follows:--Sir, though the general state of the kingdoms of Europe
cannot be supposed to be wholly unknown in this assembly, yet since
the decision of the question now before us, must depend upon the
conceptions which every man has formed with regard to the affairs on
the continent, it will be necessary to exhibit them to view in a
narrow compass, that nothing which may contribute to our information
may be overlooked or forgotten.

The late emperour, for some time before his death, finding that there
remained little hopes of male issue, and that his family would be
consequently in danger of losing part of the honours and dignities
which it had so long enjoyed, turned his thoughts to the security of
his hereditary dominions, which he entailed upon his eldest daughter,
to preserve them from being broken into fragments, and divided among
the numerous pretenders to them; and that this settlement might be
preserved from violation, employed all the opportunities which any
extraordinary conjunctures presented to him of obtaining the
concurrence and ratification of the neighbouring states.

As it was always the interest of this nation to support the house of
Austria, as a counterbalance to the power of France, it was easy to
procure from us a solemn accession to this important settlement; and
we, therefore, promised to support it, whenever it should be attacked.
This was, in reality, only a promise to be watchful for our own
advantage, and to hinder that increase of the French influence, which
must, at length, be fatal to ourselves.

The like engagements were proposed to many other powers, which
proposals were by most of them accepted, and among others by France,
upon consideration of a very large increase of her dominions; and it