Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 3.djvu/377

Another instance of the emperor's indifference, or rather dislike to the common cause of the allies, is the business of Toulon. This design was indeed discovered here at home, by a person whom every body knows to be the creature of a certain great man, at least as much noted for his skill in gaming, as in politicks, upon the base mercenary end of getting money by wagers; which was then so common a practice, that I remember a gentleman in business, who having the curiosity to inquire how wagers went upon the Exchange, found some people deep in the secret to have been concerned in that kind of traffick; as appeared by premiums named for towns, which nobody but those behind the curtain could suspect. However, although this project had gotten wind by so scandalous a proceeding, yet Toulon might probably have been taken, if the emperor had not thought fit, in that very juncture, to detach twelve or fifteen thousand men to seize Naples, as an enterprise that was more his private and immediate interest. But it was manifest, that his imperial majesty had no mind to see Toulon in possession of the allies; for, even with these discouragements, the attempt might yet have succeeded, if prince Eugene had not thought fit to oppose it; which cannot be imputed to his own judgment, but to some politick reasons of his court. The duke of Savoy was for attacking the enemy as soon as our army arrived; but when the mareschal de Thesse's troops were all come up, to pretend to besiege the place in the condition we were at that time, was a farce and a jest. Had Toulon fallen then into our hands, the maritime power of France would in a great measure have been destroyed.