e sum for the like purposes from the
states-general of the United Provinces. The empress-queen could not help
remonstrating against this demand as exorbitant in itself, and the more
unreasonable, as the elector palatine, at the death of her father, had
openly declared against the pragmatic sanction, which he had guaranteed
in the most solemn manner; she therefore observed, that the damage he
had sustained in consequence of that declaration, ought to be considered
as the common fate of war. These reasons, though conclusive and
irrefragable in the usual way of arguing, made no impression upon the
palatine, who perfectly well understood his own importance, and
was determined to seize this opportunity of turning it to the best
advantage. The court of Vienna, and the maritime powers, finding him
thus obstinately attached to his own interest, resolved to bring him
over to their views at any rate, and commenced a negotiation with him,
which produced a formal treaty. By this convention his demands in money
were fixed at twelve hundred thousand Dutch florins, to be paid at
three instalments: five hundred thousand by the empress-queen, and the
remaining seven hundred thousand by the king of Great Britain and
the states-general, according to the proportion established in former
treaties. The privilege of _Non appellendo_ for the duchy of Deux-ponts
was confirmed to his electoral highness, together with some other rights
and pretensions, in consideration of his concurring with the other
electors in the choice of a king of the Romans, to be elected according
to the customs prescribed by the laws and constitutions of the empire.
He likewise engaged to join them in settling the articles of the
capitulation with the king of the Romans, emperor _in futuro_. Yet, even
after the concurrence of this prince was secured, the purposed election
proved abortive, from the strong objections that were started, and the
strenuous opposition which was made by his Prussian majesty, who perhaps
aspired in secret at the imperial dignity, which the empress-queen took
all this pains to perpetuate in her own family.

{1753}

SESSION OPENED.

The king of Great Britain returning from the continent, opened the
session of parliament on the eleventh day of January, with a speech,
implying that all his views and negotiations had been calculated and
directed to preserve and secure the duration of the general peace, so
agreeable and necessary to the welfa