y of Hanover, and that of
Vienna. He explained the nature of each engagement. He said the main
design of the treaty of commerce concluded between the emperor and the
king of Spain, was to countenance and support the East-India company
established at Ostend, which interfered so essentially with the
East-India companies of England and Holland, and was directly contrary
to several solemn treaties still in force. He enlarged upon the danger
to which the balance of power would be exposed, should the issue male
of this projected marriage between the houses of Austria and Spain ever
possess the imperial dignity and the kingdom of Spain together.
The reader will take notice that this very man was one of those who
exclaimed against that article of the treaty of Utrecht, which prevented
the power of those two houses from being immediately united in the
person of the emperor. He did not forget to expatiate upon the pretended
secret engagement concerning Gibraltar and Minorca, and the king's pious
concern for the distressed protestants of Thorn in Poland. In vain did
Mr. Shippen urge that the treaty of Hanover would engage the British
nation in a war for the defence of the king's German dominions, contrary
to an express provision made in the act of limitation. These arguments
had lost all weight. The opposition was so inconsiderable, that the
ministry had no reason to be in pain about any measure they should
propose. An address was voted and delivered to his majesty, approving
the alliance he had concluded at Hanover, in order to obviate and
disappoint the dangerous views and consequences of the treaty of peace
betwixt the emperor and the king of Spain: and promising to support his
majesty against all insults and attacks that should be made upon any of
his territories, though not belonging to the crown of Great Britain. An
address of the same kind was presented by the house of lords in a body.
A bill was brought in, empowering the commissioners of the treasury
to compound with Mr. Richard Hampden, late treasurer of the navy, for a
debt he owed to the crown, amounting to eight-and-forty thousand pounds.
This deficiency was occasioned by his embarking in the South-Sea scheme.
The king recommended his petition; and the house complied with his
request, in consideration of his great-grandfather, the famous John
Hampden, who made such a noble stand against the arbitrary measures of
the first Charles.

{GEORGE I, 1714--1727}

RIOTS