xvlil historical 



late proposed interference be- 

 tween Rufsia and the Porte, 

 that it is to be expected a 

 portion of that wisdom will 

 be exerted to save us on the 

 present occasion. The sums 

 that we have madly expended 

 in support of the House of 

 Austria, within the present 

 century, are inconceivably 

 great, and can scarcely be e- 

 -f{ualled by any thing but the 

 sums we have found necefsary 

 to apply in order to humble 

 that same power after we had 

 exalted it too much. The 

 {hare that Britain takes in 

 continental aflairs, under pre- 

 text of />reseri':ng the baiance 

 ■of pozver, (a combination of 

 magical words th:<.t has fas- 

 cinated one half the nations of 

 Europe for some centuries 

 past) may be compared with 

 the concern Penelope took in 

 her famous web •, in raising 

 up one power we only cut 

 out businefs for ourselves to 

 pull him down again. Let 

 us' therefore leave those who 

 ure disposed to fight at pre- 

 sent at full liberty to take 

 their full swing, while, like a 

 wise people, we attend to our 

 own proper busineis alone. 

 Should this, however, take 

 place, perhaps it might be 

 <leemed a greater revolution 

 in the ideas of our cabinet 

 counsels than the revolution 

 that has taken place in France. 

 The French, it is very 

 riain, place great reliance oi 



chronicle. 



the disturbances they hope to 

 be able to foment in the Au- 

 strian Netherlands j and as 

 Biitain guaranteed the treaty 

 that secured them to that 

 House, it will be contended 

 that we fhall be under the ne- 

 cefsity oi taking a concern in 

 this quarrel. It would seem, 

 however, that this argument 

 could not be concluilve. This 

 war, on the part of Austria, 

 seems to havebeen by no means 

 unavoidable j Ihe was under no 

 obligation to support the emi- 

 grant princes ; but if (he chooses 

 voluntarily to involve herself 

 in dilficulties, is it just that we 

 ihould be obliged to partici- 

 pate in the calamities that her 

 own obstinacy alone has 

 brought upon her ? Surely no. 1 

 The benefits of peace aie 

 to us inestimable. In spite 

 of three succefsive armaments 

 since the last peace, which 

 have accumulated nearly twice 

 as much frefh national debt 

 as tlie minister has been able 

 to pay [off, our revenue, in 

 consequence of the peace, 

 has a prospect of soon accu- 

 mulating to such a degree, as . 

 to enable us to do much more 

 than we have hitherto done in 

 clearing old scores. But if 

 we llrall, as formerly, be con- 

 tinually anxious to run our 

 head into frelh quarrels, adieu 

 to all these ple?.sing prospects I 

 If Biitain persists in peace, 

 her industry will accumulate 

 to an ajtonidung degree, and 



