Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/47

 success at the head of his army against the Imperialists. He had just entered into a close alliance with Russia: had the phantom of a balance of power been the foible of these days, such an alliance would have alarmed all Europe; but it had no other effect than making the King of Great Britain very jealous of his neighbour. Spain was in profound peace, excepting a temporary disturbance, which arose from a third rebellion of the Portuguese, but it was quelled with very little trouble; and the conquered nation saw not the least hopes of regaining their independence.

The peace of Italy was almost at an end: the preparations that were making by the two Kings of Venice and Sicily prognosticated the renewal of their quarrel. The patrimony of St. Peter which had so long been wrested from the church, was again likely to be the scene of devastation. It was supposed that Venice