Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 4.djvu/158

144 great party in it; that great sums of money came over this winter from France; the packet-boat seldom came without ten thousand louis d'ors; it brought often more; the nation was filled with them, and in six months time a million of guineas were coined out of them. The merchants, indeed, said the balance of trade was then so much turned to our side, that whereas we were wont to carry over a million of money in specie, we then sent no money to France, and had at least half that sum sent over to balance the trade. Yet this did not account for that vast flood of French gold that was visible amongst us; and upon the French ambassador's going away, a sensible alteration was found in bills of exchange, so that it was concluded that great remittances were made to him, and that these were distributed amongst those who were resolved to merit a share of that wealth which came over now so copiously, beyond example of former times."

Different modes have been suggested to account for this remarkable influx of French gold, and its disappearance with the ambassador, without supposing any bribery. One was, the increased demand for our manufactures since the peace of Ryswick, the change being, therefore, now in our favour, and the king issuing a proclamation forbidding the circulation of this gold, which speedily turned it into guineas. But all this does not explain the unexampled influx of it precisely at this moment, when it was of consequence to Louis to discourage a renewed war against him; and as he was known to have been greatly in the habit of bribing even kings, ministers, and parliament, the suspicion on this occasion was probably well founded.

In his opening speech William informed the parliament that the death of the duke of Gloucester had rendered it necessary that they should take into consideration the succession to the crown after him and the princess Anne, who had now no heir. That the happiness of the nation and the security of the protestant religion made it the subject of the highest importance. The subject of next importance, and scarcely inferior, he said, was the death of the late king of Spain, and the succession arranged by his will, which had made so great an alteration in affairs abroad, as demanded their most serious consideration for the interests and safety of England, and the preservation of the peace of Europe and of the protestant religion. That these great topics might have due consideration, he had desired that they should receive it in a new parliament. He next referred to the necessity for making a proper provision for the current expenditure, and for the reduction of the debt, and recommended them to put the fleet into effective condition.

The electress Sophia of Hanover, the next in succession to Anne, was the daughter of Frederick, the prince palatine, and Elizabeth, queen of Bohemia, therefore granddaughter of James I. No sooner did Sophia hear of the death of the duke of Gloucester, than she took with her her daughter, the electress of Brandenburg, and made a visit to William at Loo. She had a twofold object, to obtain his promise of favouring her succession to the crown of England, and his acknowledgment of Brandenburg as a kingdom under the name of Prussia, a favour which the emperor, as we have seen, had already conceded. William seems to have assured her of his intention to support both her claim to the English crown, and that of her daughter to the title of queen of Prussia, and immediately left for England. At the same time the court of St. Germains was on the alert to get the prince of Wales accepted, and the Jacobites of England dispatched Mr. F. Graham, a brother of the late lord Preston, to James, to make certain proposals regarding the succession of the prince of Wales. It was proposed that he should be sent to England and there educated in protestantism; but this condition James was certain not to agree to, and accordingly the whole scheme fell to the ground. It is said that the princess Anne was favourable to the prince's succession could he have been brought up a protestant; but his parents declared that they would rather see him dead.

The tories, who were averse to a new continental war, appear to have held a large meeting, to propose an address to his majesty, praying him to acknowledge the new king of Spain; and had they done this, they would probably have found the king ready to listen to them, for the States were urging him to do the same thing. But though the proposition was warmly advocated, a Mr. Monckton happening to say that if they carried this motion, the next he supposed would be to recommend the acknowledgment of the prince of Wales, the idea appeared to startle the meeting, and the matter was dropped. But the whig party was still inclined to a war. They had been the advocates and supporters of the former one; they knew that William was strongly inclined to it, and that to support him was the way to regain his favour. Besides, Marlborough was anxious to distinguish himself at the head of an army; he had now secretly gone over to the whigs, and had their support. The whigs saw the fast-failing health of William, and looked towards the rising sun—the princess Anne, with whom the Marlboroughs were everything. A strong spirit of war, therefore, manifested itself in the commons in spite of the inclinations of ministers. Secretary Vernon, writing to the earl of Manchester at Paris, told him that so great a spirit had rarely been seen in the house of commons for supporting the interests of England and Holland; and this was fully borne out by a unanimous vote of the house on the 24th of February, declaring that it would stand by the king and support him in all such measures as went to maintain the independence of England, the security of the protestant religion, and the peace of Europe. The question, however, of the best mode of maintaining peace, whether by conceding the French claims on Spain, or arming to resist them, was warmly debated by the different factions. William was agreeably surprised at the tone of the house, and on the 17th he informed them of his satisfaction at their assurances, which he took to be important for the honour and safety of England, for William always talked of the honour of England when he meant that of Holland. He then handed to them the pressing memorial of the States-General to him, to acknowledge the duke of Anjou as the king of Spain. They had themselves agreed to do this, in terror lest the French should march over their naked frontiers; yet they told William that they would do nothing without his consent and approbation. They counted, however, fully on this, and painted earnestly the dangers to which they were