a design in which all the most considerable families of the
nation were deeply engaged. The parliament having taken their case into
consideration, sent an address to his majesty representing the hardships
to which the company had been exposed, explaining how far the nation in
general was concerned in the design, and entreating that he would take
such measures as might effectually vindicate the undoubted rights and
privileges of the company. This address was seconded by a petition from
the company itself, praying that his majesty would give some intimation
to the senate of Hamburgh, permitting the inhabitants of that city to
renew the subscriptions they had withdrawn; that, as a gracious mark of
his royal favour to the company, he would bestow upon them two small
frigates then lying useless in the harbour of Burnt Island; and that,
in consideration of the obstructions they had encountered, he would
continue their privileges and immunities for such longer time as should
seem reasonable to his majesty. Though the commissioner was wholly
devoted to the king, who had actually resolved to ruin this company,
he could not appease the resentment of the nation; and the heats of
parliament became so violent that he was obliged to adjourn it to the
fifth day of November. In this interval the directors of the company,
understanding from their agent at Hamburgh that the address of the
parliament and their own petition had produced no effect in their
favour, wrote a letter of complaint to the lord Seafield, secretary
of state, observing that they had received repeated assurances of the
king's having given orders to his resident at Hamburgh touching their
memorial, and entreating the interposition of his lordship that justice
might be done to the company. The secretary in his answer promised to
take the first convenient opportunity of representing the affair to his
majesty; but he said this could not be immediately expected, as the
king was much engaged in the affairs of the English parliament. This
declaration the directors considered, as it really was, a mere evasion,
which helped to alienate the minds of that people from the king's person
and government.

{WILLIAM, 1688--1701.}

HE EMBARKS FOR HOLLAND.

King William at this time revolved in his own mind a project of far
greater consequence to the interest of Europe--namely, that of settling
the succession to the throne of Spain, which in a little time would
be vacated by t