was hoped, that whatever might be determined by the electors with
respect to the imperial dignity, the hereditary dominions to the house
of Austria would remain in the same family, and that France would be
hindered by her own engagements from disturbing the peace of the
empire.

But no sooner did the death of the emperour give the enemies of the
house of Austria hopes of gratifying without danger their resentment
and ambition, than almost all the neighbouring princes began to revive
their pretensions, and appeared resolved to recover by force, what
they alleged to have been only by force withheld from them. Armies
were raised on all sides, invasions either attempted or threatened
from every quarter, and the whole world looked upon the daughter of
Austria either with pity or with joy, as unable to make any stand
against the general confederacy, and under a necessity of yielding to
the most oppressive terms, and purchasing peace from her enemies at
their own price.

It cannot be mentioned, without indignation, that this universal
combination was formed and conducted by the influence of the French,
who, after having agreed to the Pragmatick sanction, omitted no
endeavours to promote the violation of it; and not only incited the
neighbouring princes to assert their claim by promises of assistance,
but poured numerous armies into the empire, not only to procure by
force, and without the least regard to equity, an election in favour
of the duke of Bavaria, but to assist him in the invasion of the
Austrian dominions, of which the settlement had been ratified by their
concurrence, purchased at a price which might justly have been thought
too great, even though they had observed their stipulations.