of our name, to the dutchess of Hanover, the remotest relation we have, whose friendship you have no reason to rely on, or be fond of; who will leave the government to foreigners of another language, of another interest; and who, by the general naturalization, may bring over crowds of her countrymen to supply the defect of her right, and enslave the nation.

"In the meantime, I assure you, madam, and am ready to give all the security that can be desired, that it is my unalterable resolution to make the law of the land the rule of my government, to preserve every man's right, liberty, and property, equally with the right of the crown; and to secure and maintain those of the church of England, in all their just rights and privileges, as by law established; and to grant such a toleration to dissenters as the parliament shall think fit.

"Your own good nature, madam, and your natural affection to a brother, from whom you never received any injury, cannot but incline your heart to do him justice; and, as it is in your power, I cannot doubt of your good inclinations. And I do here assure you, that in that case no reasonable terms of accommodation which you can desire for yourself, shall be refused by me. But as affairs of this moment cannot be so well transacted by letters, I must conjure you to send one over to me, fully instructed and empowered by you, or to give security for such a one from me; for by that way only, can things be adjusted to our mutual satisfaction, which shall be managed on our side with the utmost secrecy.

"I have made this first step towards our mutual happiness with a true brotherly affection, with the plainness and sincerity that becomes both our rank and relation, and in the most prudent manner I could at present contrive; and will be directed by you in the prosecution of it, relying entirely on your knowledge and experience, as to the means and instruments.

"And now, madam, as you tender your own honour and happiness, the preservation and re-establishment of our ancient royal family, the safety and welfare of a brave people, who are almost sinking under present weights, and have reason to fear greater; who have no reason to complain of me, and whom I must still, and do love as my own-I conjure you to

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ness of her intellect, and the timidity of her character is considered, the measures proposed were certainly too bold for her to adopt without much consideration, and a far more decisive manifestation of public feeling in favour of James than had yet been given. Nor do we find that this address, so remarkable for moderation, and which some of his warmest friends had so long solicited him in vain to emit, produced any sensible effect in his favour.

In the meantime, the ministry were pursuing diligently their pacific plans. Prior, the poet, had been sent to Paris in the month of July, and returned in the month of August, accompanied by Monsieur Mesnager and the Abbe Gualtier, with whom, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the emperor and the states, and a vehement memorial from the elector of Hanover, preliminaries of peace were signed in the month of September, and it was determined to open a general congress at Utrecht in the beginning of the ensuing year. The parliament was opened on the 7th of December by a speech from the queen, in which she informed them, that, "notwithstanding the arts of those that delighted in war, the place and the time for treating of a general peace was appointed." She still, however, professed to hold the interests of the allies as inseparable from her own; and, as they had expressed the utmost confidence in her, she would do her utmost to procure them satisfaction. She, at the same time, professed great zeal for the protestant religion, and the liberties of the nation, and promised, on the return of peace, to pay a particular attention to the encouragement of trade.+

The commons re-echoed the speech in the most cordial manner, but the lords still continued refractory, and, after a long and keen debate, introduced a clause into the address, stating "their conviction, that no peace could be either safe or honourable for Great Britain, or for Europe, if Spain and the West Indies were allotted to any branch of the house of Bourbon."

The duke of Hamilton, who was now become a particular

* Macpherson's History of Great Britain, vol. iv. p. 234.

+ Sommerville's History of Great Britain during the reign of Queen. p. 449.

meet me in this friendly way of composing our difference, by which only we can hope for those good effects which will make us both happy, yourself more glorious than all the other parts of your life, and your memory dear to all posterity."

At the same time that he addressed the above to the queen, he transmitted orders to his friends in England to support, with all their influence, her present administration; and, that he might not be wanting in any probable mean of advancing his interest, wrote also the following explanation of his views with regard to religion:-" In answer to yours, I cannot, at this distance, and in my present circumstances, enter into disputes of religion; but those of the church of England have no reason to doubt of my favour and protection, after the early assurances I gave them in my instructions, bearing date the third of March, 1702, which you have seen, and I am resolved to make good. I knew my grandfather, and my father too had always a good opinion of the principles of the church of England relating to monarchy; and experience sufficiently showeth, that the crown was never struck at but she felt the blow; and though some of her chief professors have failed in their duty, we must not measure the principles of a church by the actions of some particulars.

"Plain dealing is best in all things, especially in matters of religion; and, as I am resolved never to dissemble in religion, so I shall never tempt others to do it; and, as well as I am satisfied of the truth of my own religion, yet I shall never look worse upon any persons, because in this they chance to differ from me; nor shall I refuse, in due time and place, to hear what they have to say upon this subject. But they must not take it ill if I use the same liberty I allow to others to adhere to the religion, which I in my conscience think the best; and I may reasonably expect that liberty of conscience for myself which I deny to none.'

What entertainment the queen gave to the above letter has never, so far as we know, been explained. That she had some inclinations towards her brother in his exiled and helpless condition can hardly be doubted; but when the narrow

ness of her intellect, and the timidity of her character is considered, the measures proposed were certainly too bold for her to adopt without much consideration, and a far more decisive manifestation of public feeling in favour of James than had yet been given. Nor do we find that this address, so remarkable for moderation, and which some of his warmest friends had so long solicited him in vain to emit, produced any sensible effect in his favour.

In the meantime, the ministry were pursuing diligently their pacific plans. Prior, the poet, had been sent to Paris in the month of July, and returned in the month of August, accompanied by Monsieur Mesnager and the Abbe Gualtier, with whom, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the emperor and the states, and a vehement memorial from the elector of Hanover, preliminaries of peace were signed in the month of September, and it was determined to open a general congress at Utrecht in the beginning of the ensuing year.* The parliament was opened on the 7th of December by a speech from the queen, in which she informed them, that, “notwithstanding the arts of those that delighted in war, the place and the time for treating of a general peace was appointed." She still, however, professed to hold the interests of the allies as inseparable from her own; and, as they had expressed the utmost confidence in her, she would do her utmost to procure them satisfaction. She, at the same time, professed great zeal for the protestant religion, and the liberties of the nation, and promised, on the return of peace, to pay a particular attention to the encouragement of trade.+

The commons re-echoed the speech in the most cordial manner, but the lords still continued refractory, and, after a long and keen debate, introduced a clause into the address, stating "their conviction, that no peace could be either safe or honourable for Great Britain, or for Europe, if Spain and the West Indies were allotted to any branch of the house of Bourbon."

The duke of Hamilton, who was now become a particular

* Macpherson's History of Great Britain, vol. iv. p. 234.

+ Sommerville's History of Great Britain during the reign of Queen Anne, p. 449.