use his interest with the emperor and the empress-queen,
that, in consideration of the immense losses and damages his most serene
highness had suffered since the French invaded his country, and of the
great sums he should lose with England in arrears and subsidies by this
accommodation, he might be excused from furnishing his contingent to the
army of the empire, as well as from paying the Roman months granted by
the diet of the empire; and if, in resentment of this convention, the
states of his serene highness should be attacked, his most christian
majesty should afford the most speedy and effectual succours.--These
proposals will speak for themselves to the reader's apprehension; and if
he is not blinded by the darkest mists of prejudice, exhibit a clear and
distinct idea of a genuine German ally. The landgrave of Hesse-Cassel
had been fed with the good things of England, even in time of peace,
when his friendship could not avail, nor his aversion prejudice, the
interests of Great Britain; but he was retained in that season of
tranquillity as a friend, on whose services the most implicit dependence
might be placed in any future storm or commotion. How far he merited
this confidence and favour might have been determined by reflecting on
his conduct during the former war: in the course of which his troops
were hired to the king of Great Britain and his enemies alternately,
as the scale of convenience happened to preponderate. Since the
commencement of the present troubles, he had acted as a mercenary to
Great Britain, although he was a principal in the dispute, and stood
connected with her designs by solemn treaty, as well as by all the ties
of gratitude and honour; but now that the cause of Hanover seemed to be
on the decline, and his own dominions had suffered by the fate of the
war, he not only appeared willing to abandon his benefactor and ally,
but even sued to be enlisted in the service of his adversary. This
intended defection was, however, prevented by a sudden turn of fortune,
which he could not possibly foresee; and his troops continued to act in
conjunction with the Hanoverians.

TREATY BETWEEN THE FRENCH KING AND THE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK.

The landgrave of Hesse-Cassel was not singular in making such advances
to the French monarch. The duke of Brunswick, still more nearly
connected with the king of Great Britain, used such uncommon expedition
in detaching himself from the tottering fortune of Hanover, tha