About this time, as is well known, the king of France diſmiſſed Choiſeul from his employments. What effect this revolution of the French court had upon the Spaniſh counſels, I pretend not to be informed. Choiſeul had always profeſſed pacific diſpoſitions, nor is it certain, however it maybe ſuſpected, that he talked in different ſtrains to different parties.
It ſeems to be almoſt the univerſal error of hiſtorians to ſuppoſe it politically, as it is phyſically true, that every effect has a proportionate cauſe. In the inanimate action of matter upon matter, the motion produced can be but equal to the force of the moving power; but the operations of life, whether private or publick, admit no ſuch laws. The caprices of voluntary agents laugh at calculation. It is not always that there is a ſtrong reaſon for a great event. Obſtinacy and flexibility, malignity and kindneſs, give place alternately to each other, and the reaſon of theſe
