the pretensions of each crown to Hudson's-bay, taken by the French during the late peace, and retaken by the English in the course of the war; and to regulate the limits of the places to be restored, as well as the exchanges to be made: it was likewise stipulated, that, in case of a rupture, six months should be allowed to the subjects of each power for removing their effects: that the separate articles of the treaty of Nimeguen, relating to the principality of Orange, should be intirely executed; and that the ratifications should be exchanged in three weeks from the day of signing. The treaty between France and Holland imported a general armistice, a perpetual amity, a mutual restitution, a reciprocal renunciation of all pretensions on each other, a confirmation of the peace with Savoy, a re-establishment of the treaty concluded between France and Brandenburg in the year 1679, a comprehension of Sweden, and all those powers that should be named before the ratification, or in six months after the conclusion of the treaty: besides, the Dutch ministers concluded a treaty of commerce with France, which was immediately put in execution. Spain had great reason to be satisfied with the pacification, by which she recovered Gironne, Roses, Barcelona, Luxemburg, Charleroy, Mons, Courtray, and all the towns, fortresses, and territories taken by the French in the province of Luxemburg, Namur, Brabant, Flanders, and Hainault, except eighty-two towns and villages claimed by the French: this dispute was left to the decision of the commissaries; or, in case they should not agree, to the determination of the States-General. A remonstrance in favor of the French protestant refugees in England, Holland, and Germany was delivered by the earl of Pembroke to the mediators, in the name of the protestant allies, on the day that preceded the conclusion of the treaty; but the French plenipotentiaries declared, in the name of their master, that as he did not pretend to prescribe rules to king William about the English subjects, he expected the same liberty with respect to his own: no other effort was made in behalf of those conscientious exiles; the treaties were ratified, and the peace proclaimed at Paris and London. 55. The emperor still held out, and perhaps was encouraged to persevere in his obstinacy by the success of his arms in Hungary, where his general, prince Eugene of Savoy, obtained a complete victory at Zenta over the forces of the grand signor, who commanded his army in person. In this battle, which was fought on the eleventh of September, the grand visir, the aga of the janissaries, sevenand-twenty bashaws, and about 30,000 men, were killed or drowned in the river Theysse: 6000 were wounded or taken, together with all their artillery, tents, baggage, provision, and ammunition, the grand signor himself escaping with difficulty; a victory the more glorious and acceptable, as the Turks had a great superiority in point of number, and as the imperialists did not lose 1000 men during the whole action. The emperor, perceiving that the event of this battle had no effect in retarding the treaty, thought proper to make use of the armistice, and continue the negociation after the fore-mentioned treaties had been signed: this was likewise the case with the princes of the empire, though those of the protestant persuasion complained that their interest was neglected: in one of the articles of the treaty it was stipulated, that in the places to be restored by France, the Roman catholic religion should continue as it had been re-established: the ambassadors of the protestant princes joined in a remonstrance, demanding that the Lutheran religion should be restored in those places where it had formerly prevailed; but this demand was rejected, as being equally disagreeable to France and the emperor: then they refused to sign the treaty, which was now concluded between France, the emperor, and the catholic princes of the empire. By this pacification, Triers, the palatinate, and Lorrain were restored to their respective owners: the countries of Spanheim and Veldentz, together with the duchy of Deux Ponts, were ceded to the king of Sweden: Francis Louis Palatine was confirmed in the electorate of Cologne; and cardinal Furstemberg restored to all his rights and benefices the claims of the duchess of Orleans on the palatinate were referred to the arbitration of France and the emperor; and in the mean time the elector palatine agreed to supply her highness with an annuity of 100,000 florins: the ministers of the protestant princes published a formal declaration against the clause relating to religion, and afterwards solemnly protested against the manner in which the negociation had been conducted. Such was the issue of a long and bloody war, which had drained England of her wealth and people, almost intirely ruined her commerce, debauched her morals by encouraging venality and corruption, and entailed on her the curse of foreign connexions, as well as a national debt, which was gradually ncreased to an in tolerable burden. After all the blood and treasure which had been expended, William's ambition and revenge remained unsatisfied: nevertheless, he reaped the solid advantage of seeing himself firmly established on the English throne; and the confederacy, though not successful in every instance, accomplished their great aim of putting a stop to the encroachments of the French monarch: they mortified his vanity, they humbled his pride and arrogance, and compelled him to disgorge the acquisitions which, like a robber, he had made in violation of public faith, justice, and humanity had the allies been true to one another; had they acted from genuine zeal for the common interests of mankind, and prosecuted with vigor the plan which was originally concerted; Louis would in a few campaigns have been reduced to the most abject state of disgrace, despondence, and submission; for he was destitute of true courage and magnanimity. King William, having finished this important transaction, returned to England about the middle of November, and was received in London amidst the acclamations of the people, who now again hailed him as their deliverer from a war, by the continuance of which they must have been infallibly beggared. : CHAP. VI. WILLIAM (CONTINUED.)-1697. 1. State of parties-2. Characters of the ministers-3. The commons reduce the number of standing forces to 10,000-4. They establish the civil list, and assign funds for paying the national debts-5. They take cognisance of fraudulent endorsements of exchequer-bills-6. A new East-India company constituted by act of parliament-7. Proceedings against a book written by William Molineux of Dublin;-8. and against certain smugglers of alamodes and lustrings from France-9. Society for the reformation of manners--10. The earl of Portland resigns his employments-11. The king disowns the Scottish trading company-12. He embarks for Holland-13. First treaty of partition-14. Intrigues of France at the court of Madrid-15. King William is thwarted by his new parliament-16. He is obliged to send away his Dutch guards-17. The commons address the king against the papists-18. The parliament prorogued-19. The Scottish company make a settlement on the isthmus of Darien ;-20. which, however, they are compelled to abandon-21. Remonstrances of the Spanish court against the treaty of partition-22. The commons persist in their resolutions to mortify the king--23. Inquiry into the expedition of captain Kidd-24. A motion made against Burnet, bishop of Sarum-25. Inquiry into the Irish forfeitures-26. The commons pass a bill of resumption ;-27. and a severe bill against papists -28. The old East-India company re-established-29. Dangerous ferment in Scotland-30. Lord Somers dismissed from his employments-31. Second treaty of partition-32. Death of the duke of Glocester-33. The king sends a fleet into the Baltic to the assistance of the Swedes-34. The second treaty of partition generally disagreeable to the European powers-35. The French interest prevails at the court of Spain-36. King William finds means to allay the heats in Scotland-37. The king of Spain dies, after having bequeathed his dominions by will to the duke of Anjou-38. The French king's apology for accepting the will-39. The States-General own Philip as king of Spain40. A new ministry and a new parliament-41. The commons unpropitious to the court-42. The lords are more condescending-43. An intercepted letter from the earl of Melfort to his brother-44. Succession of the crown settled on the princess Sophia, electress-dowager of Hanover, and the protestant beirs of her body-45. The duchess of Savoy protests against this act-46. Ineffectual negociation with France-47. Severe addresses from both houses in relation to the partition treaty48. William is obliged to acknowlege the king of Spain-49. The two houses seem to enter into the king's measures-50. The commons resolve to wreak their vengeance on the old ministry51. The earls of Portland and Oxford, the lords Somers and Halifax, are impeached-52. Disputes between the two houses -53. The house of peers acquits the impeached lords-54. Petition of Kent-55. Favorable end of the session-56. Progress of prince Eugene in Italy-57. Sketch of the situation of affairs in Europe-58. Treaty of alliance between the emperor and the maritime powers-59. Death of king James-60. The French king owns the pretended prince of Wales as king of England-61. Addresses to king William on that subject-62. New parliament-63. The king's last speech to both houses received with great applause-64. Great harmony between the king and parliament-65. The two houses pass the bill for abjuration-66. The lower house justifies the proceedings of the commons in the preceding parliament-67. Affairs of Ireland68. The king recommends a union of the two kingdoms-69. He falls from his horse-70. His death;-71. and character. 1. WHEN the king opened the session of parliament on the third of December, he told them the war was brought to the end they all proposed, namely, an honorable peace: he gave them to understand there was a considerable debt on account of the fleet and army; that the revenues of the crown had been anticipated: he expressed his hope, that they would provide for him during his life in such a manner as would conduce to his own honor and that of the government he recommended the maintenance of a considerable navy; and gave it as his opinion, that for the present England could not be safe without a standing army: he promised to rectify such corruptions and abuses as might have crept into any part of the administration during the war, and effectually to discourage profaneness and immorality: finally, he assured them, that as he had rescued their religion, laws, and liberties, when they were in the extremest danger, so he should place the glory of his reign in preserving and leaving them intire to latest posterity. To this speech the commons replied in an address by a compliment of congratulation on the peace, and an assurance that they would be ever ready to assist and support his majesty, who had confirmed them in the quiet possession of their rights and liberties; and by putting an end to the war, fully completed the work of their deliverance. Notwithstanding those appearances of good humor, the majority of the house, and indeed of the whole nation, were equally alarmed and exasperated at a project for maintaining a standing army, which was countenanced at court, and even recommended by the king in his speech to |