i.f^'i. remarJis onlLhundirproafs eficiys 99 



u warlike monarch, because the bent of his mind lay 

 more to books than to the bustle of war ; but can 

 any man be so void of intellect as to maintain this 

 ridiculous paradox, that peace can always be preser- 

 vftd, consistently with national safety, because a par- 

 ticular prince may, and did preserveit for a consi- 

 (ierable time, by putting up, in a dastardly manner, 

 with the insults and buifetings of the nations around 

 him ? It is certain, indeed, that nations, like men, 

 are always quarrelling among themselves, and en- 

 croaching upon each other's privileges ; and it is no 

 lefs certain that insults and encroachments of this 

 kind increase according to the backwardnefs or pu- 

 sillanimity discovered by any particular state in de- 

 fending itself, and repelling the invaders ; nor will 

 thej be discontinued till such state be entirely stripped 

 of Its commerce and its appendages, and itself, at last, 

 dismembered and parcelled out among its more en- 

 terprising and warlike neighbonrs : At least we 

 must fairly acknowledge that this would be the ne- 

 cefsary consequence, were it not for the wise and 

 cautious policy of the balance of power^ so well 

 known to modern times ; though this prudential sys- 

 tem was entirely overlooked in the case of the dis- 

 memberment of Poland, I think about twenty years 

 ago by the Shakespeare of kings. In fact it would 

 be as ridiculous and unaccountable in a nation, to 

 behold with indiiTcrence the insults and infractions 

 of its neighbours, as it ^tould be in a man to allow 

 himself to be beaten, or run through the body, with- 

 out making any exertion in his own defence. 



On this principle v.'c were under the nccefsity of 

 f..er.ting the late infraction gftUe Spaniards, tliough 



