of the Spaniards, my lords, has been also much enlarged
upon, but the strength of the jacobites at home has been passed over in
silence, though it is apparent how easily the pretender might have
landed here, and with what warmth his cause would have been espoused,
not only by those whose religion avowed and professed makes them the
enemies of the present royal family, but by many whom prospects of
interest, the love of novelty, and rage of disappointment, might have
inclined to a change.

That no such stipulations were made by that treaty, that no injury was
intended to our commerce, nor any invasion proposed in favour of the
pretender, are very bold assertions, and though they could be supported
by all the evidence that negatives admit of, yet will not easily be
believed by your lordships, in opposition to the solemn assurances of
his late majesty. It is evident, from this instance, how much prejudice
prevails over argument; they are ready to condemn the right honourable
gentleman to whom they give the title of sole minister, upon the
suffrage of common fame, yet will not acquit him upon the testimony of
the king himself.

But, my lords, the arguments alleged to prove the improbability of such
a confederacy, are so weak in themselves, that they require no such
illustrious evidence to overbalance them. For upon what are they
founded, but upon the impossibility of executing such designs?

It is well known, my lords, how differently different parties consider
the same cause, the same designs, and the same state of affairs. Every
man is partial in favour of his own equity, strength, and sagacity. Who
can show that the same false opinion of their own power, and of our
intestine divisions, which now prompts the Spaniards to contend with us,
might not then incite them to invade us, or at least to countenance the
attempts of one, whom they are industriously taught to believe the
greatest part of the nation is ready to receive?

That they might have injured our trade is too evident from our present
experience, and that they would have supported the Ostend company, which
they espoused in an open manner, is undeniable. Nor is it in the least
unlikely, that, elated with the certain power of doing much mischief,
and with the imaginary prospects of far greater effects, they might
engage in a confederacy, and farther attempts against us.

I am far from imagining, my lords, that it was in the power of the
Germans and Spaniards u