The Examiners, upon the fame Subject, are fo well writ, that they have given univerfal Satisfaction to all Readers in general; many Editions of them baving been printed in London fince their first Publication; and the Advocates for both Country and Court, have had Recourfe to them for Politicks, as many Authors have for Wit and Humour. These Papers, at their first Publication, bad such an Effect, that it caused a Change in Queen ANNE's MiniStry; but the Author preserved many of his Friends, and kept them in their Employments. It is plainly feen, that a Spirit of Liberty is diffufed through all thefe Writings; and that the Author is an Enemy to Tyranny and Oppression in any Shape whatever. DUBLIN, April 18, 1738. THE THE CONDUCT OF THE ALLIES AND OF THE Late MINISTRY, IN Beginning and carrying on THE PRESENT WAR Written in the Year 1712. Partem tibi Gallia noftri Eripuit: Partem duris Hifpania bellis : Odimus accipitrem quia femper vivit in armis. 1 I THE PREFACE. Cannot fufficiently admire the Industry of a Sort of Men, wholly out of Favour with the Prince and People, and openly profeffing a separate Interest from the Bulk of the landed Men, who yet are able to raife, at this functure, so great a Clamour against a Peace, without offering one fingle Reason, but what we find in their Ballads. I lay it down for a Maxim, That no reasonable Man, whether Whig or Tory (fince it is necessary to use those foolish Terms) can be of Opinion for continuing the War, upon the Foot it now is, unless he be a Gainer by it, or hopes it may occafion fome new Turn of Affairs at home, to the Advantage of his Party; or laftly, unless he be very ignorant o the Kingdom's Condition, and by what Means we have been reduced to it. Upon the two firft Cafes, where Interest is concerned, I have nothing to fay: But as to the laft, I think it highly neceffary, that the Publick should be freely and impar tially told what Circumftances they are in, after what Manner they have been treated by those whom they trufted fo many Years with the Difpofal of their Blood and Treafure, and what the Confequences of this Management are like to be upon themselves and their Pofterity. Those who, either by Writing or Discourse, bave undertaken to defend the Proceedings of the late Miniftry, in the Management of the War, and of the Treaty at Gertruydenburg, have spent time in celebrating the Conduct and Valour of our Leaders, and their Troops, in fumming up the Victories they have gained, and the Towns they have taken. Then they tell us what bigh Articles were infifted on by our Minifters and thofe of the Confederates, and what Pains both were at in perfuading France to accept them. But B 2 nothing nothing of this can give the leaft Satisfaction to the just Complaints of the Kingdom. As to the War, our Grievances are, That a greater Load has been laid on Us, than was either just or neceffury, or than we have been able to bear that the groffeft Impofitions have been submitted to for the Advancement of private Wealth and Power, or in order to forward the more dangerous. Defigns of a Faction; to both which a Peace would bave put an End; and that the Part of the War which was chiefly our Province, which would have been moft beneficial to us, and destructive to the Enemy, was wholly neglected. As to a Peace, We complain of being deluded by a Mock Treaty; in which those who negotiated, took Care to make fuch Demands as they knew were impoffible to be complied with, and therefore might fecurely prefs every Article as if they were in earnest. Thefe are fome of the Points I defign to treat of in the following Difcourfe; with feveral others which I thought. it neceffary, at this Time, for the Kingdom to be informed of. I think I am not mistaken in thofe Facts I men→ tion; at least not in any Circumftance fo material, as to weaken the Confequences I draw from them. After ten Years Wars with perpetual Success, to tell us it is yet impoffible to have a good Peace, is very surprifing, and feems fo different from what bath ever happened in the World before, that a Man of any Party may be allowed fufpecting that we have either been ill used, or bave not made the most of our Victories, and might therefore defire to know where the Difficulty lay: Then it is natural to enquire into our prefent Condition; how long we shall be able to go on at this Rate; what the Confe quences may be upon the prefent and future Ages; and whether a Peace, without that impracticable Point which fome People do so much infift on, be really ruinous in it felf, or equally fo with the Continuance of the War. THE |