and defensive, for their common preservation; and invite into it all
the princes and states that were concerned in the present visible danger
arising from the union of Franco and Spain. They exhorted him to
enter into such alliances with the emperor as his majesty should think
necessary, pursuant to the ends of the treaty concluded in the year
1689. They assured him of their hearty and sincere assistance, not
doubting that Almighty God would protect his sacred person in so
righteous a cause; and that the unanimity, wealth, and courage of
his subjects would carry him with honour and success through all the
difficulties of a just war. Lastly, they took leave humbly to represent,
that the dangers to which his kingdom and allies had been exposed, were
chiefly owing to the fatal counsels that prevented his majesty's sooner
meeting his people in parliament.

These proceedings of both houses could not but be very agreeable to the
king, who expressed his satisfaction in his answer to each apart. They
were the more remarkable, as at this very time considerable progress was
made in a design to impeach the old ministry. This deviation therefore
from the tenour of their former conduct, could be owing to no other
motive than a sense of their own danger, and resentment against France,
which, even during the negotiation, had been secretly employed in making
preparations to surprise and distress the states-general. The commons
having expressed their sentiments on this subject, resumed the
consideration of the partition treaty. They had appointed a committee
to examine the journals of the house of lords, and to report their
proceedings in relation to the treaty of partition. When the report was
made by sir Edward Seymour, the house resolved itself into a committee
to consider the state of the nation; after warm debates they resolved,
That William earl of Portland, by negotiating and concluding the treaty
of partition, was guilty of a high crime and misdemeanor. They ordered
sir John Leveson Gower to impeach him at the bar of the house of lords;
and named a committee to prepare the articles of his impeachment. Then,
in a conference with the lords, they desired to know the particulars of
what had passed between the earl of Portland and secretary Vernon, in
relation to the partition treaty, as also what other information they
had obtained concerning negotiations or treaties of partition of the
Spanish monarchy. The lords demurring to this