CHARACTERS.

hopes ofa neutrality in the Dutch, thought to invade the United Pro- vinccs, Thepoliticians (aid, that this was the only means of elta- bliihing the balance in Europe, which the conliant advantages of ‘the Englilh at (ea had made her lofe.

The molt lirenuous endeavours were ufed to gain this point. The king won the battle of Lawfelds, and propofed at the fame time to make himfelf mailer of Bergen- op-zoom. Count Lowendahl was charged with this expedition. Ber- gen-op-zoom was taken; and Hol- land was in terrors, having placed the furrender of this town in the rank of impofiibilities.

The congrefs, which was at Breda, was changed and tranf- ported to Aix-la-Cltapelle; and, though the feveral courts of Eu- rope did not change their refolu- tion in regard to fieges and bat- tles, yet on one iide the taking of Bergen-op-zoom, which open- ed Holland to France, together with Marihal Saxe’s threats to put an end to the republic; and, on the other, the provinces of the fouth of France ready to periih with hunger, their harvefi having failed; all thefe concurring cir- cumfiances paved the way for fign- ing the preliminaries of peace, which were foon afterwards fol- lowed by a definitive treaty. This fituation of things pleaded better in favour of the public tranquillity, than all the itudied fpeeches of the plenipotentiaries aifernbled at Aix- la-Chapelle.

The pretender’s fon, whom all the world feemed to have forgot, appeared now again on the itage. As he had reafon to imagine that none would think of him at the

I9 congrefs of Aix-la-Chapelie, he began by proteiiing againfl: all the tranfaftions there. No attention was given to the placart he had poiied up on this occafion; and all fides figned the treaty, re- gardlefs of his protefiations. After this oppofition he made a greater at Paris, which was in refilling the king’s orders. _

One of the firfl: conventions, efiablilhed between England and France, was, that the ion of the Chevalier de St. George ihould quit the kingdom. Lewis XV. made known to him ieveral times the indifpenfable neceiiity he was reduced to of obferving this con- vention. Prince Edward anfw-ered in peremptory terms, to thoie who firlt {poke to him of it, that he would not obey. I was often told the excufe he alledged for not con- forming to the will of the French monarch: ‘ The king of France,’ faid he, ‘ has promifed me that I ihafl always have an afylum in his fiates, and I have in my pocket the ailhrance of it figned with his own hand. A prince of honour knows to what his parole engages him, and to what he expofes him- felf when wanting to it.’

He treated with the king oft France as with a private gentle- man. He forgot that fovereigns may fail in their word, without failing in their honour, when the good of their people requires it. The pretender’s fon was arreli- ed in going to the opera. The melancholy fituation of this young prince much affected me. He had been greatly carelTed on his arri- val in France. I fpoke to the king in his favour, who anfwer- ed me almoil: in a paiiion, ‘ What

would you have me do, Madam I’ C z " Muit