A bill for a general naturalization of all protestants was brought into the house, and notwithstanding violent oppo sition from the tories, both among the lords and commons, was enacted into a law. The whigs argued for this bill, as a measure that would encourage industry, improve trade and manufacture, and repair the waste of men which the war had occasioned: but one of their chief motives was to throw an addition of foreigners into the balance against the landed interest. The tories pleaded that a conflux of aliens might prove dangerous to the constitution: that they would retain a fondness of their native countries, and, in times of war, act as spies and enemies: that they would insinuate themselves into places of trust and profit; become members of parliament; and by frequent intermarriages. contribute to the extinction of the English race: that they would add to the number of the poor, already so expensive; and share the bread of the labourers and tradesmen of England. § XLIV. An inquiry being set on foot in both houses, concerning the late intended invasion of Scotland, lord Haversham and the other tory members endeavoured to demonstrate, that proper precautions had not been taken for the security of that kingdom, even after the ministry had received undoubted intelligence of the pretender's design that since the attempt had miscarried, many persons of quality had been apprehended, and severely used by the government, on pretended suspicion of high treason; though in all probability, the aim of the ministry, in confining those persons, was to remove all possibility of their opposing the court at the ensuing elections for members of parliament. These assertions were supported by many incontested facts and shrewd arguments, notwithstanding which, the majority were so little disposed to find fault, that the inquiry issued in a joint address to the queen, containing resolutions, That timely and effectual care had been taken to disappoint the designs of her majesty's enemies, both at home and abroad. A bill, however, was brought into the house of lords, under the title of "An act for improving the union of the two "kingdoms." It related to trials for treason in Scotland, which by this law were regulated according to the manner of proceeding in England, with some small variation. The Scottish members opposed it as an encroachment upon the form of their laws: and they were joined by those who had laid it down as a maxim to oppose all the court measures nevertheless, the bill passed through both houses, and received the royal assent. Yet, in order to sweeten this unpalatable medicine, the queen consented to an act of grace, by which all treasons were pardoned, except those committed on the high seas: an exception levelled at those who had embarked with the pretender. Major general Webb, who had been defrauded of his due honour, in a partial representation of the battle of Wynendale, transmitted by Cardonnel, secretary to the duke of Marlborough, was now thanked by the house of commons for the great and eminent services which he had performed in that engagement. This motion was made by the tories; and the whigs did not fail to procure a compliment of the same nature to the duke of Marlborough, even before he returned to England. When the news of Ghent's being taken arrived, the lords and commons congratulated the queen on this last effort of a glorious campaign; and the duke, at his arrival, was thanked, in the name of the peers, by the lord chancellor. As he was supposed to have brought over proposals of peace, the two houses, in an address, desired the queen would insist on the demolition of Dunkirk, which was a nest of pirates that infested the ocean, and did infinite prejudice to the commerce of England. The queen promised to comply with their request. But she was not a little surprised at the next address they presented, humbly entreating, that she would have such indulgence to the hearty desires of her subjects, as to entertain thoughts of a second marriage. She told them, that the provision she had made for the protestant succession would always be a proof how much she had at heart the future happiness of the kingdom; but the subject of this address was of such a nature, that she was persuaded they did not expect a particular answer. § XLV. The laws having been found insufficient to punish capitally the authors of the insult offered to the k Burnet. Daniel. Hist. of the duke of Marlborough. Mil. Hist. Tindal. Conduct of the dutchess of Marlborongh. Feuquieres. Quincy. Lives of the Admirals. Hare. Voltaire. Muscovite ambassador, a bill was brought into the house of commons for preserving the privileges of ambassadors and other foreign ministers; and passed through both houses as did another, to prevent the laying of wagers relating to the public, a practice which had been carried to a degree of infatuation; and by which many unwary persons fell a sacrifice to crafty adventurers. On the fourteenth day of March the commons voted the sum of one hundred and three thousand two hundred and three pounds, for the relief of the inhabitants of Nevis and St. Christophers, who had suffered by the late invasion and on the twenty-first day of April the parliament was prorogued. The Muscovite ambassador continued to write expostulatory letters to Mr. Secretary Boyle, who at last owned, that the laws of the kingdom did not admit of such punishment as he demanded. An information was tried in the court of king's bench for her majesty against Thomas Morton, laceman, and thirteen other persons concerned in the insult, of which they were found guilty and the special matter of the privileges of ambassadors was to be argued next term before the judges. Meanwhile, the queen, by way of satisfaction to the czar, condescended to make solemn excuses by her ambassador: to repair Matueof's honour by a letter, and indemnify him for all his costs and damages: concessions with which the czar and his ambassador declared themselves well satisfied. The convocation had been summoned, chosen, and returned with the new parliament: but as the old spirit was supposed to prevail in the lower house, the queen, by writ to the archbishop, ordered him to prorogue it from time to time, until the session of parliament was finished. BOOK I. CHAP. X. 1 § I. Negotiation for peace ineffectual. II. The allied army besieges and takes Tournay. § III. The French are defeated at Malplaquet. § IV. Mons surrendered, V. Campaign in Spain. § VI. The French King's proposals of treating rejected by the States General. VII. Account of Dr. Sacheverel. § VIII. He is impeached by the Commons. 6IX. His trial. X. Debates upon it in the House of Lords. § XI. He is silenced for three years. § XII. Conferences at Gertruydenburgh. § XIII. Pride and obstinacy of the Dutch. XIV. Douay besieged and taken by the Confederates, as well as Bethune, Aire, and St. Venant. S XV. King Charles obtains a victory over Philip at Saragossa, and enters Madrid. § XVI. Battle of Villaviciosa. § XVII. The Whig Ministry disgraced. § XVIII. The Parliament is dissolved. § XIX. Meeting of the new Parliament. § XX. The Duke of Marlborough insulted and reviled. § XXI. Inquiry into the conduct of the war in Spain. § XXII. Severe votes in the House of Commons against those who invited over the poor Palatines. § XXIII. Harley stabbed at the Council board by Guiscard; and created Earl of Oxford. § XXIV. Death of the Emperor Joseph. § XXV. Representation by the Commons to the Queen. § XXVI. Proceedings in the Convocation. § XXVII. The Duke of Marlborough continues to command the allied army. § XXVIII. He surprises the French lines. § XXIX. Reduces Bouchain. § XXX. The Duke of Argyle commands the British troops in Spain. King Charles elected Emperor. § XXXI. Expedition to Canada. § XXXII. Insolence of the Jacobites in Scotland. § XXXIII. A negotiation set on foot between the Courts of France and England. § XXXIV. Prior is sent to Fontainbleau. § XXXV. Menager arrives privately in England. XXXVI. The French King's proposals disagreeable to the Allies. XXXVII. Violent debates upon them in the House of Lords. § XXXVIII. The Duke of Hamilton's title of Duke of Brandon disallowed. Bill against occasional Conformity passes. § XXXIX. Duke of Marlborough dismissed from all his employments. Twelve new Peers created. § XL. Prince Eugene of Savoy arrives in England. § XLI. Walpole expelled the House of Commons, § XLII. Votes against the Duke of Marlborough. § XLIII. Resolutions against the Barrier treaty and the Dutch. § XLIV. Acts unfavourable to the Presbyterian discipline in Scotland. I. THE French king was by this time reduced to such a state of humiliation by the losses of the last campaign, and a severe winter, which completed the misery of his subjects, that he resolved to sacrifice all the considerations of pride and ambition, as well as the interest of his grandson, to his desire of peace, which was now become so necessary and indispensable. He despatched the president Rouillé privately to Holland, with general proposals of peace, and the offer of a good barrier to the states general, still entertaining hopes of being able to detach them from the confederacy. This minister conferred in secret with Buys and Vanderdussen, the pensionaries of Amsterdam and Gouda, at Moerdyke, from whence he was permitted to proceed to Woerden, between Leyden and Utrecht. The States immediately communicated his proposals to the courts of Vienna and Great Britain. Prince Eugene and the duke of Marlborough arrived at the Hague in April, and conferred with the grand pensionary Heinsius, Buys, and Vanderdussen, on the subject of the French proposals, which were deemed unsatisfactory. Rouillé immediately despatched a courier to Paris, for further instructions; and the duke of Marlborough returned to England, to make the queen acquainted with the progress of the negotiation. Lewis, in order to convince the States of his sincerity, sent the marquis de Torcy, his secretary for foreign affairs, to the Hague, with fresh of |