French
armies on the Rhine, implored succours of the czarina, who sent thirty
thousand men to his assistance. This vigorous interposition, and the
success of Augustus in Poland, disposed the court of Versailles to a
pacification. A secret negotiation was begun between France and
the house of Austria; and the preliminaries were signed without the
concurrence or knowledge of Spain, Sardinia, and the maritime powers.
In these articles it was stipulated that France should restore all the
conquests she had made in Germany; that the reversion of the dukedom of
Tuscany should be vested in the duke of Lorraine; that Lorraine should
be allotted to king Stanislaus, and after his death be united to the
crown of France; that the emperor should possess the Milanese, the
Mantuan, and Parma; that the king of Sardinia should enjoy Vigevano
and Novara; that Don Carlos should be acknowledged king of Naples and
Sicily, and retain the island of Elba, with all the Spanish territories
on the coast of Tuscany; and that France should guarantee the pragmatic
sanction.

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

The king of Great Britain returned from Hanover to England in the month
of November; and on the fifteenth day of January opened the session of
parliament. On this occasion he congratulated them on the near prospect
of a general peace in Europe in consequence of the preliminary articles
which the emperor and the king of France had agreed; and of which he had
expressed his approbation, as they did not differ in any essential
point from the plan of pacification which he and the states-general
had offered to the belligerent powers. He told them that he had already
ordered a considerable reduction to be made in his forces both by
sea and land; but at the same time observed it would be necessary to
continue some extraordinary expense, until a more perfect reconciliation
should be established among the several powers of Europe. An address of
thanks was unanimously voted, presented, and graciously received. After
the house had received several petitions from different counties and
gentlemen, complaining of undue influence in elections for members of
parliament, it proceeded to consider of the supply, and sir Charles
Wager moving that fifteen thousand seaman should be employed for
the service of the ensuing year, the proposal was approved without
opposition. But this was not the case with a motion made by Mr.
Pulteney, "That the ordinary estimates of t