tion; at least, she had
a right to consult the welfare of her own kingdom, in delivering, by a
separate peace, her subjects from those enormous loads which they could
no longer sustain; and she was well enough aware of her own consequence,
to think she could not obtain advantageous conditions.

THE QUEEN'S MEASURES OBSTRUCTED.

Such were the sentiments of the queen; and her ministers seem to have
acted on the same principles, though perhaps party motives may have
helped to influence their conduct. The allies concurred in opposing with
all their might any treaty which could not gratify their different views
of avarice, interest, and ambition. They practised a thousand little
artifices to intimidate the queen, to excite a jealousy of Louis,
to blacken the characters of her ministers, to raise and keep up a
dangerous ferment among the people, by which her life and government
were endangered. She could not fail to resent these efforts, which
greatly perplexed her measures, and obstructed her design. Her ministers
were sensible of the dangerous predicament in which they stood. The
queen's health was much impaired; and the successor countenanced the
opposite faction. In case of their sovereign's death, they had nothing
to expect but prosecution and ruin for obeying her commands; they
they saw no hope of safety, except in renouncing their principles, and
submitting to their adversaries; or else in taking such measures as
would hasten the pacification, that the troubles of the kingdom might be
appeased, and the people be satisfied with their conduct, before death
should deprive them of their sovereign's protection. With this view
they advised her to set on foot a private negotiation with Louis, to
stipulate certain advantages for her own subjects in a concerted plan of
peace; to enter into such mutual confidence with that monarch, as would
anticipate all clandestine transactions to her prejudice, and in some
measure enable her to prescribe terms for her allies. The plan was
judiciously formed; but executed with too much precipitation. The
stipulated advantages were not such as she had a right to demand and
insist upon; and without all doubt better might have been obtained, had
not the obstinacy of the allies abroad, and the violent conduct of the
whig faction at home, obliged the ministers to relax in some material
points, and hasten the conclusion of the treaty.

DEATH OF THE DAUPHIN AND HIS SON.

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