheirpartsinthetragedythatfollowed。Thepower，thathadsolongandsocruellyattacked，wasnowtodefend，theSpanishmonarchy：andthepowersthathadsolongdefended，werenowtoattackit——Letusseehowthiswasbroughtabout：andthatwemayseeitthebetter，andmakeabetterjudgmentofallthatpassedfromthedeathofCharlestheSecondtothepeaceofUtrecht，letusgobacktothetimeofhisdeath，andconsiderthecircumstancesthatformedthiscomplicatedstateofaffairs，inthreeviews；aviewofright，aviewofpolicy，andaviewofpower。
TherightofsucceedingtothecrownofSpainwouldhavebeenundoubtedlyinthechildrenofMariaTheresa，thatis，inthehouseofBourbon；ifthisrighthadnotbeenbarredbythesolemnrenunciationssooftenmentioned。
ThepretensionsofthehouseofAustriawerefoundedontheserenunciations，ontheratificationofthembythePyreneantreaty，andtheconfirmationofthembythewillofPhiliptheFourth。ThepretensionsofthehouseofBourbonwerefoundedonasupposition，itwasindeednomore，andavainonetoo，thattheserenunciationswereintheirnaturenull。OnthisfootthedisputeofrightstoodduringthelifeofCharlestheSecond，andonthesameitwouldhavecontinuedtostandevenafterhisdeath，iftherenunciationshadremainedunshaken；ifhiswill，likethatofhisfather，hadconfirmedthem，andhadleftthecrown，inpursuanceofthemtothehouseofAustria。
ButthewillofCharlestheSecond，annullingtheserenunciations，tookawaythesolefoundationoftheAustrianpretensions；for，howeverthisactmightbeobtained，itwasjustasvalidashisfather’s，andwasconfirmedbytheuniversalconcurrenceoftheSpanishnationtothenewsettlementhemadeofthatcrown。Letitbe，asIthinkitoughttobe，granted，thatthetrueheirscouldnotclaimagainstrenunciationsthatwere，ifImaysosay，conditionsoftheirbirth：butCharlestheSecondhadcertainlyasgoodarighttochangethecourseofsuccessionagreeablytotheorderofnatureandtheconstitutionofthatmonarchy，afterhistrueheirswereborn，asPhiliptheFourthhadtochangeit，contrarytothisorderandthisconstitution，beforetheywereborn，oratanyothertime——Hehadasgoodaright，inshort，todispensewiththePyreneantreaty，andtosetitasideinthisrespect，ashisfatherhadtomakeit：sothattherenunciationsbeingannulledbythatpartytothePyreneantreatywhohadexactedthem，theycouldbedeemednolongerbinding，byvirtueofthistreaty，onthepartywhohadmadethem。Thesolequestionthatremainedthereforebetweentheserivalhouses，astoright，wasthis，whethertheengagementstakenbyLouistheFourteenthinthepartitiontreatiesobligedhimtoadheretothetermsofthelastoftheminallevents，andtodeprivehisfamilyofthesuccessionwhichthekingofSpainopened，andtheSpanishnationofferedtothem；ratherthantodepartfromacompositionhehadmade，onpretensionsthatweredisputablethen，butwerenowoutofdispute；itmaybesaid，anditwassaid，thatthetreatiesofpartitionbeingabsolute，withoutanyconditionorexceptionrelativetoanydispositionthekingofSpainhadmadeormightmakeofhissuccession，infavorofBourbonorAustria；thedispositionmadebyhiswill，infavoroftheDukeofAnjon，couldnotaffecttheengagementssolatelytakenbyLouistheFourteenthinthesetreaties，nordispensewithaliteralobservationofthem。Thismightbetrue，onstrictprinciplesofjustice；butIapprehendthatnoneofthesepowers，whoexclaimedsoloudlyagainsttheperfidyofFranceinthisuse，wouldhavebeenmorescrupulousinaparallelcase。Themaxim，“summumjusestsummainjuria，“wouldhavebeenquoted，andtherigidletteroftreatieswouldhavebeensoftenedbyanequitableinterpretationoftheirspiritandintention。Hisimperialmajesty，aboveall，hadnottheleastcolorofrighttoexclaimagainstFranceonthisoccasion；foringeneralifhisfamilywastobestrippedofallthedominionstheyhaveacquiredbybreachoffaith，andmeansmuchworsethantheacceptationofthewill，evenallowingalltheinvidiouscircumstancesimputedtotheconductofFrancetobetrue，theAustrianfamilywouldsinkfromtheirpresentgrandeurtothatlowstatetheywereintwoorthreecenturiesago。Inparticular，theemperor，whohadconstantlyrefusedtoaccedetothetreatiesofpartition，ortosubmittothedispositionsmadebythem，hadnottheleastplausiblepretencetoobjecttoLouistheFourteenth，thathedepartedfromthem。Thus，Ithink，therightofthetwohousesstoodonthedeathofCharlestheSecond。
TherightoftheSpaniards，anindependentnation，toregulatetheirownsuccession，ortoreceivetheprincewhomtheirdyingmonarchhadcalledtoit；andtherightofEnglandandHollandtoregulatethissuccession，todivideandparceloutthismonarchyindifferentlots，itwouldbeequallyfoolishtogoabouttoestablish。Oneistooevident，theothertooabsurd，toadmitofanyproof。Butenoughhasbeensaidconcerningright，whichwasintruthlittleregardedbyanyofthepartiesconcernedimmediatelyorremotelyinthewholecourseoftheseproceedings。Particularinterestswerealoneregarded，andthesewerepursuedasambition，fear，resentment，andvanitydirected：Imeantheambitionofthetwohousescontendingforsuperiorityofpower：thefearofEnglandandHollandlestthissuperiorityshouldbecometoogreatineither；theresentmentofSpainatthedismembermentofthatmonarchyprojectedbythepartitiontreaties；andthevanityofthatnation，aswellasoftheprincesofthehouseofBourbon：forasvanitymingledwithresentmenttomakethewill，vanityhadagreatshareindeterminingtheacceptationofit。
Letusnowconsiderthesameconjunctureinaviewofpolicy。ThepolicyoftheSpanishcouncilswasthis。Theycouldnotbrookthattheirmonarchyshouldbedivided：andthisprincipleisexpressedstronglyinthewillofCharlestheSecond，whereheexhortshissubjectsnottosufferanydismembermentordiminutionofamonarchyfoundedbyhispredecessorswithsomuchglory。
Tooweaktohinderthisdismembermentbytheirownstrength，toowellapprisedofthelittleforceandlittleviewsofthecourtofVienna，andtheiroldallieshavingengagedtoprocurethisdismembermentevenbyforceofarms：