BOOK II. of the abdicated monarch. Deeply versed in the 1693. science of human nature, and skilful beyond any Death of the Mar. lifax. man in practising on the weaknesses and passions of men, he had made his attack in the precise part where he knew the king to be most vulnerable. Perceiving the ruling passion of the monarch to be the reduction of the power of France, and that, notwithstanding the ill success of the war and the heavy burdens it brought on the country, he was still eager in the prosecution of it, this nobleman determined to display still more ardor, if possible, in pursuit of the same object. In order to attain his grand purpose, viz. the reinstatement of himself in power, he saw clearly the necessity of declaring openly and decidedly in favor of the whigs, who were beyond comparison more zealous than the tories in their support of the war, and more vehement in their dread and detestation of the Gallic greatness. The marquis of Halifax also attempted at this quis of Ha- critical juncture, though with inferior address and far less success than Sunderland, to retrieve his credit with the whig party by his eagerness and ardor in the same cause; in defence of which he published a political tract, in which he affirmed it "to be of the last consequence to every true Englishman that the present war should be carried en for the preservation of our liberties and reli 1693. gion, against the common enemy of both; not- BOOK II. withstanding the false and foolish insinuation of some discontented Jacobites, that a peace with France is more necessary than a war, and that it is more carried on for the sake of others than ourselves." Perceiving himself shunned, neglected, and despised, this nobleman soon after terminated a restless and eventful life in a state of political chagrin strangely blended with religious contrition; and he died-as bishop Burnet, who attended him, had the charity to hope-" a better man than he lived." He possessed an exquisite talent for keen and sarcastic raillery; and was one of those statesmen who had rather be admired for saying a witty thing, than approved for doing a wise one. He had by turns been the idol of both parties; but lived to see himself the contempt of both. So much were his fine talents obscured and disgraced by his want of steadiness, consistency, and principle*, The tories who remained in office did not Whigs regain their dancy. tamely acquiesce in the measures of their anta- Ascen * The marquis of Halifax died in the month of April, 1695. BOOK II. continuing the war, he represented the great and 1693. manifold advantages which would attend the conclusion of a speedy peace, in very forcible terms. I presume," says the memorialist in fine to વ say, that, the war being ended, a new parliament called, and such measures pursued (i. e. such measures as would tend to raise the government above a dependency upon either faction for support), your majesty would quickly find that the Jacobites would turn moderate churchmen and loyal subjects, and the whigs much more obsequious courtiers and easier servants than they now are." But the counsel of Sunderland was far more acceptable to the king than that of Godolphin; and a resolution was taken to engage the most popular leaders of the whig party in the administration. Admiral Russel was restored to the command of the fleet, and in a short time placed at the head of the board of admiralty; and the commissions of lieutenancy, &c. throughout the kingdom were altered in favor of the whigs. The tender of the seals to the earl of Shrewsbury was attended with very singular and curious circumstances. Captain Lloyd, in his subsequent report to the court of St. Germaine's says, "I went to wait on the countess of Shrewsbury: she told me how her son the earl had been obliged to accept of an employment. The prince of Orange had sent for him to offer him the post of secretary 1693. of state, which he refused on account of his bad BOOK II. health. But the prince of Orange shewed him that he had a very different reason, by repeating to him a discourse which he had held about your majesty. This surprised the earl of Shrewsbury much, and convinced him of the danger of refusing the employment. He demanded some time. to go to the country on pressing business; and, on his return, was, to his great regret, obliged to Macpher} accept of the seals."-It is traditionally reported, that the king sent a colonel of the guards to the earl with the seals of office in one hand, and a warrant of commitment to the Tower in the other. It may easily be supposed that he did not long hesitate which of these to accept. son. vances of jected. Notwithstanding the series of triumphs which Pacific Adhad hitherto almost invariably attended the arms France reof the king of France, that monarch was anxious for the return of peace: and this he scrupled not repeatedly to express. He was fully sensible that an insurmountable barrier was raised against any farther permanent acquisition of power. In consequence of the exertion made by France in the course of this arduous contest, the resources of the kingdom were exhausted, and from a succession of unfavorable seasons the harvests of that country had proved extremely deficient: so that while the external appearance of things dazzled the eye with the false and artificial glare of mag BOOK II. nificence, the interior exhibited a deplorable 1693. scene of misery and wretchedness. In the course of the present winter, the king of France was from these motives induced to make a very equi table and reasonable proposal for the accommodation of differences, through the respectable mediation of the court of Denmark; purporting in substance the restitution of the conquests he had made during the war, the renunciation of his pretensions to the Low Countries in the event of the death of the king of Spain, and the re-establishment of the former treaties of commerce. In the memorial presented by the Danish ambassador on this occasion to the court of London, December 1693, he with dignity and propriety states, "that the desolation this present war has carried into most parts of Europe, together with the duty incumbent upon a Christian king, oblige the king his master to impart to his Britannic majesty those proposals of peace which the Most Christian king has communicated to him-that otherwise the king his master might have reason to decline his offices towards the peace of Europe, and taking upon him so important a negotiation; since the advances he has already made, as well as the king of Sweden, have not only proved ineffectual, but likewise have been so misconstrued as to render them suspected." Of the terms thus fairly and honorably tendered, the tory ministers were justly |