'There is no doubt but the prefent miniftry (provided they could get over the obligations of honour and confcience) might find their advantage in advifing the continuance of the war, as well as the last did, although not in the fame degree, after the kingdom has been fo much exhausted. They might prolong it, till the parliament defire a peace; and in the mean time leave them in full poffeffion of power. Therefore it is plain, that their proceedings at prefent are meant to ferve their country, directly against their private intereft; whatever clamour may be raised by those, who, for the vileft ends, would move heaven and earth to oppose their measures. But they think it infinitely better to accept fuch terms as will fecure our trade, find a fufficient barrier for the States, give reafonable fatisfaction to the Emperor, and restore the tranquillity of Europe, although without adding Spain to the empire; rather than go on in a languishing way, upon the vain expectation of fome improbable turn for the recovery of that monarchy out of the Bourbon family; and at laft, be forced, to a worfe peace, by fome of the allies falling off, upon our utter inability to conti nue the war.

SOME

SOME

REM ARK S

ON THE

BARRIER TREATY

BETWEEN

HER MAJESTY

AND THE

STATES-GENERAL.

To which are added,

The faid Barrier-Treaty, with the two feparate Articles; part of the Counter-project; the Sentiments of Prince EUGENE and Count ZINZENDORF upon the faid Treaty; and a Representation of the English Merchants at Bruges.

Written in the Year MDCCXII.

PRE FACE.

W

HEN I published the difcourfe called, The Conduct of the Allies, I had thoughts either of inferting, or annexing the Barrier-Treaty at length, with fuch obfervations as I conceived might be useful for public information: but that difcourfe taking up more room than I defigned, after my utmost endeavours to abbreviate it, I contented myself only with making fome few reflections upon that famous treaty, fufficient, as I thought, to answer the defign of my book. I have fince heard, that my readers in general feemed to wish I had been more particular, and have difcovered an impatience to have that treaty made public, efpecially since it has been laid before the House of com

mons.

That I may give some light to the reader who is not well verfed in those affairs, he may please to know, that a project for a treaty of barrier with the States, was tranfmitted hither from Holland; but being difapproved of by our court in feveral parts, a new project or fcheme of a treaty was drawn up here, with many additions and alterations. This laft was called the counter-project; and was the measure, whereby the duke of Marlborough and my lord Townshend were commanded and inftructed to proceed in negotiating a treaty of barrier with the States.

I have

I have added a tranflation of this counter-project in those articles where it differs from the barrier-treaty, that the reader, by comparing them together, may judge how punctually those negotiators obferved their inftructions. I have likewise fubjoined the fentiments' of prince Eugene of Savoy, and the count De Zinzendorf, relating to this treaty, written (I fuppofe) while it was negotiating. And lastly, I have added a copy of the representation of the British merchants at Bruges, fignifying what inconveniences they already felt, and farther apprehended from this barriertreaty.

SOME