Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 4.djvu/138

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130
HISTORY OF THE FOUR

out the whole dominions of Spain, as they enjoyed before the death of Charles II., king of Spain, by virtue of any treaty, agreement, or custom, or any other way whatsoever. For the obtaining of these ends, the three confederated powers engaged to assist one another with their whole force, according to such proportions as should be specified in a particular convention afterwards to be made for that purpose. We do not find that any such convention was ever ratified: but it appears, that there was an agreement concluded, which, by common consent, was understood to be binding upon each party respectively, and according to which, the proportions of Great Britain were from the beginning regulated and founded. The terms of that agreement were, That for the service at land, his imperial majesty should furnish ninety thousand, men, the king of Great Britain forty thousand, and the States General one hundred and two thousand: of which there were forty-two thousand intended to supply their garrisons, and sixty thousand to act against the common enemy in the field; and with regard to the operations of the war at sea, they were agreed to be performed jointly by Great Britain and the States General, the quota of ships to be furnished for that service being five-eighths on the part of Great Britain, and three-eighths on the part of the States General.

"Upon this foot, the war began in the year 1702; at which time, the whole yearly expense of it to England, amounted to three millions seven hundred and six thousand four hundred

" ninety-