as guarantee of the treaty of Ryswick, to complain of this manifest
violation. At the same time he recalled the earl of Manchester from
Paris, and ordered him to return without taking an audience of leave.
That nobleman immediately withdrew, after having intimated to the
marquis de Torcy the order he had received. Louis, in vindication of his
own conduct, dispersed through all the courts of Europe a manifesto,
in which he affirmed, that in owning the prince of Wales as king of
England, he had not infringed any article of the treaty of Ryswick, He
confessed that in the fourth article he had promised that he would not
disturb the king of Great Britain in the peaceable possession of his
dominions; and he declared his intention was to observe that promise
punctually. He observed that his generosity would not allow him to
abandon the prince of Wales or his family; that he could not refuse
him a title which was due to him by birth; that he had more reason to
complain of the king of Great Britain and the states-general, whose
declarations and preparations in favour of the emperor might be regarded
as real contraventions to treaties; finally, he quoted some instances
from history in which the children enjoyed the titles of kingdoms
which their fathers had lost. These reasons, however, would hardly have
induced the French king to take such a step, had not he perceived that a
war with England was inevitable; and that he should be able to reap
some advantages in the course of it from espousing the cause of the
pretender.

The substance of the French manifesto was published in London, by
Poussin the secretary of Tallard, who had been left in England as agent
for the court of Versailles. He was now ordered to leave kingdom, which
was filled with indignation at Louis for having pretended to declare who
ought to be their sovereign. The city of London presented an address
to the lords-justices, expressing the deepest resentment of the French
king's presumption; assuring his majesty that they would at all times
exert the utmost of their abilities for the preservation of his person,
and the defence of his just rights, in opposition to all invaders of his
crown and dignity. Addresses of the same nature were sent up from all
parts of the kingdom, and could not but be agreeable to William. He had
now concerted measures for acting with vigour against France; and
he resolved to revisit his kingdom after having made a considerable
progress i