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A.D. 1701. exposed by any opposition to France, and called on him to supply the English aid secured to them by treaty.

To rouse the John Bullism of the commons, a weak, vain-glorious, and maudlin sentiment of false magnanimity, which is so easily kindled in the English mind, and which has been so fatally employed by statesmen on all occasions, to plunge the nation into ruinous and useless wars for thankless neighbours, who ought to have taken care of themselves, William, at the same time that he presented the Dutch memorial, also presented a letter of the contemptible Lord Melfort. This was addressed to his brother, the earl of Perth, the governor of the prince of Wales. The letter had been mislaid, and came by accident in the English mail. It expressed the opinion that this was a noble opportunity for a fresh descent on England. That William was hated by all classes of his subjects, that France was exasperated at him for his opposition to the Spanish succession, and was actually fitting out a vast fleet. That this fleet would be absolute master of the seas for the whole of the summer, because the English had reduced their naval force to a mere cypher, and even were they otherwise ready, would lose the whole summer in long debates on the matter instead of getting ready.



That the Dutch, unsupported by the English, dare not stir out of port; they were trembling even for their safety on land. That there was plenty of money, plenty of stores, and plenty of men full of zeal for the undertaking. That in private conversations with Madame de Maintenon, the king of France's mistress, he learnt that Louis was ready to second all James's wishes, if he could only be persuaded that James himself and his subjects were agreed on the matter. The only thing, Melfort said, that was wanting, was that James should have some one of ability and information who should make out statements of the feasibility of the enterprise, which would convince Louis and Madame, and show not only how easy it would be, but how glorious to France, and beneficial to the catholic religion. He represented lord Middleton, James's minister, as wholly unfitted for this task; as "lazy in his temper, an enemy to France by inclination, tainted with commonwealth principles, and against the