ated
by his emissaries, that the emperor resolved to make himself master of
Naples before the allies should have it in their power to close with the
proposals of France. This was the true motive of his concluding a treaty
with Louis in the succeeding winter, by which the Milanese was entirely
evacuated, and the French king at liberty to employ those troops
in making strong efforts against the confederates in Spain and the
Netherlands. The Dutch were intoxicated with success, and their
pensionary, Heinsius, entirely influenced by the duke of Marlborough,
who found his account in the continuance of the war, which at once
gratified his warice and ambition; for all his great qualities were
obscured by the sordid passion of accumulating wealth. During the whole
war the allies never had such an opportunity as they now enjoyed to
bridle the power of France effectually, and secure the liberties of
the empire; and indeed, if their real design was to establish an equal
balance between the houses of Austria and Bourbon, it could not have
been better effected than by dividing the Spanish monarchy between these
two potentates. The accession of Spain, with all its appendages, to
either, would have destroyed the equilibrium which the allies proposed
to establish. But other motives contributed to a continuation of the
war. The powers of the confederacy were fired with the ambition of
making conquests; and England in particular thought herself intitled to
an imdemnification for the immense sums she had expended. Animated
by these concurring considerations, queen Anne and the states-general
rejected the offers of France; and declared that they would not enter
into any negotiation for peace, except in concert with their allies.

MEETING OF THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT.

The tories of England began to meditate schemes of opposition against
the duke of Marlborough. They looked upon him as a selfish nobleman, who
sacrificed the interest of the nation, in protracting a ruinous war
for his own private advantage. They saw their country oppressed with an
increasing load of taxes, which they apprehended would in a little time
become an intolerable burden; and they did not doubt but at this period
such terms might be obtained as would fully answer the great purpose of
the confederacy. This indeed was the prevailing opinion among all the
sensible people of the nation who were not particularly interested in
the prosecution of the war, either by be