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its settlement is absolutely necessary to a due appreciation of his character and principles, I intend to devote a few pages to the subject. His sentiments were not revealed by himself, not even to his friends; but they were gathered from certain indications in his conduct. It must, I think, be admitted, that some other feeling than the desire to preserve the Protestant religion, influenced William in his invasion. As long as King James had no son, the Prince expected the sovereignty for his wife; but when a male heir was born he evidently became alarmed. He, therefore, affected to believe, that the Prince of Wales was not the son of King James. In his declaration he stated, that he came to preserve the liberties of the people, and also to inquire into the birth of the Prince of Wales. After his accession, however, we hear no mention of the Prince of Wales. It may, I think, be argued, that if William had been only anxious to secure the liberties of the country and the safety of the Protestant religion, he might have been satisfied with a Regency, in which all power would have been vested in himself. But William, as we have seen, was prepared to leave the country, and consequently open the door to the unconditional return of King James, unless the crown were placed upon his own head. However we may revere his memory, for acting as our deliverer at an important crisis, we cannot close our eyes to the fact, that a feeling of ambition prompted him to undertake his expedition: nor can it be denied, that there was some foundation for the severe remarks which were made at the time on his proceedings. "I must needs say," observes a contemporary writer, "that the Prince's tenderness and zeal for the Protestant religion, and his compassionate care to secure it to us