( 4 ) 



things fecretly. He rather chofe, on all 

 occafions, to fway the fceptre with a lofty 



hand. The judicious Rapin feems to clofe 



the whole debate very juftly, by obferving, 

 that this furmife feems to have arifen merely 

 from an opinion, that fo politic a prince as 

 William, could do nothing without a political 

 end: whereas the moft politic princes, no 

 doubt, are fwayed where their pleafures are 

 concerned, by paffions, and caprice, like other 

 men*. 



The means, which William ufed in af- 

 forefting thefe extenfive wood-lands, create 

 another queflion among hiflorians. The ge- 

 neral opinion is, that he deftroyed a number 

 of villages, and churches 5 drove out the in- 

 habitants 'y laid their lands wafte ; and formed 

 New-foreft in their room. 



This opinion has appeared to fome ill 

 founded ; and Voltaire in particular, has ftood 

 up in defence of the humanity, or rather 

 the policy of William. It is abfurd, he 

 thinks, to fuppofe that a prince fo noted 

 for prudent and interefted conduct, fliould 

 lay waftc fo much cultivated ground ; plant 



* Vol. I. fol. page 17s. 



it 



