d
at Rys-wick, and even demolish the fortifications of Strasburgh. The
ministers of the allies, rendered proud and wanton by success, and
seeing their own private interest in the continuation of the war,
insisted upon the restitution of the Upper and Lower Alsace to the
empire; upon the French monarch's restoring Strasburgh in its present
condition; upon his ceding the town and castellany of Lisle, demolishing
Dunkirk, New Brisac, Fort-Louis, and Hunningen. In a word, their
demands were so insolent, that Louis would not have suffered them to be
mentioned in his hearing, had not he been reduced to the last degree
of distress. One can hardly read them without feeling a sentiment of
compassion for that monarch, who had once given law to Europe, and
been so long accustomed to victory and conquest. Notwithstanding the
discouraging despatches he had received from the president Rouille,
after his first conferences with the deputies, he could not believe
that the Dutch would be so blind to their own interest, as to reject the
advantages in commerce, and the barrier which he had offered. He could
not conceive that they would choose to bear the burden of excessive
taxes in prosecuting a war, the events of which would always be
uncertain, rather than enjoy the blessings of peace, security, and
advantageous commerce: he flattered himself that the allies would not so
far deviate from their purposed aim of establishing a balance of power,
as to throw such an enormous weight into the scale of the house of
Austria, which cherished all the dangerous ambition and arbitrary
principles, without the liberality of sentiment peculiar to the house of
Bourbon. In proportion as they rose in their demands, Louis fell in his
condescension. His secretary of state, the marquis de Torcy, posted
in disguise to Holland, on the faith of a common blank passport. He
solicited, he soothed, he supplicated, and made concessions in the
name of his sovereign. He found the states were wholly guided by the
influence of prince Eugene and the duke of Marlborough. He found these
generals elated, haughty, overbearing, and implacable. He in private
attacked the duke of Marlborough on his weakest side: he offered to
that nobleman a large sum of money, provided he would effect a peace
on certain conditions. The proposal was rejected. The duke found his
enemies in England increasing, and his credit at court in the wane; and
he knew that nothing but a continuation of the