n a treaty of perpetual alliance between England and the
states-general, which was afterwards brought to perfection by his
plenipotentiary, the earl of Marlborough. The king's return, however,
was delayed a whole month by a severe indisposition, during which the
Spanish minister de Quiros hired certain physicians to consult together
upon the state and nature of his distemper. They declared that he could
not live many weeks; and this opinion was transmitted to Madrid. William
however baffled the prognostic, though his constitution had sustained
such a rude shock that he himself perceived his end was near. He told
the earl of Portland he found himself so weak that he could not expect
to live another summer; but charged him to conceal this circumstance
until he should be dead. Notwithstanding this near approach to
dissolution, he exerted himself with surprising diligence and spirit
in establishing the confederacy, and settling the plan of operations. A
subsidiary treaty was concluded with the king of Prussia, who engaged
to furnish a certain number of troops. The emperor agreed to maintain
ninety thousand men in the field against France; the proportion of the
states was limited to one hundred and two thousand; and that of England
did not exceed forty thousand, to act in conjunction with the allies.

On the fourth day of November the king arrived in England, which he
found in a strange ferment, produced from the mutual animosity of the
two factions. They reviled each other in words and writing with all the
falsehood of calumny, and all the bitterness of rancour; so that truth,
candour, and temperance, seemed to be banished by consent of both
parties. The king had found himself deceived in his new ministers, who
had opposed his measures with all their influence. He was particularly
disgusted with the deportment of the earl of Rochester, who proved
altogether imperious and intractable; and, instead of moderating,
inflamed the violence of his party. The king declared the year in which
that nobleman directed his councils was the un-easiest of his whole
life. He could not help expressing his displeasure in such a coldness
of reserve, that Rochester told him he would serve his majesty no longer
since he did not enjoy his confidence. William made no answer to
this expostulation, but resolved he should see him no more. The earl,
however, at the desire of Mr. Harley, became more pliant and submissive;
and, after the king's departure