The beginning of this year, they de- of our Eaft India company; the only clared a dividend of 17 per cent. which difficulty feems to be that of fo regulatwas fo extraordinary as to make their ing the exercise of it by their fervants, flock rife 59, though we did not hear of as to render it both useful to the natives, any fuccels their arms had lately had in and honourable to ourselves. In that that part of the world. In about feven cafe, no doubt, not only we might he months after this rife, they, indeed, re- able to maintain our ground there, but ceived the news of their governor in fhould obtain a juft claim to domiCeylon having driven the king from his nion, and the valt revenues annexed fortrefs and palace of Candy; but this to it; for, furely, good government is advantage, had it even coincided in point a bleffing of as much value, if not more of time with the above rife, is too infig- than any other; and as to any great adnificant to account for it. Befides, the vantage, which the Indians may be Dutch, when they conquer there, conquer thought to have by the princes of the for themselves, and not for the nabobs of country spending their revenues on the the country, fo as to preclude all thofe fpot; it is to be confidered, that this inconveniencies, which must attend an could be more than compensated to them empire in an empire, or rather an em- by such an extraordinary degree of fepire against itself. And, indeed, cooped curity, as might render unneceffary the up as the Dutch are in Europe, and con- fo uncommon precaution among them of fined in Africa and America, it is requi- burying their treasures, often never to fite, that they fhould look out in Afia rife again, to the almoft total absorption for fuch an extenfion of territory, as of thofe daily pouring into Europe from may fupply them with the immediate the mines of America. means of fubfiftence, and the materials of trade, in a degree fomewhat proportionable to that of their population; and not leave them expofed to the dif agreeable alternative of wanting bread, or forcing other nations to give it to them as carriers and agents in their commercial intercourfe; motives by no means common to the English, who, in proportion to their numbers are richer in land, that inexhaustible fource of materials, than any other people, the Spaniards only excepted. Some gentlemen, who have refided for a long time in the East Indies, have, howevever, propofed, that we fhould take pattern after the Dutch there, and conquer for ourfelves; as the vast revenues of a country fo fruitful and extenfive, and fo full of ingenious, induftrious, and frugal people, could not fail greatly to forward the payment of our national debts; alledging withal, that the court of Delli, to an abfolute independence upon which it might not be fafe to pretend, has often offered us the nabobthip of the country. To this fcheme many objections have been raised, fome as to the poffibility, and others as to the justice, of it. B, confidering that it might not fuit with the dignity of the crown of Great Britain to accept of any fubordinate power; and that confequently, fuch nabobfhip mutt fall to the fhare (To be continued.) MEMOIRS of the Marchionefs de (Continued from page 328.) MUST here speak of the troubles I which agitated the Court, when the King gave me an apartment at Versailles, The events of that time make a part of the plan of thefe memoirs. Without that number of incidents which then happened, and which the King communicated to me, my favour would never perhaps have arrived at the degree it did; for indeed fecond caufes conftantly direct the events of this world. France had been engaged in war fince the year 1741, and battles were fought in Italy, Flanders, and Germany. Charles VI. the last male of the House of Auftria, was infatuated with one of thofe ambi tions, which even death fets no bounds to. He would fain survive himself, and make his power laft beyond the grave. This Prince, being poffeffed of great ftates, had them guarantied by the principal powers. The little ftrength that then remained in Europe, had given room to this weaknefs in Chriftian Princes. Italy was quite exhaufted; all the petty governments of the empire were fettered in political flavery; the great Houles of the North were no longer free. At the death of this Prince all began to draw breath, and all, put in their claim to what they thought their right. The Elector of Bavaria demanded a part of the fucceffion: Auguftus of Poland proved his right: The King of Spain fet forth his pretenfions. There were even two Pragmatics; one that ceded the poffeffions of the Houfe of Auftria to the Archduchefs of Poland, the other that contended they were the property of Mary Therefa, eldeft daughter of Charles. So many particular divided interefts could not fail lighting up a general war; but it began in a place which politics never fulpected. The King of Pruffia, almoft the only in Europe, who had no right to any part of the fucceffion of the House of Auftria, formed one. Whilft others were writing manifeftoes, he was making conquefts. His troops entered the fineft province of the Queen of Hungary's dominions, and feized upon it. The Crown was then quite new in the House of Brandenburgh. The Emperor Leopold was the first that had conferred on it the title of Majefty; but this honour had not much aggrandifed it. The King of Pruffia fcarce held any rank in Europe; his pretenfions on the territories of the fucceffion of the House of Auftria were thofe of a private perfon. He claimed fome duchies, which his Houfe had formerly poffeffed in right of purchase. He feized however upon Silefia as a Sovereign. I have heard it faid that Mary Therefa was going to fall, when her own enemies upheld her. Thofe very Hungarians, who had fo long endeavoured to deftroy that family, then exerted themfelves to fup. port it. The Duke de Belleifle told me, that fome Latin words he had fpoke to them had caufed that great change in our political world; for, added he, if the Hungarians had abandoned that Princefs, there would now have been an end of the Houfe of Auftria Lewis XV. joined with the King of Pruffia to place the Elector of Bavaria on the throne of the empire. Beides the diverfion this election caufed in the North, the King faid that the Houfe of Bourbon acquitted itself of an old debt to Bava money and troops, to maintain her rights against other Powers, upon condition of her ceding to him the Lower Silefia. If the had affented to the propofal, the affairs of Europe might have taken another turn. But Princes, as far as I perceived during my abode at Versailles, often offer what they have no inclination to give. Marshal de Noailles calls this by the name of 'political compliments.' Prague was taken, and the Elector of Bavaria proclaimed King of Bohemia, and thortly after Emperor. But the Hunga rians gradually recovered their Queen from the defeats he had received; and the King of Pruffia, who faw through the dif advantages of his allies, thought only of availing himself of them. He had made conquests, which he had no intentions to confound with the loffes of thofe who had helped him to make them; but he fill wanted a decifive victory to make himself formidable to the House of Austria, with whom he had already fought fome accommodation. The battle of Czaflaw was fought, which he gained. After this victory he remained inactive, and foon made his private peace with Mary Theresa. Then all was loft for France. Posts, provifions, and magazines were taken, and fickness compleated the deftruction of the reft. The French Generals then discovered the King of Pruffia's genius. M. de Belleifle often told me that he was not the dupe of his way of thinking, but was confident that the progrefs of the French army in Germany would force him to be faithful to the Crown. This is so true, added he, that, on the first report of our difadvantages, I told M. de Broglio, The King of Pruffia is going to turn his coat.' One of the articles of the treaty was his renouncing the alliance of the House of Bourbon; and fo the French troops were alone facrificed. This, an able man told me, was the fault of the Council of Verfailles, which, inttead of fending a confiderable body of troops, to make head on all fides, had marched fmall armies, which perished by weakness one after the other. The Emperor, il, fuccoured by France, fled before his enemies. He propofed confining his ambition to the Imperial Crown, and to defift from all pretenfions on the Houfe of Auftria. But the affairs of Ma " ry Therefa were in too good a condition for his being anfwered with moderation. She almoft treated him as a rebel, and made known to him that the only afylum where his person could be in fafety in Germany, were the territories of the empire, Bavaria excepted. England had hitherto only furnished the House of Austria with money, having been reduced to the neceffity of being pacific. Maillebois, with a confiderable body of troops, had obliged George II. to fign a treaty of neutrality; and the Hollanders were in no condition to meddle in the affairs of Germany. Robert Walpole, who then governed Great Britain, was fond of peace, because he had no fit genius for war. Every Minifter in Europe (as a man of great wit, whom I had often feen at Verfailles, made me remark) has his particular talents, to the byafs of which the general affairs are made to turn. Walpole's fyftem was, that the power of Great Britain lay in commerce, and that fuch a nation ought carefully to avoid fieges and battles. The King fhewed me feveral letters which that Minifter wrote to Cardinal de Fleury, in which he thus expreffed himfelf: "I take upon me,' faid he, to make the Parliament pacific; but let it be your care that your nation is not difpofed to war; for a Minister in England cannot do all,' &c. &c. In another: I am hard put to it to keep thefe folks here from fighting; not that they are fully determined for war, but because I am inclined to peace; for our English politicians must always fkirmish in the field of Mars, or on the benches of Weltminfter.' In a third he spoke thus: • I pay a fubfidy to one half of the Parliament, to keep it within pacific bounds; but, as the King has not money enough, and as thofe to whom I have given none declare themfelves openly for war, it would be proper for your Eminence to fend me three millions-tournois, for lowering the voice of those who cry out loudeft. Gold is here a metal that has a prodigious effect in cooling hot blood and martial fpirits. There is no impetuous warrior in the parliament, but a penfion of two thousand pounds would make exseeding gentle. Neither more, nor less, if England declares herfelf, you will be obliged to pay in fubfidies to Powers for making the balance, without reckoning that the fucceffes of war may be mcertain; whereas by fending me money you will purchase peace at the first hand," &c. &c. But, Walpole having been forced out of the Miniftry, Great Britain joined with the Houfe of Auftria, and had been already engaged in a war with Spain. The English fent a confiderable army into Flanders, before the Court of Versailles had thought of fecuring its places. They were matters of entering France; and pofterity will be always at a lofs to know why they did not do it. A British Minifter fince told me, at Versailles, that there were then too many malecontents in the army; and that this invafion was not attempted in order not to gratify the party which had always advanced, that the only way of eftablishing the balance in Germany was to break through the barriers of Flanders. So it is, 'added this Minister by way of reflection, that our government, which paffes for one of the beft combined in Europe, is made a facrifice to private intereft." 1 Prague, the city on which France had grounded all her hopes, was on the point of being abandoned. It was from thence that, fome time after, Marshal de Belleifle made that fine retreat, which he fince fpoke to me of every day of his life; for the old fellow was exceeding vain. He faid that it was the finest military expedition of the age. All Europe was alarmed: Italy had taken up arms to 'defend a liberty it no more enjoyed. The Pope himself, I was told, figned treaties which tended to favour war. The point in appearance was the balance of Europe; but all states fought the means of dealing fecret blows to France. Cardinal de Fleury, already dead, had declined war; and yet he was not over. fond of peace. Whilst he doated, from extreme old age, his partizans took his ravings for grand ftrokes of politics. There are people in France who have boasted much of his order and œconomy, which was nothing but the effect of his fordid difpofition. All the affairs of France had an air of avarice and parti? mony. At his death the King became his own master; matter; for till then Lewis had been only the fecond perfon of the ftate; but the Monarch changed nothing in the arrangement of the general affairs. The fame faults continued. By the fame œconomical spirit fmall armies were fent into Germany, which perished as before. The Dutch, after many intreaties and menaces, at last declared themselves. I have heard it faid, by one well versed in the policy of every government, that the Hollanders have two maxims which they never depart from: The first prefcribes their neutrality in wars between great Powers, in order to bring over to them alone all the commerce of Europe. The fecond will have them watch the moment of France's being overpowered by her enemies, to declare against her. In confequence of the laft, undoubtedly, they joined their troops with thofe of England, and took the field. After this laft offenfive and defenfive alliance, all Europe found itself at war. Germany, Holland, Flanders, Piedmont, as well as all the reft of Italy, were quite full of foldiers. M. le Comte d'Argenfon made a calculation that there were then in Europe nine hundred thou fand men under arms, ready to cut each others throats, and yet not one by general politics was able to account for it. France in particular was diminishing her population, and ruining her finances. For, as an able politician once faid to me, what bufinefs is it of ours that an Elector of Bavaria should be Emperor in Germany, or a Don Philip become Duke of Parma? I fhall never forget what I read in Voltaire on this fubject: It was a game,' faid he, which the Princes played from one extremity of Europe to the other hazarding, with equality enough, the blood and treasures of their people, and holding fortune long in fufpence, by a compenfation of heroic actions, faults, and loffes.' And it must be remarked, whilst battles were fought on all fides, war was not yet declared; they killed one another as auxidiaries. France, in 1744, declared war against England and the House of Auftria. This declaration was followed by a grand project: It was propofed to Prince Edward, The Pretender's son, to afcend the throne of his ancestors. He was a bold, brave, and courageous young man, who was quite tired of the life he led at Rome, and had a passionate defire for fighting. The Houfe of Stuart is fo unfortunate, that I doubt whether it be in the power of all Europe to reinftate it in its familyrights. There is I know not what fatality attached to the name. France made preparations in his favour, and gave him all the helps which the prefent posture of affairs could permit ; but all proved abortive. I once asked the King, along time after this event, if he had really a defire of placing the Preten. der on the throne of Great Britain? He answered me, that neither he nor his Council had ever thought it was practica. ble; that this re-establishment held to a number of fecond causes, which it was no longer poffible for politics to stop the courfe of. Marthal Noailles faid to him once, in my prefence, Sir, if your Ma jefty was to have mafs faid at London, you must fend there an army of three hun dred thousand men to serve it.' However, the young Edward, who eagerly fought to create a name for himself in the world, embarked. He had a dife tant profpect of a kingdom, over which deftiny and politics hindered him to reign. A ftorm opposed the disembarking, his fleet was difperfed; yet the hot fiery Pretender, in fpight of the winds, would enter the island, and fight himself alone against all England. It was confidently faid at Versailles, that he had a great party in London; and it was on this fuppofition that the expedition was for med. It is not long fince, being with M. de Belleifle, when he was feeking after some writings in his cabinet, that he put a pa per into my hands, faying: Here, Madam, is a letter which has cost us many millions now funk in the fea. It was addreffed to the Court of France by a party of Britons, called in England Jacobites.' It was conceived in thefe terms: The tabernacle is ready; the holy fa crament need only appear; we shall go and meet it with the cross. The proceffion will be numerous; but, as the folks here are hard of belief, there is a neceffity for foldiers and arms; for the system of transubstantiation cannot now be established in England but by large cannon. De pend Whatever may be faid of it, the expedition is not difficult, the landing is eafy. Every thing favours the revolution; religion is the leaft advantage, politics will do all. The Hanoverian is not beloved; he is a continual plague to the English. On one fide he strives to become abfolute, on the other he wants to ftrip them of their money.' The defcent on England having failed, new efforts were made to establish Don Philip in Italy. The King of Pruffia, after being allied again with France, marched immediately towards Prague with a powerful army, but foon raised the fiege. His army fled before that of Prince Charles of Lorrain, who, having repaffed the Rhine in fight of the French, paffed the Elbe in purfuit of the Pruffians. I never could be informed exactly of the genius of this Prince Charles, who directed the greater part of the plans of that war. Some have fpoken ill, and others well of him. Marshal de Noailles, who knows men, told me, that he neither wanted talents nor genius, but that the goodness of his heart deftroyed the qualities of his mind. He has no will of his own, added he, but fuffers himself to be directed by all thofe about him, and thofe are not always the ableft in the world. The power of the House of Auftria, which had been weakened by the new alliance of the King of Pruffia with France, was augmented, in its turn, by that of the Elector of Saxony, King of Poland. It was after this alliance that the cabinet of Vienna, affifted by England, flattered itfelf not only with recovering Silefia, but even with making conquefts in French Flanders. But it was little confidered that Lewis XV. had confided the care of that country to a man who would give a very good account of it to the monarchy. This man was Maurice Count de Saxe. Other military Gentlemen become Captains by age, reflection, and experience; July, 1766, but he was born a General. His very enemies (and he had a good many at Verfailles) did him this juftice, that no man ever had a more extenfive intuitive view of things. He immediately faw what other Commanders discovered only by times and circumstances. Maurice not only forefaw events but gave birth to them; and thus it may be faid that he governed deftiny. He waged war as a geometrician, and never fought a battle without winning it by demonftration. The qualities of the Great Turenne were likewife attributed to him, that is, the art of camping and decamping conveniently for harraffing the enemy, which forms a little war, opening the way almost always to great advantages. fhort, the battle of Fontenoy, which was attended with fuch great confequences for France, was a fignal teftimony, not to mention others, of his generalihip. In The King was at the head of his armies all this campaign, and in his abfence I often faw the Abbé de Bernis, who was allowed to keep me company. This man had been introduced into the world by women. He wanted none of thofe little talents that are neceffary for pleafing our fex, as complaifance, ways, manners, affability, eafy wit, a pretty way of telling a ftory, and fpeaking in general, with a good knack of rhyming and making verses. With all thefe qualities was joined an amiable figure, which prejudiced minds in his favour. He had many flattering things to fay to the Ladies, which made his company always agreeable to them. As he never spoke a word concerning fortune in our first converfations, I fancied I at laft met with a fine foul, fuperior to wealth and rank. But I was deceived, the Abbe had very ardent defires of difting guishing himself at Court. Under a pretended difinterestedness he concealed a boundless ambition. His apartment, as I afterwards learned, was a warehouse full of memoirs. Some were found there for the farms, for economy, for war, for the marine, and for the finances. He had an admirable facility in creating projects. In fhort, he imagined whatever he pleased. The battle of Fontenoy paved the way for other conquests in the Auftrian Ne therlands. The Flemings received Lewis XV. in their cities with great acclamations of joy. I have read, in the greater Fff part |