their quotas, breaking their stipulations, garrisoning the towns we took for them, without supplying their troops; with many other infringements: all which were we forced to submit to, because the general was made easy; because the monied men at home were fond of the war; because the whigs were not yet firmly settled; and because that exorbitant degree of power, which was built upon a supposed necessity of employing particular persons, would go off in a peace. It is needless to add, that the emperor, and other princes, followed the example of the Dutch, and succeeded as well, for the same reasons.
I have here imputed the continuance of the war to the mutual indulgence between our general and allies, wherein they both so well found their accounts; to the fears of the moneychangers, lest their tables should be overthrown; to the designs of the whigs, who apprehended the loss of their credit and employments in a peace; and to those at home, who held their immoderate engrossments of power and favour by no other tenure, than their own presumption upon the necessity of affairs. The truth of this will appear indisputable, by considering with what unanimiity and concert these several parties acted toward that great end.
When the vote passed in the house of lords against any peace without Spain being restored[1] to the Austrian family, the earl of Wharton told the house, that it was indeed impossible and impracticable to recover Spain; but however, there were certain reasons why such a vote should be made at that time; which
- ↑ It should be 'without Spain's being restored' &c. or, 'without the restoration of Spain to the Austrian family.'
