Joseph would, no doubt, be as ready to waive their rights as the
Dauphin and the Duke of Burgundy could be; and thus the Austrian
claim to the disputed heritage would pass to the younger Archduke
Charles. A long discussion followed. At length Portland plainly
avowed, always merely as his own private opinion, what was the
opinion of every intelligent man who wished to preserve the peace
of the world. "France is afraid," he said, "of every thing which
can increase the power of the Emperor. All Europe is afraid of
every thing which can increase the power of France. Why not put
an end to all these uneasy feelings at once, by agreeing to place
the Electoral Prince of Bavaria on the throne of Spain?" To this
suggestion no decisive answer was returned. The conference ended;
and a courier started for England with a despatch informing
William of what had passed, and soliciting further instructions.

William, who was, as he had always been, his own Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, did not think it necessary to discuss the
contents of this despatch with any of his English ministers. The
only person whom he consulted was Heinsius. Portland received a
kind letter warmly approving all that he had said in the
conference, and directing him to declare that the English
government sincerely wished to avert the calamities which were
but too likely to follow the death of the King of Spain, and
would therefore be prepared to take into serious consideration
any definite plan which His Most Christian Majesty might think
fit to suggest. "I will own to you," William wrote to his friend,
"that I am so unwilling to be again at war during the short time
which I still have to live, that I will omit nothing that I can
honestly and with a safe conscience do for the purpose of
maintaining peace."