HISTORY OF THE WAR.
29
pJiies granted and raifed. Many trroxs and many abuies, which the war dilcovered without making fa- tal, were corrected. The fpirit of our officers was revived by fear or by (hame. Our trade was well pro- teded by the iuperiority, and pru- dent diilribation of our naval force. The revenue was frugally manag- ed, and the whole Hate well ce- mented and bound together in all its parts, by the union of the admi- niftration, by the patriotifm which animated it, and by the entire con- Jidence which the people had in the prefiding abilities and intentions. As France perfiited in her attach- ment to the enemies of his Pruffian majeily, Great Britain entered into ftill clofer engagements with that monarch, the luftre of whofe vir- tues, fet off by his late wonderful fuccefies, quite turned our eyes from the objedions which were railed againil; the confillency of that al- liance with our interefts. How far it is confident with them, is, I think, a much more difficult point to fettle, than the adherents to either party feem willing to allow. But it ought to be confidered, that the circumltances of affairs in the be- ginning of the war hardly admit- ted of any other choice ; it had been the height of madnefs to have been on ill terms with his Pruffian majefty at that time; and it v.as impofiible to have kept good terms with him, without being on very bad ones with Vienna. Thino-s
o
were in an ill fituation ; and the balance of Germ.any was in dan- ger of being overfet, what party foever ihould prevail. It was im- poffible that England could have Icood neuter in this contelt ; if {he had, France could not have imi- tated her moderation ; fhe would gladly have joioed with the King
of Pruffia to diftrefs Hanover and reduce Auftria. Thefe two powers fo exerted would doubtlefs com- pafs their end, unlefs we interpofed to prevent it; and we mull fooner or later have interpofed, unlefs we were refolved tamely to fee France and her allies giving laws to the continent. In a word, France would certainly have joined with one par- ty or the other, and the party which fhe joined, would certainly, by that union, prove dangerous to the common liberty, and muft there- fore be oppcfed by us; we muft have been in fpite of us engaged in the troubles of Germany, as we ever have been and ever fhall be as long as we are a people of con- fideration in Europe. The alliance with Pruffia was pointed out to us by the circumftances of his ading on the defenfive. The King of Pruffia meditated no conquelb. But her Imperial majefly indifputably aimed at the recovery of Sileiia, Vv'hich was to difturb the fettled or- der of things; and this defign was the only caufe of the troubles in that part of the world. I am fen- fible, that this is, notwithftanding all that may be faid, a queftion of lome intricacy, and requires a con- fideration of many more particu- lars than the brevity of our de- fign will allow. But whether we chofe our party in this alliance ju- dicioully or nor, we have I ima- gine very great reafon to be pleaf- ed with a meafiue, which has in- duced France to engage fo deeply in the affairs of Germany, at fo ruinous an expence of her bloo<J and treafure. Our miniftry was at this time fully convinced of the^ prudence of the choice that had been made, and refolved to fupport his Pruffian majefty, and the army under Prince Ferdinand, in the D 4 moil
