D A NEW PARLIAMENT.

How warmly soever king William resented the conduct of the French king,
in accepting the will so diametrically opposite to his engagements,
he dissembled his chagrin; and behaved with such reserve and apparent
indifference, that some people naturally believed he had been privy to
the transaction. Others imagined that he was discouraged from engaging
in a new war by his bodily infirmities, which daily increased, as well
as by the opposition in parliament to which he should be inevitably
exposed. But his real aim was to conceal his sentiments until he should
have sounded the opinions of other powers in Europe, and seen how far
he could depend upon his new ministry. He now seemed to repose his chief
confidence in the earl of Rochester, who had undertaken for the
tories, and was declared lord-lieutenant of Ireland. Lord Godolphin was
appointed first commissioner of the treasury, lord Tankerville succeeded
lord Lonsdale, lately deceased, as keeper of the privy-seal, and sir
Charles Hedges was declared secretary of state, in the room of the earl
of Jersey; but the management of the commons was intrusted to Mr. Robert
Harley, who had hitherto opposed the measures of the court with equal
virulence and ability. These new undertakers, well knowing they should
find it very difficult, if not impossible, to secure a majority in
the present parliament, prevailed on the king to dissolve it by
proclamation; then the sheriffs were changed according to their
nomination, and writs issued for a new parliament to meet on the sixth
day of February. During this interval, count Wratislaw arrived in
England, as ambassador from the emperor, to explain Leopold's title to
the Spanish monarchy, supported by repeated entails and renunciations,
confirmed in the most solemn treaties. This minister met with a very
cold reception from those who stood at the helm of affairs. They sought
to avoid all connexions, that might engage their country as a principal
in another war upon the Continent; smarting as they were from the
losses and incumbrances which the last had entailed upon them and their
posterity. They seemed to think that Louis, rather than involve himself
in fresh troubles, would give all the security that could be desired for
maintaining the peace of Europe; or even should this be refused, they
saw no reason for Britain exhausting her wealth and strength to support
a chimerical balance, in which her interest was but remotely