Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/230

 ii6 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1753.

ftbe King of England's CcnJuSi as E!-'^ r cf Hancver ; in an/iver to ii-: Parallel of the Coudu£l of the King of France nuith that of the Kir.g 'f England, Ehaor f Hant.'ver.

THE condufl cf his majefty ihf King of Great Bri'n' i, Eleflor of Brunfwick and Lunen- bourg, vv'tb regard to the troubles oftheemp.ff, gdve no rcaflon to think that France could hope to be a gain'T by a parallfl of that con- duft with her own. She has, how- ever, i-ridertak'-n this compariron. The puDiic has leen the memorial publ fted by Frn.nce under the ti- tle of d Parallel of the King's Con- du£l m-ith that of the Kng of Eng- land, relati've to the breach of ti:e capitulation cf Clcjier-fe-utn by the Hanoverians,

In the introdifclion to this piece we are sfTured, that it was merely from moderation, and to avoid the kindling of animofnies, that the publication of it was fo long delay- ed. Indeed, in feverai places of this piece, the Uyli and expreffions are far from being conformable to that regard which crowned headf, though at war, owe one to another. As to the things themfelves, fo lit- tle regard is paid to truth, that we are certain they will not have the promifed efFeft.

His Britannic msjefty has too great a value for the judgment which the public forms of the ac- tions of the greateft monarchs, and which poflerity will make with fiill greater freedom, not to let chem icnow the motives upon which he has afted, and which render his fondu^irreproachable. It is there-

fore, with the greateft readinefs, that he feizes an opportunity which France furnifhes hin^, to expofe them to the view of Europe. Very different from thofe v.ho have at- tacked him with animofity, he will ufe the language cf modera- tion. The truth, f'^'t in its proper m light, carries fo .ftrong co.r. iction ■

wiih it, that it lofes nothing by a fiiTipIe and difpaflionate relation. It will be fufficieiic fimply to relate what is part, to make appear wltich fide jullice is on, and to whom aie to be imputed the torren ts of blood that have been fpiit, and which in ; all probability v\.ill yet dye the earth.

The troubles appeafed by the late treaty o\ Aix-la Chapelle, are too recent tobeyetf ngot. France, which, notwiihllanding the conti- , nun) wars which Lev.isXIII. Lewis XIV. and Lewis XV. made on the empire, notwithftanding the defo- lations which (he has caufed, and the provinces which fhe has taken from it, thinks, however, that (he may give herfelf the title of Jn- ciCttt Friend and Ally of the Empire ; France, which makes no fcruple to advance that the private ambition of princes, who continually excited the two houfes of France and Au- %■ ftria againft one another, was the fl chief caufe of their divifions, and I of the wars which fo long defolaied :

Europe, and efpecially Germany; France,\vithoi|tbeing eyciied there* to, attempted, at the death of the Emperor Charles VI. to make her- felf millrefs of that fvjperiority of dominion which ll;e always had irt view. $he would have obtained her end, had ihe been able to di- vide the eftates of the houfe of Auftria, among the different princes J who formeil prctcnfions to them, \

and